Justin Townes Earle’s Acoustic Tour Will Be Worth Seeking Out
For many artists, the announcement of a solo acoustic tour may make concert goers feel like they’re getting something less than the full experience, despite the “intimate evening” promised on the tour posters. But Justin Townes Earle is one of the small handful of artists where its arguably even more enticing to see him live when he’s all by himself.
Often performing songs or sets with no accompaniment when on tour anyway, Justin Townes Earle has announced that his upcoming North American tour with be just him and a guitar. Including some 34 dates with a couple of junkets into Canada, crowds will get to see Justin Townes Earle in his most pure state. With his ability to create masterful moments, and his unique clawhammer-style guitar playing able to fill up space all on its own, this will be an acoustic tour to seek out as opposed to avoid.
You can put Earle up there with Travis Tritt, Colter Wall, Willie Watson, and a shot list of others that band or no, they’re worth taking in live. Before guys like Chris Stapleton, Sturgill Simpson, and Jason Isbell were shaking up the mainstream, it was Justin Townes Earle that was helping to lay the groundwork for an insurgency from the Americana ranks. His latest album Kids in the Street was released by New West Records.
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Justin Townes Earle Tour Dates:
May 6 – Salt Spring Island, BC @ Pitchfork Social
May 8 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The State Room
May 9 – Fort Collins, CO @ Washington’s
May 10 – Englewood, CO @ Gothic Theatre
May 11 – Omaha, NE @ The Waiting Room
May 12 – St. Paul, MN @ Turf Club
May 14 – Maquoketa, IA @ Codfish Hollow Barnstormers
May 15 – Evanston, IL @ Space
May 16 – Indianapolis, IN @ The HI-FI
May 17 – Kalamazoo, MI @ Bell’s Eccentric Café
May 18 – Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Ballroom
May 19 – Toronto, ON @ The Great Hall
May 20 – Albany, NY @ Hart Theatre @ The Egg
May 21 – Cambridge, MA @ The Sinclair
May 23 – Philadelphia, PA @ World Cafe Live
May 24 – Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
May 25 – Fall River, MA @ Narrows Center for the Arts
May 26 – Hamden, CT @ The Space Ballroom
May 27 – Amagansett, NY @ The Stephen Talkhouse
May 29 – Alexandria, VA @ The Birchmere Music Hall
May 30 – Raleigh, NY @ Stag’s Head Music Hall
May 31 – Charlotte, NC @ Visulite Theatre
June 1 – Asheville, NC @ Grey Eagle
June 2 – Louisville, KY @ Headliners
June 4 – Oklahoma City, OK @ Tower Theatre
June 5 – Austin, TX @ 3TEN ACL Live
June 6 – Houston, TX @ The Heights Theater
June 7 – Dallas, TX @ Kessler Theater
June 8 – Roswell, NM @ The Liberty
June 10 – San Diego, CA @ Casbah
June 11 – Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour
June 13 – Berkeley, CA @ Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse
June 15 – Portland, OR @ Aladdin Theater
June 16 – Seattle, WA @ The Crocodile
February 26, 2018 @ 8:19 pm
Love JTE. Always seem to miss him when he comes to town, hope to be able to swing it this time around.
February 27, 2018 @ 8:24 am
I’d be surprised if this mess doesn’t get mostly ignored though. I’m waiting for the next Timberlake cut.
February 26, 2018 @ 8:48 pm
I gotta see him live again, at anywhere other than City Winery — possibly the worst venue I’ve ever encountered.
February 26, 2018 @ 9:29 pm
I’m too rowdy for these kind of shows.
February 27, 2018 @ 7:04 am
Yep. I saw the 5/29 show on the Birchmere’s calendar. I plan on going.
Some others I’d put in the “check them out solo” category would be Richard Thompson, John Hammond, Rory Block, John Hiatt, Steve Forbert and Scott Miller. Also, it’s been a while since I’ve seen her solo, but Shawn Colvin knows her way around a guitar.
February 27, 2018 @ 7:05 am
Saw Justin last summer as a two piece with him on acoustic guitar and the, ahem, other guy (apologies to other guys around the world) usually on electric.
This pattern emerged… song starts at ‘album speed’. Crowd whooping and hollering. Justin marks tempo using strum/pick technique. We get to the chorus… and whack, we’re running at 10-20% or so percent slower than the initial verse (and the song as we know it). Then it stays at that tempo for the rest of the song. It was like someone let the air out of every track. Really disappointing.
Love him to bits, but the man needed a drummer.
February 27, 2018 @ 8:40 am
I’ve seen him play with the Sadies as a backing band. Now that was tremendous.
February 27, 2018 @ 9:43 am
I have listened to very little of Justin Townes Earle, what are some of his more “accessible” songs or albums? I wasn’t a big fan of what I heard initially but I feel I am missing something.
February 27, 2018 @ 11:38 am
Albums – ‘Harlem River Blues’ and ‘Midnight At The Movies’. Start with ‘Rogers Park’ off of the former – if you not keen I’m not sure you’ll get any keener.
February 27, 2018 @ 1:30 pm
My favorites in order:
1. The Good Life
2. Midnight at The Movies
3. Harlem River Blues
4. Kids in the Street
The next two are a bit subpar with a few good songs:
5. Nothing’s Gonna Change the Way I feel About You Now
6. Single Mothers
February 28, 2018 @ 8:37 am
That’s a pretty accurate order for me as well. I’d add Yuma as 1 for me with the others as followed in your list. Yuma was the album the hooked me. I kick myself for not seeing him play a free day show at Greune Hall during this album.
February 28, 2018 @ 12:47 pm
Yep, Yuma’s very good but I didn’t include it because it’s an EP. But definitely worth a listen.
February 28, 2018 @ 6:17 am
Thank you both I will check all of these suggestions out soon!
February 27, 2018 @ 11:38 am
Bahhh I would when he comes to Alberta! Darn Toronto and Vancouver get all the best shows.
February 27, 2018 @ 1:22 pm
I saw him at the start of this tour in Annapolis. Just JTE and an acoustic, and he was fantastic. In a comparatively good mood compared to when I’ve seen him in times past. Interacting well with the crowd, and playing a good assortment of old/new/covers. And boy is his guitar playing mesmerizing.
February 27, 2018 @ 3:10 pm
I love JTE, (his first two or three records, at least) but the last time I saw him live, every song sounded like a dirge, even songs that are usually more uptempo.
February 27, 2018 @ 11:56 pm
I’m not familiar with Justin Earle, but when Travis Tritt pushes is solo “Man and His Guitar” shows, it strikes me as just a way for him travel and perform on the cheap. I liked Tritt in the ’90s, but the only way I might pay to see him is if he’s going to put some drive in his country and perform with a blues and rockin’ and country band.
March 2, 2018 @ 4:39 pm
I’ve seen JTE play 4 times and by far the best time, was the first. An acoustic gig at the King’s Arms in Auckland. Just him and his guitar on stage. It was just after Midnight At The Movies came out, so he was pretty unheard of in NZ . There was about 100 people there, max. Absolutely stunning. I’d advise anyone who can go, to do so.
March 9, 2018 @ 1:49 pm
He’s announced two quality opening acts for the tour. Lllly Hiatt through 6/2 dates and Lydia Loveless for the rest. I know Lilly will be opening the Birchmere show and that’s the one I have my eye on.
I saw yesterday that JTE’s Facebook page had a link to this article. I found that interesting as my introduction to this site was your critical coverage of the 2010 Indianapolis concert incident. And after reading other articles you had written about him (both before and after Indianapolis), I decided to give “Steve Earle’s son” a chance.
May 8, 2018 @ 9:57 pm
Bombed on Salt Spring. Couldn’t remember lyrics to his own songs, attempted one 3 times before struggling through the 4th time. Seemed uncomfortable and unprepared. And complained about his wife leaving him….. Great guitar skills but not helping me want to explore his music much after that ‘performance’.
May 9, 2018 @ 12:30 am
Sorry to hear that. Perhaps if his wife just left him he’s having a hard time of things.
May 25, 2019 @ 11:07 pm
Worried about JTE. His in store in Seattle for Thursday was cancelled at the last minute. His performance on Monday with Paste was all over the place. The video is on YouTube.