top of page
Writer's picture2244 Online

Steve Earle and The Dukes


Around Austin-Steve Earle and the Dukes Thursday 12AUG21 at ACL-Live. Steve and the Dukes played an extensive set starting with fan favorites including Feel Alright, Someday, Guitar Town, Hillbilly Highway, Fearless Heart, The Devil's Right Hand, and Copperhead Road, songs from the "Ghosts of West Virginia" album including Union, God and Country and The Devil Put The Coal in the Ground and songs of his late son Justin Towne Earle who unexpectedly passed away last August that father Steve Earle recorded on his album entitled "Townes."


Introducing The Devil's Right Hand Steve commented "I don't know about you all but I'm pretty fucking sick of all these guns." The comment was panned here in Austin but the delivery was clear "About the time that Daddy left to fight the big war, I saw my first pistrol in the general store, In the general store when I was thirteen, I thought it was the finest thing I ever had seen, So I asked if I could have one someday when I grew up, Mama dropped a dozen eggs, she really blew up, She really blew up, and she didn't understand, Mama said the pistol is the devil's right hand."


The Thursday crowd of devotees responded enthusiastically to Steve and the Dukes consisting of Chris Masterson-Guitar, Eleanor Whitmore-Fiddle & Vocals, Ricky Ray Jackson on Peddle Steel, Brad Pemberton-Drums and Jeff Hill on bass. Masterson had the pleasure and craftsmanship to ablely showcase the bitting guitar lines featured in many of Earle's songs, Eleanor Whitmore perfectly fit fiddle lines into the compositions and showcased her remarkable voice, Pemberton strongly and tirelessly provided momentum and power as needed. Hill and Jackson aptly filled out the well-honed ensemble. The set closed with a cover of "Hey Joe" featuring Masterson's rifts and Earle's stronger than ever and characteristic voice. The last encore was a cover of "Rag Mama Rag" a tribute to Levon Helm (The Band). A captivating evening greatly appreciated by all. Not a soul left early.


Masterson and Whitmore as the Masterson's opened the show highlighting Whitmore's voice and Masterson's guitar and harmonies.



Steve Earle drives home on a point.


Steve Earle and The Dukes. L-R Eleanor Whitmore, Chris Masterson, Brad Pemberton, Jeff Hill. Out of view stage left on Peddle Steel Ricky Ray Jackson.

Comments


bottom of page