Many years ago when I was still living in Chicago, I had a chance to see Procol Harum live at the Vic Theater, a small supper-club type venue which held (at that time) only about 600 people. (The small number is because of the tables.) We had dinner, and then the lads came on and blew everyone away.
Their tour was to promote their latest album, Prodigal Stranger, which I still consider one of their very best (of an extraordinary collection of albums, as any fule kno).
Anyway, what that concert confirmed for me was that if I’m ever going to watch a live band, I’m only interested in doing so in a small, intimate venue. I’d seen the incomparable Leon Redbone in a similarly-small theater a couple of years earlier, but Redbone’s act was by definition a more intimate one, with the crooner entertaining us with many, many sly quips as well as his music. (Oh, how I miss him.) And one last such example: back in the late 1970s I saw Blood, Sweat and Tears perform in Johannesburg’s Empire Theatre (800 seats) and well, blues vocalist David Clayton-Thomas, say no more.
I was reminded of all this by a chance comment made by (of all people) BritRoyal Prince William’s in joking with Ronnie Wood that he’d only come and see the Stones if they brought Taylor Swift along.
The thing that both Swift and the Stones have in common for me is that I’d rather have a rat cage strapped to my face than attend the mega-concerts of either. This is not just the ranting of an elderly man, by the way: I’ve always preferred to watch a concert in a smaller venue, as I’ve demonstrated above, even when I was a young rock musician myself. Frankly, if the concert has to have giant TV screens for the audience to see the act perform, I’d rather watch the concert on a DVD afterwards than be part of a massive crowd.
The whole “Swiftie” phenomenon, of course, leaves me ice cold because, when all’s said and done, young Taylor is just a country singer, and I’m not a particular fan of country music per se, although there are a few country singers I wouldn’t mind seeing live, provided that the show was in a place like the Gruene (Texas) town hall, where I once saw Merle Haggard, or Austin’s Liberty Lunch bar (Bonnie Raitt, in her pre-Nick Of Time days).
And finally (!) I come to the point of this post, which is: if I were going to attend a concert in a small country bar like Austin’s Broken Spoke or Route 20 in Racine, Wisconsin (where I once saw Bachman Turner Overdrive and Steppenwolf in a double-header), which three country artists would I prefer to see the most (instead of Taylor Swift)?
In no particular order:
- David Allan Coe
(I can’t believe he’s still alive) - Willie Nelson
(ditto) - Shania Twain
And none of them would have to do a modern-style “show” (lighting, multiple costume changes, massive sound systems etc.); just a small backing band, a bar stool and (preferably) an acoustic guitar would be fine. I want to see the artist, not special effects.
Parenthetically, I wonder how well Taylor Swift would perform, under similar circumstances. Would she still be as impressive?
Your three choices in Comments.
Well, if they have to be alive, I would pick:
Suzy Bogguss (Look her up. Her version of Ian Tyson’s Someday Soon is nonpareil.)
Carrie Underwood (Just looking at her legs would be enough, but she also sings pretty good.)
Vince Gill (If you haven’t seen his moving performance at George Jones’ memorial service, look that up too. The guy can play.)
Alternate, if those three weren’t available: Steve Earle, especially when he’s channeling Townes.
And speaking of small venues, one of my favorites was the original Ark coffehouse in Ann Arbor, when it was still in an old house and the room held, maybe, 40 people. I recall one memorable night when we were in the front row and arm’s length from the spectacular nipples of one-hit-wonder Maria Muldaur. Unforgettable after more than 50 years. She’s still with us, but may have adopted undergarments at age 81.
Finally, if you haven’t seen it, look up the John Prine | House Of Strombo concert on the YouTube. Basically the great man with his long-time backers in a living room with 20 or 30 people sitting around listening, including Gordon Lightfoot. It’s beautiful to hear Prine just before his sad final decline. If it doesn’t put a tear in your eye, I don’t want to know you.
Winton Marsalis (trumpet).
James Galway (flute)
Steven Isserlis (cello)
And to round out a quartet, let’s have Nicola Benedetti on the violin.
Emmy Lou Harris, Clint Black, Robert Earl Keen.
Damn, I forgot REK. His #2 Live Dinner recorded at Floore’s Country Store in Helotes, a smallish venue, is just a great album.
I’m not familiar enough with country to choose 3 artists, actually, but you brought up some fond memories. I grew up in Chicago, graduating high school in 1974. I remember seeing Muddy Waters playing in various bars along Lincoln Avenue back in the day, us sitting at tables drinking pitchers of beer.
And, believe it or not, I saw Oscar Peterson play at the old London House on Michigan and Wacker on my high school prom night. I shit you not.
Fun times.
My high-school Prom Night:
Sammy Davis Jr. at the Moulin Rouge (Earl Carroll’s/Aquarius) in Hollywood, June ’59.
Saw David Allan Coe at the Iron Horse Saloon during Daytona Bike week in 2011.
Last did a large venue concert 15 years ago and never again.
I’ve seen several very small venues over the years (less than 300 people) and very much prefer them.
Never been much of a country fan but recently a Youtube by Reba McEntire popped up and I watched it. I was taken in by her “stage presence” and ability to comfortably work the crowd.
Take a look:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xq1qyy-v_k0
Kim,
Email headed your way. The “high caliber” sporting club where I have a membership is one highway exit away from Route 20 in Racine !! I know the place well. Been there several times (for lunch) after a morning session of recoil therapy. Service is always good. Sammiches and salads are decent, the chili was a bit too sweet for my taste buds.
If any of your readers in the NE Illinois / SE Wisconsin region want more info about my shooting club, I’m happy to provide details. Oh, the place I attend is not to be confused with the conservation property in Bristol, WI. Bristol’s run by the State of WI .. the place I attend is a private club.
– Brad in IL, aka The Jewish Deplorable
Well, for me, I’d have to give the first two spots to two current favorites — native Texan Rodney Crowell and Alabaman John Paul White. For the third spot…. I never understood the real man girl hater club in pop music, so I’d like to go with a femme. Joni Mitchell (with Jaco on bass, of course) or Emmylou Harris. But maybe a rocker — Joan Jett? Or, to really reach, jazz songster Ursula Dudziak? Or Canadian popster Amanda Marshall? And, for the record, I’ve seen both of the first two in small venues — The Ark in Ann Arbor, and Southgate House Revival in Newport, KY.
Oh! And also for the record, I saw Procul Harum (with Tranquility supporting) at Cincinnati’s Music Hall — 3500 or so seats, but **moi!* perfect acoustics — on their tour in support of Grand Hotel and maybe Exotic Bird and Fruit.
The Vic. One of my best friends in the business, Bob Suszynski, was the manager of the Vic in the late ’80s, early ’90s range.
“…a small country bar…”. Bring your Texas two-step.
https://gruenehall.com/
I saw John Fogarty at larger venues and he was extremely good for a guy in his 70s. He still has lots of enthusiasm and puts on a great show. Tickets were not that bad.
I looked into Alan Jackson tickets and the way back seats were $200-300 or so. that’s a hard no. this is his farewell tour since his physical ailments are getting worse.
I’d love to see George Strait, Alan Jackson and TBD but I’m not paying crazy money for tickets.
Steven Earle is coming to this area this summer but I’m not going to see him. I like his song Copperhead Road but I don’t know the rest of his catalog and I don’t want to hear him lecture about being against the death penalty etc
Townes Van Zandt, if time travel was available.
Liz Story, I just can’t keep it confined to Country/Western.
The Avett Brothers.
Taylor Swift, ugh, and double ugh. Wife is smitten tho.
Seen Willie live twice, meh, unless your a Willie Nelson fan, (Which wife is and why I went twice).
Saw Garth Brooks in a stadium, not a Garth Brooks groupie but it was a good show. Sitting in a stadium sucked.
Saw Charlie Daniels play. Would absolutely go again if he were still around, at whatever venue. Simply one of the best concerts I’ve ever been to.
Can’t think of anyone else. Maybe Luke Combs.
Nathaniel Rateliff has a good show, but I don’t think he qualifies as Country.
Saw Rodney Atkins at a county fair show, would go again.
In general I am a Country Music fan, but for most artists I only want to hear one or two of their songs, not a two hour slog, of their album fillers.
There’s a ton of artists I’d love to see in a small venue, but keeping with the Country theme:
Zac Brown Band – More musical talent than any one group of people has a right to possess.
George Strait
Allison Krauss and Union Station – even playing in a big venue their show seems intimate. I’d love to be in a small venue listening to them.
I saw Zac Brown at the State Theater in St Petersburg, FL in 2006, a couple of years before they hit it big. The venue, which is small to begin with, was half empty. After the set, they sat at the bar with us and chatted for about 45 minutes. The next time they came to the Tampa area, they were playing to a packed arena. Nice bunch of guys.
I second Allison Krause and Shania Twain, and add Martina McBride. I could go on with just women in country music, but you said just three.
Venue: Cotillion – Wichita Kansas, or Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa. Say Allison Krause/Robert Plant at the Cain’s a couple weeks ago. Robert may have lost a step or two physically, but for both of them, the vocal chords work just fine.
–
Let’s see – Country (ish)
Brad Paisley – the man can sure play.
Zac Brown (ditto above)
It’ll take more thinking for a third. Not a country guy. Can I sub in King’s X? Saw them at the Cain’s many years ago. Got actually play with them once, before they were “famous.”
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BTW – interesting take by Rick Beatto on who modern music sucks so much – it’s too easy! Both creating and listening. There’s very little investment of blood, sweat, tears, soul, emotion, heart, etc. in it, on either end. Music becomes throwaway. Modern tech makes making music available to almost anyone, with little need to, you know, actually learn a craft – the drum machine, the plug-in. the AI will do that for you. And on the listening end – Spotify and others makes it instantly available. A song gets a first listen, and if you don’t like it, it just goes off the playlist. I can’t tell you how many times I, as a listener (let alone a player, and Kim, you know as we’re both players)I’ve had to listen to a record I had bought over and over again to pull out of it little subtle things missed on first hearing; songs that grow on me, or, as a player, hours working over a riff, or a lead run, or a vocal line to get a little part just right. WE invested our time and sould into that music. Today, it’s throwaway. Cheap. And it shows.
. . . and “why” – not who – my typing sucks.
and our soul, without the added “d”
Sometime in the early 80s, I had a chance to see Soft White Underbelly at a small venue in Reno. Maybe 200 people if that. Late in the day, one of the local DJs let on that SWB was actually Blue Oyster Cult. Excellent concert. The band mentioned they liked to play small venues but the BOC name prevented much of that. Also saw Iron Butterfly on one of their last tours at a small bar in Golden CO. Packed house and good show but far enough past their prime that many of the audience were there for the bar, not the band.
Could also mention growing up in the Detroit area when Bob Seger and Ted Nugent (and others) were just getting started. They were only known locally and it was easy to see them in small venues (high school auditoriums for example)
So first I’m going to have to preface this with the fact that I am absolutely NOT a fan of country music. I think the last bit of country music that I actually enjoyed came out somewhere around 2001 or 2002. I’m very much a dedicated metal music fan. Not the subculture where you dress like an idiot, just the musical sounds of it click for me.
That said, if I could and had to pick three country musical acts to see in a small setting my list is what it is : Willy Nelson, Trace Adkins, and the recently departed Toby Keith.
Now, for Rock?(Not metal) I’m going to throw two that I utterly wish I had seen who have left us, and one who I have seen and would happily see again : Warren Zevon, Tom Petty (who I only ever got to see live in around 1998 at an open air concert at Riverbend in Cincinnati), and lastly Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Metal however one is a band I have seen and loved the concert of, and the other two I would love to get to see: Iron Maiden (not seen), Sabaton (not seen), Avatar (have seen).
Mary Chapin Carpenter
Dwight Yoakum
Either Lyle Lovett or Junior Brown
MCC is fantastic in small venues.
John R. Butler
Hasil Adkins, or if he’s not available, GG Allin.
The Carter Family
Mary Chapin Carpenter. Of the three times I’ve seen here in concert, one was a small venue in Seattle, one was a winery, and one was with the Seattle Symphony. The latter was the most enthralling musical experience I’ve ever had.
George Strait. My appreciation of his singing has gone up in recent years. Nostalgia? Reaction to the drek on the radio? Not sure.
Wynona Judd. Her early to mid nineties songs are great.