Live music review: Lyle Lovett and his Large Band taped ACL TV episode, invited Chris Isaak
There’s only one Texas artist who has played more Austin City Limits TV episodes for the Austin PBS show than Lyle Lovett and it’s none other than Willie Nelson. If that says anything about Lovett’s impact on Texas music then he’s a bona fide legend on the television show which originally set out to feature the unique brand of music Texas artists have been making in the Lone Star state. The man just recorded his 17th appearance on the show and 12th as a solo act last Wednesday at ACL Live at The Moody Theater in downtown Austin.
Despite the frequency of his ACL TV appearances, Lovett hadn’t appeared on the venerable live music program which has been broadcasting since 1974 in over 12 years, last giving the show a go in 2010 when the production was still using their original Studio 6A sound stage on the University of Texas at Austin campus. So it was a debut performance for the wiry-haired performer at the Moody version of ACL TV.
Not only did Lyle look comfortable up there with his band of players that included a full horn section, backup singers and a crack band, but he owned the ACL TV stage. The singer-songwriter walked the audience through new (from recent release 12th of June) and then older material, delightfully featuring a Roy Orbison song, “Dream Baby” with special guest Chris Isaak who appeared on stage to sing the song with Lovett as he’s been during their current, co-headlining tour. The song followed the duo singing, “Mirrored Man’s Lament” as Isaak walked onto the stage to the surprise of the Moody audience.
After singing the title track from the new record as an ode to his wife and family, Lovett completed the set with a rollicking version of “On a Winter’s Morning,” with its piano-driven melody to complete the circuit, setting the table for a two-night run at the same theater for the paying public.
The band returned shortly after leaving the stage to howls of approval from fans with a five-song encore that included, the Delmore Brothers’ “Blues Stay Away From Me” with trombonist Charles Rose. The blues feel continued with “My Baby Don’t Tolerate,” with round-robin solos from guitarist James Harrah, steel player Buck Reid, guitarist Dean Parks and drummer Russ Kunkel.
Lovett also played the beloved, “If I Had a Boat” from his second album Pontiac, a Lovett standard and a crowd favorite. That was followed with Lovett’s classic tune, “That’s Right (You’re Not From Texas).” Lovett’s paean to his home state is perhaps his most-loved composition.
Check your local PBS listings for broadcast schedules and times in your area to see when this Lyle Lovett and his Large Band episode will air sometime this Fall for the next season.
All photos by Drew Doggett
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