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SIX O'CLOCK NEWS
I GOT EXCITED JUST BEING PART OF THAT SCENE
REVIEWS OF THE
JOHN PRINE IN SPITE OF OURSELVES CONCERT TOUR
UTAH and WASHINGTON SHOWS
MOORE THEATRE, SEATTLE, WA 10/29 & 10/30
ABRAVANEL HALL, SALT LAKE CITY, UT 11/01
For your perusal an interview I did for the Park Record newspaper in
Park City, Utah:
John Prine and Iris Dement
John Prine is back on the road pickin' and singin' and, for his legion of fans, that news
is about as good as it can get. This master of the cute, folksy, witty, often-ribald ditty
declared victory over a cancerous neck tumor and, last March, following a 16-month
absence, once again began touring. Monday evening, with the wonderfully singular Iris
Dement in tow, the celebration arrived at Abravanel Hall. Looking a bit worn from his
recent journey Prine, eyes-a-twinkle, was in top form music-wise. Hes' got one thing going
for him, if his voice was rusty, how could you tell? Accompanied by David Jacques on
acoustic and electric bass and the dazzling Jason Wilber on a wide variety of stringed
instruments and mouth harp he revisited those characters and settings so uniquely Prine.
As one quirky masterpiece followed another the crowd sang along, overjoyed at having their
favorite minstrel back among them. Included in the familiar were "Spanish
Pipedream", "Angel From Montgomery", "Dear Abby", "Donald
and Lydia" "Hello In There", "Sam Stone" "Let's Talk Dirty
In Hawaiian", the more recent Prine epic, "Lake Marie," and, as a
rip-roarin' end-all, "Paradise." Another motivation for this tour is to support
the most recent John Prine CD In Spite Of Ourselves, a wonderful collection of cheating
songs sung in the country duet format. Joining Prine on the album are the likes of Lucinda
Williams, Melba Montgomery, Emmylou Harris, Trisha Yearwood, Connie Smith, Patty Loveless
and Iris Dement who, as mentioned, is along on the tour. Getting another opportunity to
experience the astoundingly plaintive voice of Iris Dement made the evening truly
unforgettable. It worked perfect. Iris appeared as opening act and, during Prine's set,
was able to come back onstage to showcase the duet tracks from the new album. Iris has
evolved a guitar and piano style that truly embellishes the vocal, but her voice is so
different, so unique, that you hardly notice the accompaniment. Her original songs are of
family and home and love and loss and are sung from a place of great strength. The sparse
lyrics and stark settings would make Hemingway cringe. She sets you up with hillbilly
twang and nails you with insight beyond her years. She invites you inside and makes you
wonder if you've ever really had your heart tugged before. During her opening set Dement
appeared as a speck of sand on the beach of the Abravanel Hall stage. Her appearance and
body language give new meaning to the designation "solo artist." She flaunts
"plain" as a look and it's obvious the only rays she ever catches are when a
spotlight catches her sunburst guitar. Until she smiles, muses with the audience, or
sings, that is. Then all bets are off. She is stunning. And talk about a musical marriage
made in heaven. John Prine and Iris Dement were made to sing with each other. They both
are masters of innuendo and entendre and deliver lyrical subtlety with the best of
them."In Spite Of Ourselves," the only original tune and the title cut from the
new album was penned by Prine for the upcoming Billy Bob Thornton film "Daddy and
Them", in which Prine portrays Billy Bobs "zen hillbilly brother." John and
Iris nail it. In spite of themselves they're the big door prize.
©1999 Jay Meehan
"YEAH LITTLE BUDDY
GONNA GET YOUR CHANCE -
MAKE THE PUBESCENTS ALL WET THEIR PANTS"
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