It was somewhere between Portales and Pampa that I introduced my gal to Lyle Lovett’s version of ‘This Old Porch.’ In my opinion a more superior version to the same ol’ song that Robert Keen calls ‘The Front Porch Song.’
From the Wagner Noel stage in Midland, Texas tonight, Lyle Lovett remembered the story, about how the song came to be, when they were Aggies in College Station Texas and how Robert Earl Keen had written such a perfect song.
There was only one thing missing, Lyle Lovett explained, that when Keen wrote that song he forgot about one thing. That one thing was Robert Keen himself. Lovett said he took the song home and learned it from start to finish, just the way Keen wrote it, and then he started adding verses, He began inserting Robert Keen into the song. In the beginning He was afraid Keen would be mad at him for changing such a perfect tune, but when he got enough courage to play his version to his friend, Robert Keen never sang the song his way again.
I have been a fan of Lovett for as long as I can recall, from the early stuff like ‘This Ol’ Porch’ to his most recent works.
Lyle Lovett is back on tour this year with a new album, 12th of June. It is his first album in over 10 years.
Many of the songs he and his talented acoustic band played this evening were from the new album, but he also played many of his fan favorites and he chose a few unique cover songs by other artists, just because he thought they were fun to play.
Lyle Lovett is pushing quickly towards 70 years of age, still appeared to be doing exactly what he wanted to do, make music and make people smile. He looked pretty comfortable and having the best of times playing his brand of country mixed with jazz and blue grass. His folky style of finger picked sounds echoed throughout the symphonic hall of the Wagner Noel a modern music venue in Midland, Texas.
Tonight’s show was definitely one for the books. I thoroughly enjoyed his stories and his song and most of all I enjoyed seeing the love of playing music that he shared with his talented acoustic tour group.
If you ever have a chance to catch Lyle Lovett at a live set don’t miss it. It is worth every bit.
Pancho.