Loudon Wainwright III in Concert, Los Angeles Feb 5, 2011

[bridger15]

Loudon Wainwright III will be in concert with Shawn Colvin
February 5, 2011, 8 pm
Valley Performing Arts Center
Northridge, CA

http://www.valleyperformingartscenter.o ... 11/020511/

Wainwright’s recording career spans a total of 23 albums, including 2009’s Grammywinning High Wide & Handsome, a musical tribute to Charlie Poole (1893-1931), the legendary, yet obscure North Carolina singer and banjo player (awarded “Album of the Year” status by Entertainment Weekly editor and NPR contributor Ken Tucker). Wainwright has collaborated with songwriter /producer Joe Henry on the music for Judd Apatow’s hit movie Knocked Up, written music for the British theatrical adaptation of the Carl Hiaasen novel Lucky You, and composed topical songs for NPR’s Morning Edition, All Things Considered and ABC’s Nightline. Loudon Wainwright songs have been recorded by Johnny Cash, Earl Scruggs, Rufus Wainwright, and Mose Allison, among others.

I am still in Florida until January 12. I have to check my calendar when I return to LA.
I plan to go. If anyone else is interested, please let me know.
---Arlene

[bridger15]

Loudon was on for the first half of the double bill concert. He was terrific, a most enjoyable hour+ of songs and patter. The crowd loved him.
He featured a few songs from his newest album, "10 Songs For The New Depression" to which many in the audience could relate.

As of this writing some folks are saying things are looking up recession wise and this particular hard time might be ending. Other experts are saying we’re in for a “double-dip” and there’s more feces heading toward the national and global fans. If that’s the case i’d like to cash in. So buddy if you can spare a few bucks, please enjoy “10 Songs for the New Depression”! - Jan 2010

He engages with his audience all through his set. After a few songs, he mentioned:
My family has been busy lately. On February 2, I became a grandfather for the second time.
It's an easier job. Thank you. (arms streched out, pretending he is handing the baby back to the parents).
Before his encore, he referred to his new granddaughter when he dedicated the song to her.

At the intermission, he was selling his CD in the foyer. He was very charming and friendly with everyone in line.
I bought one, got his autograph and had a photo taken with him.



The theater was very strict about no cameras, no photography or recordings. But I did notice the odd cell phone snapping pics. Loudon was cool with this and cracked a joke asking if they really knew how their cell phones work.

So I have nothing live from the concert to post but I found an NPR podcast with two songs from his new album that he sang in the concert. They are the first two songs on the podcast.

1. TIMES IS HARD

This song was written following the 2009 Inaugural and asks or perhaps begs the question: “Can nihilism be used as a tool to remedy social ills?” I suspect Pete Seeger would reject this premise, though I’d like to think that Will Rogers and Woody Guthrie might dig the concept.

2. HOUSE

So far I’ve remained relatively unscathed by the New Depression though I do own a home in southern California that I am unable to sell at present. My financial advisors tell me that the present will most assuredly stretch into the foreseeable future.

http://www.npr.org/player/v2/mediaPlaye ... =126855959

Full details about this new album are on Loudon Wainwright's website.
http://www.lw3.com/songs.php

---Arlene

[Mabeanie1]

Hi Arlene

Thanks for posting your review. Not for me I'm afraid but UK fans of Loudon's stuff may like to note that he is doing a fairly extensive tour here in May. Details here:

http://www.ents24.com/web/artist/49392/ ... t_III.html

Shooting off at a tangent, the link Arlene posted is to an appearance on the Mountain Stage show. Coincidentally, we attended the first ever recording of a Mountain Stage show made from outside the US when we were in Glasgow recently for the Celtic Connections festival. It's a great show and well worth supporting. The show we saw featured Mavis Staples, Joy Kills Sorrow and Scottish singer-songwriter Dougie MacLean and was recorded live to tape for broadcast in, I think, April 2011.

Wendy

[bridger15]

..., the link Arlene posted is to an appearance on the Mountain Stage show.

Thanks, Wendy. I added the following description from their website when I "pasted" the concert report on my LC Scrapbook. http://onboogiestreet.blogspot.com/

NPR's Mountain Stage is a radio show recorded before a theater audience. It is produced by West Virginia Public Broadcasting and distributed by National Public Radio and the Voice of America.

---Arlene

[wainwright3]

Great to hear about Loudon who is indeed touring the UK in May, his first full tour since 2007.

A more reliable link for ALL his tour dates is http://www.lw3.com/itinerary.php which lists all 15 gigs in the UK.

The 'Ents' link further up the page only shows nine of the concerts.

Loudon Wainwright III is truly a legend and you should take this rare chance to see him if you can!!!

Here's a video of him in Canada - recorded on January 28th this year.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPqejIEo_ik

[dick]

Same duo, Colvin nd Loudon, will be in Tarrytown, NY on March 10. Just dicovered that while purchasing Seeger tickets.

Can't attend that one unfortunately, but am sure other Cohen fans would be welcomed. And, as Arlene has pointed out, he puts on a good show!