Muldaur, Thompson bring the love - to old country songs
The Wayfarer, Costa Mesa, Cal., March 14, 2024
Reviewed by Dan MacIntosh
Backed by a steel guitar/Dobro player and an acoustic bassist, Thompson accompanied himself on acoustic guitar while Muldaur provided strong vocals. They opened with "Just Someone I Used To Know" and encored with "Pickin' Wild Mountain Berries," beginning and finishing just the way the album does. Muldaur, daughter of Maria Muldaur, is a powerful singer, oftentimes nearly overpowering the more delicate Thompson. Nevertheless, whenever they harmonized together, it was a beautiful thing. These two clearly love old country songs associated with Wynette/Jones, Lynn/Twitty and the like. The small crowd loved 'em, too.
The album is only 12 songs long, so the pair needed to fill out its set with a few non-album tunes as well. These choice extra selections included a beautifully sad, steel guitar-driven cover of Neil Young's "I Believe In You," as well as the old murder ballad, "In The Pines," which featured Muldaur adding bluesy harmonica.
This singing couple also vocalized Townes Van Zandt's "If I Needed You." A few of these additions may not have been as vintage as the rest, but they were certainly performed well and appreciated by this song-loving crowd. After singing the Young song, Muldaur asked the audience who wrote it and was happy to hear Young's name shouted out immediately.
Muldaur and Thompson shared their love of classic country music with an audience that equally shared that retro affection. Granted, love has grown cold in many of these songs – like the ashes from a fire that's gone out, as one song put it – but these talented performers nevertheless had us all feeling the love tonight.
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