Lucinda Williams performed at Denver’s beautiful Botanical Gardens to packed venue on a misty early summer evening in the shadow of the fantastic Rockies, surrounded by botanical beauty and grateful adoring fans, so how in world could it have gone so terribly wrong?

I am an avid music fan and a musician so I know appreciate how annoying it can be not to be able to hear yourself on stage via the stage monitors, that being said, I have been covering the music scene in Denver for the last six months and have been overwhelmed by the immense amount of talent that this msuic scene has to offer, so maybe I’m spoiled. I go to shows night after night and see musicians that love what they are doing and do it with passion and joy despite the best sound or lights or pathetically small crowds.

 

I came to this show so excited to see one of my all time favorite singer songwriters, I had weather based attack thoughts all day about a rain out, but even Mother Nature cooperated and it was a beautiful evening, only a few brief spells of light rain and the venue was filled to capacity.

Buick 6 hit the stage and played a rousing warm up set, mixing stretched out jams with super tight arrangements, they had smiles on their faces and played with passion. The interplay between the guitarists (Chet and Eric), see below, was a thrill and joy to watch. This L.A. based band knows how to jam and even plays a little Led Zepplin!

Buick 6 consists of Chet Lyster (guitar/keys), David Sutton (bass), Butch Norton (drums/percussion) and Eric Schermerhorn (guitar).

 

After a few more songs by Buick 6 Lucinda came on stage, virtually frowning the first chord. She instantly began complaining about the sound on stage, which by the way, was perfect out front, flawless, nice bass, not too loud, crisp highs.

 

I was taking pictures so was super focused on Lucinda, I was  looking for any semblance of a smile or emotion other than disgust and angst.  In over 300 shots I got one partial smile shot, what about the show must go on, put your stage face on and all the rest of that entertainment biz yaya? I really think its time she got off the tour circuit, if its no fun for her it’s definitely no fun for the fans, and at $55.00 a ticket it’s a virtual rip off. For $10 I can go anywhere in downtown Denver and see multiple energetic, raw, passionate and talented bands play, if the sound or lights isn’t perfect at least their attitudes will be. One thing is for sure, she has lost her joy and she shouldn’t be out touring if she can’t get it back.

 

 

Did the show have to be such a downer?  Isn’t there a thing called a sound check were you work out and fine tune the sound before getting on stage? Why is it that Buick 6 had no complaints and had a fantastic warm up set, smiling, interacting and sounding great? I wish I knew what was bugging Lucinda, what ever it was I hope her the best, she is one of if not the greatest songwriters of our time. Being a Capricorn she is probably a perfectionist so anything less than perfect is hard for her to take, but for the sake of her adoring fans she should have either put on a brave face and put on a show or call it off, one of the two. Walk her talk, she has always been admired for her true, gritty, tell it like it is music, her shows should be no less. Below is a shot of the rock steady drummer, Butch Norton.