James McMurty Live at The Grand Theatre

A few years ago with the help of Stephen King's local radio station James McMurtry became popular in this area. His Bush era song " We Can't Make it Here Anymore" with it's conversation about outsourcing of jobs, Walmart, the Iraq War and other issues struck a chord.

He has played in the area several times and this year when hearing of his return my wife and I got tickets.

I have several of his albums, Live in Aught Three, featuring his most popular songs from his career from the late eighties until then is an album full of treasures. Since then the album Childish Things and Just Us Kids have brought many more strong songs into his concert catalogue.

Arriving at the show we were pleased to see that we had third row seats off to the right. The opening act, a fellow named Johnny Burk, was interesting and entertaining. He had some interesting songs including one called " My Baby is a Sociopath." He also had the interesting habit of stomping on a phone book next to a microphone to create a beat. It was interesting.

McMurtry took the stage a little before 9. I was taken aback as two minutes later the space between the front rows and the stage was full of people dancing. I was taken aback. Being off to the right this blocked our view somewhat, people in the front rows center were even more blocked. I understand that people want to get up but I have to say that when a show sells tickets as seated that people who go through the process to get tickets should not have their view blocked by those that perhaps have much worse seats and choose to crowd up front.

Now on to the show. It was in a word....tremendous. McMurtry rocks. His band is non descript. His guitar player does not even join the show until about half way through, McMurtry handles the guitar until then, but the band is tight. Mcmurtry is even better live. Levelland, Just Us Kids, Halloween Party gain their true form live. Introducing the afore mentioned " We Can't Make It Here" McMurtry mentioned that they had dropped the song from the set list for quite sometime but that " unfortunately it is still relevant. " Too Long in the Wasteland ended the show with blistering guitar solos and the encore of the favorite Lights of Cheyenne with just McMurtry singing ended the show.

In terms of music alone this might well have been one of the best shows I have ever seen. He played well over two hours and was truly great. Certainly the theatrics and big house performance of Springsteen and the like tower above this but musically this show as good as it gets.

Certainly a far better performer and more charasmatic singer than Ray Lamontagne but then again it is like comparing apples and oranges.

A fantastic show.