Steve Earle
with Channing Wilson
Hoyt Sherman Place, Des Moines, Iowa • July 31, 2024
by Jeremy Glazier
On a tumultuous July 31st filled with darkening clouds and gusts of wind on the edge of either a passing weather front or a tornado, a man I consider a founding father of whatever genre of music you decide to put him in is poised to take the stage inside the historic Hoyt Sherman Place in Des Moines, Iowa. While I wouldn’t say that the ominous happenings outside are a hint or reflection of the artist gracing us with his tales of love, life, and loss, it might just be a perfect symbolic setting for the experience that will be happening within these walls. Steve Earle has spent a lifetime living, writing about that living and the effects of the way he lived it, and, on the most artistic of levels, how he truly feels about those choices.
Tonight, he is touring a new album titled Alone Again Live and is back where it all starts for any artist worth his salt: with a guitar, a tune, and some truths to tell. If you are unfamiliar with his music and life, outside of simply appreciating his music, catching this tour and the album will open you up to many of his experiences. The song selection takes you on a journey, and the stories he graciously shares make me appreciate what an artist gives for his craft.
The evening is opened by Channing Wilson, a Georgia singer-songwriter with a bag of stories and music that quickly make new fans of his art. His setlist includes “Drink That Strong,” “Reload,” “Good Morning Hot Coffee,” “Old Dog,” “Sunday Morning Blues,” “Black Jesus,” and “Blues Coming On.” Wilson’s website has a quote from him that perfectly encapsulates how I feel about his music after the show: “A songwriter can’t live 50 lifetimes—but if he’s worth his weight in anything, he’d better be able to write like he has.”
Steve Earle takes the stage to perform 23 songs over the evening that pull from every range of emotions, with songs like “Tennessee Blues,” “The Devil’s Right Hand,” “My Old Friend the Blues,” “Someday,” and “Guitar Town.” “Tom Ames’ Prayer” is great to hear live, and as we eventually get to the midpoint of the show, Steve performs “South Nashville Blues” followed by “C.C.K.M.P.” He pairs these two songs together because he feels the first makes his life sound a little too carefree, and he pulls the reality of addiction into sharp focus by saying “Welcome to my nightmare” as he performs “Cocaine Cannot Kill My Pain.”
Mr. Earle is a conduit to the history of phenomenal songwriting, and before performing a Jerry Jeff Walker classic, “Mr. Bojangles,” he explains that he has only recorded four albums that he didn’t fully write, one for each of his mentors and one for his son. 2009’s Townes was for Townes Van Zandt, 2019’s Guy for Guy Clark, 2021’s J.T. for his son Justin Townes Earle after he passed the year before, and lastly, 2022’s Jerry Jeff for Jerry Jeff Walker. He tells the story behind the 2010 Upper Big Branch mine explosion on, “It’s About Blood” from Ghosts of West Virginia and then begins to talk about the album he never thought he’d have to make, the previously mentioned J.T.
Steve does not shy away from the lessons of life and his struggles with the disease of addiction. He’s brutally frank about Justin’s passing, the survivor guilt of losing his firstborn child, and the reasons that he fights to keep moving forward: his other children. He performs Justin’s “Harlem River Blues” and invites the audience to join in a cappella as we collectively appreciate the life, words, and music Justin left and offer our support to a father honoring his son’s talent by performing his song on stage.
“The Galway Girl” segues into “Copperhead Road” before a momentary pause for the encore. “Christmas in Washington” is Steve’s call to action for the upcoming election, and “Hardcore Troubadour,” the last song of the evening, feels like an apropos farewell as he sings of the last hardcore troubadour. Very few artists have given so much to their art, and I am grateful to have been in attendance to experience and capture Steve Earle Alone Again. ◼
