Kitchener || London || Ottawa || Toronto

Sep 17, 2006 - Centennial Hall,  London, Ontario Canada - John Prine with band Dave Jacques and Jason Wilber. Special Guest: Dan Reeder

By: Norm, Lynda and Rachel Biggar

Well, it was quite a treat to see John Prine live and rockin' in London. We drove from Owen Sound to see him. It was something to see a legend in action. I am only a recent J.P.fan. My wife and I and our 12 year old daughter (as big a fan as I am) really enjoyed the show. He played tons of his old songs and quite a few off "Fair and Square" too. I was so impressed to watch him perform knowing he was a survivor of throat cancer. Wow! He held nothing back and his voice was great throughout the show. I think I saw him chug a bit of cough syrup part way through but it did not phaze him one bit! He did a great show..we especially liked when he stopped to chat and tell stories.he could have done that all night I am sure he has a bucket full of stories. He played over 2 hours straight with no break!!! Dan Reeder is an interesting character too. We enjoyed his humorous look on life. I think he is enjoying his tour with John. He looked like a kid in a candy shop when he sang with John on Paradise. Our only complaint was with the sound where we were sitting in the balcony to the right of the stage. When they were playing the more lively songs Johns voice got lost in the whole thing. Our speaker had a muddy sound for sure. The quieter stuff came through not bad. The sound guys never really fixed this problem. Dave and Jason did a super job on backup..true pros. On a personal note I was tickled to see Dave Jacques playing a Jerry Jones Longhorn bass...I have a Danelectro that I play and it was cool to see a Danelectro inspired guitar on stage..but then near the end of the show Jason Wilber pulls out a Danelectro U2...holy cow, how cool is that! On the drive home we played John on the CD for the ride home...now I save my biggest thrill for the last. On the way out for supper from our motel room I looked across the road.and there in front of the Delta Armories hotel is John Prine with some of his band and crew. After a jaywalk across 5 lanes of traffic (luckily it was Sunday and I did not get run over) I was able to say hi to John and shake his hand. I was so excited I was lost for words but wished him a good gig and all the best. What a thrill! If you can get to see John on this tour don't miss it..you won't be disappointed!!!

By: Robert Ross

Hello in There: -----
  John played at Centennial Hall here in London, which is the same venue he played on Nov/23/2003. I've seen him once before here in London...many years ago, and I believe that was at Alumni Hall up at University of Western Ontario (UWO).
  The first thing I did when I got to the concert hall was to see if I could "Scarf" one of the JP Posters they had hanging in the Box Office. They were nothing special as the Management had just made a Master Poster and Photocopied a bunch from the master. Apparently they didn't get any Fancy Promo Posters from the Promoters this year. In any event....the lady in the booth had promised me one of the Photocopied ones when I went to pick up my tickets and she came through!! It is now in a Poster Frame and hanging on my Wall!! I got a Real nice poster from the 2003 show...which is also hanging on the wall. If any of you guys and Gals out west can scarf a few from those shows...........I'd drool all over the Floor to get one!!!
  Anyways...the Place was full of "Old People....er I mean Mature John Prine Fans!!"...and I was one of the youngsters at 50 years Old!!! Seems like every Concert...the people in attendance look a little Older!! HAHAHHA...Just kidding..... there was even a few Kids there...I mean like UNDER 16!!!
  Dan Reeder opened the show....and he was Very entertaining. ....mind you he is no John Prine. He seemed somewhat nervous when he hit the stage .....but like he said at the start of the show..."I ain't no Singer, and I ain't no Musician...I'm a Painter!!!" He appeared to have his Guitar tuned to an Open E chord for ease of chord playing, but I thought his simple style of playing was quite effective and matched his tunes very well. He is a very funny guy and had everyone laughing throughout his set. There was lots of audience participation as he had us singing Chorus's and even entire 2 Line Songs!! He was dressed the way John used to dress in the early days.....a pair of blue jeans, a T-shirt and running shoes. His head was topped with an old baseball hat.
  Reeder has a very distinctive voice that is off the beaten track.....but most of us there are also off the beaten track....so I think on the whole he was liked by those in attendance.
   I enjoyed his songs but compared to John's....well. .....that isn't really fair I guess...so I won't even make that comparison!! Did I like him?? Yes I did, and I give him credit for getting up there in front of a crowd that obviously wasn't there to see him. He looked scared to death....and so would I if I was on the same bill as John Prine. -----
  You guys out west are gonna like Dan Reeder..I guarantee it.....just sit back and enjoy his unique style and don't try to compare him to anyone else...just enjoy him for what he is....or "He is what he is.....and he ain't what he ain't!!".....signed. ...Dan Reeder!!

  There was a 20 Minute or so intermission between sets....and this Old Diabetic Boy had to take a run to the pitstop area so I wouldn't pee off anyone half way thru John's show!! Like I said...the people appear to be getting older at each Concert I go to...and this was the FIRST Time I ever saw a line up at a MENS WASHROOM!!!!
    Luckily I was in the first wave....It was lined up all the way down the hall by the time I got outta there! HAHAHHA....
  Well...before you know it was time to Rock.....and Johnny and the Boys hit the stage. I was disappointed at first as Johnny didn't have his Colonel Sanders tie on....Just a black jacket and a black golf shirt...he was tie-less. I kinda liked the Colonel Sanders tie he wore at the last concert here in London.

  Opening Song was Spanish Pipedream which he sang to a Standing Ovation. By the time he was done with that the place was Rockin' . People were Hootin', Yellin' and carrying on like Fools..... or in other words..the start of another good JP Concert.

  I don't know why but I think John really likes playing here in London..... there's just something there that I can't really put my finger on.... but it's Magical!! ----- John Played a ton of his old stuff......which suited me just fine...as that is what I grew up on. I would say it was about 80-90 % OLD Stuff. I'm not gonna list them all here......but if you closed your eyes for the whole concert..... it coulda been the 70's!! Actually I was looking at the audience.... .and it looked like the 70's even with your eyes open!! HAHHAHHA.... I know I'm really playing up the "Old People Thing"...but I'm only laughing at myself. My wife made the comment..."look dear.......your build seems to be quite popular here tonight!!". Gotta Love her eh??? ----- Dave and Jason were superb as usual, and many times John backed up behind them with a big grin...and let them take the limelight. Jason is quite a guitar slinger!!
  There were lots of people singing along with John....and I didn't see anyone's chair get booted or any fisticuffs like an earlier JP Concert Review.

  My wife and I were sitting in the 3rd Row, Centre Stage. The couple beside us had driven in from Kitchener, Ontario... about 60 miles down the road. I asked them how the Kitchener Show was on Thursday night...and they said: "What Show???...he didn't play there!!" I informed them that he was at the Centre in the Square for a show and they were dumbfounded. ..they had NO IDEA that he had played there, and couldn't believe they had missed him in their own hometown. Heck I was even gonna drive to Kitchener and catch that show too...but never got any tickets in time....

  By the end of the show. John's voice was getting a little rough. He had played 4 Concerts in 5 dDays here in Ontario. He closed the show with Lake Marie and they really rocked 'er out on that one. They finished the song to another standing "O"....and John must have bowed about 50 times with the biggest grin on his face!!

  Everyone kept clapping and screaming til he came back for the encore and did another 4 Songs which included the show finale "Paradise" with Dan Reeder. Dan looked like he was mesmerized to be standing on the same stage with his long time hero. I can't even imagine how he must have felt being "ON STAGE and SINGING" Paradise with John!! ----- I'm pretty sure the show was Sold Out... I didn't see any empty seats...except when the "Diabetic Boys Choir" all headed for the can at Intermission time!! ----- So...this is the 4th Time I have seen John Live. I sure am hoping we have a few more before "I am Too Old" to cut the Mustard. Ol Johnny Boy looks like he can go on forever...but I think a day will come eventually when he may have to slow down on the Touring side of things......but it was quite obvious that time has NOT ARRIVED yet...'cause he was rockin', and pickin' and grinnin' with the best of them here in London!!

  Oh yeah...and by the way...anyone who thinks John ain't a GOOD GUITAR PLAYER....just ain't listening... .he is simply amazing on the Guitar.

  Winnipeg, Calgary and Edmonton...get ready....'cause the JP Tour bus is heading your way....and you are gonna have you some fun....Guaranteed!!!

  If you are at any of the shows and get a chance to talk to John...or can even just "Yell it Out"....tell John that was One Killer Show he put on for us here in London, Ontario..... and he better git back here REAL SOON!!!

By: Tom Carnegie

Dan Reeder kicked off this excellent night by sauntering on stage and proceeded to entertain us with his mostly humorous collection of self-written songs. His dry wit went well with his dry voice - get that guy a glass of water! Then, about 32 minutes later, John Prine and his pals took the stage and jumped into a good rocking version of Spanish Pipedream followed by the slower Speed At The Sound Of Loneliness, Souvenirs (honouring the late Steve Goodman) and Far From Me. The tempo picked up again for Grampa Was A Carpenter which was accompanied by a funny anectdote at the end about John's family - but I'll let him tell you about it when you see him! Next, it was a sampling of Fair And Square with Fish & Whistle, Glory Of True Love, Crazy As A Loon, and finally a tad long Taking A Walk. It was at this point where John's accompanyments took a break and he was left alone to perform Angel From Montgomery, Long Monday, Donald & Lydia, Dear Abby (another funny personal story after), That's The Way That The World Goes Round, and was rejoined gradually and perfectly by his mates half way through Sam Stone. Next was a rocking Bear Creek Blues and She Is My Everything - a song for his beloved wife. He then did a really different version of Ain't Hurtin' Nobody - I think it sounded very bluesy. Earlier in the show, a fan had shouted out a request for Hello In There. He replied that he "definitely will do it tonight" and he definitely kept his word with this one. One of my own favourites (and I'm sure for many) is Lake Marie, and they did a fine job of it next which was also the last song of the night - "We gotta go now!" But wait - there's more! (are you surprised?) Nope. Thankfully, they came back for an encore with Christmas In Prison, Please Don't Bury Me, and finally, the show closed with Dan Reeder joining the band for the great song Paradise. The show was an awesome collection of Prine tunes sprinkled with plenty of John's stories and comments. He smiled a lot and really seemed to enjoy entertaining the crowd of mostly 40 somethings to seniors. Thank you so much John and your excellent band - and I hope I have this right - Dave Jacques (bass) and Jason Wilber (lead guitar). You guys put on a helluva' show!

Kitchener || London || Ottawa || Toronto

Sep 16, 2006 Massey Hall, Toronto, Ontario - John Prine with band Dave Jacques and Jason Wilber. Special Guest: Dan Reeder

By: David McPherson

Full Review here: http://www.exclaim.ca/index.asp?layid=22&csid=33&csid1=5687 Requests rained from the rafters throughout John Prine’s sold out show. The song slinger had the best comeback, telling fans, “I know them all.” Wearing a black suit, the country folk star wasted no time digging into his personal vault, picking up his acoustic guitar and charging into “Spanish Pipedream.” For the next two hours, the songwriter captivated the audience. His permanent smile was infectious. Listeners, from the orchestra pit to the upper balcony, clung to each of his words. Prine satisfied the crowd with a mix of songs from his most recent disc — the Grammy-winning Fair and Square — and many of the memorable tunes from his 1971 self-titled debut, including “Hello in There,” “Angel From Montgomery” and “Six O’clock News.” Diehard aficionados scribbled down the set list, while newcomers were spellbound wondering why it had taken them so long to discover this passionate singer-songwriter. “Sam Stone,” which tells the sombre story of a Vietnam veteran coming home with “a purple heart and a monkey on his back,” was an epic topical tale that when sung by Prine is just as relevant today as when it was penned decades ago. Highlights from Fair and Square included “Taking a Walk,” “She is My Everything” and “Some Humans Ain’t Human.” Backed by a tight band of two (bass and guitar), this dynamite duo helped Prine turn back the clocks and work through his storied box of songs. After a standing ovation, Prine returned for sing-along “Paradise” by inviting opener Dan Reeder to join him. With exquisite four-part harmony, it was a wonderful way to end a magical musical evening spent with a teller of tales, who showed that after all these years, while his voice may be a little more grizzled, the words and music remain relevant and true.

By: Ray

Well, well, well. Always good to see Johny boy.Although I'm a rocker at heart,he is one of my favorite artists. I've seen him 4 times now.first two times were like 20 years ago.But seen him 2 years ago at Covacation hall in Toronto( which was one of the best shows I have ever seen of any band, group or singer) & on Sat. at Massey Hall. Although this show did not meet that once in a life time proformance,it was a very good one . Dan Reeder opened the night & was a nice surprise.He had us laughing & singing right along with him. Great job Dan. After a short break & chat with some Prine fans,The boys came on stage.Started with Spanish pipe dream,which had some sound problems.Then on to Picture show (the sound was greatly improved, thanks)next were a couple nice treats that i wasn't excepting-6 o clock news & Storm windows ( awesome job on those songs,which I forgot he did) -Souvoners-Grampa was a carpenter-Fish & whistle,-then songs from the new cd-Glory of true love-Taking a walk.Back to the classics-Angel from montgomery. Then another surprise-Billy the Bum (neat to hear that one )-Long Monday(new one)-Dear abbey(ofcourse)-Clay Pigeons(best song on the new cd,I think)-That's the way the world goes round-Sam stone(a must)-Bear creek(new one)-She's my everything(new one,my wife's favorite)-Ain't hurt'n no one-Some humans ain't human(new one,Bush busher)-Hello in there.... Then the ender- Lake Marie(awwww Marie..we gotta go now).Encore was -Paradise (with Dan Reeder) The crowd was decent,was excepting a more into it one . I guess the moon & stars were not in the right spot to take it to the next level. Highlights were John playing solo. His guitar playing was outstanding,decent vocally as well. Cheers John Prine Keep on rolling & see you soon. P.S. the band members were great .Bass player & guitar player,excellent back up singing as well .

By: Chris Carty

I thought the show was pretty good, not bad, can't complain. I personally have seen better in 20 + years of seeing him. I think TO got shorted on the setlist. A lot of acts seem to do that in TO. I think the crowd has a lot to do with that. The one surprise of the evening for me was hearing Billy The Bum! The bass was mixed way high for the first couple of songs. The show was exactly 2 hours long with a 1 song encore. Here is the setlist. Spanish Pipedream Picture Show Six O'Clock News Storm Windows Souvenirs Grampa Was A Carpenter Fish & Whistle Glory Of True Love Takin' a Walk Angel From Mongomery Billy the Bum (where did this come from)! (solo) Long Monday (solo) Dear Abby (solo) Clay Pigeons (solo) That's The Way The World Goes Round (solo) Sam Stone Bear Creek She Is My Everything Ain't Hurtin' Nobody Some Humans Ain't Human Hello In There Lake Marie ENC: Paradise (with Dan Reeder)

Opened with Spanish Pipedream - great. Sound problems (where I was sitting) with second number (Flag Decal?) were quickly fixed. Six O'clock News followed. Other classics played included Hello In There (played more slowly than normal), Souvenirs, Grandpa was a Carpenter, Angel from Montgomery, Dear Abby, Lake Marie, Sam Stone, World Goes Round. "Fair & Square" songs incuded were Long Monday, Clay Pigeons, She Is My Everything, Some Humans Ain't Human ('Cowboy from Texas' sung as 'beadie eyed guy from Texas', i.e. no slur on cowboys), Takin' a Walk, Bear Creek and Glory of true Love. Encore was Paradise (assisted by Dan Reeder w/ chorus; Shorty sang third verse). Show went 2+ hours after dan Reeder opening. Band took a break in the middle - JP continued solo acoustic. Great show ! Crowd was really into it, and JP & Band responded in kind. A good time was had by all.

By: ELIZABETH BROMSTEIN

Reeder right
Accidental tunesmith gets Prine aid
full article and photos at here

  Dan Reeder with John Prine at Massey Hall (178 Victoria), Saturday (September 16). $39.50-$56.50. 416-870-8000.
   Dan Reeder claims he never had any intention of being a professional musician. The father of three, who grew up in California but has resided in Germany for the past 20 years ("I met a German girl," he says), fiddled around on harmonica, clarinet, flute and guitar all his life, but only recorded what turned out to be his self-titled debut three years ago. He did it on his home computer, for fun.

  "All I really wanted to do was sing harmony with myself," he says on the phone from his Halifax hotel room, where his luggage has just arrived after going missing for two days. "It's hard for me to find people to sing with, especially in Germany, because it's not a traditional thing that they do. They don't just freely harmonize with each other. The other thing is, I've got a very quiet voice, so if I sing with people with normal voices you can't hear me at all. I just recorded absolutely for the fun of it."

   There was no intention of releasing the CD, but Reeder says a friend played it at a party and people wanted to buy it.
  "They started offering me money, and I'm not stupid. I started burning and selling them for about 15 euros. I sold about 700 of the things, and then I was pretty much done."

    But he thought he'd send one to a list of people whose music he liked, "just sort of as a thank-you note. John Prine was the only one I could find an address for, so I only sent one to him. He contacted me and said he wanted to put it out on his label (Oh Boy)."

  I can't help but wonder if this gosh-golly-gee-I-just-stumbled-onto-the-stage thing isn't just the tiniest bit an act. Is he for real?
  But I don't suppose it really matters. I fell in love with Reeder's smooth, dry vocals and wry humour the first time I heard this record, and now it's one of my all-time favourites (particular singalong favourites include Food And Pussy and The Brain Is Not The Mind ), a collection of touching and hilarious homemade blues, country and folk played entirely on guitars Reeder started making himself just a few years ago. He just followed the instructions in a book. Of course, he never had any intention of playing live either.

  "Oh Boy told me from the beginning that I should play live, and I said, 'I don't wanna do that. I don't wanna do that.' But what sort of forced me to do it was a call from BBC Radio to record 45 minutes live for broadcast. I said, 'I don't wanna do that,' and a friend said, 'Dan, that's fine. You can say no, but this is the BBC, and they only call once.' So I decided to try it and it worked out okay."

  Reeder's second record, Sweetheart, is another gem, 15 original tracks and an acoustic version of A Whiter Shade Of Pale that's as haunting as the original was supposed to be. Of course, he doesn't think it's as good as the first.

  "This one was more difficult to make. The first CD, there was nobody lookin', nobody listenin'. My doors were closed and I had no reason to expect anybody was ever gonna listen to it. The second was gonna be put out by Oh Boy from the beginning, so that's a completely different feeling."

  Reeder was nervous about embarking on his first tour, sharing a bill with Prine. It's also the longest time he's ever been away from home. But now he's a bit calmer.

  "I'm doin' better. I was real, real nervous, wakin' up in the middle of the night and stuff, but now I've met John Prine, I've met the guys in the band.

  "I think it's gonna be all right."

Kitchener || London || Ottawa || Toronto

Sep 14, 2006 Centre in the Square - Kitchener, ON - John Prine with band Dave Jacques and Jason Wilber. Special Guest: Dan Reeder

By: Robert Reid

Read the full article here:

  I first saw John Prine in concert a few years after the release of his acclaimed, self-titled debut album way back in 1971.

  He came on stage with a six pack, sat down on a chair and played, smoking intermittently throughout the concert.

  When the six pack was done, the concert was over.

  It was obvious that while he wrote with the effortless ease of a natural writer, performing live was hard work for the shy inger/songwriter from Chicago.

  Nonetheless, it was a great concert. I remember it like it was last month.

  To paraphrase Bob Dylan, the times they have a-changed.

  Prine is more relaxed on stage after performing for more than 30 years. He doesn't need the comfort of a few brews. And throat cancer in the late 90s has put an end to the cigarettes.

  One thing hasn't changed, though. Prine still puts on one helluva show, as was evident last night at Centre in the Square.

  He's written more great songs than he could ever perform in a single concert.

  And it was obvious from the many rabidly loyal fans who shouted out requests throughout the two-hour concert that they had favourites.

  He might not have gotten around to every song everyone wanted to hear, but he didn't disappoint in his Kitchener debut.

  He plowed his way through 20 songs, plus a two-song encore, spanning his career. He performed fewer songs from his Grammy winning Fair & Square than he might otherwise in deference to his career catalogue.

  His playlist included a slower, more poignant Hello in There, Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven Anymore (pulled out of mothballs thanks to the current U.S. administration), Angel from Montgomery, Souvenirs (his mom's favorite), Ain't Hurtin' Nobody, Lake Marie, This Love Is Real, He Was in Heaven Before He Died, People Puttin' People Down, New Train and Glory of True Love, to name only a few.

  The heart of the concert was five, solo, acoustic songs including the recent Long Monday, in addition to Donald & Lydia, Dear Abby, That's the Way That the World Goes Around (with a sidesplitting story) and a compelling Sam Stone.

  Opening act Dan Reeder returned to sing harmony vocals on Paradise, the concert closer.

  Prine played acoustic and electric guitar and was accompanied by a classy bassist (electric and double bass) and a young guitarslinger who also played mandolin and harmonica. Both sang back-up vocals.

  Like Kris Kristofferson, Guy Clark and Townes Van Zandt, Prine never had a great voice in the conventional sense. But few of the many artists who have covered material over the years sing his songs better.

  His are working-class songs, sung with a workingman's voice. It's the poetry and the emotion that count, not the timbre, not the tone.

  The cancer might have lowered his voice a register or two. But changes in key do the trick. He sounds as good as ever, like an old copper pot burnished to the touch.

  Similarly, he was never a great guitar player in the conventional sense. But a Prine song sounds best on solo guitar, stripped of ornamentation.

  That was confirmed again last night, if there was ever any doubt, despite tasteful accompaniment.

  Prine has the stage personality of an old friend you enjoy sharing beers with at the local pub on a Saturday night. The guy with whom you bowl, watch ball games or go fishing.

  His humour is self deprecating and tender. He had a smile pasted on his face most of the concert.

  Not surprising since the large crowd of predominantly fiftysomethings acted like teenagers at a pop concert -- clapping, shouting, whistling and generating impromptu singalongs to lyrics polished to a high gloss by familiarity.

  The concert began and ended with rousing standing ovations.

  But it's the songs that matter, still, after all these years, missing or otherwise.

  Songs written without compromise, great or small.

  Songs that prick the balloon of political dishonesty and hypocrisy with sweet revenge

  Songs that break your heart because they give voice to the pain and sorrow that replace the happiness and joy when love goes wrong, reminiscent of the late John Garfield blues.

  And songs that make you feel good because sometimes a smile, illegal or otherwise, is all we have to escape reality.

  As he proved again last night, Prine connects with people who "believe in this living is a hard way to go."

  Visual artist-turned-songwriter Reeder introduced 11 songs from his two albums that had the audience in stitches with his droll humour and sharp satirical edge.

PREVIEW

By: ROBERT REID

His words come back to haunt
One of America's most beloved troubadours brings profound messages to Centre in the Square

Full Story Here:

  It's been five years since the Twin Towers collapsed, sending America into deep mourning.

  With the exception of Bruce Springsteen's The Rising, American musicians have been noticeably silent in responding to the tragedy.

  The same cannot be said of the American-led invasion of Iraq.

  Controversial artists, including Steve Earle, a toxic thorn in the side of the Bush administration, have been joined by a diverse array of peers in condemning the war in Iraq.

  Neil Young came under attack from the American right when he released Living with War, a wail of denunciation with such songs as Let's Impeach the President and Lookin' for a Leader.

  Bruce Cockburn has turned his attention to American militarism once again with Life Short Call Now, including such songs as Peace March and This is Baghdad.

  With peacekeeping escalating to combat and body counts rising in Afghanistan, it's anyone's guess how long it will take for more Canadian musicians to raise their voice in protest

  As fate would have it, one of America's most eloquent voices of protest during the Vietnam War is appearing Thursday at Centre in the Square. 

  John Prine is making his Kitchener debut as part of the Canadian leg of a tour that takes him from Halifax to Calgary and Edmonton.

  Opening is Dan Reeder, an offbeat songwriter with a satirical edge who is on Oh Boy Records, founded by Prine in the early 1980s.

  Since the release of his self-titled album in 1971, Prine has been celebrated as one of America's great singer-songwriters.

  He's never had a hit single or a No. 1 album. Yet, he remains a benchmark by which the best singer-songwriters judge their best work.

  After 35 years, the ex-soldier (posted to Germany rather than to Vietnam) and former Chicago postman still has the chops.

  His 2005 release, Fair & Square, won a Grammy for Best Contemporary Folk Album.

  Last year he was invited by American Poet Laureate Ted Kooser -- like Prine, a midwesterner who creates lasting art through the lives of ordinary people -- to the Library of Congress, where he was the first singer-songwriter to read lyrics as poetry.

  Fair & Square is Prine's first album of new songs since Lost Dogs & Mixed Blessings, released a decade ago.

  In the intervening years, he released the self-explanatory John Prine: Live on Tour and In Spite of Ourselves, a superb album of duet covers.

  The esteem Prine is held by peers is reflected in the country and alt-country sweethearts who joined him including Emmylou Harris, Trisha Yearwood, Patty Loveless, Lucinda Williams, Iris DeMent, as well as wife Fiona.

  In a XM Satellite Radio interview available on his website, Prine attributes the hiatus from songwriting to helping raise two sons, born a year apart after the release of Lost Dogs.

  He also survived a bout of throat cancer. Not only did the 1997 diagnosis jeopardize his career, it threatened his life, an echo of the leukemia that felled his old musical "buddy" from Chicago, Steve Goodman.

  As we reflect on 9/11 and the wars it has caused, it's suitable to recall songs on Prine's debut album that molded the contemporary anti-war song.

  Although inspired by the Vietnam War, his words still ring true because the thoughts, emotions and feelings they express remain relevant.

  Prine's peace songs eschew grand generalizations of the Where Have All the Flowers Gone? and Blowin' in the Wind variety. Instead, they focus on particulars, specifically the horror of war filtered through ordinary lives.

  In Hello in There, Prine recalls a war that preceded Vietnam:

     We lost Davey in the Korean War

    I still don't know what for

  It's a question more Americans are asking as the war in Iraq shows no end in sight. It's a question more Canadians will ask as more sons and daughters lose their lives in Afghanistan.

  But the clincher that breaks your heart is the next line, three words: Don't matter anymore

  Kooser, since replaced by Donald Hall as Poet Laureate, is reported observing that no American poet wrote anything better about the Vietnam War than Sam Stone.

  In the song, Prine articulates the terrible effect of war through the pain of a single, damaged soldier.

  Sam Stone, a vet with a Purple Heart, returns home with "grass round his brain" and "a monkey on his back."

    There's a hole in daddy's arm

    Where all the money goes

  The observation is so devastating because it's spoken from the innocent lips of Sam's young son or daughter.

  The next line exposes the hypocrisy justifying war in the name of religion.

  And Jesus Christ died for nothing

  I suppose

  Prine retired Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven Anymore. But he brought it back because of times that confuse patriotism with faith, treason with dissent and support for the men and women in the military with support of the war.

    But your flag decal won't get you into heaven anymore

    They're already overcrowded from your dirty little war

    And Jesus don't like killing no matter what the reason's for

    And your flag decal won't get you into heaven anymore

  Prine has mellowed with age. However, he hasn't lost his edge. In Some Humans Ain't Human, from Fair & Square, he recites:

    Have you ever noticed

    When you're feeling really good

    There's always a pigeon

    That's come s--- on your hood

    Or you're feeling your freedom

    And the world's off your back

    Some cowboy from Texas

    Starts his own war in Iraq.

  John Prine is more than a protest singer. But, as a seminal artist who inaugurated the transition from folksinger to singer-songwriter, he continues to cast a long, influential shadow across American music.

  CONCERT

  Who: John Prine

  Where: Centre in the Square

  Day: Thursday

  Time: 8 p.m.

  Cost: $38.75, $50.75

  Phone: 519-578-1570

  www.centre-square.com

Kitchener || London || Ottawa || Toronto

Date: September 12, 2006 National Arts Center, Ottawa ONTARIO -John Prine with band Dave Jacques and Jason Wilber. Special Guest: Dan Reeder

By: ANN MARIE MCQUEEN

Ottawa Sun full article here:

  It would be hard for most musicians to hold an entire audience rapt for 2 1/2 hours on a weeknight, even one as wry, witty and impish as John Prine.

  So when people started to file out of the National Arts Centre on Tuesday night at the two-hour mark, you couldn't blame them. Even if you love Prine, it was a long time to spend seated, soaking in his particular brand of gentle, politically conscious and still-relevant country-folk music

  The Illinois native, now 59 and 35 years into his career, sold 70% of the 2,300 seat Southam Hall. His setup was sparse -- just Prine in all black, flanked for most of the show by two musicians who took turns rotating through bass, guitar and mandolin.

  Prine can still sing despite a major fight against a form of cancer that attacked the right side of his neck eight years ago. And he's just as funny as ever, joking about everything from marriage to people who screw up song lyrics.

  The self-deprecating Prine, with a wide, toothy grin, prefaced the tale by pointing out what a fan he used to be of the No. 1 hit Margie as a kid, and a line he had thought said "don't forget your grumblybeans."

  "I thought, 'Wow, that must be something you can only get in New Orleans,' " he said, pointing out that an issue of Hit Parade finally set him straight. "Fats was singing, 'Don't forget your promise to me' ... They weren't always singing what I thought they were singing."

  RICH CATALOGUE

  Prine mostly stayed away from politics and took his sweet time ambling through his rich music catalogue, which has never been recognized with a hit single or album, though he did beat out Bruce Springsteen in the best contemporary folk album category with a Grammy Award win for last year's Fair & Square.

  Songs from that album were on the roster, including The Glory of True Love with its oh-so-true words about that frustrating emotion: "Never will go out of fashion/always will look good on you."

  Early in the show, not perhaps knowing how much time he would devote to them, members of the crowd peppered Prine with beloved song titles whenever he'd take a break between songs.

  "I know," he said with a grin. "I wrote those."

  Prine veered through other love songs, including Angel From Montgomery, Lake Marie and She is My Everything and into hard-strumming Johnny Cash territory with the rousing Bear Creek Blues. There was time for politics, though, with the drug-addicted soldier tune Sam Stone.

  In between he descended briefly into smart silliness, with Let's Talk Dirty in Hawaiian and the surprisingly apt ode-to-Hollywood Crazy as a Loon.

  A healthy encore featured Prine's winsome hit Illegal Smile while brother Billy stepped out on stage to join him in crooning the closer Paradise.

By: Casey Canning

What a great show once again for John Prine! He played for well over 2 hours last night and I got a chance to meet him backstage after the sshow and have hime sign my dad's guitar for him. What a great guy! Excellent Show! Great guy! I living legend for sure! See ya next time John!

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