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Are you still ignoring Iris Dement?

The last live show I attended, shortly before the Pandemic closed everything down, was multi-Grammy nominee Iris Dement, at The Aladdin Theater in Portland, Oregon, a wonderful-sounding deco-style converted movie theater. It was my third time seeing Iris (the other two being at The Troubadour in West L.A.), and as before she was astonishing. Iris on stage alone, playing her grand piano and acoustic guitar, and singing like no one else on Earth. Sounds like hyperbole? Consider the following:

- Merle Haggard on Iris: "The best singer I’ve ever heard." Let that sink in for a moment. Merle recorded her incredible song "No Time To Cry" (found on her second album, My Life), but her original is imo far superior.

- Rolling Stone on her debut album, Infamous Angel: "An essential album of the 1990’s."

- The Guardian: "One of the finest singer-songwriters in America."

- The Boston Globe on her 2012 album, Sing The Delta: "A work of rare, unvarnished grace and power."

- David Byrne & Natalie Merchant performed Iris’ wonderful "Let The Mystery Be" as a duet on MTV Unplugged. Brave of Byrne, as he’s not much of a singer ;-) .

Iris of course caught the ear of many of her contemporaries, including John Prine (he and Iris recorded and toured together off-and-on), Emmylou Harris and Joan Osborne (seen and heard singing harmony with Iris in one of Dement’s many YouTube videos), and Steve Earle, all admirers of hers. She also attracts the best musicians, including the master dobro player Jerry Douglas.

And yet, Iris remains under the radar for most people, including, I have no doubt, many (perhaps most) here. Why? Sorry Iris, I can’t let the mystery be. ;-)

Iris is about the resume touring, so if you're interested check her website to see if she's coming to your area. For ya'll in Seattle, she'll be in town in September, I believe it is. @tomic601, you listening?! If she's not coming through Portland this time, I may just drive up to Seattle to again see and hear her. For those who choose to attend a show of her's, prepare to have your life changed. ;-)




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Showing 6 responses by jdoris

jdoris
972 posts
 
The Way I Should is another fine record, esp, Wasteland of the Free, I'll Take my Sorrow Straight, and the sly duet with Delbert McClinton, Trouble.

I wonder if she really is underappreciated compared to other excellent female performers in the americana neighborhood who are not Emmylou-famous, like Shannon McNally, Elizabeth Cook, and Kelly Willis.

Although I like Dement, I do find myself listening to these others more, and I recommend them to fans of ID.



jdoris
972 posts
 
bdp24:

Absolutely yes to Julie Miller!  Broken Things is a classic, and Blue Pony is good too.  I much prefer her stuff to husband Buddy, though he has contributed to a lot of good music.

Also -+1 to Kasey Chambers. "Nullabor Song" is an all time fav. tune.  I find myself listening a lot to her fine covers record, Storybook, but her newer efforts, Dragonfly and Campfire are really interesting and good.  QUESTION: Does anyone know where to find her cover of Son Volt's classic, "Tear Stained Eye"?

Back to American twang:

Pistol Annies, very good, sort of an americana superband.

And finally, Brandy Clark's 12 Stories is a bona fide masterpiece.
jdoris
972 posts
 
This just in!
Listening to The Marfa Tapes, released May 7 2021.
Jack Ingram/Miranda Lambert/Jon Randall.

Very fine, with a demo-y ambiance to the performance and recording that should please audiophile americana fans.

Lambert is in the Pistol Annies, and also has fine solo outings.  Don't know the others, but it's a strong collaboration.


jdoris
972 posts
 
+1 to Frazey (who has a special version of One More Cup of Coffee somewhere), and the Be Goods.

Might as well get Po'Girl (Vagabond Lullabies) and the Wailin' Jennys (40 Days) on the list.
jdoris
972 posts
 
bob540,

Hard to know what to think abut artists whose music you like, but  with politics that grate.

At the other end from Iris is Hank Williams Jr.: lots of good tunes (and lots of less good ones), but not everyone is as keen on Sarah Palin as he is.

Maybe just ignore the interviews? :)


jdoris
972 posts
 
Thanks, boothroyd, both McKee and McKay are new to me, and in my wheelhouse -- definitely will do some listening!
McKay's cover of Tear Stained Eye, very nice -- threads the similar enough/different enough needle that makes for a good cover (fun topic in itself, btw).
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