JUSTIN TOWNES EARLE with SHOVELS & ROPE at the Horseshoe, Friday August 26. Rating: NNNNN
Justin Townes Earle, son of Steve, made up for his cancelled October show with a near-flawless performance at a sold-out Horseshoe.
Rake-thin and sweating through his grey suit, he explained that he’s “back on papers” after getting into trouble with the law again recently. Luckily, he’s also back on track musically, channeling his demons into the best country music I’ve heard in a long time.
Flanked by talented double bassist Bryn Davies and violinist Amanda Shires, the candid and charming Earle oscillated between themes of sin and redemption, often in the same song. The crowd responded most to the New York material, singing along to One More Night In Brooklyn and Harlem River Blues.
During a solo section, Earle complained that a reviewer had said he used loop pedals, something he’d never do. On Lightnin’ Hopkins cover Automobile Blues, you could understand the mistake: Earle plays the blues like he’s got an extra hand.
