It’s a short opening set for Amanda but enough to showcase her talents as both a musician and a singer. Her crystal clear country voice fills the large room and I’m sure she has won over many new fans tonight. Her stories are warm, funny and engaging between songs mainly taken from her latest album ‘My Piece of Land’.
After beating cancer a few years ago Prine’s voice is a little deeper but any concerns we may have had about its strength were instantly dispelled as he delivered a near faultless display busting the venue curfew with a two hour show.
Strong of voice and their love of music, Prine and band are clearly having a blast on this tour. The set comes from throughout his extensive catalogue although a third of it is from the classic self-titled debut album. The band are tight and accompany Prine’s rhythm guitar effortlessly with a special mention for Pat McLaughlin on mandolin.
There’s a great solo spot where the band leave the stage leaving Prine to put the audience even more under his spell rattling through a few classics including the great ‘Sam Stone’. He crams in a few extra songs I think, before ushering the band and Amanda Shires back on stage where she accompanies on fiddle and vocals with him on several tracks from his most recent duets album ‘For Better, or worse’.
It’s soon eleven o’clock and with both the crowd and band wanting to carry on the venue gestapo call time on a truly wonderful night of music. Highlights too many to mention but props to ‘Lake Marie’ and ‘Souvenirs’.
Keep on country rockin y’all.