John Prine: “American treasure” comes to Butte, Missoula
Published: September 6, 2011
Grammy-winner, former mailman and legendary songwriter John Prine, who has given us such iconic songs as "Sam Stone," "Speed of the Sound of Loneliness," "Hello In There," "Angel From Montgomery" and "Souvenirs," performs in Missoula Sept. 16 and Butte Sept. 17.
Some four decades since his remarkable debut, Prine has stayed at the top of his game, both as a performer and songwriter. Recently honored at the Library of Congress by U.S. Poet Laureate Ted Kooser, he’s been elevated from the annals of songwriters into the realm of bonafide American treasures.
Long considered a “songwriter’s songwriter,” Prine is a rare talent “who writes the songs other songwriters would sell their souls for.” A long list of artists have recorded gems from his extensive catalog, including Johnny Cash, Bonnie Raitt, the Everly Brothers, John Denver, Kris Kristofferson, Carly Simon, Ben Harper, Joan Baez, and many others.
“He’s so good, we’re gonna have to break his fingers,” Kristofferson once said after being stunned by a Prine performance. Bob Dylan remarked, “Beautiful songs … Nobody but Prine could write like that.”
His new live album, In Person & On Stage, is balanced between classic hits and new treasures from his Grammy Award-winning Fair & Square. It’s a culmination of his last few years touring and features duet renditions of some early songs, such as “Angel From Montgomery” (here in a duet with Emmylou Harris), as well as later ones like “Unwed Fathers” (with Iris DeMent).
With his moving performances on In Person & On Stage, Prine has melded his staggering penchant for detail, his proclivity to be both hilarious and deeply serious (and often in the same song), with a visceral embrace of roots music.
– Paul Zollo
On stage:
Missoula: 8 p.m. Sept. 16 at the University Theater (888-MONTANA, 243-4051 or www.griztix.com)
Butte: 8 p.m. Sept. 17 at the Mother Lode Theater (723-3602 or www.buttearts.org)
