John Prine DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Concert Reviews

Warner Theatre - Washington, DC 
April 1, 2003 -- support: Leon Redbone

By: Jay Vogel
Humor lightens load of Prine's message  http://washingtontimes.com/entertainment/20040405-090608-7641r.htm  
  After some 35 years of songwriting, John Prine still has something to say — even if it means dusting off a Vietnam-era protest song to present it, anew, to an appreciative crowd last Thursday at the Warner Theatre. 
  Coming onstage without fanfare or introduction following a quiet opening set from Leon Redbone, Mr. Prine burst into "Spanish Pipedream" (from "Blow up Your TV") before many of his fans could scramble back into their seats from intermission. Then he introduced "Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven Anymore" as a message to official Washington, direct from his recent audiences in the Midwest.
  Even though he never mentions it, Mr. Prine sounds a bit raspier following surgery for throat cancer. He sounded smoother Thursday than he has in other shows since his successful operation in 1998. He used to smoke onstage, but he has given up cigarettes.
  He hasn't released an album of new material since the mid-'90s. His 1999 "In Spite of Ourselves" project was filled with standard country duets with a host of singing partners, including Iris Dement, Lucinda Williams, Patty Loveless and Emmylou Harris. Only the title cut was written by Mr. Prine. 
   His songs were covered over the years by hundreds of artists, notably Steve Goodman, John Denver and Johnny Cash. He has outlived those three, and if Thursday night's show at the Warner is any indication, he has done so with his sense of humor intact. His quirky outlook, hard-hitting imagery and plain silly lyrics make his catchy tunes unforgettable. The songs are simple campfire favorites, yet often they display deep insight into humanity. The concert wasn't all nostalgia, though.
  Sprinkled among tunes from his earliest records to his 1991 Grammy-winning "The Missing Years," Mr. Prine and his band (guitarist-mandolinist Jason Wilber and bass player Dave Jacques) treated the faithful to a handful of new songs, including "Taking a Walk." A solo stretch — just Mr. Prine and his Martin D-28 guitar — featured "Long Monday" and "Crazy as a Loon." 
  Just when he got his fans enraptured by a quiet new song and new story, he plowed into the barroom ballad "Dear Abby," from his debut "John Prine" album, which got the whole house singing along again. 
  Mr. Prine also said he and the band had recorded the Carter family song "Bear Creek" for a Johnny Cash-June Carter Cash tribute disc earlier in the week, which they performed with the signature, bass-thumping Johnny Cash sound. 

By: Dave McKenna - Special to The Washington Post 
Saturday, April 3, 2004; Page C04
John Prine, Feeling the Joy His Characters Seldom Find
  John Prine knows happiness. At several points during his Thursday show at the Warner Theatre, Prine looked into the roaring crowd, smiled with embarrassment and shook his head as if he weren't worthy of such clamorous kudos. He was the picture of bliss. 
  But the songbook Prine has written over the past several decades, all chapters of which were touched on during his two-hour-plus set, is close to a contentment-free zone. Instead, his gift comes in creating characters who either look back over their mistakes or look forward to a time when it'll be much better. The present is never much good. 
  Though regarded primarily as a humorist, Prine has dwelled on life's unhappy side since the start of his career. At Thursday's show, he offered up several brilliantly depressing, yet thoroughly crowd-pleasing, tracks from his 1971 debut album. "Sam Stone" told of the drug-addled war veteran who dies broke and alone. "Paradise" mulled over how great the old Kentucky home town was before strip miners came in. The still-gorgeous "Hello in There," which he dedicated on this night to his mother, reminded anybody who needed reminding that growing old ain't a picnic: Oak trees and rivers may thrive with age, the song goes, but "old people just grow lonesome." Also from that album: the beautiful "Angel From Montgomery" and the antiwar anthem "Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven Anymore," which Prine said he had resurrected because audiences across the country asked him to send a message to Washington. 
  Prine, now 57, hasn't toured much since being diagnosed in late 1997 with squamous cell carcinoma, a cancer, and having a tumor removed from near his throat. His voice, which was gruff before the surgery and subsequent radiation therapy, isn't noticeably weaker, though he didn't quite hit the high notes during the chorus of "Hello in There," his only attempt at crooning. 
   That layoff, and the reasons for it, probably contributed to the devotion fans showed Prine, who was backed by bassist Dave Jacques and guitarist Jason Wilber from the moment he took the Warner stage. Prine's enthusiasm never wavered, either. While answering the crowd's call for an encore, Prine and his mates rocked as hard as a drummer-less trio could during a fabulous jam version of "Lake Marie," a love story that ends with a grisly double murder. Prine was pounding so vigorously on his big acoustic guitar while egging on Wilber that he broke a lower string. Neither the song's subject matter nor the instrument malfunction could take the smile off Prine's face. ** http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A46697-2004Apr2.html
 © 2004 The Washington Post Company

By: CG
This was my first John Prine concert. I had seen a special on TV earlier in the year and instantly fell in love. I am so saddened to realize that I had missed twenty years of him in the past and wonder where I had been!! Such a great performer with an intuitive, spiritual, and philosophical bend in the midst of lyrics that can make you cry first, then laugh, then just wonder at the magic and sorrow of life. What a great crowd, there's always something especially sexy about men in their 50s with balding pates and long pony tails!!!

By: Debi
John has only gotten better with the years. His voice is richer now and he's drinking water instead of beer to keep hydrated - makes for a much better concert (since most of us were sober since it was a weeknight and we're getting older too). Seems like the smiles and interaction with the audience were from deep within the heart. I love entertainers who share a little bit of themselves - not just play to them. What a great concert - most all of the oldies with a few new songs mixed in. Jason and Dave seem to share the passion of his music and made a great team. Can't wait for the new CD. Been a JP fan for nearly 30 years now and seen him every time he comes to D.C. My front-row seats were unbelievable. Come back to D.C. again soon John - don't wait so long.

By: Mudbone
"Dear Abby" still made me laugh, "Hello In There" still made me cry and "Paradise" once again reminded me of why I fell in love with JP in the first place. We've both aged a great deal from the old days at the Elbow Room and the Cellar Door - so come on back to Wolftrap this summer John, we've missed ya! Time's running thin.

By: KDog
As always, John was fantastic. His new songs are wonderful and I'm really looking forward to the release of his new album. Leon Redbone was great too. All in all it was one of the best concerts I've been to since, well, since John was last in town.

By: Brenda
This was my first John Prine concert, and I loved being there. I felt like I was in the presence of a living legend. I had a pretty good seat near the stage, and I got the feeling that when someone in the crowd "acted up" or "hollered," John seemed to get a twinkle in his eye and his smile told me that he took the fans' outbursts as expressions of love! I couldn't find a review in the Washington Post this morning. Will pass it along if it gets written. Can't wait for the new CD and the Cash Tribute Album!

By: Cham-a-dia
John was John for the most part. He and the boys started with a lot of energy, but kind of tailed off towards the end. Based on the songs we heard from the new cd, it's gonna be great. "Just Getting By" is true Prine. The DC crowd was okay. A few idiots who can't handle the booze sure do ruin it for everyone. John did make light of the Milwaukee crowd from last week stating that the front row looked like the penalty box from a hockey game. Of course the crowd roared. Jason is really coming into his own. His guitar playing is just incredible. Dave was right with everything as well. It sounded like John was looking forward to singing Flag Decal in DC. He mentioned that he thought it was dead and buried. An obvious referece to the Iraq situation. They did play until 11:15, but only one encore song. John did seem a bit tired by the end, although still ended with a great (but shorted) version of Lake Marie. All in all, another fine night with the True American Treasure. (hey reeda, why ain't that on a shirt somewhere??!!)

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