JOHN PRINE BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA CONCERT REVIEWS 2005 |
REVIEWS OF JOHN PRINE CONCERTS & ALBUMS CONCERT REVIEWS BY YEAR 2006 | 2005 | 2004
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The Orpheum Theatre, Vancouver, BC
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Set List | ||
1. Spanish Pipedream 2. Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven Anymore 3. The Speed of the Sound of Loneliness 4. Six O'clock News 5. Souvenirs 6. Fish and Whistle 7. Glory Of True Love 8. Taking A Walk 9. All the Best 10. Angel From Montgomery 11. Long Monday 12. Crazy As A Loon 13. Donald And Lydia |
14. Dear Abby 15. That's The Way That The World Goes 'Round 16. Sam Stone 17. Bear Creek Blues 18. She Is My Everything 19. Ain't Hurtin' Nobody 20. Some Humans Ain't Human 21. Hello In There 22. Lake Marie encore: 23. Sweet Revenge 24. Illegal Smile -- 25. Paradise with Amos Lee |
By: John McLaughlin - The Province
John Prine
While John Prine constructs his songs with the focused
craftsmanship of a cabinet maker, there's a certain instinct involved as
well. It's the gut that tells him where to throw in an odd, dissonant
chord or - much more likely - take an odd, dissonant lyrical turn from the
usual path.
He admits today there's a good chance that honed instinctive
muscle - plus a natural, probing curiosity - were what helped save his
life. God knows, it wasn't the doctors.
About eight years ago, while in the midst of recording a duet
album, he began noticing a small lump in his neck. It was almost
microscopic, he was only aware of it when he shaved. Still, it bugged him
and he kept asking his doctor about it but was told not to worry.
Still, it made Prine uneasy; if it really was nothing now it could
grow into something scary later. He pressed the issue and plans were made
to surgically remove this thing, necessitating a needle aspiration.
Son-of-a-gun if the little lump wasn't "stage three" cancer, the
precipice to death. Hit stages four and five and it can spread like ink on
water.
Needless to say, the duets project was put on hold but when Prine
came back to it 18 months later everything had to be re-recorded. His
voice had dropped an octave, a big slip. He liked it.
"For me, I think it worked out better," says Prine. "I never
liked my voice anyway. I thought it would mature over a while but I was
still singing my old songs in the key I wrote 'em in when I was 18. Once
I had to change to a lower key, some of 'em sound brand new to me.
"Sam Stone", "Hello In There". I thought wow, these are good
songs."
You think?
When the Chicago raised Prine first shambled on the scene singing
about Viet Nam war vet Sam Stone and the hole in his arm, it was the
height of the 70s singer/songwriter movement.
Some of it, yes, was powerfully bad, self-embracing drivel but
there was plenty of excellent talent afoot and humorous, simpatico Prine,
with his twinkling, near child-like take on the human condition - not to
mention illegal smiles - was one of the best.
Thirty-odd years later at age 59 he's still at it, still trolling
his wacky take on the wacky vagaries of life. The new Fair And Square
album is his first studio project of original material in nine years and
very much worth the wait.
Self produced and engineered by Gary Paczosa, the man at the board
for Alison Krauss' last couple of records ("that was about the best
acoustic sound I ever heard"), Prine ranges from a well aimed shot at
the present U.S. administration on "Some Humans Ain't Human" to this
nutty old world on "Crazy As A Loon" to good love on "She Is My
Everything". It's all classic Prine.
The best and most moving of them all is "My Darlin'
Hometown", a sweet reminiscence about the area around the home in
Galway, Ireland where he decamps from Nashville and spends three months of
every year with his Irish wife and two sons, nine and ten years old.
He's a happy man.
"I had no idea, I really didn't," says Prine. "I was
married twice before and never had children, it was always, yeah, someday.
They're great guys, they're getting to that age where they're my
buddies, you know?
"But my life has really done a 180. I used to go to bed at six in
the morning - now I get up at six to take them to school. I tell people
I'm kinda like a soccer mom now. I'm glad one of them plays baseball
'cause I actually know what the game is."
By: jpparadise
This is only my review, concert list was presented previously. Sound was a
tad difficult, I could not make out the bit about Marching, Marching...(?)
Oh, I best mention I was in Row 5. Amos Lee, impressive fellow. I felt
rather sorry for him as his parents were to be there, some family
emergency occurred and they were unable to attend. Two empty seats next to
me. Mr. Prine - I love that electric white guitar - and WOW what a
gentleman. He can still wiggle his butt just like he did 30 years ago.
Fiona, she must be good at fishing, she hooked a 'prine'. Jason Wilber,
another gentleman. Fine guitar player. I could not understand the hand
signals to the sound man...down...turn it down.. sound was troubling.
However, it did not really matter to me, I was in a flutter, near orbit
stage. All was well in my world. That Swooning Fellow, eludes me. To end,
I was able to meet with Mr. Prine. I shook his hand, hugged (orbited and
got really knocked kneed - probably did not make a word of sense), but he
signed my ticket - Thank You JP Paradise - John Prine! Thank You - John
Prine - Jason Wilber - David Jacques I will go to my ashes, very happy,
fluttering, in remembrance of the evening of the John Prine concert in
Vancouver, 2005.08.05.
By: Elise
I'm Elise, a 16 year old who has been listening to John Prine all my life.
I guess its always been a dream of mine to see him live, as i grew up
listening to his music. To say the least, his concert was amazing. I don't
know whether it was the actual concert, or the sentimental value the
concert meant to me, but it was indescribable. He is not as lively on
stage as alot of other performers I've seen, but I'm glad he wasn't. I'm
completely at a loss of words as to how to describe him. To sum it up, he
is my favorite song writer, and his voice is the most unique one ive ever
heard. I don't know what else to say, except for that it was my favorite
concert i have ever been to, and I look forward to seeing him again
hopefully in the near future!
By: Nancy Mackenzie
Thursday night Aug,4 th was the highlight of my summer. My dear friend
Christine Semenick and I hopped in my Crossfire and headed 3 hours south
to Vic to see the uncomparable John Prine..With out a doubt the most
incredable concert I have ever seen. After the show, we waited outside the
stage door until Mr.Prine came out. It didn't matter how long that took as
I waited almost 30 years to meet this man. His music has been and always
will be a huge part of my life...Mr Prine spent 15 -20 minutes ( I was so
excited I don't even really know how long) chatting and allowing us to
take photos with him...He truly is a very sweet man....I have played the
DVD several times and it is so awesome....Please come back to B.C. soon
John......We will be where ever you are !!! I LOVE YOU JOHN PRINE !! From
a down home Miramichier ......