COUNTRY STANDARD TIME
HomeNewsInterviewsCD ReleasesCD ReviewsConcertsArtistsArchive
 

Muldaur, Thompson bring the love - to old country songs

The Wayfarer, Costa Mesa, Cal., March 14, 2024

Reviewed by Dan MacIntosh

Jenni Muldaur and Teddy Thompson brought a set of old country songs from their 2023 "Sing The Great Country Duets" album, and even a minor fender bender – as Thompson described it – could keep them from sharing a collection of mostly sad songs with a group of country music lovers.

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.



©Country Standard Time • Jeffrey B. Remz, editor & publisher • countrystandardtime@gmail.com
AboutCopyrightNewsletterOur sister publication Standard Time
Subscribe to Country Music News Country News   Subscribe to Country Music CD Reviews CD Reviews   Follow us on Twitter  Instagram  Facebook  YouTube