Concert Review: Lucinda Williams

By Joerg Kliewe

Stepping up to the mic at Seattle's South Lake Union venue, Lucinda Williams quickly grabbed the crowd, holding her fans in the palm of her hand with her opening line, "We like to play long!"

She wasn't teasing. Lucinda and her band kept the audience entertained for over three hours.

Sponsored by Cingular, Summer Nights at South Lake Park are now a Seattle tradition. The concert series started in the early 1990s and were originally staged at The Pier until they migrated to the twelve acre waterfront park. The park seats up to 4,000 guests at a beautiful site where everyone can enjoy breathtaking sunsets near Lake Union, all the while listening to their favorite musicians.

Lucinda Williams' show opened the series this year and audiences will be able to enjoy big name artists like B.B. King, Lyle Lovett, Buddy Guy, Chris Isaak, the Indigo Girls, John Hiatt and the Blind Boys of Alabama.

John Doe kicked off the night performing songs from his recent album, Forever Hasn't Happened Yet. Lucinda hit the stage as the sun lowered behind the Olympic mountain range to the west.

First up was "Ventura", a song from Williams' 2003 studio album World Without Tears. Her set of moody songs had bodies swaying and heads bobbing, with Lucinda occasionally commenting on the beautiful Seattle setting that she found "quite miraculous."

Her fans held on to every word and embraced her music, singing along or cheering spontaneously when some of her most cleverly phrased lyrics hovered in the night air.

Lucinda's very able three-piece combo made up of Doug Pettibone (guitar, steel, harmonica), Taras Prodaniuk (bass) and Jim Christie (drums), fashioned a musical platform that went beyond traditional American music -- not quite country, not quite rock, but a sound that makes Lucinda William's songs unique and ticket takers smile.

Williams clung to her Gibson J-45 for the first few songs, then plugged in with a Fender Telecaster to venture into a nine minute romp called "Righteously". Both the band and the crowd rocked to Pettibone's superb guitar solo.

Doug kept arming himself with his cool collection of vintage Gretsches, as well as a 1960s Gibson Firebird, an off-white old Gibson SG with maestro vibrola and his classic black Gibson Les Paul Custom.

One by one, Lucinda passed out her hits like party favors before letting the audience know that she had written 23 new songs since the release of her last album. "Jail House Tear", a twang drenched number was followed by the band's latest thumping rocker, "C'mon."

If the songs reflect her next album's full line up of tracks -- we're all in for a treat!

Unfortunately, the vagaries of Seattle weather claimed the day with the sunny day turning sour. Those who showed up in shorts and t-shirts looked with envy on those more prepared who brought along blankets. Lucinda and crew kept warm not only from the klieg lights, but because, in her words, "You're so fired up!" the crowd was keeping them warm.

If the Lucinda William's concert is any indication of what Seattle's Summer Night's concert series has to offer, those in the Pacific Northwest are going to have one great summer in the city!

Related links

Lucinda Williams
Summer Nights at Lake Union Park