A NIGHT OF AMAZING MUSIC
Sometimes we stumble across a truly great show that others have been waiting years for. Well, ready and willing to admit my near criminal ignorance in not realizing just how great it would be to see Iron and Wine in concert, let’s just say I have learned my lesson! So first, let me back up a bit. I had heard of Iron and Wine for years. I knew they were a great band, and I did buy tickets for their show about 4 months ago. That said, my “getting into Iron and Wine” was the result of listening to my Gregory Alan Isakov channel on Pandora, where they frequently show up in the mix. And after failing to secure Isakov tickets for their zoo show this last summer, I looked at some others in the channel, settling on Iron and Wine’s October show. I was admittedly just moderately enthused about the show, although I did appreciate their music. Fast forward to October 20…and wow…I am a changed person.
First, opening the show was a duet I’d never heard of: John Moreland. Hailing from Tulsa, Oklahoma, John came on stage, thanked the crowd for “showing up early,” said he was “from Tulsa” and immediately launched into some of the most heart-wrenching, Americana folk music I’ve ever witnessed. It was truly great. Thick with heartland vibes, Moreland’s supremely powerful voice is of Grammy quality. Some kind of mix between Springsteen and Chris Stapleton, I couldn’t believe my luck. Working alongside John was his dual acoustic partner, John Calvin Abney III. The Moreland duet was riveting and very deep in both its lyrical and instrumental journies. Songs of lost love, desperation and a life in retrospect pervaded. Here is one clip I shot of their song “God’s Medicine” off of their album, In The Throes. Forgive the iPhone sound and listen to the studio recording here.
John Moreland 'God's Medicine' Aladdin October 20, 2017 from dan meyers on Vimeo.
Needless to say I was very happy to catch the night’s opener. In fact, I was thinking to myself, “geez, I wonder if Iron and Wine can follow this?” Of course, I had no true idea of what was coming. I was not disappointed. Iron and Wine took the stage and took over. Here’s just a small clip I took of one of their newer songs, ‘About a Bruise‘ off of their latest album, Beast Epic. Here again, iPhone sound, and the studio track is here.