LW3
I just came back from what is easily the best show I’ve ever attended. I’ve been a fan of Loudon Wainwright III for a long time and seeing him live made me an even bigger fan. I am still on a cloud. The man is hilarious, thought-provoking, passionate, loud, animated, introspective, and on top of his game.
It couldn’t have been at a better location. Blender Theater is one of those old movie theaters that was converted into a live music venue and there was just this vibe to that joint. I can’t describe it. The place is tiny and I got there early so I was able to stand right in front of the stage. I was as close as can be to LW3.
The show was just him and David Mansfield who accompanied him on guitar, mandolin, fiddle, and steel guitar. Loudon himself played his usual mean flatpicking guitar as well as banjo and ukulele. One of the funniest parts of the show was when Mansfield’s steel guitar strap gave way and the guitar just dropped. That would’ve pretty much ruined the song for any other performer. But not good ol’ Loudon! He just smiled at David, gave the audience the funniest over-animated face of shock and kept on playing. The crowd bursted out laughing.
He played a bunch of new stuff and some older stuff. I was a bit bummed out he didn’t play Unrequited to the Nth Degree but he more than made up for it when he played Drinking Song, School Days, The Man Who Couldn’t Cry, The Swimming Song, Westchester County, and a bunch more. I was amazed by his brilliantly solid flatpicking and fingerpicking. At one point I had to force myself to stop looking at his fingers as I was examining his hands’ every move. What I would give to be able to play like that. He did a lot of the songs by himself and his lone guitar was more than enough to fill up the entire venue.
But when the house really came down was when he called his son, Rufus, out from the audience to join him for a song. Rufus jumped on stage and off they were with Old Paint. I took a little bit of video of that which I’ll upload later.
All in all, an amazing night! Now I need to go pack for Boone! The flight leaves at 9 something and I suspect that, as usual when it comes to the night before a flight, I won’t be able to go to sleep.
For more pictures from the show, go here.
