Wow. It’s taken a few days to recover from that amazing night last Wednesday. Lyle and the Large Band were amazing. I’ll link here to a great review rather than try and explain how phenomenal the show was. See: http://www.theithacajournal.com/article/20091112/ENT/311120005/1125/ent/Review–Lyle-Lovett-and-his-Large-Band – OR READ BELOW…

Also, there’s Angelina’s photo gallery below. Speaking of Angelina… She, Reece, Doug and I had dinner with Lyle and his percussionist/tour manager James. It was truly special for them and a great reconnection for me. We shared stories and ate great food from Wildfire. Then Lyle, with his amazing memory, called out Angelina’s story about singing Penguins all through Austin as a child. She is still glowing. Twas humbling for me as well to have him personally thank me from stage. No, Lyle… THANK YOU for making good on your promise to return. Was great to host you. Enjoy the Shiner Bock and Pride. You deserve it!

THANKS LUKE AND THE IJ FOR THIS…
Lyle Lovett brought his Large Band to The State Theatre Wednesday and delighted a sold-out audience with a Texas-sized set that spanned two and a half hours and was stuffed with highlights from the singer and songwriter’s varied career.

Lovett last visited Ithaca in February 2008 for an intimate two-man appearance with his longtime friend John Hiatt. Wednesday night, Lovett appeared as ambassador from the Lone Star State, and brought his 13-member band along to showcase material of other Texas songwriters as well as his best-known work.

Though Lovett performed almost the entirety of his most recent record, “Natural Forces,” which collects four of his songs alongside those of other Texas songwriters, he interspersed that material with songs from most of his studio albums, ranging from “If I Had A Boat” from 1987’s “Pontiac” to “Up in Indiana” from 2007’s “It’s Not Big It’s Large.”

Beginning the concert with Vince Ball’s “Sun and Moon and Stars” and Eric Taylor’s “Whooping Crane,” both from “Natural Forces,” Lovett acknowledged their influence on his career. “When I was first trying to play songs …they gave me a leg up,” Lovett said with immense modesty and grace. Wednesday night, Lovett returned this favor, performing masterful versions of Willis Alan Ramsey, Robert Earl Keen and Tommy Elskes, among others.

Though Lovett began with the work of others, it wasn’t long before he was offering some great songs of his own, first with two re-writes of traditionals, the rollicking “Farmer Brown / Chicken Reel” and the stirring gospel “I Will Rise Up / Ain’t No Cane,” and later with some of Lovett’s greatest hits, including “That’s Right (You’re Not From Texas.”

Lovett’s Texas-sized band was at times wildly raucous and at others remarkably restrained, but throughout the entire show displayed its characteristic virtuosity. Three talented backing vocalists, Sweet Pea Atkinson, Harry Bowens and Willie Greene Jr. contributed to an air of levity that is characteristic of Lovett’s shows.

At times, Lovett pared down his band to smaller groups: a quartet with fiddle player Stuart Duncan, cellist John Hagen and bassist Viktor Krauss (Allison’s brother) for “Whooping Crane”; a bluegrass group for “Pantry,” a playful song about food adultery. But Lovett and his Large Band were most impressive when they were out in full force, a swelling mixture that was a bit of humor, a bit of old-fashioned professionalism and a lot of Texas swagger.