American Music Theatre

Lancaster, PA

September 28, 2008

Review By: Richard


It was an easy ride from Baltimore to get to this classy venue in Quaker Country in Pennsylvania. The crowd gathered early and from the looks of it, Patti and I were among the youngest in the place. This was a similar geriatric audience that Ray Price attracted a few years ago when we attended his show at AMT.

The opening act was Junior Brown, a frenetic Texas blues act with his combo Telecaster and steel guitar. He plays like Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys on steroids.

Patty and band came out around 4:00 p.m. Junior had played for 40 minutes or so. She was warmly greeted as she opened, yes opened, with Blame It On Your Heart. She followed with a few more old ones, as we were anticipating a string of songs from the new record. Patty looked great and commented on how wonderful it was to be back on the road from her three year hiatus. She thanked people for coming out, stating that they had hard economic choices to make: buy food, buy gas, or buy Patty Loveless tickets.

She followed Blame with Chains, then You Don't Seem to Miss Me. Nothing But the Wheel came next, at which time the hairs on my arms stood up. Two more old ones, Lovin' All Night and If My Heart Had Windows before she turned to the new record. Her voice was strong, but her speaking voice sounded raspy. Later in the show, she explained that before she left for the tour, she had been pulling weeds from her garden at her Georgia home. At the same time, Emory was spreading some fertilizer. She thought that breathing in the fertilizer had made her voice sound lower. Without the explanation, however, we never would have guessed it.

As she began to describe the concept behind Sleepless Nights, she talked about coming to Nashville with her brother, Roger, at the age of 14, meeting Porter and Dolly, and going to Ryman shows. She went back to these years and the years of her youth to gather the songs for Sleepless Nights.

She then proceeded to do three songs from the new album: Why Baby Why (very strong vocal and great backup singing from Marsha and Gary). It sounded like a rockabilly show was beginning. She then shifted to Crazy Arms, complete with brilliant pedal steel from Pete Finney. Patty's voice filled the large theatre, with what came to be my second most favorite song of the late afternoon show. She then hit the title track, noting the writing team of the Bryants and the original singers, The Everly Brothers. She explained that her version was strongly influenced by the duet from Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris, at which time, two people in the front row began clapping. Her cover of Sleepless Nights was other worldly, completely over the top.

Patty then veered away from the new record and sang Steve Earle's My Old Friend the Blues from Dreamin' My Dreams. Great choice. Her vocal evoked the soul and pain that the song expresses. Next, was a heartfelt rendition of Here I Am.

Tom Britt began the guitar intro and Halfway Down followed. The final three songs were You Don't Even Know Who I Am, Lonely Too Long, and Feel Bad.

The encore was my favorite number of the evening, the evocative Cold, Cold Heart. This was worth the trip all by itself. The band sounded great, but in my humble opinion, Tom Britt has yet to hit his stride. I couldn't get over how strong Marsha and Gary were on backing vocals. Deanie was her always brilliant self, driving the band throughout the show. Pete Finney captured all of Al Perkins's riffs from the record seamlessly. And, Martin was solid on the skins.

It was great to see Teresa and Mike D. I'm sure their pictures came out better than mine. I am long out of practice.