Joe Pug – April 3rd – Bluebird Theater

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5-TYH_4483Photos by Ty Hyten

The Scene: A healthy crowd filled the Bluebird on Friday for Austin singer-songwriter Joe Pug’s show at the venerated venue. Thirty-somethings clad in flannel were spirited but respectful during a set that ventured back and forth from intimate to full-pelt.

Joe Pug: Though Joe Pug was touring in support of his latest release, Windfall, the bulk of the night’s music were familiar favorites from 2008’s Nation of Heat EP and 2012’s The Great Despiser. The highlights came from a handful of songs from the former, including “I Do My Father’s Drugs,” “Nation of Heat,” and “Hymn #35.” That’s not to say that the new stuff didn’t hold water. Songs like “If Still It Can’t Be Found” and “Pair of Shadows” were welcome additions to his repertoire. The only new song that was a tad amiss was “Veteran Fighter,” whose big chorus seemed to work against it.

Pug was as lovable as ever and there was more than enough laughter between songs to avouch. He joked that Windfall had been voted as one of the “Top Five Albums of the Year” by the likes of music industry heavyweights like “Dr. Oz, Ellen, Time Magazine, USA Today, and Highlights Magazine.” Playfully lampooning pop-country superstar Jason Aldean, Pug joked he was going to stop writing melancholy songs like “Pair of Shadows,” and write something more along the lines of  “we’re country boys and we don’t give a fuck” in a shot at getting big enough to play “wherever the Denver Nuggets play,” and got a big rise from the crowd.

The four-piece band in the live setting added new dimension and energy to songs that are a little more mellow on record. Matt Schuessler somehow squeezed the Rock n’ Roll out of an upright bass and Greg Tuohey’s twangy playing pushed songs into the Alt-Country arena. Joe Pug’s voice felt raw and genuine, while still being fine-tuned and his harmonica generated big cheers each time it graced the intro of a song. He alternated between full band and playing solo acoustic.

The first song of the encore was actually a solo performance from opener Chris Porterfield of Field Report. His gorgeous voice belted out an engrossing narrative, “Michelle.”  It was undeniably a highlight of the show, and a pretty cool move on Joe Pug’s part.  The night ended with Pug’s return and  “Stay and Dance” and fan favorite “Hymn #101.” The sparse, rambling classic was Joe Pug at his best and a fitting end to a good show.

Energy: A
Musicianship: A
Sound: A
Stage Presence: A
Set/Light Show: C+

Overall: A

 

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