A review of a recent John Prine show in Florida

These simple type reviews by fans at John Prine shows, capture it as good as a "professional "review. This mirrors my experiences well the recent shows I have attended.



"I’ve never been here before, so I’m gonna stay a while." That admission, tossed out early in John Prine’s fine Saturday show at Melbourne's King Center for the Performing Arts, was a good line. No matter that the iconic folk singer had been to the concert hall before. I know because I was there, too, for a splendid show in 2002. Maybe that first-time notion comes from the way that it never seems like Prine is rehashing old material, even though the bulk of his signature songs reach back to the early 1970s. Each performance has the snowflake quality of a new creation, which is the kind of magic one gets from a master. Prine, now 61, opened with one of his most reliable oldies on Saturday, the rollicking "Spanish Pipedream." That country ditty and the sweeter "Six O’Clock News" illustrated the surprising range of his two-man backing ensemble. Guitarist Jason Wilber used his black Telecaster to conjure twangy chicken-picking leads, pedal steel guitar effects and greasier bottle-slide riffs. Dave Jacques thumped along on upright bass, occasionally using a bow to add warmth. At the center, of course, was the singer himself. In addition to the classic material, Prine offers some of the best song introductions around. He chatted amiably about his early days, writing songs such as "Souvenirs" on his Chicago mail route. He recalled for the crowd how he first imagined that he had come up with a song so complicated that he couldn’t play it on guitar, then realized "it was just the same three chords I always used." Just like Hank Williams, Prine is capable conjuring plenty of images with those three chords. His dedication of "Souvenirs" to his old pal Steve Goodman was sweet. Prine’s sly humor was on display all night, most obviously on a well-timed monologue in the middle of "That’s the Way That the World Goes ‘Round." That bit, another well-worn one, tied together Fats Domino, "grumbly beans," half an enchilada and Jimmy Buffett. Another good line: Prine’s introduction for "All the Best," off 1991’s Grammy-winning The Missing Years, as a song suitable for use "if you ever get an invitation to your ex’s wedding and they should ask you to get up and sing one." So it went for a solid 2 hours. Even then, folks were shouting out requests. "I know ‘em all," Prine joked. Even better, he still sings them as if it were the first time.