Just over 30 years ago, singer-songwriter Steve Earle burst onto the country music stage with his debut release, Guitar Town. At a time when popular country music was becoming more cookie-cutter and contrived, Earle, whose work is heavily influenced by the likes of Guy Clark and Townes van Zandt, was anything but. Guitar Town earned Earle two Grammy award nominations, critical acclaim, and peaked at No. 1 Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart.
Now, a little older, a little wiser, and with a little more gravel in his throat, the legendary champion of outlaw country continues to thumb his nose at an industry populated with fabricated stars and glossy hits. Currently on tour behind his 16th studio release So You Wannabe an Outlaw, Earle performed to a capacity audience at the Sault Community Theatre Centre Saturday night, opening with the album’s title track. Despite a few disrespectful interruptions by those who purchased tickets simply to hear Copperhead Road, Earle and his band, The Dukes, more than pleased the majority who respect him and his iconic body of work.
The career-spanning two-hour performance included Someday, Hillbilly Highway, Guitar Town, Devil’s Right Hand, Johnny Come Lately, My Old Friend the Blues, I Ain’t Ever Satisfied, Hard-Core Troubadour, Taneytown, I’m Still In Love With You, The Galway Girl, Jerusalem, Little Emperor, You’re the Best Lover That I Ever Had, Acquainted With the Wind, Copperhead Road, and Week of Living Dangerously. From So You Wannabe an Outlaw, in addition to the title track Earle selected Lookin’ For a Woman, The Firebreak Line, News from Colorado, If Mama Coulda Seen Me, Fixin’ to Die, Sunset Highway, and Walkin’ in LA. The night was rounded out with two covers; Townes van Zandt’s Colorado Girl, and Hey Joe from Jimi Hendrix.
The exuberant Sault Ste. Marie audience offered Earle a standing ovation in return. Twice.
The Dukes are Chris Masterson (guitar) and Eleanor Whitmore (fiddle, mandolin) – who also served as the the evening’s outstanding opening act, performing as The Mastersons – Kelly Looney (bass), Ricky Ray Jackson (pedal steel), and Brad Pemberton (drums).