I never saw Emmylou Harris perform with her Hot Band.  I became a fan of her music in the years after her performances with the Nash Ramblers.  Going into Monday’s performance at the Charlottesville Pavilion, the best band that I’d seen Emmylou perform with was Spyboy (Buddy Miller, Brian Blade, and Tony Hall) at the Warner Theater in D.C. back in 2000.  I didn’t think it could get much better than that.  Boy was I wrong.  Joined by an all-star band on a clear evening that was filled with countless stars, it was Emmylou Harris who shined the brighest and most brilliant.

Rolling through and hour and half set that touched on every musical aspect of Emmylou’s legendary career, long-time fans and new converts alike were treated to an evening of music that stretched from Harris’s early beginnings with Gram Parsons although through to her latest songs from her new album All I Intended to Be.  With her extraordinary band The Red Dirt Boys providing back-up for one of the most extraordinary voices of our time, Emmylou Harris proved once again why she is one of the most celebrated figures in American contemporary roots music.

[Emmylou Harris publicity photo]

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When it comes to country music there are two sounds that I cherish above all others.  The first is what I call the lonely voice of country which can only be found in those haunting melodies from a well-played pedal steel guitar.  I have to admit that I am not a musician but if I could take one instrument and attempt to make it my own, it would have to be the pedal steel.

The second sound of country music that I love is a voice that can’t be learned or re-created.  It’s a voice that the celebrated country music writer and historian Chet Flippo once described as “one of the finest, most shimmering instruments in country music history”.  That voice belongs to Emmylou Harris and it will be on full display in Charlottesville on Monday, June 23rd when Emmylou performs at the Charlotteville Pavilion.  The concert is a benefit for Live Arts youth programs and tickets are still availabe.  Doors open at 6pm, show starts at 7pm.  For ticket information click here.

[Emmylou Harris photo by Chris Kuhl]

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