John Prine-State Theatre-Alive and Well In Sydney
9th March 2019
There was a palpable buzz in the State Theatre on Saturday the 9th of March 2019. John Prine was in the building and people were eager to hear him sing and tell us stories. No one writes songs about loneliness like Mr. Prine. He has been battling health issues for some time, but word was out he is still at the top of his game.
Tyler Childers, a 27 year old from Kentucky kicked off proceedings. Looking dapper and smooth onstage, Childers showed us some songs from his breakthrough record, Purgatory, which was produced by the one and only Sturgill Simpson. Along with being invited to support Prine, having the very hot imprimatur of Simpson on his release is proof that he is someone to keep an ear out for.
Childers was well received and his gorgeous set was the perfect start to what would turn out to be a magical evening. We will be hearing more from Tyler Childers, there is no doubt.
Prine and his very tight band delivered the goods. The sound was a tad muddy when they kicked off with “Picture Show” and “Six O’clock News”, but that was rectified soon after. “Bruised Orange” was the first song that you could have said, well that was worth the price of admission. But there were so many more to come, it was not worthwhile using that expression, because Prine just kept mining gold.
Fats Kaplin, who played everything but Prine’s guitar, showed how smooth a multi-instrumental character he is. His fiddle playing was top notch but some of the highlights of the night were the interplay of his pedal steel guitar with Arlen Roth’s guitar solos. This band truly deepened the beauty and feeling of all of Prine’s songs.
“Spanish Pipedream”, “Hello In There”and “Summer’s End” all led up to the last song with the band for a while, which was a gorgeous version of “Angel From Montgomery. Bonnie Raitt may own that song but hearing John do it again left the crowd delighted.
John then did a ½ dozen songs solo. The set list is below, but for me “Jesus The Missing Years” and “Illegal Smile” made my evening. Childers came out and sang the cute “Please Don’t Bury Me” with Prine and then he finished the solo part of the night with the classic “Sam Stone”.
The encore was short but when it added up to 23 songs at the end of the night, Prine had left his heart and soul with the gathering. And although “Paradise” is up there with my favourite compositions by this artist, it was a bit weird. Childers and Prine’s wife came out to sing and then the Hoodoo Gurus came out to lend their pipes to this number. I have no idea what their connection is to the artist, but I have to say it was a somewhat underwhelming version of his iconic classic.
That was his last show in Australia for this tour and although Prine said he would not keep it so long before he came back. It had been 26 years since the last time he was in Australia. Well, we all know time is tight and we are a long way away from his home in Nashville. But we went out grateful, happy and buzzing, some with illegal smiles, into the Sydney Saturday night.
But what song did he NOT play that you were yearning for? “Blue Umbrella” is mine…
Setlist
Picture Show
Six O’Clock News
Knockin’ on Your Screen Door
Bruised Orange (Chain of Sorrow)
Spanish Pipedream
Caravan of Fools
Egg & Daughter Nite, Lincoln Nebraska, 1967 (Crazy Bone)
Grandpa Was a Carpenter
Hello In There
Far From Me
Summer’s End
I Have Met My Love Today
Storm Windows
Angel From Montgomery
There She Goes
(solo)
Jesus the Missing Years
(solo)
Illegal Smile
(solo)
In Spite of Ourselves
(solo)
Please Don’t Bury Me
(with Tyler Childers)
Sam Stone
(solo)
Lake Marie
Encore:
When I Get to Heaven
Paradise
(with Hoodoo Gurus) (also joined by Tyler Childers and Fiona Whelan Prine)