Don’t let this show sneak by you. One of legends of American music, Emmylou Harris arrives with the equally-remarkably talented Buddy Miller this Wednesday night at Clark Center of Arroyo Grande. Break the glass on a reserve sick day, because this is a clear reason to stay up late on a Wednesday evening. Plus, we’re giving one lucky winner a pair of tickets, but act quickly, because we’ll be drawing a name tomorrow morning.
Emmylou Harris
With Special Guest Buddy Miller
Wednesday, October 7 at 8pm – Doors at 7:30pm
Emmylou Harris
Though other performers sold more records and earned greater fame, few left as profound an impact on contemporary music as Emmylou Harris. Blessed with a crystalline voice, a remarkable gift for phrasing, and a restless creative spirit, she traveled a singular artistic path, proudly carrying the torch of “cosmic American music” passed down by her mentor, Gram Parsons. With the exception of only Neil Young — not surprisingly an occasional collaborator — no other mainstream star established a similarly large body of work as consistently iconoclastic, eclectic, or daring; even more than three decades into her career, Harris’ latter-day music remained as heartfelt, visionary, and vital as her earliest recordings.
Buddy Miller
Soulful Americana songwriter, singer, and producer Buddy Miller began his career in the early ’60s as an upright bassist is high-school bluegrass combos. Later, he traveled the back roads of America as an acoustic guitarist, eventually landing in New York City, where his Buddy Miller Band included a young Shawn Colvin on vocals and guitar. He also forged an enduring relationship with country-rock iconoclast Jim Lauderdale. Miller eventually landed in Nashville, where he did session guitar and vocal work on albums by Lauderdale, Victoria Williams, and Heather Myles, among others. He self-produced his criminally overlooked solo debut, Your Love and Other Lies (Hightone, 1995), and followed it with 1997’s equally superb Poison Love. By this point Miller was the lead guitarist in Emmylou Harris’ band, and Harris returned the favor with backing vocals throughout Poison Love. Released in 1999, Cruel Moon continued Miller’s string of home-recorded masterpieces; this time around, Steve Earle dropped by for the sessions. A big part of all Miller’s recordings was the songwriting and harmonies of his wife, Julie Miller. The 2001 duet album Buddy & Julie Miller brought her contributions to the front of the mix and delivered them with gritty, soulful country arrangements enhanced by the interplay of his scowl and her lilt. Their 2009 recording, Written in Chalk, is steeped in American music tradition. Whether it’s country, blues, boozy swing, or rock, this husband-and-wife duo lays it all down with authenticity, great humor, and honest emotion.
Steve Earle & Emmylou Harris – Goodbye
I have had the opportunity to see Emmylou years ago. She has not failed to grow as an artist. Her voice is still the best around. If you havnt already listened……you really need to hear her Bluegrass songs.