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June 22, 2008 @ 3rd & Lindsley — Justin Townes Earle On the Radio with Justin Townes Earle Lightning 100's weekly radio show featured a 60-minute set from Nashville-based singer/songwriter Justin Townes Earle, whose recent full-length record The Good Life is creating a stir among the critics. For a little perspective, Listen!Nashville reviewed Earle's EP release Yuma back on February 26, 2007. What a difference a year can make. Sunday night Earle brought the Hillbilly country of Lower Broad to 3rd & Lindsley. That in itself is not so unusual. What was a little surprising, however, is that JTE's image has changed considerably. One year ago JTE projected a reserved "songwriter" image onstage, caring less about his stage presence and more about the songs being sung. Fast forward one year — now JTE dresses for the occasion, smiles and laughs onstage, shuffles around onstage to the beat of the music, and the whole show is more reminiscent of a night with Dwight Yoakam than with Townes Van Zandt. In fact, as appealing as JTE's old-time country acoustic sound is, the addition of a hot tele-picker would certainly open the doors to larger venues and bigger audiences. Based on JTE's newfound interest in showmanship, a full-on electric band is probably not far away. Indeed, JTE not only has the potential to be the next Dwight Yoakam, it's safe to say that he will be as long as he can maintain his current drug-free course. With influences ranging from The Replacements to Lightnin' Hopkins to Townes Van Zandt, JTE is already one of Nashville's most gifted songwriters. His Hank Williams-style vocals are getting stronger every performance, and he blends old-school Southern charm ("thank ya now!") with a working class edge ("I wrote this song when I was 16, which tells you how fucked up I was back then.") Catch him while you can. Justin Townes Earle is a rising star in Alternative Country. —Vincent Wynne |
