Sat May 13, 2006 - Milwaukee,  WI - Milwaukee Theater with band Jason Wilber, Dave Jacques and Pat McLaughlin - support Paul Thorn

By TOM WILMETH
Prine deserves survivor status
Overcoming cancer informs his music
full story here
Posted: May 14, 2006
John Prine is one of many singer-songwriters who began his career by releasing albums filled with remarkable original songs, only to hear other performers' versions played on the radio.
  Tim Hardin, Kris Kristofferson, Rodney Crowell and Tim Buckley leap to mind as gifted songwriters who, like Prine, struggled mightily to get their own recordings heard by the public.
  Crowell and Kristofferson each finally achieved radio success; Hardin and Buckley both died from heroin overdoses.
  If there is such a thing as a midway point between hit singles and senseless death, John Prine may be it.
  Radio has ignored him, and large record sales have always eluded him. But along with weathering the record industry for more than 30 years, a different type of survivor status must also be granted Prine for overcoming cancer.
  "Fair & Square" is John Prine's most recent CD, winning the 2005 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album. It's a strong collection and includes his first new material since the cancer battle.
  Most of "Fair & Square" was performed during Saturday night's concert at the Milwaukee Theatre, along with older fare.
  "Angel from Montgomery," "Hello in There" and a hard-driving "Peaceful Waters" sounded newly invigorated during the two-hour concert.
  The word "cancer" was never uttered, but the evening's life-affirming tone made it obvious that here was a man glad to be healthy and among the living.
  An Illinois native, Prine seemed to take delight in being in Milwaukee, lauding and mocking the state by turns. A winter song acknowledging our late-arriving spring was part of a "Wisconsin trilogy."
  From his older catalog Prine offered his mother's favorite song and a tribute to Steve Goodman. Many of his new songs were about the deep love that he feels for his wife. In fact, before one such song Prine gently urged the audience to avoid adultery.
  Opening for Prine was a solo performance by Tupelo native Paul Thorn, a Pentecostal evangelist's son whose background as a skydiver and professional boxer reads like a Vonnegut character.
  Although new to most of the audience, Thorn's well-received set was culled from a decade's worth of releases, with original songs born of his distinctively southern past.

Fri May 12 - Appleton,  WI - Fox Cities Performing Arts Center with band Jason Wilber, Dave Jacques and Pat McLaughlin - support Paul Thorn

By: Angie G.

I was introduced to John Prine's music when I was a teenager, and I was hooked. I have many of his albums. My peers were listening to heavy metal in the 80s, but I liked John Prine. I was so excited to get to see him in concert in Appleton almost 20 years after first hearing him on a cassette tape. The concert exceeded my expectations. I learned what his audience looks like; they are all about 25-30 years older than me, but that's okay. He was awesome!! The show was long, and I knew the words to almost every single song, and everyone in the place was singing along. I couldn't have ever imagined what that experience was going to be like. The place was jammed with true John Prine fans. I never even knew there were so many around here. The crowd was pleased; it was obvious. Some concerts can turn a person off to an artist, but this one made me like John Prine even more. I didn't know I could like him more. Wow, that's all I can say.

By: ronn waseka
at the performing arts center.....sold out.....the performance lasted for 2hours fifteen minutes.......much enthusiasm.........we got full value and then some for our tickets.

By: carol s.
Fantastic show last night! If you were to rate it it would be way beyond a 10. Great selection played by John and the boys. They came back and did quite a few songs for their encore. Every song was a great song. High energy. It was really nice to meet Jason Wilber after the show. Paul Thorn was great.

Wed May 10 - Madison, WI - Overture Center with band Jason Wilber, Dave Jacques and Pat McLaughlin - support Paul Thorn  

By: Rob Thomas
ELOQUENT PRINE AGES LIKE FINE WINE 
  As John Prine grows old, it's been interesting to watch as he ages and becomes like the narrators in some of his songs. 
  When he started out as a young folk singer, he was a contemporary of the strung-out Vietnam veteran "Sam Stone." In middle age he inhabited the role of a husband in a failing marriage in "Lake Marie." Now, with Prine turning 60 this year, he's starting to look like the forlorn elderly man of "Hello in There." 
  That says something about Prine's Everyman features: He's short and stocky, with a tousled nest of hair and a wire-brush mustache. But it says a lot more about Prine's Everyman songs, as he seems able to peek into the living room windows and the hearts of ordinary Americans and write naturally and eloquently about what they're thinking and feeling. 
  Prine finely displayed all his gifts Wednesday night at Overture Hall, playing a superb two-hour show that included just about every classic song that diehard fans in the crowd could ask for. 
  Although the Nashville-based Prine is a frequent visitor to Madison, it was his first show at the Overture Center, and he seemed impressed by the venue, right down to the brand-new pillows in his dressing room. 
  It was also the first Madison show since the release of "Fair & Square," his first album of all-new material since 1996. And while none of the old songs have worn out their welcome, it was good to hear some new blood in the set. 
  "Other Side of Town" displays the classic Prine wit, telling the tale of a harried husband who treasures the out-of-body mental vacation. The otherwise meandering "Taking a Walk" contains the very quotable line, sung by the narrator as he appears on the doorstep of an old flame, "I felt about as welcome as a Wal-Mart Superstore." 
  Prine has been defiantly anti-establishment his whole career, but not often directly political, so it was a bit of a surprise when the new song "Some Humans Ain't Human" contained the pointed line "You're feeling your freedom/The world's off your back/Then some beady-eyed guy from Texas/Starts his own war in Iraq." 
  Loud cheers ensued. 
  The new songs, while quite strong, didn't quite have the resonance of Prine's older material, but perhaps they're like new shoes that need to be broken in. Prine had a stellar three-piece band backing him up, with two guitarists and an upright bass player giving punch to "Lake Marie" or creating a gorgeous arrangement with pedal steel and mandolin on "Hello in There." Prine was gracious and witty between songs, talking a little about each, such as the one he remembers writing on a Tuesday, because Tuesday is Meatloaf Day at the diner near his recording studio. 
  Opening act Paul Thorn sang like Lyle Lovett and looked like The Rock, but the muscular ex-boxer from Mississippi (he once lasted six rounds with Roberto Duran) had an engaging stage presence all his own during his opening set. He sang witty songs about childhood heartbreak and backyard weddings, roadside preachers and that last round with Duran. 
  When he was done, he just hopped off the stage and wandered into the aisles, leaving the theater with the rest of the audience during intermission. *** It's perhaps taking the man-of-the-people thing a little too far, but it was kind of cool, too. 
  ***** The whole article is here

By: Sean, Madison WI
I was amazed. This was my first John Prine concert and I can't begin to tell you how unbelievable the night was. Great music, great showman . . . I just can't believe folks sat in their seats the entire time. I wanted to get up and DANCE!

By: Rob Thomas
  All's 'Fair & Square' with Prine 
  New music from John Prine is always a blessing. Heck, old music from John Prine is a blessing, given how the folk-oriented songwriter has written so many great songs, from his heartrending tale of a drug-addicted Vietnam veteran ("Sam Stone") to his sad tale of growing old alone ("Hello In There"). 
  Prine released the new "Fair & Square" in 2005, his first new album in nearly a decade, and it's a welcome return to Prine's unique songwriting world, with characters both comic and tragic. The acoustic arrangements are as warm and inviting as always, and he's still got a knack for a turn of phrase. ("I felt about as welcome as a Wal-Mart Superstore," he sings in one song.) 
  Prine will play his first show in the Overture Center for the Arts at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. Tickets are $40 and $46, available through the Overture box office, online at www.overturecenter.com, or by phone at 258-4141. 
  Opening for Prine will be high-energy singer-songwriter Paul Thorn, an ex-boxer who usually puts on a friendly, pugnacious, wickedly funny set. 

Mon May 8, 2006 - Wausau, WI - Grand Theatre with band Jason Wilber, Dave Jacques and Pat McLaughlin -support Paul Thorn  

By: Brett
Absolutely great show. It was my first Prine concert (I'm 21) and he definitely didn't disappoint, I think he played for approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes, and did a four song encore - including "Paradise" with Paul Thorn (who was also quite good). The band was also very sharp, and Jason Wilber's solos were excellent. I had heard nothing but good things about him, and I see why. Unless I am wrong, I believe the venue was sold out - there was definitely a solid crowd there, aside from the one guy who kept yelling "play Illegal Smile". The highlight for me was probably "Some Humans Ain't Human", as well as the solo portion of the set with the crowd sing-along to "Illegal Smile" and "Dear Abby". The only thing that he didn't play that I was really hoping to hear was "Flag Decal". With attendance as it was, I really hope he comes back to play the Grand again next year or some time in the near future.

By: John
Fantastic show and a great venue. First, Paul Thorn opened and gained a new fan in me. Nice story telling, good humor, great guitar picking, wonderful voice. Loved it. john Prine was wonderful. I've listened to his music for decades but have never seen him live. He puts on a great show and many around me were singing along. Sounds like John has some connections to Wisconsin in the past and he mentioned this several times while introducing a song. I wanted to get up and dance when he played 'She is my Everything". Wonderful song. Sam Stone was emotional for me. Even though he has probably performed this song literally thousands of times, it still looked and seemed in his voice and actions that it was the first. There is nothing worse than watching a band perform their signature songs, just to perform them. Just to go through the motions. I didn't see or hear that at all with John and came away very, VERY impressed. If my schedule would have allowed I'd have gone to Madison to see him a few days later! This isn't the first time Prine has played the Grand in Wausau so I I sure hope it wasn't his last. One of my favorite shows of all time.

By: C_Ashenberg
The show was great. Had an absolute blast at this show. Paul Thorn was a very entertaining opener, his songs were very funny and it was cool how they accompanied his life stories. Than the Prine show. Having only been a fan for the last couple years I was not sure what to expect. But the lineup was the same as on the Sessions DVD, Dave Jaques on bass/Jason Wilbur on guitar, and guest Pat MacGlaughlin (spelling) on mandolin. The songs were all played with great energy and John was smiling throughout the whole thing. He obviously enjoys being there and having a crowd appreciate the music he has written. I can't think of one Prine song that I wanted to hear that he didn't play. If you enjoy his music or just some good acoustic music I would recommend this show. The show was just under 3 hours long, great value for a live performance. We bought the presale tix and were 4th row dead center. Wish I could have seen him again.

By:
pittsville wi 54466 FANTASTIC. TRULY EXCEEDED OUR HIGH EXPECTATIONS. We look forward to the next time you are near our area. Congratulations on "Fair and Square". Loved every song except Safety Joe. Good luck always.

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