Review: John Hiatt

John Hiatt has been compared to artists ranging from Elvis Costello to John Prine during his lengthy career. At the Uptown Theater on Monday, Hiatt evoked an even more auspicious figure. With his bandy legs and dapper hat, Hiatt resembled present-day Bob Dylan. 

The similarities didn’t end with appearances. Hiatt’s sturdy four-piece band also played a rough-and-tumble version of the blues favored by Dylan in recent years. And as is often the case with Dylan, Hiatt’s 16-song set list contained several curious choices. 

Hiatt established himself as an elite Dylan-inspired songwriter in the ’70s. “Sure as I’m Sittin’ Here,” from his 1974 debut album, became a hit for Three Dog Night. With a large catalog of beloved material at his disposal, Hiatt might easily fall into predictable concerts that are as comforting as favorite old movies. 

Hiatt and his band didn’t allow that to happen during their 100-minute set. Rather than faithfully replicating Hiatt’s original recordings, the band applied a loud and rough sensibility to familiar material. The romantic “Real Fine Love” was transformed into a scruffy dirge that could have been mistaken for Pearl Jam. “Drive South” was made over as a ramshackle blues shuffle. 

The merits of the set list are debatable, but Hiatt made certain to include the two songs that have finally achieved the status of standards years after their initial releases. The weighty “Have a Little Faith in Me” has become a staple at wedding receptions. “Feels Like Rain” is one of the sexiest contributions to the singer/songwriter canon since Carole King and Gerry Goffin wrote “(You Make Me Feel Like a) Natural Woman.” 

The exuberant existentialism of “Slow Turning” and “Tennessee Plates,” a rollicking song about an ill-fated crime spree, were no less memorable. 

Although she’s a fixture at area clubs, opening act Samantha Fish was a revelation to many in the audience of about 500. Her formidable guitar skills, soaring voice and striking appearance led to a standing ovation, long lines at Fish’s concession stand and a sincere compliment from Hiatt. Fish is less than half of Hiatt’s 60 years. 

“Sixty is the new 12,” Hiatt joked as he acknowledged last week’s milestone birthday. “And I’m living proof.” 

The guilelessly juvenile dancing of Hiatt and his ecstatic fans during the deep groove of Monday’s closing song, “Riding With the King,” reinforced that fanciful notion.

|Bill Brownlee, Special to The Star

Setlist: Master of Disaster, Tennessee Plates, Real Fine Love, Down Around My Place, We’re Alright Now, Crossing Muddy Waters, Cry Love, Blues Can’t Even Find Me, Drive South, Perfectly Good Guitar, Feels Like Rain, Thing Called Love, Slow Turning, Memphis in the Meantime, Have a Little Faith in Me, Riding With the King

 

Comments

[pellboy]

D'oh! That's why I should have waited for the professional, but my bad forgetting there are others besides Mr.Finn who are capable. Sorry, hope I didn't steal your thunder with my attempt at assessing the Hiatt show in another thread. Carry on.

[joe]

I read your post on the other blog PB. Agreed with your assessment of Have a Little Faith in me. When I saw initially that there was no keyboards on stage, I figured we would be spared a great song that was getting a little stale, in my opinion. The full band version added a new dimension and freshened it up. Very solid show. Hiatt provided one of the more sincere thank you's to the crowd acknowledging the sacrifice it is these days to pay hard earned money that allows him and his band to have the time of their lives on stage. Well said and quite approriate in these times...

[Geordan]

Just out of curiosity, how was our friend Samantha Fish in her opening spot for Mr. Hiatt?

[wadkc]

Samantha was fine. I didn't get the prom dress she was wearing, almost early k.d. lang'ish. The volume could have been turned up for her set. I know that opening acts don't get that pleasure but it would have helped.

John was John. You know going in what you're going to get. Not something I can't wait to see but steady as she goes. Solid.

[Musicgal]

John did a meet and greet as he usually does after the show for a small group of people. Very cool. Agree with your review PB. Also, I had never seen Samantha and I thought she was great. I would agree with wadkc about the dress she was wearing. She's young, but maybe she should consider a stylist. Before the haters hate - I know clothing shouldn't be a factor here. Just sayin'.

[pellboy]

Damn, wish I knew about the meet & greet, always did want to talk to Mr.Hiatt. Was that part of a special VIP ticket or something, gal? For some odd reason, did meet Samantha's dad though thru a co-worker I saw at the show. Now I'm inclined to hit that Tom Hall fundraiser on Sun. afternoon at Knuckleheads.

I didn't mind the dress so much, in fact thought it was maybe fitting for this sort of bigtime event for her, but granted, I'm pretty stylistically challenged. Just guessing here by other times I've seen her, but she's seems to always sport short dresses with a vintage feel so the "prom" skirt wasn't too far off that theme. As Mr.Brownlee said, she seemed to really win over mostly unfamiliar crowd (at least those around us), so kudos to Ms.Fish for that.

[Musicgal]

PB - no special VIP. JH usually comes out after every show (this one was in the upper 20's for me). Not a stalker, just a big fan. We waited for about 15 minutes at the the gate behind the Uptown where the buses are. The only time I know of that he hasn't done this was when he played with Lyle last year, maybe one time at Crossroads and festival settings. He's so friendly and has an assistant/handler to make sure everyone gets a chance to talk to him, get autographs, etc. The handler will take pictures with your camera and doesn't rush anyone away. John is very gracious and keeps thanking you for coming to the show, waiting around, etc. SO COOL! Don't tell anyone, I don't want a big crowd next time, but you can come. :-)

[Paul S.]

On question of how did opening up for John Hiatt? Samantna Fish mesmorized the crowd when she played I Put A Spell On You. The Uptown was at its darkest and the spotlight was on her. She wore a black dress with high heels and played a black guitar, so she stood out even more with all that black in the darkeness around her. It was a song where it really paid off to see her up close.

When Samantha sang that song it was like she was living it. It was easy to believe that she was having this conversation with her man as she sang.

Between her hands being in motion during the guitar breaks and her strong, soulful voice, as if both directed at him, it was the facial expressions that said it all. It was easy to imagine him in the shadows several feet in front of her. It was pure emotion and Samantha at her finest!

John Hiatt closed his show and the evening with a light's out performance of Riding With The King. His lead guitarist was great all night but was at his best in the closer.

[dressnl]

The exuberant existentialism of “Slow Turning” and “Tennessee Plates,” a rollicking song about an ill-fated crime spree, were no less memorable.

Read more here: http://backtorockville.typepad.com/back_to_rockville/2012/08/review-john-hiatt.html#storylink=cpy

[pellboy]

Thanks for the tip, gal. I guess I do recall him doing that after a show at Liberty Hall once, but I wasn't able to wait around that time. I'll have to try and remember to make a point of it next time he comes thru.