1 post tagged “gretchen peters”

This Saturday evening past a gang of us went to Mt. Olive, Illinois (burial place of Mother Jones -- go here) to hear singer/songwriters Tom Russell and Gretchen Peters perform. We were in Turner Hall, packed in wall to wall, on metal folding chairs no less, but this concert was well worth the sore backside.

Whew! What an evening!  

Both Peters and Russell are excellent songwriters, and both are a contrast when performing. Peters is soft-spoken and unassuming, while Russell just plain blasts the house with his Mexican yodels and his pulsing guitar. 

Russell, a favorite of David Letterman harkens back to a sort of Woody Guthrie folk and heartland style, including a social conscious, but he out-sings Woody, which wasn’t Woody’s charm anyway. Russell is also a master story-teller. 

I’ve embedded a tune from youtube of an appearance he did on Letterman (WARNING: there’s a little profanity in this one, so be advised), but if you really want to see him in action also watch Gallo dei Ciel and Who’s Gonna Build Your Walls (both on youtube). And, if your want your heart broken, catch Blue Wing on itunes (my favorite).

I’ve embedded a Gretchen Peters tune entitled, Sunday Morning (Up and Down My Street) as well. I should also add that accompanying Russell was a guy named Michael Martin, and he was absolutely outstanding on the guitar and mandolin. 

I tell you, man, the place just plain rocked off its hinges!

Tom Russell

Gretchen Peters