Old Town School of Folk Music

Chicago, IL

October 15, 2010

Review By: Steve Zender

We got what we expected in Chicago: two superb performances by Patty Loveless in a wonderful venue.

I ask this question every time I see her (and many of you do, too): how does this woman keep getting better? She continues to improve on perfection.

We heard a great mixture of her music. This set list should please any audience. It was a generally upbeat show with just enough tearjerkers to keep us grounded. I agree with what's been said on these boards about the love of her Appalachian music, but, man, it's also a thrill when she turns that magnificent, electrified band loose.

If I have one regret about our trip, it's that we didn't give Patty a standing ovation after Harlan. It might have been the most heartfelt rendition I've ever heard her sing, and that's saying something. Why didn't I wipe the tears away and stand up? I guess because I feel like giving her a standing ovation after every song she sings and that would most likely become irritating to the rest of the audience.

All together we heard 20 different songs in the two concerts. Here's the set list. (Unless noted, the songs were in both shows):

The night's too long.
Nothing but the wheel
On down the line.
You don't even know who I am.
You can feel bad. 1st show.
Lovin' all night. 2nd show.
Crazy Arms.
Why baby why.
Bramble and the rose. 1st show
Harlan. 2nd show.
Busted. 1st show.
The boys are back in town.
My old friend the blues. 1st show.
Here I am. 2nd show.
Halfway down.
Trouble with the truth. 2nd show.
Blame it on your heart.
That kind of girl.
Too many memories, encore 1st show.
Diamond in my crown. encore 2nd show.

While the second show audience wasn't as large as the first, I thought both groups were great and, judging from Patty's reaction and comments, I think she did too. We even had a band member tell us after the show that WE had done a good job.

As I've seen reported in other reviews, Patty got the people on their feet for Blame and everyone kept standing for That Kind of Girl and didn't sit down until she came back for the encore.

We (wife Sue, daughter Molly, son-in-law Lawrence and me) travelled more than five hours to Chicago Thursday night and were nearly late for the first show on Friday when we got caught in traffic after leaving our hotel early for what should have been a 20-minute drive to the theatre. We ended up parking in front of the theatre by a yellow curb and didn't get a fine. Apparently the police in the area are Patty Loveless fans. We took our seats just as the lights went down.

Of the hundreds of hotels in Chicago, Patty and the band were staying in the one we had chosen. We saw several band members at the hotel but no Patty sightings.

A small group of us hung around the theatre after the show (what a pain in the butt we must be!). Even though it was after 1 a.m. and Patty had done two shows, she stopped on her way to her bus to talk to us briefly and sign a few autographs. I asked her not to forget that "blues" album I've been begging for and she said, "I'm workin' on it." I hope she was serious.

We have no pictures. None were allowed in the theatre and we were asked not to take photos when she stopped after the show. I guess you'll just have to trust me on this one: She looked beautiful, as usual.