justin townes earle @ hardly strictly bluegrass
Much of this year’s Hardly Strictly Bluegrass was only able to be enjoyed as a social event. Surrounded by too many people and sitting or standing so far from the stages, music became a background to talking or hanging out or dozing rather than being the focal point. The one exception to this was Justin Townes Earle at the smallest stage, the Porch Stage as it was called.
Justin, Steve’s son, has a record out on Bloodshot Records. I had played some of his CD, the Good Life, when we had it down at KZSU and Oz at Hearya had talked about Justin quite a bit, so I decided to check out his set.
Coming to hear Justin from listening to bluegrass most of the afternoon is a different situation from coming to hear him after listening to indie singer-songwriters and, I think, Justin’s music sits well in the framework of that older music.
He’s got an old-school stage persona, from his between song quips to his conversation style to all the “ladies and gentlemen” in the audience. He and his sideman, Cory Younts, played a really fun and engaging set. Justin manned the guitar, dancing and singing while Cory covered the harmonies, harmonica, mandolin and clawhammer banjo. (I wanted to yell “more banjo!!” the entire time–Cory’s really good.)
