Lovett or leave it! After a month off, Lyle Lovett is touring again. This time, with Country/Rock legend, John Hiatt.
I had the pleasure of attending the Joliet show, at Rialto Square Theatre, on Thursday the 13.
Not only do Lovett and Hiatt give a charming performance, but they know how to captivate an audience.
What sets their performance apart from so many others, is that they don’t have any band members or backup singers with them. It’s just two men and their guitars.
Lovett sang his hits such as, “She’s No Lady” and “If I Had A Boat”. He also honored the late, great singer-songwriter, John Prine, covering his song, “That’s the Way That the World Goes ‘Round”.
Hiatt sang his sensational ballads like, “Crossing Muddy Waters” and “Have A Little Faith In Me”.
The two also came together to do a beautiful rendition of “Thing Called Love”, where Hiatt showed off his masterful guitar skills, and Lovett shined with his pipes.
Despite two and a half hours of wonderful guitar playing, arguably the most entertaining part of the show was Lovett’s song dedicated to Chris Isaak.
Lovett explained that during their summer tour, members of his band contracted COVID-19, which included Isaak and himself. He went on to say that he wasn’t making a joke out of the pandemic, rather just poking fun at a friend.
The chorus’ lyrics were, “We gave each other COVID, now we’re married”. An obvious step any two people would take.
The chorus was followed by, “I never dreamed I’d stand so close, to feel his sweat drip from his brow”. Only Lyle Lovett could make such a funny song sound so sincere.
It was truly an amazing experience, but the story doesn’t end here.
On Saturday, I had the honor and privilege of attending their show again in Evanston, but this time—as press!
The crowd was tensely waiting for the two to come out onto the stage and when they finally did, the crowd erupted in applause. From the very start of the concert the audience was engrossed in their performance.
Although Hiatt and Lovett draw an older crowd, the fans are still as involved in the show as much as a group of rowdy teenagers may be at Lollapalooza.
I spoke with Kim Harmon after the show, who has been a fan of Lovett’s for 25 years and counting.
“While the music is always enjoyable, I’d say the interview style chatting between the two makes the experience more special, and strangely laugh out loud funny”, Harmon said.
If Lovett really wanted to, he could probably double as a part-time stand-up comedian. Just an idea, but if that happens you all can credit me.
Admittedly it is odd to be decades younger than most of the audience members, what matters most is the music. Their lyrics, guitar skills, and joyous yet peaceful vibe on stage, is what makes Lovett and Hiatt one of the best concerts I’ve been to.
If you’re interested in giving their music a listen, Hiatt’s latest album, Leftover Feelings, released in 2021, and Lovett’s most recent record, 12th of June, came out in May of this year
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