A rare and intimate treat took place this past Saturday night. Steve Earle served as that treat as he brought his band The Dukes with the Mastersons to the intimate setting of the Bears Den (inside the Seneca Niagara Casino). It’s really hard to define Earle’s musical genre. Some may classify it as: county, folk, alternative, rockabilly, roots rock etc. Earle has been known as a political activist and incorporates his ideas into poetry and music. His band played a strong 2 hour set comprising of songs from his whole career including his last effort “The Low Highway,” which came out just 2 weeks prior.
Earle has never been a man who minces his words but on this night, really focused on the music and said very little in between songs. He enjoyed playing a variety of different instruments throughout his set including acoustic guitar, harmonica, electric guitar, mandolin, banjo, organ, and even sang acepella for the title track to “Low Highway.” Earle wasn’t they only one showing off his talents, Eleanor Whitmore also handled a variety of instruments including the fiddle, organ, electric guitar, and mandolin, to name a few and even co-sang lead on “That All You Got” and “Your Standing There.”
Earle did tell the story of how the song “Invisible” came about. Where he lives in NYC, he always walked by a church on his way to the gym. One day he noticed a long line for the soup kitchen. He mentioned this to his friend Tim Robbins and Tim responded, “Steve, there has always been a soup kitchen there serving people but you are just noticing how long the line is now.” Earle’s quote in “Burning Down” where he says, “Thinkin Bout’ burning the Wal-Mart down,” got the biggest ovation of the night.
Earle played his biggest hit “Copperhead Road” on a mandolin. He also paid homage to his good friend billionaire Philanthropist Warren Hellman who passed away last year. A philanthropist and activist friends you say? Usually activists and philanthropists represents opposite ends of the spectrum, but Steve explained how Warren helped so many and that he wasn’t your typical “banker.” He dedicated a song called “Warren Hellman’s Banjo.” Guitarist Kelly Looney took lead vocals on “Free Men” with the help of Whitmore.
The most touching moment of the night came when Earle appeared for his encore and told the story of his 3 year old having autism. He wrote a song called “Remember Me,” as a song that relies on the good graces of God, that Earle’s son will indeed remember him when Steve’s time comes.
This is my first go around with Earle in a live setting and I have to say, I was very impressed! Earle’s show left very little to the imagination as he put you right there with every word to every song. You don’t want to miss this tour when it comes to your town!
Set List:
Low Highway
21st Century
Calico Country
TanneyTown
I Thought You Should Know
That All You Got
Loves Gonna Blow
After Mardi Gras
Pocketfull of Rain
This City
Ben McCullough You’re Standing There
Invisible
Burnin’ it Down
Guitar Town
Copperhead Road
Free Men (Kelly Looney on lead vocals) Warren Hellman’s Banjo
Little Emperor
The Galway Girl
Down the Road Part II
Down the Road
Encore:
Remember Me
We would like to thank Tony Astran for his assistance in helping BackstageAxxess review the show.
