May 9, 2009 - John Prine at the F. M. Kirby Center, Wilkes-Barre, PA with special guest opener Jason Wilber. Band: Jason Wilber and Dave Jacques

By: My Wife and I
On a scale of one to ten my wife and I thought John's performance was an eleven. We traveled 175 miles to the see the show and he did not disappoint. We were right up front and center. We've loved john's music since we first heard him in the early eighties. This was our first chance to see him live. We are planning to go see the show in Toronto also . Altough he could not play everything that everybody wanted to hear he played a long show and the crowd was very into his performance. We were familular with the entire set list and enjoyed all thirty numbers. The years may be taking their toll on John's body but his talent and soul will never escape him. It was a night we will always remember. Thanks John.

By: Kevin J. Duffy
It was our fourth show - excellent as usually. Prine and Co. are American musical heros of mine. I was in the second row mouthing all the lyrics. God bless John Prine. I purchased one of Jason Wilber's CD's too. Really great!

By: Brad Patton
Prine: Rare and wonderful at the Kirby Review Wilkes Barre Times-Leader - Wilkes Barre,PA,USA WILKES-BARRE
   Acclaimed singer-songwriter John Prine came to the FM Kirby Center for the Performing Arts on Saturday night, captivating a large and ... read more here
WILKES-BARRE -- Acclaimed singer-songwriter John Prine came to the F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts on Saturday night, captivating a large and spirited crowd with his masterful songs. click image to enlargeCountry/folk singer-songwriter John Prine performs at the F.M. Kirby Center in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday evening. Bill Tarutis / For The Times Leader Select images available for purchase in the Times Leader Photo Store"I ain't been here for a long time," he said after his second number. "So we're going to stick around for a while." And that's just what he did, treating the audience to 25 of his best-known songs in a performance that ran a little bit more than two hours. Since bursting onto the scene in the early 1970s, Prine has always been regarded as one of music's finest singer-songwriters, with added emphasis on that last part. Much like other great songwriters such as Bob Dylan, Kris Kristofferson and Willie Nelson, his voice is an acquired taste. And while the sound he makes may not be beautiful, his words certainly are. Nowadays it seems Prine concerts are becoming rare occasions -- Saturday's performance was just his fourth of an eight-show run that began in late April and extends through mid-June. The Kirby Center and its fine acoustics provided a perfect setting to catch up with the 62-year-old troubadour and hear those spectacular songs again. Prine's guitarist, Jason Wilber, kicked off the evening with a fine six-song set of his own, including a great tune about Chuck Berry and another one about Elvis Presley. Prine's self-titled debut album from 1971 was well represented Saturday night as at least seven of the record's 13 tracks were featured. Early-evening favorites included "Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven Anymore," "Donald and Lydia" and "Sam Stone." Half of the four-song encore came from the first record as well as Prine ended the show with a wonderful sing-along version of "Illegal Smile" and an equally impressive rendition of "Paradise." One of the show's highpoints was an exquisite version of "Far From Me," which temporarily quieted the boisterous crowd as they drank in the heart-wrenching lyrics. Prine deftly mixed the serious and the comical all evening long, following the above-mentioned tune with one of his most uplifting and whimsical songs, "Whistle and Fish." A great mandolin intro by Wilber signaled the start of what may be Prine's most famous composition, "Angel From Montgomery" (you may know the version by Bonnie Raitt). "It's always good to write a song about your wife," Prine said as he introduced "She Is My Everything" from his 2005 Grammy-winning album "Fair & Square." "You never know when you might need it." After a great version of "Hello In There" from the debut album, Prine ended the main set with "Lake Marie," which proved to be a fitting closer as its lyrics echo the "We Gotta Go Now" part from "Louie Louie." Prine and his accompanists, who were equally adept as they alternated between rockabilly, folk and country-tinged songs throughout the evening, then returned with "Sweet Revenge" and "People Puttin' People Down." Prine then brought the evening to a close with "Illegal Smile" and "Paradise."

By: BRAD PATTON
Full Artlicle here: here
   Prine brings stellar songs to Kirby Center
   Acclaimed singer-songwriter John Prine came to the F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts Saturday night, captivating a large and spirited crowd with his masterful songs.
  "I ain't been here for a long time," he said following his second number. "So we're going to stick around for a while."
And that's just what he did, treating the audience to 25 of his best-known songs in a performance that ran a little bit more   than two hours.
   Since bursting onto the scene in the early 1970s, Prine has always been regarded as one of music's finest singer-songwriters, with added emphasis on that last part. Much like other great songwriters such as Bob Dylan, Kris Kristofferson and Willie Nelson, his voice is an acquired taste. And while the sound he makes may not be beautiful, his words certainly are.

  Nowadays it seems Prine concerts are becoming rare occasions -- Saturday's performance was just his fourth of an eight-show run that began in late April and extends through mid-June. The Kirby Center and its fine acoustics provided a perfect setting to catch up with the 62-year-old troubadour and hear those spectacular songs again.
   Prine's guitarist, Jason Wilber, kicked off the evening with a fine six-song set of his own, including a great tune about Chuck Berry and another one about Elvis Presley entitled "King For A Day," complete with the "Mystery Train" guitar riff.
   Wilber told the crowd about growing up in Bloomington, Ind., and playing in a local band that once jammed with his current boss.
   "He liked my guitar playing so much," he said with a laugh, "I didn't hear from him for about 10 years."
   Prine's self-titled debut album from 1971 was well represented Saturday night as at least seven of the record's 13 tracks were featured. Early-evening favorites included "Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven Anymore," "Donald and Lydia" and "Sam Stone." Half of the four-song encore came from the first record as well as Prine ended the show with a wonderful sing-along version of "Illegal Smile" and an equally impressive rendition of "Paradise."
   One of the show's highpoints was an exquisite version of "Far From Me," which temporarily quieted the boisterous crowd as they drank in the heart-wrenching lyrics.
   Prine deftly mixed the serious and the comical all evening long, following the above-mentioned tune with one of his most uplifting and whimsical songs, "Whistle and Fish."
   A great mandolin intro by Wilber signaled the start of what may be Prine's most famous composition, "Angel From Montgomery" (you may know the version by Bonnie Raitt).
   Following "Angel," Prine's two stellar backing musicians left the stage as the singer did wonderful solo versions of five tunes including "Dear Abby," "In Spite Of Ourselves" and "Sam Stone." The band rejoined him towards the end of that final tune and kicked into high gear on a rollicking rendition of A.P. Carter's "Bear Creek."
  "It's always good to write a song about your wife," Prine said as he introduced "She Is My Everything" from his 2005 Grammy-winning album "Fair & Square."
  "You never know when you might need it."
   After a great version of "Hello In There" from the debut album, Prine ended the main set with "Lake Marie," which proved to be a fitting closer as its lyrics echo the "We Gotta Go Now" part from "Louie Louie."
   Prine and his accompanists, who were equally adept as they alternated between rockabilly, folk and country-tinged songs throughout the evening, then returned with "Sweet Revenge" and "People Puttin' People Down."
  "Somebody's been hollering for this one all night," he said, launching into "Illegal Smile," which featured the entire audience jubilantly singing along.
   Prine then brought the evening to a close with "Paradise."
   "Thank you very much for coming out tonight," he said as the houselights came up, signaling the end of a splendid evening.
   Paradise, indeed.

By: Brian GOckley
Great concert by a great musician at a fine venue. After a good opening set by his lead guitarist, Jason Wilbur, John and his band of ten or more year came out and rocked the house. From the opening song "Spanish Pipedream" to the four song encore, John had the crowd in the palm of his hand. People sang along, cheered and whooped and jumped to their feet several times during his joyful performance. Smiling and telling his wry stories, John moved from one song to another without stopping, and for 2 1/2 hours straight. His voice was strong and his band was tight and it was a delight to listen to him play from his vast storehouse of fantastic story songs. What a treat for the audience! Thanks John! I won't have all the songs or in the right order, but they included: Spanish Pipedream Speed of the Sound of Loneliness Donald & Lydia Lake Marie Illegal Smile

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