Shelby Lynne and Allison Moorer at the World Cafe 8/25/17
Short version: The show was a serious musicgasm.
I had never seen either artist, though I 've been trying to see Shelby Lynne since 2000, when her "I Am Shelby Lynne" record was released. And I had bought music by both artists.
So when I saw they were playing together, I bought the tickets without knowing what was in store. Later, I found out they were doing an album together, the impeccable "Not Dark Yet"(a compilation of covers by artists ranging from the Louvin Brothers to Nirvana--with Nick Cave and Merle Haggard in between). If you haven't heard the album, I recommend it as the most tasteful album of 2017 without even hearing any others. It's classic in the same way the first Norah Jones album was--but with more sadness, more depth, and perfect harmonies.
It was just released this month, so I only started listening to it a few hours before the show. I had a feeling they'd do the album in order, because of the perfect (there's that word again) and they did, trading leads and producing the kind of perfect harmony vocals that only siblings can blend in that way. They never performed together before, which was surprising because there was such an ease in the harmonies and interactions, but made perfect sense in that there was also a palpable pleasure in the experience of sharing a stage together--the love and support each gave the other was clearly so real and unpracticed. You could even tell which sister picked which songs by the way that the other surreptitiously checked the lyric books. (Shelby clearly was the one who choose "Lithium," but both women seemed to revel equally in the raw rock energy of the song.)
The highlight of the album set was, for both me and my husband, the Nick Cave cover, "Into My Arms." The arrangement was flawless, the small band (electric guitar, bass, and drums, with both women playing acoustic guitar, though Allison would visit the keyboard from time to time) united with a richness reminiscent of a small orchestra, and the sororal harmonies warm and crystalline simultaneously.
The album Both artists spoke of their mutual fondness for songwriters, yet the last song on the album is written by the sisters, neither of whom are actually slouches of the art. "Is it Too Much," continues and sums up the album's theme of pain borne and shared, and the love that can heal, but also has its limitations. By doing each song in order, the structure of the show was as impactful and cohesive as a show or a book.
My sense of the album is that each song is dedicated to and for each other, as well as a larger audience. Their early trauma, and their lives since, have been challenging, but clearly, they've always had one another. At one point during the show, Allison said, "You might not know this, but my sister saved me." They were both visibly moved by her words. Shelby is the hip big sister, the one who has always known how to be the pioneer and the star. Allison reminds me of dear friend Ellen, whose understated wisdom and power is both subtle and immanent.
After the completion of the songs on the album, the sisters traded songs they had written, all of which seemed to focus on their Alabaman roots. While these were performed solo, the other always provided some backing harmonies. There was no encore, and the show was no longer than an hour and a half, yet I felt more than satiated.
I was surprised and delighted that they came out after the show and signed albums and interacted with fans. It felt good to relay my gratitude for an evening of such inspiring sisterly affection and brilliant artistry. (I bought a t-shirt, too!)
If you get a chance to see them together (next up are stops in Chicago, Nashville and LA), don't miss the opportunity.
I had never seen either artist, though I 've been trying to see Shelby Lynne since 2000, when her "I Am Shelby Lynne" record was released. And I had bought music by both artists.
So when I saw they were playing together, I bought the tickets without knowing what was in store. Later, I found out they were doing an album together, the impeccable "Not Dark Yet"(a compilation of covers by artists ranging from the Louvin Brothers to Nirvana--with Nick Cave and Merle Haggard in between). If you haven't heard the album, I recommend it as the most tasteful album of 2017 without even hearing any others. It's classic in the same way the first Norah Jones album was--but with more sadness, more depth, and perfect harmonies.
It was just released this month, so I only started listening to it a few hours before the show. I had a feeling they'd do the album in order, because of the perfect (there's that word again) and they did, trading leads and producing the kind of perfect harmony vocals that only siblings can blend in that way. They never performed together before, which was surprising because there was such an ease in the harmonies and interactions, but made perfect sense in that there was also a palpable pleasure in the experience of sharing a stage together--the love and support each gave the other was clearly so real and unpracticed. You could even tell which sister picked which songs by the way that the other surreptitiously checked the lyric books. (Shelby clearly was the one who choose "Lithium," but both women seemed to revel equally in the raw rock energy of the song.)
The highlight of the album set was, for both me and my husband, the Nick Cave cover, "Into My Arms." The arrangement was flawless, the small band (electric guitar, bass, and drums, with both women playing acoustic guitar, though Allison would visit the keyboard from time to time) united with a richness reminiscent of a small orchestra, and the sororal harmonies warm and crystalline simultaneously.
The album Both artists spoke of their mutual fondness for songwriters, yet the last song on the album is written by the sisters, neither of whom are actually slouches of the art. "Is it Too Much," continues and sums up the album's theme of pain borne and shared, and the love that can heal, but also has its limitations. By doing each song in order, the structure of the show was as impactful and cohesive as a show or a book.
My sense of the album is that each song is dedicated to and for each other, as well as a larger audience. Their early trauma, and their lives since, have been challenging, but clearly, they've always had one another. At one point during the show, Allison said, "You might not know this, but my sister saved me." They were both visibly moved by her words. Shelby is the hip big sister, the one who has always known how to be the pioneer and the star. Allison reminds me of dear friend Ellen, whose understated wisdom and power is both subtle and immanent.
After the completion of the songs on the album, the sisters traded songs they had written, all of which seemed to focus on their Alabaman roots. While these were performed solo, the other always provided some backing harmonies. There was no encore, and the show was no longer than an hour and a half, yet I felt more than satiated.
I was surprised and delighted that they came out after the show and signed albums and interacted with fans. It felt good to relay my gratitude for an evening of such inspiring sisterly affection and brilliant artistry. (I bought a t-shirt, too!)
If you get a chance to see them together (next up are stops in Chicago, Nashville and LA), don't miss the opportunity.