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FLASHBACK BLUES
WINDOW SHOPPING THROUGH THE PAST
The Prine Shrine Archived pages
(you never know what you might find here)
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Toronto, Ontario Canada
2001
Molson Amphitheatre Toronto, Ontario
August 22, 2001
Renegade Troubadours with Lyle Lovett & Mary Chapin Carpenter
By: Dolly
I saw John Prine once more this year and couldn't have been more impressed by him. Mary Chapin Carpenter and Lyle Lovett, who appeared on the same stage, were welcomed by the crowd but John was the Star of the evening. He looked great and his musicians were, as usual, flawless. His voice was a bit gravelly at times but no one who appreciated his music cared and he was cheered on by all. He must have felt the warmth from the audience as the cheers and applause was constant. His peers were welcomed politely but the night really did belong to him.
By: Mango
Headline in today's paper says it all about john's show last night with Lyle Lovett: "They Love Lyle...But The Night Belonged To John Prine". Thanks john!
They love Lyle...
... But the night belonged to John Prine
By:
by Derek Tse of the Toronto Sun
http://www.canoe.ca/TorontoShowbiz/ts.ts-08-23-0076.html
Thursday, August 23, 2001
Lyle Lovett certainly had a tough act to follow last night at the Molson Amphitheatre. The question was, could he dazzle the audience the same way legendary crooner John Prine did before him?
The answer: Well, not quite.
But that doesn't mean Lovett wasn't the great showman and entertaining performer he's proven himself in previous concerts. It's just that Prine was that good and left the crowd craving more than just the hour-and-change he spent on stage.
Last night Lovett, Prine and Mary Chapin Carpenter hit town on the Renegade Troubadours tour. And it was a nice departure from a lot of concerts this summer that seemed to want to blow your ears to smithereens.
Carpenter took the stage first, and she belted out a solid, if unspectacular, performance. Standing statue-like on stage while strumming a guitar, she sang such songs as the lovely Swept Away, the
up tempo Passionate Kisses and He Thinks He'll Keep Her and the sexy I Feel Lucky. She even told a couple of stories, confiding that Swept Away was inspired by an ex-boyfriend who "broke my heart into a thousand pieces."
Carpenter received a standing ovation when her set ended -- but she was only the appetizer before the veteran Prine took the stage.
What a revelation. The charismatic Prine, dressed completely in black and performing under minimal lighting, proceeded to sing a series of his most beloved folk-country numbers in a gravelly voice that became increasingly rougher the longer his turn went on.
But the audience of around 6,000 roared enthusiastically at the beginning and end of most of his songs, which included the opener
The Torch Singer, the painfully sweet lament Souvenirs, the witty All The Best and the funny, playful
The Other Side Of Town, which he sang with a delighted grin on his face.
After he finished his set with Lake Marie and left the stage, the crowd shouted for more, and he came back on for a brief encore, finishing to a second standing ovation.
When Lovett came out, he was accompanied by his Large Band and a group of back-up singers, crowding the stage with more than a dozen people. After an impressive opening instrumental, Lovett, dressed simply in a buttoned-up white shirt and tie and dark pants, performed his distinctively
uncategorizable fare, which features everything from country to jazz to gospel to rockabilly. Some of the songs he performed included
She's No Lady, I Know You Know, Here I Am and If I Had A Boat.
And he also kept up with his trademark chattiness, stopping to remark that he doesn't "see as many pickup trucks in Toronto than back home" and that he enjoys his perspective from the stage because "you can tell which person in the couple had the idea to come to this show and which one is being supportive."
But the crowd seemed a little deflated during Lovett's performance, although they applauded warmly and cheered whenever he began singing a particular favourite. Maybe it's because Lovett's set seemed, in contrast with Prine's no-frills approach, a little over-produced.
While Lovett charmed the fans and put on a good show, the night belonged to Prine.
Sun Rating: 4 out of 5
By: beverley1958
Hi Folks
Wonderful show, Love the stand up bass and John's smile, He was just radiating, Canada loves you.
Bev
By: Zoomcat
Saw john last night on the Troubadour tour. Third time I've seen him this year in
Toronto and he was better than ever. The set was too short though because he wasn't headlining over Lyle Lovett. Standard set with the addition of the great new song "Other Side of Town". If you haven't heard this tune yet, look out, it's killer!! I've been going to Prine shows for longer than
I care to remember and I think this was honestly the best I've seen john. He was outstanding and with what he's been through in the last few years that says
a lot. His voice was a little raspier than the last 2 times I've seen him on this tour but it suits him. Had Jacques and Wilbur with him and it was the perfect night. 20 years ago
I said this man was the best modern day songwriter we got and I say it again today. Great show John. Thanks.
By: Tree
Outlaw Troubadours,
John Prine outshined Lyle Lovett with a simple heart felt performance.
Bikers became easily frustrated during Lovett's set and began demanding Prine's return to the stage. Several were asked to leave.
Great show
By: hogeyoh
John's show was great. He was sandwiched between Mary Chapin Carpenter and Lyle Lovett as part of "the Renegade
Troubadours "There really wasn't enough of John but he didn't seem to mind and neither did
we. He was sounding a little hoarse at times but was great as usual. The rest of the show was equally impressive and Lyle paid tribute to John as an inspiration to younger
songwriters. All in all it was a great show even though it wasn't totally Prine. By
the way if you haven't seen Lyle Lovett live, I think you should if you get the chance-he was fantastic.
By: Keith Tobey
Mary Chapin Carpenter, JOHN PRINE, Lyle Lovett, I've been a John Prine fan since his first
album and probably play 2o of his songs myself. I haven't seen him since his Bruised Orange Tour in '77 ? so I didn't know what to expect. He was absolutely wonderful! What I couldn't get over was the audience.
It was like half the people were singing along to every word and half were sitting in stunned reverential silence. He was utterly charming and entertaining. I attend a monthly folk jam and some of the folk nazis there mock John but let me tell you this concert reaffirmed that this man is the best songwriter in his genre whatever you may choose to call it. Not a word is wasted and cleverness abounds as he sings about real life. My only problem is that he only did 10 or 12 songs and left us screaming for more. And I kid you not : while Lyle was playing an over zealous fan was escorted off the premises loudly
complaining that he had come here to see John Prine and wanted him back on the stage. The sentiment was shared by many of we far too polite Canadians. But what am I saying. I bumped into a couple that had driven up from
Philadelphia to see John. Live long and prosper Mr. Prine.
By: Josh Bennett - Sarnia - Ontario
This was a three performer concert starting with Mary Chapin Carpenter, then
John Prine and lastly Lyle Lovett. I had never heard any of John's music but
from the very first song I was spellbound. The concert was four days ago and I
am still singing parts of "Sam Stone", "You Got Gold",
"Lake Marie" and "All the Best" which had special significance
due to my present personal situation. John captivated the audience
throughout his performance, many in the audience knew his material well and sang
with him. He finished to a standing ovation and came back for a two song encore.
It was a very rich night, I even bought a t-shirt, something I never do because
of the usually high prices. I have decided to try to catch John in concert later
this year in Cincinnati. For anyone who gets the chance, especially if you have
never seen this man perform, go to a concert of his - YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED.
BRAVO JOHN PRINE.
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