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Steve Earl and the Dukes and The Mastersons at the Colonial 5/3/13
 
  by: JoeS - Springfield, PA
started: 05/12/13 4:44 pm | updated: 05/12/13 4:44 pm
 
The Colonial Theater in Phoenixville is a small, friendly and acoustically splendid venue. When you combine a great venue with enthusiastic fans and artists who know their fans you have all the ingredients for a memorable concert.

The Mastersons ,who are Eleanor Whitmore and Chris Masterson ,opened the show with a set of 5 songs from their highly acclaimed debut album, “ Birds Fly South." I bought the album about 2 months ago and have listened to it just about daily. They have what Emmy Lou Harris calls the, “third voice." Separately they possess fine voices, together they have a bit of magic. The set included:

Crash Test
The Other Shoe
One Word M ore
No Dancing
Birds Fly South

I can't find an average song on the album. My favorites are Crash Test,One Word More and Birds Fly South. I especially enjoy Birds Fly South. It has an engaging story, an alluring melody and the hook all memorable songs possess. I rate all shows and albums by my air guitar and singing in the shower rating system. I find myself playing Eleanor's fiddle and singing along to their songs.

After a brief intermission Steve Earl and the Dukes, who include The Mastersons, took the stage. I've never seen any group of musicians use more instruments. There were at least 20 guitars, mandolins and banjos and another 8 fiddles. I am a newer fan of Steve. I discovered Steve from Michael Moore's documentary Fahrenheit 9/11. Steve is truly a Renaissance man. He writes and performers great music, is a writer, actor and activist.

The band had the place jumping with a fan pleasing combination of quality and quantity. They performed some 23 songs, seven from the new release “The Low Highway." I believe the new release in on par with his Grammy awarding winning "Guitar Town." The audience agreed with me. The applause was very intense after Low Highway, 21st Century and my favorite Invisible. Steve's voice is a combination of Bruce and Bob Dylan. The only thing I'd recommend is that they dial back the guitars a bit. At times his very strong voice was overwhelmed by the instruments.

The set consisted of:
Low Highway
21st Century
Calico County
Taneytown
Troubadour
Thought You Should Know
That All You Got
Loves Gonna Blow
After Mardi Gras
Pocket of Rain
This City
Ben McCullogh
Your Still Standing There
Invisible
Burnin It Down
Guitar Town
Copperhead Road
Free Men
Warren Hellman's Banjo
Little Emperor
The Galway Girl
Down The Road Part 2
Down The Road

The performance was driven by Steve's voice, Chris Masterson's powerful guitar,Eleanor's voice and remarkable fiddle playing along with Kelly Looney's bass and Will Rigby percussion. They played 18 songs then a 3 song curtain call followed by a 2 song curtain call. It isn't a mistake they started with Low Highway and finished with Down The Road.. Steve gets my top 5 star air guitar and singing in the shower rating.

Knowing Steve was going to do meet and greet, I sent my loyal side kick, Janet my wife, to get in line. I was lucky enough to be 2nd in a very long line. Steve was warm, accommodating, friendly, talky and very approachable. He signed lots of stuff, my CD, and took pictures. I then went over and talked with The Mastersons. They are very humble and gracious folks. When I asked them to sign my CD and the set list, they appeared surprised. When I told them I had purchased their CD about 2 months ago and really loved it, they were very appreciative. All in all a spot on night!!!
Joe S


 
 
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