Review: Carrie Rodriguez

The music world is populated by performers who can do it all: sing, write songs and play several instruments and do it all with personality and panache. Some of them are well-known or famous; others aren't and deserve to be -- which is the category Carrie Rodriguez falls into.

Sunday night she visited Knuckleheads, the roadhouse/honky-tonk surrounded by railroad tracks in the East Bottoms. Before a crowd of roughly 120 people, she and her four-man band delivered a warm and lively 80-minute set of songs that showed off her many skills as a singer, musician and live performer.

Rodriguez is touring off the album "Love and Circumstance," a collection of cover songs. She opened with one of those -- Buddy Miller's "Wide River To Cross" -- before returning to tracks from her first two studio albums: "Infinite Night" and "Absence" from the "She Ain't Me" album and "I Don't Want To Play House Anymore," " '50s French Movie" and the title track from their album, "Seven Angels On A Bicycle." Then came one of the better moments of her show: her straight-up version of "Steal Your Love," a song written by one of her more obvious inspirations, Lucinda Williams.

Throughout the set, she switched from fiddle to tenor guitar to electric mandolin, showing off a voice that can switch from bluesy to hymnal within the same song. Her genre is Americana/roots and so is her Texas heritage, so she easily handled songs like Gillian Welch's "I Made A Lover's Prayer" and Merle Haggard's "Today I Started Loving You Again." (She also sang a sultry version of "Happy Birthday" to B2R contributor and music blogger Bill Brownlee that made every guy in the room wish it was his birthday.)

Several of the songs on her setlist were of similar tempo, but she broke the mood with a lively fiddle/mandolin/tambourine instrumental in the middle of the set and then, during her encore, the number "Red Bird," which she performed with opener Jim Lauderdale (it's on his album "Jim Lauderdale & His Bluegrass Band"). She closed her set with a song that she has been performing for years but that she didn't record until she made "Love and Circumstance": the lovely Spanish ballad "Punalada Trapera." The song goes back to her great aunt, Eva Garza, she said before delivering her own lovely version.

Afterward, at the merch table in the back of Knuckleheads, where she signed CDs until her supply was nearly gone, Rodriguez talked about a return trip to Kansas City this summer, when she'll open a show solo/acoustic on a bill that includes Dar Williams, Grace Potter and Sara Watkins. 

When a fan suggested that was a bill that rivals this year's revived Lilith Fair, Rodriguez said she'd discussed getting on that roster but it was decided she had no chance. It's their loss, for now, but you've got to believe that sooner or later, tours like that will be soliciting Carrie Rodriguez and not vice versa.

Jim Lauderdale: He came dressed in a slick maroon Manuel suit and opened the evening with a solo-acoustic set that was about as entertaining as a solo-acoustic set can get. It went on a bit too long -- more than an hour -- but he kept it interesting with some corny jokes, a cover of "Lost in the Lonesome Pines" and his own "Hole In My Head," a hit for the Dixie Chicks.

| Timothy Finn, The Star

Comments

[onthemark]

Excellent performance last night. Her version of '50's French Movie' last night was a LOT sexier than the album cut. Hoo boy!

Third time I have seen Carrie, and her stage presence has matured considerably. She has always been talented, but she nows seems more comfortable performing in front of a crowd. Her voice is quite the instrument as well. All in all a great evening!

Ticket: $18
New CD: $15
Food and drink: $9
Getting my picture taken with Carrie: Priceless!

[The Birddog]

Good sets by both. It was a real treat getting to see Lauderdale, one of America's most successful songwriters, do an acoustic only set.

A nice little insight to what the songs sound like in the bare bones version.

[kcmom]

Good review...thanks, Tim.

And nice meeting you, onthemark.

Tim summed up Jim Lauderdale's set nicely; this is my second time seeing him (he was the opener both times) and it could be the last as far as I'm concerned. I want to like him but I just don't.

And what happened to the third guy who was supposed to be on the bill? Tim Easton? I'm not complaining per se, as I'd never heard of him and don't know what I missed, mostly just curious---some of his song titles sounded intriguing.

[Kilby]

When I couldn't procure Conan tickets the day they went on sale and sold out, I was bummed until this show was announced on the same night. I bought an advance ticket and then yesterday, lo & behold, I saw a few dozen Conan tickets open up on Ticketmaster's site. I decided to stick with the Knuckleheads show and what a fine night of music it was.

Slated opener, Tim Easton, was AWOL, but it was cool to see Jim Lauderdale for the first time. I like some of Lauderdale's songs, but his Catskills-approved humor between songs came close to making me regret not springing for last minute Conan seats. But he was vocally strong and did sell the hell out of his songs, and I enjoyed most of it.

But I did come for Carrie Rodriquez and what a wonderful set she put together last night. "50's French Movie" and "Steal Your Love" were indeed highlights, but my favorite song from last night was "Infinite Night." It just sounded so damn good live. Carrie's band was also really good, especially the two guitarists.....and Carrie, Wow, what an absolute talent!

Stuck around and got a CD autographed after that 'fanatical' little guy in front of me had her sign a guitar, a hat, a photo collage, a poster, a CD, and, AND have his picture taken with her. Sheesh! Carrie was gracious and although I only got a question and a couple of complimentary comments in, she was as kind as she is talented. As onthemark pointed out, the show was a tremendous bargain, and for me, MUCH cheaper than seeing the hilarious Mr. O'Brien.

[Tim S]

Speaking of Carrie Rodriguez, she's in the latest Coverville.

http://coverville.com/archives/podcast/coverville-674-every-time-it-rains-youre-here-in-my-hodgepodge/

Will definitely have to check her out next time. Especially since Sara Watkins will be on the bill. I'm a sucker for those Watkins kids.

[Belstaff Abbigliamento UOMO]

I really do appreciate your feedback. I'm still struggling with the technology but I wish everyone all luck with this competition. I've been pinned down with a sick grandchild and today a very sick daughter - both with gastric flu which afflicts us all at this time of year - so this is the first moment I've had to get to the computer