Justin Townes Earle at City Winery

Justin Townes Earle grew up in South Nashville, Tennessee. He occasionally touring with his father, alternative country artist Steve Earle, eventually moving to eastern Tennessee with other songwriters. Earle played in a rock band called the Distributors and a ragtime/bluegrass band called the Swindlers. Earle also played guitar and keyboards for his father's touring band, the Dukes. The younger Earle emerged as a solo artist in 2007. In 2009, Earle received an Americana Music Award for New and Emerging Artist of the Year. In 2011, he received the Americana Music Award for Song of the Year. Earle moved to New York City in 2009, then returned to Nashville for several years, and now lives on the west coast. He released his eighth and most recent album, The Saint of the Lost Causes, on May 24, 2019.

Justin Townes Earle's performance tonight at City Winery was puzzling. Promoting an album with a solo acoustic concert may not be the most strategic move. The same can be said about performing a set that introduced only three songs from the three-week old album. Earle was intent on foregoing basic marketing moves by doing things his way, even to the point of responding curtly to fans who called out requests. Picking and slapping his acoustic guitar, augmented by some pre-programmed accompaniment, Earle played a hybrid style borrowing from folk, blues, and country. The sound was rustic and homey, and his light bluesy vocals gave the songs a gentle, summer sway, perhaps leaning more pop than Americana. The set was pleasant enough, but never really ignited a fire.

Setlist:

1. Flint City Shake It
2. One More Night in Brooklyn
3. Frightened by the Sound
4. Saint of Lost Causes
5. Mama's Eyes
6. They Killed John Henry
7. Who Carried You (Malcolm Holcombe cover)
8. Am I That Lonely Tonight?
9. My Starter Won't Start This Morning (Lightnin’ Hopkins cover)
10. Ain't Waitin'
11. Harlem River Blues
12. Can't Hardly Wait (The Replacements cover)

Encore:

1. Gold Watch and Chain (The Carter Family cover)
2. Fishing Blues (Henry Thomas cover)
3. Hard Livin'