Oct 28, 2006 Arlington Theatre, Santa Barbara, CA with band -Jason Wilber and Dave Jacques, with Jim James opening

By: Derek Svennungsen

In John We Trust -

  John Prine. At the Arlington Theatre, Saturday, October 28.

  If Bob Dylan is roots music's king (and he is), and Lucinda Williams is the queen (and she may be), then John Prine is the royal court's jester. He's the funny-looking, croak-voiced joker whose job it is to entertain, moralize, and satirize all at the same time.

  And when you're in an audience watching this 60-year-old roll through his repertoire of songs that are at one moment heart-breaking and the next ebullient, you feel like the kingdom would be just fine, if not a good sight better, if he were running the show.

  After a menial opening from Jim James of My Morning Jacket "fame"- a bit of a stretch if you ask me- Prine and his two bandmates, all clad in sharp suits, dove into 35 years' worth of material. Prine's songs, as his fans know, are all carved from his glorious, inexhaustible rock style. "Hello in There" from 1972 coheres perfectly with 2005's "Taking a Walk," which is in sonic cahoots with 1991's "Love & Happiness." And there is just so much comfort in Prine's sound; each song is a cocoon, a refuge.

  To the appreciative crowd's delight, Prine jigged a couple of times. He sang everyone's personal favorites (including my three-year-old son's, a DeMent-less "In Spite of Ourselves") and deadpanned his way through nearly two hours of anti-classic classics. His gravelly voice-Prine overcame throat cancer-stamped every lyric and every song with authority and authenticity. Unlike Dylan's lyrical abstruseness or Williams's dourness, Prine, in his jester's role, encouraged us to celebrate life's absurdities and revel in both the pain and joy. And for that, he earned a standing ovation.

  More than anything, what is obvious in watching John Prine perform is that he was absolutely born to play his music for all of us. The disheveled codger once again pulled off the performer's trifecta, leaving his audience entertained, moved, and happy to have paid lots of money for the tickets. To those not in attendance, I can only hope that you had some life-or-death situation that occupied you, and I can only hope that you handled it with a laugh and a rhyme. As John would.

----- Read the Full article with photos here: http://www.independent.com/artsandentertainment/2006/11/in_john_we_trust_1.html

Date: A Conversation with the Legendary John Prine
By: Ethan Stewart

clipped from Q&A You got anyting else cooking?

  Yeah. I'm just finishing up an album I did with a fella named Mack Wiseman. Mack has been around since the '40s. He was always considered a bluegrass singer, but I always thought of him as a song stylist-type crooner. And we tied into each other just by being around Nashville. It had been suggested to both of us that we should do a record together sometime. So a couple years ago, we sat down and cut a couple of things and we were amazed how well our voices sounded together, considering he's a real singer and I'm not. So we started making lists of songs we liked-old country and pop standards-and we cut them and we got 15 songs now. I'm co-producing it and I'm getting to ready mix the thing in November, so it will probably be for the first part of April before it hits the streets. I'm just real proud of it.

  All cover tunes?

Yeah. I didn't write anything for it. When we first got together, we didn't have any real restrictions. I just said, "Mack, pick 15 songs you'd like to sing and I'll do the same." And we didn't say from any particular era and we both came with about 20 or 25 songs a piece. And 15 of those 25 were the same on both lists. (Laughs.) So we thought, "Wow, there's something really going on here. What ever we are doing we are doing the same thing." So from there, we just started singing..It was great. I've been playing them a lot lately

].............. Read the full Q & A with John Prine here: http://www.independent.com/online_onlys/2006/10/john_prine_comes_to_the_arling.html

By: Jack Blake, Bakersfield, CA

Have wanted to see John Prine since I was first introduced to him over 7 years ago. This concert exceeded all expectations. I had a second row seat, so the mood on the stage was very contagious. You could tell that John and his Merry Band were truly glad to be there --- the flow of electricty was very much a 2-way street. And it was a unique expeience to be among a 40 plus year old audience acting like a bunch of teenagers at Bon Jovi concert. Most impressive was the fact that John played almost 2 hours straight ---- prior to the encore; far more than can be said for much younger performers. Funny thing --- my wife has had little exposure to John Prine, and she's been singing Dear Abby non-stop since the concert. Particularly chilling was "Lake Marie", a Prine song that I have never heard. Thank you for giving your all at this concert, John. This was undoubtly one of the best I've ever attended --- and you've helped recharge the muse for this 60 year old aspiring songwriter!!

By: Eric Taylor

I had never heard of John Prine when i happened to see him at the Mountaine Aire festival back in'02. From that day on I have loved every song I have heard him sing. Saturday night I finally got to see a full show. I expected a lot and my expectations were surpassed. I can't say I know the titles to every song he played but we got to hear many classics including a Picture Show opener as well as All the Best, Sins of Memphisto, Souveniers, Grandpa Was s Carpenter, Illegal Smile and Sam Stone. He played for over two hours and kept the theater at attention. It was the perfect venue for him and I hope to see him around these parts again. After a very dissapointing Bob Dylan show the week before I thank him for having the class he has and taking a few requests from the audience.

Oct 27, 2006: Wilshire Ebell Theatre, Los Angeles, CA - with band -Jason Wilber and Dave Jacques, with Jim James opening

Full Review here: http://www.calendarlive.com/music/pop/cl-et-prine30oct30,0,5863663.story >>>>>>

  What might John Prine have wanted for his 60th birthday a couple of weeks ago? Maybe the household-name renown of Bruce Springsteen, whose most poignant songs seem built from the Prine blueprint but without the zinging wit and whimsy? Or the fame and fortune of Jimmy Buffett, who shares Prine's whimsy but lacks his depth? .......... Nah. In concert Friday at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre, the impish Prine looked like a man who got just what he wanted: a rich muse, a loyal if small following and, most important, his health after cancer treatment a few years ago. In fact, being happy with what you've got was one thematic thread of the show, which inspiringly paired the Illinois-raised Prine with relative newcomer Jimmy James, leader of the powerful Louisville, Ky., band My Morning Jacket.

  To open the show, James, with fellow Jacket Carl Broemel accompanying, sang lonesome prairie songs - he sounded like an otherworldly Everly Brother in a broadcast from a lonesome prairie on the moon. The entrancing air more than made up for the lack of abandon by the full band.

  Prine, in contrast, could have been performing in your living room. With crisp Tennessee Two-type backing from guitarist Jason Wilber and bassist Dave Jacques, he spun nearly 40 years' worth of common-place absurdities, everyday tall tales and miniature universalities of heartbreak and joy with his regular-guy Midwestern drawl. From the satirical Vietnam protest "Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven Anymore," which he explained that he'd "stuffed and mounted" in 1975 but revived of late "at the request of the president," to the wryly cautionary tale of naked ambition in 2005's "Crazy as a Loon," the old songs sounded fresh, the more recent ones like venerable standards.

  As for his own ambitions or regrets, he clearly heeds the words he sang from his 1973 advice-column spoof "Dear Abby": "You are what you are and you ain't what you ain't." And introducing "Souvenirs," Prine said that the rueful tune was his mom's favorite, and when he'd play it for her, she'd make whatever he wanted for dinner. Now that's household-name stature that really means something. ..........

By: Mungo James Lewis

John Prine concert Oct. 27 2006 with Jim James of “My Morning Jacket” at the Ebell Theater, Los Angeles, California.

  Having been a John Prine fan since 1972, I have been fortunate enough to see him at about every venue possible. Small clubs, outdoor festivals, and large theaters. The Ebell Theater in the Wilshire district of downtown Los Angeles is the perfect place to see an artist like John Prine because it’s intimacy and great acoustics.

  Jim James of the band The Morning Jacket presented the opening act. I was not familiar with Mr. James or The Morning Jacket so I was looking forward to a new experience. I was disappointed with the performance and song choice. Maybe if one could understand the lyrics then it would have improved the show. Mr. James stated that he likes to write songs that nobody would understand. Well he succeeded!!!

  In my opinion his style is a fusion of Neil Young and Chris Isaak; a lot of growling and howls. NOTE TO THE OH BOY TOUR ORGANIZERS: While other cities had opening acts such as Jason Wilber, Keith Sykes, Todd Snyder, Iris DeMent, and Dan Reeder, why did we get Jim James? After all we all should be treated to the same caliper of music. Lets keep it “Fair and Square”.

  As John Prine walking on stage you could already tell that you were in for a treat. Grinning from ear to ear John Prine started with his signature opening song “Spanish Pipedream”. From the get go Prine was energetic and animated. The concert was loaded with many Prine standards intertwined with a mixture of the new and old releases. Prine sang songs from every album but “Common Sense”, “Pink Cadillac: “Aimless Love”, and “German Afternoons” (except Paradise).

  The balance of ballads, funny stories, Prine epics (Jesus the Missing Years & Lake Marie) and audience favorites made for a balanced and well thought out program. Accompanied by Jason Wilber on guitar and mandolin and David Jacques on bass the music was tight and their playing never over powered the vocals or upstaged Mr. Prine.

  John Prine always knows what the audience wants. With seven songs from his first album, he never strayed far from what makes John Prine John Prine. With the songs from his first album book ended with tunes from his last album we were entertained for over two hours. This was the first John Prine concert I ever saw where John did not mention his old pal Steve Goodman. I missed that.

  Thank you John Prine and Oh Boy Records for the great concert. Us folks on the “Left Coast” sometimes feel ignored and would love to see John visit us more often.

Mungo James Lewis

By: Harry

My wife and I took my Mom to see John Prine at the Wilshire Ebell Theater. My Mom has always been a music fan (when I was a little kid, she always had on the radio while working around the house...Running Bear Loves Little White Dove, Big Bad John, Battle of New Orleans [original Johnny Horton version - bet I was listening to it before Bob Weir did..]... so it must of been a country station of sorts. Anyway, I gave her a copy of Fair and Square last year and she really liked it, so I thought it would be a fun night out for her. She is 82... The show was really very good. In addition to the newer songs from F&S, there were a lot of older tunes like "Jesus The Missing Years". Mom really enjoyed the show. Of course, there were the tunes she was familiar with like Crazy as a Loon and Glory of True Love. She really liked "Lake Marie", though she had never heard it before. The venue was lacking a quality sound system - but it was not too bad, since Prine's band is a three piece with no drums. However, the two songs when they all were electric (She Is My Everything and another that escapes my memory right now) showed the P.A. lacking in fidelity a little. Jim James (of My Morning Jacket) with a buddy he called and "The Carl" Broemel opened, and joined for the encore tune - Paradise Tunes I can think of (not in order of performance): Spanish Pipe Dream Am I Right Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven Anymore Long Monday Grandpa Was A Carpenter Glory Of True Love Crazy As A Loon She Is My Everything Lake Marie Angel From Montgomery Bear Creek Blues Fish And Whistle Sam Stone Donald And Lydia Jesus The Missing Years Souvenirs Dear Abbey Paradise ...I am sure there were a few more but that's all I remember

Oct 23, 2006: Palace Of Fine Arts, San Francisco, CA - with band -Jason Wilber and Dave Jacques, with Jim James opening

By: Jim Harrington
Review

Full Review here: http://www.insidebayarea.com/music/ci_4542860

PRINE STILL IN HIS PRIME

Rock stars have been mixing humor and heartache for decades. Country players have been doing it, often unintentionally, for even longer. Yet, the degree to which John Prine - a musician who straddles the line between rock and country - accomplished the combination on his self-titled debut of 1971 stands as a true innovation in the history of popular music.

  Fast forward 35 years and the singer-songwriter is still balancing laughter and sorrow - perhaps better than ever before. His most recent work, 2005's "Fair and Square," is filled with great tunes that can put a tear in your eye and a smile on your face.

  Grammy voters obviously knew a good thing when they heard it, at least in this case, and awarded "Fair and Square" the trophy for Best Contemporary Folk Album earlier this year.

  On Monday night, Prine again tugged on the heartstrings and tickled the funny bone with a set of old and new favorites at the Palace of Fine Arts Theatre in San Francisco. It was a superb evening of music that put a definite spotlight on why Prine is considered one of the finest songwriters of his era.

  Another fine lyricist, Jim James, opened both Monday's show and the one that followed at the same venue on Tuesday. James is a strange bedfellow for Prine. He's best known for fronting the fine four-piece My Morning Jacket, an exceedingly popular rock band that will close out the year with a three-night run, Dec. 29-31, at the Fillmore in San Francisco. (Those tickets go on sale Nov. 5 through Ticketmaster outlets.)

  Accompanied by MMJ guitarist Carl Broemel, James proved the skeptics wrong with a fine set of dreamy, hypnotic songs that nicely complemented Prine's folk-rock offering. Plus, there weren't as many skeptics in the crowd as one might think. A number of fans came specifically to see James, and some even left before Prine took the stage.

  Their loss.

  Opening with a solid take on the first album's "Spanish Pipedream," a tune that has become better known over the years as the "Blow Up Your TV" song, Prine made like the postman he once was and delivered the goods on this night.

  The vocalist-guitarist kept the pace lively as he moved to 1991's "The Missing Years," arguably his finest album to date, for the fun "Picture Show" and then floored the crowd with the heartbreaking "German Afternoons" track "Speed of the Sound of Loneliness," a song that was covered in remarkable fashion by Nanci Griffith on her "Other Voices, Other Rooms" disc. --- He had fans rummaging through old yearbooks and scrapbooks in their minds with his begrudgingly sentimental "Souvenirs," one of the key tracks from Prine's sophomore outing, 1972's "Diamonds in the Rough." Prine then jumped up a year to 1973's "Sweet Revenge" and turned "Grandpa Was a Carpenter" into a regular hoedown.

  Prine's voice isn't as strong as it once was, and that was a bigger factor on Monday night than it was during his show last year at the Fillmore. Part of that has to do with age, given that Prine turned 60 just last month. It also can likely be credited to the surgery and radiation treatment that Prine underwent in the late '90s for cancer on his neck. Truthfully, however, the weakness in his voice was more noticeable when he spoke than when he sang.

  The rest of the night was filled with stellar versions of some of Prine's most beloved tunes, notably "Fish and Whistle," "Dear Abby," "Angel From Montgomery" and the sad, but comical "Sabu Visits the Twin Cities Alone." He also performed a number of "Fair and Square" tracks, including "Glory of True Love" and "Crazy as a Loon," most of which were every bit as strong as the old fan favorites.

  The encore climaxed with a powerful version of "Paradise," which benefited from the return to the stage of the two My Morning Jacket members.

  Paradise.

  That's a pretty good summation of what it was like to be at John Prine's concert on Monday night. ---

By: Jim Harrington

Last year, during a sold-out show at the Fillmore in San Francisco, John Prine showed yet again why he is considered one of the greatest modern American songwriters.

  Backed by two side players, the vocalist-guitarist delivered a glorious more than two-hour set that mixed heartache and laughter as naturally as real life. Nobody melds sweet and tart more convincingly than this former postman, who celebrated his 60th birthday earlier this month.

  Prine deals in heartache - not heartbreak. Anyone who has been both places can tell you there is a big difference. With few exceptions, even his dreariest, bleakest songs contain a lingering sweetness, a feeling of hope and/or a sense of humor. He may be down - or even out - but he can usually manage a smile.

  There's been much to smile about recently in Prine's career. In 2005, he released "Fair and Square," the wordsmith's first self-penned album in nine years, and both critics and fans raved. The crowning moment came when the disc won the 2006 Grammy for Best Contemporary Folk Album.

  Folk fans won't want to miss the great songwriter when he spins tales tonight at the Palace of Fine Arts Theatre in San Francisco. Opening the show is Jim James, front man for the popular rock outfit My Morning Jacket.

  Showtime is 8 p.m. Tickets are $49.50. The theater is at corner of Bay and Lyons streets. Call (415) 421-TIXS, (510) 625-TIXS, (408) 998-TIXS or (925) 685-TIXS or visit http://www.ticketmaster.com

By: blueledboy

John Prine October 23, 2006 Palace Of Fine Arts San Francisco, CA
Spanish Pipedream
Picture Show

Speed Of The Sound Of Lonliness

Souveneirs

Grandpa Was A Carpenter

Far From Me

Fish and Whistle

Glory Of True Love

Crazy As A Loon

All The Best

Angel From Montgomery

Long Monday

Great Compromise

Jesus, The Missing Years

Dear Abby

That's the Way that the World Goes 'Round

Sam Stone

Please Don't Bury Me

Christmas In Prision

Bruised Orange (Chain of Sorrows)

She Is My Everything

Ain't Hurtin Nobody

Hello In There

Lake Marie

Encore ??

Sabu Visits the Twin Cities Alone

Up On Bear Creek

Paradise # # with Jim James and Carl Broemel

Oct 20, 2006: The Crest Theater, Sacramento, CA - with band -Jason Wilber and Dave Jacques, with Jim James opening

Wow! My first John Prine concert was when the opening act for him was Arlo Guthrie in San Carlos, CA. ( I knew I had to see him after catching him on a PBS station show in 1976 of him at Wolftrap) And now more than 20 years later - John never disappoints. We brought a friend who had never heard John before. Yep, a convert was made. The Crest is a marvelous venue. John was great as usual. And the show was sold out. Sold out so fast that they added a show on Saturday night 10/21 to accomodate all the fans. I was worried that we had made a mistake moving to Sacramento but when John showed up - everythings seemed ok. "It's a big old goofy world" still!!!