Bypassing his usual beer and occasional shot of whiskey, James McMurtry’s glass of red wine was symbolic of the evening’s show. Touring with his band in support of his first studio album in six years, “Complicated Game” McMurtry delivered an intimate, perfect volume and relaxed set to a jam-packed Johnny D’s. Perhaps due to the first cold Boston night of the season or the early set time the audience was initially subdued but nonetheless captivated by McMurtry’s casual delivery. The grey bearded McMurtry was dressed in blue jeans, and short sleeve button down, his long hair tucked under his trademark fedora like, black hat; his spectacles however were noticeably absent.
The band eased into the evening with live standards, upbeat rockers, “Bayou Tortuous” and “Red Dress.” The latters lyric “Yes I’m drunk but damn your ugly/Tell you one thing yes I will/Tomorrow morning I’ll be sober/You’ll be just as ugly still” exemplifies McMurtry’s songwriting wit.
The “new” single was the jagged electric shuffle of “How’m I Gonna Find You Now.” While not previously recorded all of the set’s five songs from the upcoming release have been part of the live repertoire for a while. McMurtry then went acoustic on “Hurricane Party” and “You’d A Thought (Leonard Cohen Must Die).” McMurty’s live show with his two sometimes three-piece band is looser than his solo acoustic performances. Drummer Darren Hess keeps the time while bassist Michael “Cornbread” Traylor adds an occasional harmony. The audience, which to this point had been seemingly spellbound by McMurty’s story telling finally, began moving to “Choctaw Bingo” a song about the “First United Crystal Methodist Church of Oklahoma.” McMurtry even added a new verse and breakdown to the ten-minute, twelve stanzas, and no chorus opus.
A relaxed McMurtry short circuited the audiences’ requests by asking, “What songs they wanted to hear?” followed by informing them they may not be “The songs they were gonna hear.” Musically McMurtry used over a half dozen guitars during the fourteen-song set, lyrically McMurtry’s writing and story telling kept the audience engaged during the new tunes. After “These Things I’ve Come to Know” one fan stated, “I know that girl” and Tim Holt joined the band for the final few numbers adding accordion on the waltz-like “Copper Canteen.” The abbreviated set (the club had booked another show) closed with a raucous “Too Long in the Wasteland” with McMurtry playing an extended lead section over Holt’s rhythm guitar.
A pioneer of the “Americana” sound, early in his career (1989) McMurtry’s commercial viability suffered from the industry’s inability to classify his music. He was to rock and roll for folk and not country enough for Nashville. While the “industry” fails to grasp his talent his dedicated audience knows McMurtry and his band are great American artists.
