OT: John Prine...one last comment
Posted by: mark (IP Logged)
Date: August 8, 2005 20:38


Sorry to harp on this but as I have professed next to the Stones I can not reccommend a better night of music and a man than a night with John Prine. I thought you might like a glance at some excerts of a review of the show I attended:

First Comments: "Five Stars, Full Marks, Best In Show" followed by "spectacular display of songwriting genius, playful interplay and exempalary musicianship" quickly backed up with "concert of the year" and "hum-dinger of a party". And that was all from the first two sentances.

Why John Prine?

a) unlike any performer(s) I know there is not a song in his 35 year career fans would not be happy to hear, So the review says of the 2.5 hour show "not a second of it was anything less than revelatory"

b) songs are recreated faithfully because the lyrics and guitar bits are etched into fans souls, so the review says "fans were completely in the moment, anticipating Prine's next move even before he did it.

c) the crouds are like no others I have experienced in over 45 years of taking in venues. Because his music is part of the heart and sould of fans you feel you can talk to him as if he was in your living room, which some would call rude at a live show but when it's time to have your heart ripped out fans know when to shut up, the review says "rowdy and rambunctious, but completely respectful of the legend they paid to see".

d) John Prine is just too real a "Man", you go and see and hear the "man", the review says "In Person Prine is dead funny, in an awshucks type of way".

e) you can not discuss John without drawing comparisons to Dylan (remenmber the concert of the year review, Dylan played three weeks ago). For my money the two most prolific songwriters of my day...but that is the end of the similarities. Where Dylan to me writes about either nothing relevent at all (his words folks not mine) or lyrics that can be interprited buy anyone to have different meanings Prine just writes about life, in English, from the heart and soul. You know and feel the characters in his songs, the places, the smells, the sounds. You can quote him on any subject. Just the otherday my girlfriend said start up the BBQ and through on some sausages and I said "and they were sizzl'in", went over her head until that line came up in a very moving moment in Lake Marie, she turned to me now knowing my refference to sizzling sausages. The review says "his lyrics as always slayed the audience with pinpoint accuracy", "sentimental songs triumphed", "poignant Ode about the realities of aging", "it was the tragic breakup song Far From Me that cut deepest", of the solo portion of the show it was written "six song masterstroke".

As far as songwriting goes you can lean towards the poetic, eclectic side or the in you heart and soul smack me with real life. John Prine is the latter. The kind of guy you would like to sip beers with, you owe him your soul because he has inspired it for 35 years.

The last part of the review " The night offered plenty of humor, warmth and emotion, vital ingredients the recent arena concert by Prine's idol, Bob Dylan, lacked in spades. This just in, Bob. The times, they are indeed a-changin."

Want to see what your soul is missing, he's crossing the Atlantic. My last word on the subject.


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Found this 2005 posting,I'm into Prine myself.Wanna talk someone?Probably not,but what if...

Never heard of him!

He's very good...worth discovering if you never heard of him

good ear Kirill.....Prine and I go way back.......there was once a time when I was Sam Stone, except I haven't popped my last balloon yet (for those who don't know Prine....I guess you had to be there).

My life's anthems can be summed up by two of his songs, "Wasn't Hurtin' Nobody" and "Illegal Smile"..........party on Kirill

Lukester Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> good ear Kirill.....Prine and I go way
> back.......there was once a time when I was Sam
> Stone, except I haven't popped my last balloon yet
> (for those who don't know Prine....I guess you had
> to be there).
>
> My life's anthems can be summed up by two of his
> songs, "Wasn't Hurtin' Nobody" and "Illegal
> Smile"..........party on Kirill
Thank you,Lukester,
I,probably,was Donald.Prine served himself and understand the subject deeply.
Have you heard Fair and square?If you have,how do you think,"the girl in the white house I don't even know her name, her disheveled appearance speaks volume of shame..."Who is she?Is there some political allusion with White House
or it's just about some easy-minded neighbour?The whole song-it's surprised!
Never heard analog,didn't think that pop song can be like this at all.
And Prine song that made you laugh most?Mine is Dear Abby,of course.

Vanessa Wood Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Lukester Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > good ear Kirill.....Prine and I go way
> > back.......there was once a time when I was Sam
> > Stone, except I haven't popped my last balloon
> yet
> > (for those who don't know Prine....I guess you
> had
> > to be there).
> >
> > My life's anthems can be summed up by two of
> his
> > songs, "Wasn't Hurtin' Nobody" and "Illegal
> > Smile"..........party on Kirill
> Thank you,Lukester,
> I,probably,was Donald.Prine served himself and
> understand the subject deeply.
> Have you heard Fair and square?If you have,how do
> you think,"the girl in the white house I don't
> even know her name, her disheveled appearance
> speaks volume of shame..."Who is she?Is there some
> political allusion with White House
> or it's just about some easy-minded neighbour?The
> whole song-it's surprised!
> Never heard analog,didn't think that pop song can
> be like this at all.
> And Prine song that made you laugh most?Mine is
> Dear Abby,of course.

It was some computer mistake,friend .The message was mine.Write to me,Kirill,of course

.....Vanessa darling I love your comments....my interpretation is that the "white" house signifies purity....and yet within this pure house is a "disheveled....shameful" woman.....the irony, the juxtaposition of pure verses shameful is powerful.....I think, in my opinion of course, that it is a mistake to read too much into this "white" house.....I don't think it has anything to do with that house on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, DC.........

...my funniest? yes Dear Abbey.......


Kirill?....how's it hanging brother?.......damn computers

My favorite funny one is the one about dying -

"send my mouth way down south to kiss my ass goodbye"

"No Anchovies, Please"

Lukester,buddy,is Illegal Smile really about smoking a dope?How I love happy-end in Spanish Pipedream,but why it's called like this.Dylan-way to name songs or some other reason?

John says no, everybody else says yes.

"No Anchovies, Please"

Has anybody been on John Prine concerts?Does he perform outside USA and UK?
Does he play always on acoustic guitar only?
Don't understand "Molly went to Arkansas and got raped by Dobbin`s dog".Is this
just an unsuccessful phrase or other explanation?

hey Kirill, where are you from?....what country?....just curious.....and I've seen John Prine play an electric guitar....yesirree.....

I'm of russian-norwegian origin,Lukester.Live in both worlds.And you're ,probably,american.So nobody
will explain me John's idioms better.

Our own Bill is a big fan

Kirill Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I'm of russian-norwegian origin,Lukester.Live in
> both worlds.And you're ,probably,american.So
> nobody
> will explain me John's idioms better.


thanks for that vote of confidence......have you seen John Prine perform, Kirill?

He has been on the "Austin City Limits" TV show at least twice, maybe more. Perhaps you can find a copy of that show to view.......he talks to the audience....he does make the audience feel very welcome....I hope you can see him one day....here's his tour schedule (I'm sorry to say it doesn't look like he'll be in Russia or Norway anytime soon)

[www.johnprine.net]

Thank you,Lukester,
I've got "Sessions at west 54th"DVD.He's got that after-operation low-range voice there.Nice,funny man.Kind face."I've got no hate,I've got no pride,I've got so much love that I can't hide"-it's exactly about him.I get a good mood when talking about him.

.....and as for your question about the "Illegal Smile" Kirill, I assume it is about smoking dope (or taking other mind altering drugs....who knows?).....he says, "it don't cost very much, but it lasts a long while, won't you please tell the Man I wasn't hurtin' anyone, I'm just trying to have me some fun.".......sounds like dope smoking to me