Lynne hits the area in July playing Milwaukee’s Summerfest on July 9 and Park West in Chicago on July 10 before heading to Indianapolis for a show at The Vogue on July 11. Lynne is on tour promoting her new album, "Suit Yourself", an album that has been enthusiastically embraced by music critics, with some describing it as her best work yet. And that’s counting the 2000 Grammy-winning "I Am Shelby Lynne". The latest album also marks her sophomore producing effort, following 2003’s "Identity Crisis".
The title for "Suit Yourself" comes from a comment Lynne made to her grandmother years ago. “I said I was going to be a rock star, but she wanted me to go to college instead. I told her that I had to suit myself,” recalls Lynne in her Alabama drawl.
Well Lynne continues to suit herself, especially in the studio and on record. She doesn’t think producing is all that big of a deal. In fact she finds the word “produced” a misnomer. “I don’t produce, I go in there and make a record that I hear in my head,” she says. “I get the players. I tell them this is how the song goes and make it sound like this.”
While that makes it all sound so easy, simplicity is something that Lynne strived for when recording the new CD, which is less produced and rougher around the edges than "Identity Crisis".
The new album also represents Lynne’s rootsiest record yet. Her goal was to make a record that had more of a band feel rather than a studio musician feel and that’s what she’s done. To get that band feel she recruited Michael Ward, formerly of The Wallflowers on guitar; Brian Harrison on bass; drummer Brian Owings; and Benmont Tench of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers on keyboards. Rounding out the band is pedal steel player, Robby Turner.
Lynne wrote ten of the 12 tracks on the new album. The other two are by country songwriting stalwart Tony Joe White, who also plays guitar and harmonica on a couple of tracks.
"Suit Yourself" bounces from band-backed numbers that showcase Lynne’s ability to write rootsy rockers and R&B-flavored tunes, to bluesy numbers, to sensitive ballads that showcase Lynne’s voice, which, depending on the song is smoky, soulful, mournful, lush or sexy, or a combination of all of those qualities.
One of the tracks, “When Johnny Met June” written on the day Johnny Cash died is about the reunion in heaven between Johnny and his wife June Carter Cash. It’s a bittersweet song that avoids being overly sentimental. Coincidentally, Lynne plays Cash’s mother in the movie "I Walk the Line", which opens in theaters this November.
The new album also features what’s mysteriously identified as “Track #12”, in reality a cover to die for of Tony Joe White’s classic “Rainy Night in Georgia”. Why be so mysterious about it? “I wanted people to dig in and have to listen to it to find out what it is,” says Lynne.
When asked if she’s learned anything from producing "Identity Crisis" that was helpful when producing "Suit Yourself", Lynne shrugs off the question, responding, “I learned that I like it.”
Lynne plans on performing everything from the new CD on this upcoming tour, but not every night. She likes to keep things fresh by changing her set list every show. Expect Lynne’s set to include songs from the last four albums as well as covers. Lynne says she enjoys doing covers and can be quite spontaneous in what she adds to the list. “My poor band, they have to be ready because I can pull out stuff I’ve never played before.”
Does she have any rituals before going on stage? “I drink,” laughs Lynne. When asked if she has a preference for club or festival shows, she jokingly answers that her preference is, “Sold out.”
Lynne’s concerts may sell out, but she shows no signs of selling out herself, continuing to do things her way. She readily admits her music isn’t a good fit for commercial radio. “I think satellite [radio] is the only future for me,” she concedes. “I don’t know much about mainstream radio because I don’t listen to it.”
In the meantime all she wants to do is play and looks forward to getting on stage every night. “I’m doing my favorite thing in the world, which is performing and making people happy with music.”
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I Love Shelby
Written by Guest on 2007-08-30 12:47:15
I nevr heard of or saw Shelby Lynne before the summer of 2006 when she played Farm-Aid at the "Tweeter Center In Camden N.J. and it was love at first hear. Out comes ths Bandanna wearin, tom-boy lookin li'l gal with tight blue jeans rolled at the bottom resembeling a Beaver Cleaver look straight out of the 50's. Though trying to look a little tough nothing could hide her beautiful face and glistening eyes. Her music was even more beautiful. Soulfull, fresh, and spirited. She had the full crowds attention within 2 songs. By the time she belted out, my now favorite, Jesus On A Greyhound the crowd was on it's feet cheering a loud as could be. Sadly this was the last time I have heard her play live but understand that she has quite the Live Following. Somewhat of a female single handed "Grateful Dead". That is good enough for this Shell Head considering I have followed both the Dead and their Predasessors still to date. I am Hoping to Jump on The Shelby bus soon. |
