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Lyle Lovett & His Acoustic Group bring Song and Storytelling to the Walton Arts Center

May 9, 2014 1:08 am

REVIEW / ANNA VANHORN

PHOTOS / MEREDITH MASHBURN

There is no set standard when it comes to what makes a musical experience great. However- a fiddle, mandolin, upright bass and immaculately attired musicians coupled with a charismatic front man sure never hurt.

A mostly sold out crowd gathered at the Walton Arts Center on a beautiful Tuesday night to see Americana music legend, Lyle Lovett. Backed by His Acoustic Group, the evening was filled with an exceptionally well laid out set that displayed the breadth of the band’s versatility while showcasing Lovett’s exceptional songwriting.

Opening the show with an extended instrumental, the band showed their talents as the individual members traded licks and solos for several minutes. Lovett then took to the stage as the band launched into “Release Me.” They then flawlessly executed “White Boy Lost in the Blues,” “Here I am” and crowd favorite, “The Truck Song.”

Known for his crossover appeal, Lovett shirks the traditions of any particular genre, choosing instead to incorporate several styles into his sound. His sharp lyrical sense reflects his wry sense of humor coupled with an innate talent for storytelling. A casual demeanor by no means underwhelms his passion, but succeeds in making the experience more personal and intimate for his audience.

Lovett’s humorous anecdotes were peppered conversationally in between songs, eliciting laugher from the appreciative crowd. During one introduction, he recalled coming to Arkansas as a boy to visit a cousin on the 2-lane roads and “getting stuck behind a poultry truck… for three days.” After starting into the feisty song “Choke My Chicken,” he dedicated it to anyone who had been stuck behind a poultry truck.

Quicker than any truck could, Lovett changed directions with skill and ease. The band launched seamlessly into the haunting “I Will Rise Up” followed by “Who Loves You Better” and into the Jesse Winchester cover “Isn’t that So,” with Lovett explaining that “sometimes you just want to sing a great song written by someone else.” The hoots and hollers showed the audience’s appreciation as he followed with the string of crowd favorites “If I Were the Man You Wanted,” “Cowboy Man” and Lovett’s classic wedding/murder ballad “L.A. County.”

Hailing from Texas, Lovett is always the southern gentleman, which was exemplified by his eagerness to showcase the members of his band. Each instrument was prominently featured with impressive solos throughout the entire night. Lovett made sure the audience gave proper recognition by frequently introducing and acknowledging Luke Bulla (fiddle), Keith Sewell (mandolin, guitar), Viktor Krauss (upright bass), John Hagen (cello) and Russ Kunkle (drums).

After stating that all the band members were accomplished solo musicians in their own right, Lovett cleared the stage to let Bulla play the beautiful “Temperance Reel,” which he co-wrote with the legendary Guy Clark and Jon Randall Stewart. The reigns were then given to a very capable Sewell who led the band in his original song “Let Me Fall.”

After prompting Bulla and Sewell to talk about their solo albums and where the crowd could find them, Lovett stated that he loved singing with the pair and that his favorite way to do it was in close proximately. The three gathered around a central microphone to execute absolutely gorgeous 3-part harmonies on “Night’s Lullaby” and “Keep it in you Pantry.”

The culmination of the concert focused on full, lush versions of some of Lovett’s best-known songs. The crowd showed their clear appreciation through the 3-song stretch of “If I had a Boat,” “She’s No Lady” and “That’s Right (You’re Not from Texas.” An impressive cover of Townes Van Zandt’s “White Freightliner Blues” ended the set. Following a standing ovation and a few minutes of applause and whistles, the band took back to the stage for a 2-song encore of “Head Over Heels” and “North Dakota.”

This 4-time Grammy Award winning singer/songwriter blends swing, semi-pop, bluegrass, country, jazz, traditional folk and a touch of Gospel blues to transcend genre while his exquisite lyrics convey emotion through compelling storytelling. An evening spent with Lyle Lovett & His Acoustic Group will undoubtedly serve to prove why Lovett is a true iconoclast within the music industry and his show at the Walton Arts Center was no exception.

Complete Set List