John Hiatt!

http://www.johnhiatt.com/
All photos on this blog are ©Andrew Talbert unless otherwise noted.

Wow. John Hiatt. How do I add anything about him that hasn't been said. I guess I will just tell you about last night from my perspective. First I really enjoyed seeing him. The last time I was going to see him I got rained out. I had the tickets and he played but I passed as it was a steady downpour in Raleigh and I really didn't want to get drowned! So I was overdue to see John play, especially with Lyle.
One of the funniest things said last night was a ramble about guitars. John asked Lyle about his guitar and Lyle went into the story about the maker of his guitars. Bill Collings. http://www.collingsguitars.com/

Here is a cool video you can watch featuring Lyle talking about a trip with Bill :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKRsCWhszzw

Anyway you really had to be there to understand but the tangent from the guitar story had some lines about John talking about the ventilation in the guitar factory and John saying the best part of signing autographs was the magic markers! It was all very funny.

As for wrapping up my thoughts about last night, both guys absolutely smoked their guitar playing. As a struggling guitar player there were moments I just shook my head. Lyle's finger-picking and John improvising some of his blues-tainted runs were first rate. The stories were something you don't get to see enough of these days at a concert and this was a welcome part of the show for me. It can really help you understand the music. I will say being in a super nice 700 person venue helps you feel like you are a part of a very intimate and special show. Beats a shed show hands down. 'Nuff said.

John played some things I really wanted to hear. "Cry Love", "Crossing Muddy Water", and so on. I will link you to a couple of videos in a minute but I will mention my favorite of the night.

This is the song Eric Clapton and B.B. King made famous "Riding With the King." People I could hardly sit in my chair. My foot was stomping the beat and I quietly sung every line. What a great song! Here's a version I have seen Sonny Landreth play with John back in the days of John's band he calls 'The Goners" Crank it up!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_CUzuitxSI

Here's BB and EC:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDR1-JD4Sms&feature=related

Did I mention "Memphis in the Meantime?" John played it. I was thinking about all of the people who covered this song as he sang it. Gregg Allman...on and on... Here's a great video link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOKEQ1GtviI&feature=related

Another fabulous John Hiatt song is "Thing Called Love" Bonnie Raitt made so famous. Here is a line to a video with John and Bonnie playing it on stage.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zp1txht6SGM

Finally another of my favorites from the night. "Perfectly Good Guitar" I love this one and the meaning of the song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONe27UL_EaE&feature=related

Wow. I am still basking in the glow from this show. I'm 48 hours from another great concert with more coming in behind that.
Life is damn good. I'll be back again on the blog soon. In the meantime live "Now" and go see some live music. Support those great artists on the trail!

Until next time, I'll see you, down the road.