Monday, August 20, 2007

John Hiatt and Shawn Colvin Saturday night

Sue snagged quick tickets to see these two Saturday night at the Melody Tent in Hyannis. Wanted to see Shawn Colvin and didn't know John Hiatt but, man, glad we stayed for the second set.

Funny, summer Cape crowd, all tan and khaki, shorts and sweatshirts to ward off the damp chill. I said to Sue, what a good-lookin' bunch, not a hump in the crowd.

Overheard someone in the beer line during intermission saying that Colvin reminded them of Joni Mitchell the way she talked (and talked, but it was okay, she's got a nice stage presence) and kept meticulously tuning her guitar all the while. Played Sonny plus a few others I recognized but can't recall right now because I'm not a big fan, but she's got a nice voice, not a great voice, but good story-telling songs.

John Hiatt. Holy shit. He came out looking like he just hopped off the tractor from plowing the soy beans. His old limp jeans just hanging on him, untucked shirt coming out under his denim jacket (in short, he dressed a helluva a lot the way I do) and he just, to use some Chris Knight lyrics, banged away. Great energy, great storytelling, and he ripped that guitar, tearing his pick through the strings like a scythe in hay season, and it became part of his soul that night.

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