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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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2001 Kentucky & Tennessee
Whole
Damned Family Christmas, Nashville, TN
Prine Christmas Party at the End Zone
no reviews yet
River Stages, Nashville, TN 05/06/01
Dedication to Argyle Bell at Nashville River Stages
By: The
Tennessean
''This one's for Argyle,'' said Prine at his Nashville River Stages performance last weekend, beginning a song called Souvenirs.
''Broken hearts and dirty windows make life difficult to see,'' Prine sang. ''That's why last night and this morning always look the same to me.''
''We were always bumping into each other,'' said the legendary singer-songwriter, calling from a hotel in Montana. ''I liked Argyle, and I was shocked to hear about his death. I don't remember hearing him gossip about anybody, and in Nashville that's a really noble virtue. We had a running contest between the two of us about who had the worst hair in Nashville. I guess it's me now.''
By: - PC
Pleasing Performances Cap River Stages
John Prine: In front of an adoring late-afternoon crowd, John Prine offered up his peculiar brand of
wisened, graceful country and folk. Backed by bass man Dave Jacques and multi-instrumentalist Jason Wilber, Prine's set list included numerous studies in sadness (Angel From Montgomery, All the Best, Six
O'clock News, Souvenirs), mixed in with some storytelling gems (Grandpa Was A Carpenter, Spanish Pipedream) and humorous bits of atypical perception (Fish and Whistle, You Got Gold, etc.).
Songwriters should take note of Prine's specificity of language and his ability to translate complex thoughts and emotions into simple phrases. He doesn't use big words, he just uses the right words.
By: Tippie
Well, I thought I had seen John at his best over the years having lived in Nashville for ten years myself. This was quite a different experience. There's something about coming home and having this following that knows even the most obscure words, and when I made my way to the front to hear Sins of Memphisto as we swayed and sang at the top of our lungs,
"Sally used to play with her hula hoops, now she tells her problems to therapy groups" it was hard not to notice how much the sleepy-eyed boy was smiling. He was having a great time and laughing out loud. He played and sang his heart out. I have this piece of time forever in my brain where he realized how much he is admired and how much his songs are shared and understood. As always, I love John Prine for many reasons, but mostly for bringing me these priceless song lyrics and saving me from disco in the 70's .
By: Skip (don't ride my ass) Litz
Well all I can say is WOW. What a show. I saw Dickey Betts (from the
Allman Brothers) great slide player and his band was the shit. Then Lucinda Williams comes out and just kicked my ass. She did several new songs from her new CD that comes out
June 8th. Then MY BUDDY TODD comes on and had the crowd in the
palm of his hand, he was just fabulous he was in fine form. Then Mr. Prine showed all of them how it's done. I can't even describe how great his set was. He even dedicated Souvenirs to my friend Argyle Bell, that was so sweet of him to do. John got his brother Billy, Fiona and David Steele up for the final song of the evening Paradise, with David Steele playing some bad assed
mandolin.
By: @dusti2000.crow.com
IT WAS INCREDIBLE. I HAVEN'T BEEN A FAN FOR VERY LONG, BUT THE CROWD WENT CRAZY, GREAT LYRICS, AND A ROCKING TIME. I LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT SHOW. THEY HAD BOB DYLAN SATURDAY NIGHT BUT IT WAS SO CROWDED THERE WAS NO WAY WE COULD GET THERE. IT WAS A THREE DAY FEAST OF BANDS AND LOTS OF PARTYING. JOHN PRINE MADE THE WEEKEND END ALTHOUGH THERE WERE OTHER BANDS THAT WERE
GOOD. TODD SNIDER, LUCINDA WILLIAMS, FRESHWATER COLLINS, PAT MCGEE BANDS WERE VERY GOOD AS WERE TRAIN AND THE WALLFLOWERS. THE SOUND MEN AND THE SIZE OF THE STAGE MADE THE BELL SOUTH STAGE BETTER IN MY OPINION THAN THE BIGGER MORE CROWDED PONTIAC AND MILLER STAGES. SOUND MEN NEED TO REALIZE THAT LOUDER BASS
DOESN'T MEAN DROWNING OUT THE OTHER INSTRUMENTS INCLUDING THE VOCALS. I AM SORRY THE WALLFLOWERS DID NOT GET A BETTER RESPONSE THAN THEY DID. I HAVE
STATED THE REASONS I FEEL THAT BUT OVERALL I ENJOYED THE THREE DAY FEST WITH FIVE STAGES. OH, I
DIDN'T MENTION DICKY BETTS, GREAT SOUND, GREAT SHOW THANKS NASHVILLE AND JOHN PRINE. HEY JOHN HAVE YOU HEARD
OF TODD SNIDER? I WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TWO TO DO SOMETHING TOGETHER. THANKS JOHN. AND RODNEY KING SAYS THANKS TOO. HE WANTED TO SAY HI AFTER TEN YEARS BUT IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO GET TO YOU. WE ENJOYED IT.
The Palace Theater, Louisville, Kentucky w/Pat Mclaughlin
October 12, 2001
Prine not at his prime at Louisville Palace
http://www.louisvillescene.com/music/features/con20011013prine.html
Oct. 13, 2001 By JEFFREY LEE PUCKETT The Courier-Journal
John Prine has survived many things in his career:
apathetic record labels, divorce, hell-raising bandmates, cancer, writer's
block, his own hell-raising. But last night at the Louisville Palace, he
barely survived the last thing you'd put on a list of threats: a frog in
his throat.
"I'm trying to sing with a frog in my voice just to see if I can do
it," Prine joked when it became clear he was struggling.
Prine isn't a crooner to begin with, but his ragged, expressive twang has
always been the perfect vehicle for his songs. Last night he was just
ragged, forced to compress the energy level of many songs to accommodate
his lack of range. The result was a show with little of Prine's usual
spark or sly sense of humor.
There were still the songs, however, most of which are so good that little
can hurt them.
Prine essentially performed a compilation tape of his best songs,
including "Sam Stone," "Fish and Whistle,"
"Donald and Lydia," "That's The Way That The World Goes
'Round," "Angel From Montgomery" and "Storm
Windows." There were surprises, too, especially "Mexican
Home," from 1973's "Sweet Revenge."
Some of the qualities that make Prine's writing so special were heightened
by a post-terrorism awareness of life's fragility.
Prine has always specialized in songs that deal with life's uncertainties,
unfairness and the resiliency it often requires of us to make it through
the day. His characters trudge ahead, or sometimes don't. Some get by with
a joke, others can't laugh for crying.
"Just give me one thing that I can hold onto. To believe in this
livin' is just a hard way to go," he sang in "Angel From
Montgomery," and the sentiment resonated more profoundly than it did
a month ago.
"Angel" was among a handful of songs that actually benefited
from Prine's shot voice; the hushed quality of his performance brought out
the song's melancholic regret. "Donald and Lydia," the story of
two lonely people only miles away but worlds apart, was likewise enhanced.
"Storm Windows," with its bruised chorus of "Don't let your
baby down," didn't suffer, either.
But every time Prine tried to take the show to another level, his voice
simply wouldn't let him. It wasn't a dull performance -- Prine could never
be dull -- but it lacked the usual sense of celebration, especially
compared with his last show here, in 1999. There weren't even many people
singing along last night, a longtime tradition at Prine shows that wasn't
really missed.
Songwriter Pat McLaughlin opened with a sporadically good set. His style
is strongly reminiscent of John Hiatt's -- sort of halfway between
heartfelt and ironic -- but slightly more mainstream.
By: Fan for Life
I saw John Prine for the second time in Louisville, KY. What a great show. He through in a new song, "The Other Side of Town" I think was the name. Soon to be another classic. Can't wait to hear it again. This man has the such a
humorous outlook on life. I am 25 years old and I have listened to him longer than I can remember, thanks to my dad. And I still find new lyrics or different
interpretations to the songs that I have listened to for years. Keep it up John!!!!!!
By: Ryan Sparks
My brother turned me on to Prine when I was 4 or 5 yrs old. (He would have been 18 then,
I believe.) This was our first chance to catch him live. (Somehow, we could never get tickets for Lexington:) The show was hands down the classiest
I have ever seen. The set list a monster, some 26 or more songs, one right after another. The encores brilliant and inspiring. 'Bottomless Lake' was a nice
surprise. (Its been my favorite song since I was 8, much to the dismay of my metal-head cronies:) Our only regret was not bringing my brother little girl who will be three very soon and is already a fanatic for these fine songs. Thank you John Prine for the riveting performance. %100 Class.
By: Greg Dixon Elk Creek Rd. Scottsburg,
Indiana 47170
Being a fan of Johns music for some odd 25 or more years, I entered the palace with some reservations as to how I would be able to control my emotions, This was the first time we had seen John in concert in 3+ years. The reason for our absence was that we had lost our son and brother in an auto accident a few days prior to his
seventeenth birthday. My son Travis James Dixon was a great fan of Johns music, My daughter
Robin, My son Ryan who was not only a Brother but identical twin to Travis, and my wife of 25 years Ronda. It
definitely has been a rough three years but any true listener of Johns music knows that life consist of Broken Hearts and Memories. I am a very simple man with simple ways. I have had many smiles and many heartaches in my lifetime. I am just thankful for artist like John who have a gift to put the reality of life into their music. We
buried Travis in a John Prine T-Shirt. This was not something we had to make a decision on , we just knew as a close family that Travis would want nothing else. Thanks again John for your music of life whether sad or funny "THAT'S THE WAY THE WORLD GOES ROUND..ONE DAY YOUR UP AND THE NEXT YOUR DOWN" I Think your 10-12-01 concert at the Louisville Palace if for no other reason was Beautiful in that I made one step farther, determined to live on for the rest of my wonderful family.
I Love You Travis,
Your Dad
Some Day We Will Be Together Again and Who Knows we might even go see JOHN PRINE !!!!!!!!!!!!!
By: Jason
This was my fifth jp concert and it was definitely the best one I've witnessed. Earlier in the week, I took a chance and emailed John at his
OhBoy address and asked if he could work up "Mexican Home" for the Louisville show. Believe it or not, he did just that during his solo set. Does he actually read that stuff? I hope he does. "Mexican Home" is my favorite jp song and I was truly moved when he began playing it. His solo version far outdistances the studio version on "Sweet Revenge."
Besides JP delivering "Mexican Home" for me, this show absolutely blew away the others I've seen. I say this having seen some really great ones. John opened with "Spanish Pipedream" and delivered a pretty faithful set. The highlight had to be "Storm Windows."
During his solo set, besides "Mexican Home", JP performed "Dear Abby," "Bottomless Lake," "Sam Stone," and "The Other Side of Town." John definitely needs to put this song on a record very soon.
The end of the set was highlighted by "Sins of Memphisto" and "Ain't Hurtin' Nobody." The finale was an exceptional "Lake Marie" that kept driving hard like a powerful rain.
The encores included a duet on "Til a Tear Becomes a Rose" with his wife Fiona, a breezy "Please Don't Bury Me" and a jam with Pat
McLaughlin on "Daddy's Little Pumpkin." And then, without warning, John brings up family members to the stage for a warm rendition of "Paradise." All through these encores, John's kids were running around and entering the stage every now and then. No one cared. It was heartwarming to see John bring his family and essentially show them off to his other family who have supported him for all of these years.
All through the night, John was smiling his big, broad smile that just radiates and lets the crowd know that he's exactly where he wants to be. He's truly one of a kind and I am truly lucky to have been exposed to his music and humanity.
By: Scott Ortiz
I was very lucky to be able to attend the concert at the Palace Theater with my wife and other friends and family. John Prine's music has been an inspiration for a very long time and now, after the events of this last month, I have heard new messages in a song long ago written. From "Fish and Whistle".... "Father forgive us for what we must do. You forgive us and we'll forgive you. We'll forgive each other till we both turn blue then we'll whistle and go fishing in heaven... ...and when we get through, we'll make a big wish that we never have to do this again." I listened to that hundreds of times but at the concert
Friday night it seemed like a brand new song.
Thanks to Mr. Prine for giving us another chance to be together and enjoy another very special live performance.
By: David Tipton
Louisville was downright spooky, with empty streets and police everywhere.
We walked from the Galt House to the theatre and practically nothing was
open; I've never seen anything like it. The only folks in downtown
Louisville were John Prine fans, and we filled the theatre, undeterred by
anthrax and so on. John was great. I've never seen such an enthusiastic
crowd. There was a crowd reaction to the lead off of every song, another
when he started singing, and another at the end of practically ever verse
all night long, and there were multiple standing ovations, beginning with
his walking on the stage, and ending two hours and twenty minutes later.
All I can say is "Thanks, John, and thanks, Louisville." It was
a memorable night.
Lexington Opera House - Lexington, KY
May 4, 2001
By: gregcrist
The show in Lexington was a classic. I am from Southern W.V. and saw J.P. in Morgantown in November. I traveled to Lexington to watch him again and boy was I glad...awesome. The crowd in Lexington was into the show from the beginning (unlike Morgantown, where they were more subdued) singing every word to every song right along with John. He seemed to feed off the crowd and appeared to thoroughly enjoy himself. He did much more singing at this show and he was, simply put, classic John Prine.
By: Guru Cletus T Fudpucker
I didn't get a chance to make it inside, I found out about the show a day before it happened! I
hitch-hiked up to the show and met up with some friends and we hung out in the alley and listened to what we could before the cops came and ran us off!!!
It just don't pay to be a Punk for Prine these days!!! well what I head was great and it's nice that he is still touring. Just Wish he'd come some place closer like Ashland Kentucky!!
By: Jeff-Clarksville IN
This was the second time I saw John, and it was awesome. I was in the 2nd row, and it felt like I was right up there with him. Of course he didn't do all of his good songs, but how could he? He played for an hour and a half, and it was the highlight of my year so far!!! I was also thoroughly impressed by the opening act Pat McLaughlin.
By: Chris & Kellie
WOW! Since this our very first Prine concert, we weren't sure what to expect, but we knew it had to be good. Upon arriving in Lexington, we walked to the Opera House. Guess who was standing just outside the covered area getting in his car? You guessed it! We got some pictures with John, and he was
extremely friendly! So, from the start, the day was perfect! Before the concert, we also met a super nice couple that was our same age. (Glad to meet you all!) But then, the concert. This has been by far the best live performance we have ever seen. John sounded great and was well received by the crowd. He did all of our favorites (except "Let's Talk Dirty in Hawaiian" and "The Accident), and he sounded great! Tonight's playing of "Lake Marie" blew us away. Overall a perfect night! Thank you Mr. Prine for the wonderful evening full of memories! Hope to see you again soon!
Prine's inspired lines
Folk visionary's power flows from simple human stories
By: Published Friday, May 4, 2001, in the Herald-Leader
John Prine
``Yeah, I play a good G chord,'' quipped John Prine as Big Ol' Goofy World found a way to get on its feet for a just-released benefit album.
The Concerts for a Landmine Free World performance gives an unexpected insight into Prine's sometimes baffling popularity. Don't get us wrong. As songwriters go, the man is tops. He is a modern folk visionary of sorts a hapless cross between Mark Twain and Flannery O'Connor who is readily capable of delivering a deceptively upbeat yarn about life's little tortures (Fish and Whistle) as well as an account of incalculable real-life tragedy (Sam Stone).
But the Landmine performance is telling for other reasons, as well. As the quiet, sunny song gives a passing reference to drinking and other recreational misadventures, the crowd hollers with the sort of glee usually reserved for Saturday-night honky-tonks. Forget the fact that the performance was recorded in December on a Sunday in Ottawa.
Then you hit the chorus a bit of reverie that sums up Prine's mystique in only a few lines. It's inviting, worldly and more than a little amusing:
``There's a big ol' goofy man dancing with a big ol' goofy girl/Ooh, baby. It's a big
ol' goofy world.''
Socrates, it's not. But the lyrics typify the back-porch wisdom Prine instills in his best songs. The beauty of his music is its simplicity. Sure, Kentucky fans love to claim the former Chicago mailman as one of their own given his strong ties to Muhlenberg County, the region he made famous in his 1971 strip-mining chronicle Paradise.
But his best songs are so potent because his stories are so utterly human and uncluttered, as in the devastated romance of Angel From Montgomery, the emotional isolation of Donald & Lydia and, in one of his very best works, the plea for acceptance and attention for the aged in Hello in There.
Those three were rerecorded along with a dozen other Prine classics (including the brilliant but bloody Six
O'clock News and the wonderfully whimsical Please Don't Bury Me) during a three-day session in Nashville in April 2000. The results were released last fall on the album Souvenirs.
For newcomers to Prine's music, it's an ideal starting point. For longtime Prine fans who couldn't score tickets to tonight's sold-out return to the Opera House, the album can serve as a source of calming and queasy consolation.
By: Jennifer
This show proved once again that NOBODY does it better than John Prine. Talk about bringing down the house! I've been to several shows over the years, and I always come away amazed at the music. This was no exception. I was especially thrilled to hear "Angel from Montgomery" and "Spanish Pipedream," two of my favorites. Mr. Prine also played a newer song about being on the other side of town (mentally) when your spouse is fussing at you--very funny, although it made me wonder if my husband does the same thing...yeah, he probably does. Anyway, a big THANK YOU from us Kentuckians to John. What a wonderful show!
By: Melvin
Well, he did it again! This was my 4th John Prine show, and they some how get better every time. He played the two songs I long to hear most..."Angel from Montgomery" and "Paradise". Pat McLaughlin was a great addition to the encores. I, of course, went with the family - parents, grandparents, and uncle. And it was
fiancées first Prine concert. She loved it! She said she didn't realize how much she liked his music and songwriting ability. Hopefully his health problems won't slow him down because he seems to get better with age. Thanks
Mr. Prine for another
incredible performance! Can't wait until you come this way again!
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