"He ain't much to look at, just a free-ramblin' man"
Given that the title for this blog is lifted from one of his songs, it was fitting that Haley and I had the pleasure of seeing Mr. Prine live in concert at the Merriam Theater in Philadelphia last Friday night. It was my second time seeing John live and Haley’s first and while he’s ten years older (and at least ten pounds heavier) the man can still put on a hell of a show. In my opinion one of the greatest songwriters of all time, Prine’s songs ring with a truth and honesty that is hard to fake and nearly impossible to imitate. His low-key, “aw shucks” delivery belies a deep understanding of the human condition and his masterful intonation can speak volumes with just a single word.
The show was a veritable greatest hits of Prine’s work but the highlight for me came early with a stirring rendition of the song “6 O’clock News”. At first listen, a soulful love song, the lyrics of the tune actually tell a mournful and dark tale of loss. Hearing this song almost always gives me goose-bumps, but hearing it live on Friday night sent shivers up my spine.
Far from a simple singer-songwriter showcase, John’s stellar band kicked it up a notch and laid down some rollicking country-blues jams later in the evening. True to his catalog of music, there was laughing and there was crying and a little of everything in between. Thanks for a great show, John.
