James McMurtry

James delivered a solid acoustic performance. He sang a few deep tracks and mostly stuck to his fan favorites.

With James' new album a complete success in my book, we decided to make the trek to the big city to see his show at the Variety Playhouse in Little Five Points. Variety Playhouse was a great place to see his show. Parking there is tough, but there was plenty of room on the floor to stand front and center. It was a pretty full house and the energy in the place was great. Sticky floors and a couple of superfans were a little annoying, but that could not take away from the main attraction. James and his guys were awesome! He played some older tunes as well as a lot off his new album. He had the crowd rockin' with "Choctaw Bingo" and almost made us cry with the "Lights of Cheyenne". I preferred his show at the Melting Point in Athens, however, a couple years ago. James is no bullshit. The real deal. We got to have a photo with him and chat after the show. A man of few words and not much personality up front, there is a whole other world going on inside him.

It is truest amazing that it is possible to see such a fantastic singer/songwriter in a small venue at a modest price. He is p one of my favorite lyricists under 60. McMurtry performed accompanied only by himself on guitar, and he is also a very capable guitarist. He was personable and entertaining in his patter between songs, but he was efficient with his words and filled most of his time with music. I now have a probably irresistible urge to go see him in Austin with his band.

The downside was the sound system-acoustic combination at the theater in Portland, Oregon, left a lot to be desired. Throughout much of the show, you could not understand the lyrics as delivered by James McMurtry. His energy, however, was superb. Loved the show and his song selection. At time McMurtry is criticized for showing much personality or acknowledging his audience. In Portland, he did both. The "warm-up" band was Jonny Burke of Austin, Texas (he grew up in New Braunfels). He and his band were excellent and connected with the crowd from his first to final song. I picked up a copy of his The Long Haul EP. Very impressive, great voice and lyrics that suggest he is a McMurtry fan. I had a great time.

I love James McMurtry. The Rhythm Room was a little uncomfortable and the sound system could have been adjusted a little, but the show was great

James was great and the band was tight....great show....one Not to be missed!

James McMurtry's show at the Birchmere on Sept. 30, 2009, was vintage. He and the Hearless Bastards rocked from the get-go and never had a slack moment. Despite his dour world view, James is a barrel of hard-bitten Texas fun, and on this particular night he was rolling from start to finish. His trademark, desolate ballads were delivered with unflinching precision, interspersed with raucous, crowd-pleasing stompers like Choctaw Bingo and Freeway View. There's an ache in everything he does, but it's a dark, earthy, flavorful ache, and on this night we got all we could ask for, and then some.

Have listened to JMcM for a long time but never seen him live. One day back from vacation, went to the Birchmere to see him and was more than satisfied with the effort expended. Great set with a 3 song encore. Level Land blew me away, along with most everything else. Had no idea James was as a good a guitar player as he turned out to be. Back up band was right in lock step. A great show by a great songwriter who rocks and knows his chops.

James McMurtry is no ordinary Austin, Texas rocker/balladeer. Before a sellout crowd at the Birchmere in Alexandria Virginia he proved why. Through a set of 12 songs with two encore pieces he rocked the joint while on occasion pitching the audience into a contemplative silence with the luminous ballad Ruby and Carlos or his aching profile of a young meth addict in Fire Line Road. What makes James ballads so luminous while at the same time makes his rockers so bitchin ---and luminous? Take Turtle Bayou. The woman the married protagonist was ogling and has now apparently approached isn t described in generic terms like you usually find in popular songs. Her beauty is conveyed through her ethnicity, through her blood---she s \u2018Scotch-Irish and Cherokee. Not only is she exotic. She has the whole of the westward expansion of the American empire in her blood and James in a stroke has made the listener aware of another aspect of his or her cultural heritage--- The Trail of Tears and the American cowboy etc. Damn! In this sense McMurtry is not for the young. Like all great poets he allows worldly people their world. The young by and large prefer a broader brush. And the crowd at the Birchmere was decidedly older. I will hasten to add that at the 8 by 10 in Baltimore where we saw him earlier this year the crowd was somewhat younger but grey hairs like myself also were there in strength. McMurtry speaks to experience in his songs. What the poet Ezra Pound called luminous details abound and bring a vivid time transcending immediacy to the songs images. In his hell raising rocker, Choctaw Bingo, you can begin with the title. It ain t just bingo grandma. It s \u2018Choctaw Bingo with all of the associative connotations of race, assimilation, imperialism and genocide bubbling just below the surface like the Texas sweet crude that is no more. The couple going to the family reunion in Oklahoma don t just load the kids in the car \u2018like a half load of pipe (Holiday), they give the little brats cherry coke and benydril so they ll sleep during the trip. Again America s underbelly is in the details. Bob and Mae on their way to the reunion stop off in \u2018Pop s Knife and Gun shop in Tushka, a real place (or at least once) in a real landscape. They don t just buy a gun or the ubiquitous hip-hop glock. Bob and Mae buy [A] SKS rifle and a couple a full cases of that steel core ammo With the berdan primers from some East bloc nation that no longer needs 'em And a Desert Eagle that's one great big ol' pistol I mean .50 caliber made by badass Hebrews And some surplus tracers for that old BAR of Slayton's\u2026 Slayton being the old coot with the ranch where the reunion is being held. Once, again James lyrics reveal a detailed, working knowledge of world affairs e.g. the strong glance at international arms trading in the East bloc and Desert Eagle references. James makes writing and singing these lyrics seem effortless. But they are far from it. You have to be more than seasoned. You have to be intellectually curious and an astute observer of the myriad worlds around you. Try singing along to Choctaw Bingo. Singing the song demands a kind of circular breathing one usually finds in jazz reed players. Similarly, James is a master of near rhyme. This opens up a raft of new vocabularies for his songwriting. In his \u2018We Can t Make It Here Anymore he writes See those pallets piled up on the loading dock They re just gonna sit there \u2018til they rot Or the opening two lines of \u2018Hurricane Party The hurricane party's windin' down and we're all waitin' for the end And I don't won't another drink, I only want that last one again Where \u2018end and \u2018again two words with diametrically opposed intent are juxtaposed to create the song s tone of ambivalence and regret. Damn! The rhyming of \u2018dock and \u2018rot in \u2018We Can t Make It Her Anymore seems effortless as is the political voice of the song which is at once firm and strident but utterly convincing in the details. In fact, because McMurtry is such a profound observer of the American ethos he can t help but be political even when he s struggling to hold together a failing relationship. And McMurtry can write for women. Whether it s speaking for them such as the bewilderingly loyal wife in Song for Deck Hand s Daughter or the first person/ third person pathos of \u2018Fire Line Road or the stunning tale of domestic abuse and revenge told in the first person in \u2018Lights of Cheyenne. Who can do that? What male popular artist can write for the female voice like McMurtry? We might have to look to James Joyce and Molly Bloom for the next rung up. And the list of great songs goes on one of my favorites being \u2018Holiday especially the verse where the protagonist remembers the in vivid detail the young Vietnam era soldiers at the bus station years earlier. The protagonist himself is a middle aged reservist waiting for his flight, preparing to go on his second tour in Iraq. And for what, faux patriotism defined by football and in laws you rather not see; a spike in Highway deaths, it s all there, the whole wretched imperialist paradigm. The great ugly American truth. Poignant yes. Sentimental never. When he traveled with mom, first time on a plane To visit some kin, he s forgotten their names But he remembers the soldiers, still in their teensIn their spit polished boots and their pressed army greens With the creases so sharp, and their faces so smooth But their eyes looked so heavy, he wondered how they could move Now he s got that same look, like his insides are black He s in his mid forties and he has to go backAnd he can t even smoke while he waits for his plane The uniform s different, but the mission remains To do like they tell you, don t make a fuss Why s not an issue, so don t think too much You just do what you have to, shut up and drive If you come apart later, well at least you re alive You can get you some help, you can deal with it then And life will be better, \u2018til it happens again As McMurtry says he s been \u2018too long in the wasteland to be sentimental. And his wasteland is our wasteland, ironically an experience not to be wasted. Stay in this damnable place with us James. You re simply brilliant. One of a kind.

The Birchmere lived up to its always great reputation hosting James McMurtry Wed nite. As always, good sightlines, respectful and attentive crowd, excellent food and beverage service and nice sound system. Best music venue in the DC area. McMurtry's songs have always served, not surprisingly given his parentage, as novelettes about America...the real America...the heartland, and, like real America, especially these days, they tend to have a rather grim message. While James has always been a talented wordsmith, he has, over the years, also become a fantastic electric guitar player with a very personal sound and style. Couple that with the fine backing of the Heartless Bastards, and you have a unique redefinition of the power trio. Set drew from all over his catalog, and was built well, leading up to the powerhouse finish with a power chord full "Too Long in the Wasteland". McMurtry has apparently dropped the more political, anti Bush songs from his set list, but might consider penning some similar odes to the current Administration given the sorry state of affairs not only here, but all over the world. Far as I know, we are still in hard times economically, and still in two wars overseas. That said, there are so many great songs not of this bent, that I really enjoyed the focus more on the American stories. As always, nice job James, and I highly recommend everyone check out this great singer songwriter.

If you are into lyrics that paint an unforgettable picture, with images specific and evocotive, backed with a great grooveand precise and driving guitar work, James McMurtry and the Heartless Bastards are your men. McMurtry has a rare eye for the small things that distinguish life in America, especially in the land between the coasts, which he shows with wit and compassion (and not a small dose of irony) in his stories about the inhabitants of "Levelland". And I dare everyone to try to sit thru "Choctaw Bingo" without once wanting to get up and boogie your socks off.

James McMurtry and the Heartless Bastards Band was an absolute treat to behold. This band did everything possible to please their fans by playing all songs expected and then some. All are excellent musicians, and I would wholeheartedly wish to see their live performance again. (The only knock is on the venue, by not having additional seating for the fans.....VERY limited seating was available.)

Awesome show!!! Would like to see them again at The Pageant, they rocked!

The place was rocking. Lyrics and music are incredible.

We love his music but it just got too loud. Even in the balcony eventually the music exceeded the pain threshold and we couldn't hear his voice over the instruments for the last half of the show.

The Opening Act...was on a lil' too long...James iz GREAT!!

Better than I could've hoped for! Truly an amazing singer/songwriter. Blazing guitar work!

James McMurtry and the bottle rockets were FABULOUS!! I was not familiar with the Bottle Rockets' music but quickly became a fan. If you ever get the chance to see either McMurtry or the Bottle Rockets, go see them. You will not be disappointed.

Great show, both groups sounded awesome. James M. is an awesome guitar player! Venue fabulous!

We drove to St. Louis from northwest Illinois for this show. We are James McMurtry fans and we love the Pagaent so we were really excited about the show. Unfortunately the show was not worth the trip. I had never seen James McMurtry before and maybe this is the way his shows have always been but there was absolutely no emotion or energy at any time during the night. The feeling I left with was that he was punching a clock and I had anticipated more. As I said maybe that is how his shows have always been but if that is the case I will just stay home listen to the studio records from now on.

We stood up at a pub table in the balcony all nite but the view from there was still good and the sound was great! The show was not sold out so the balcony area was not crowded at all. Overall, we had a great time and would definitely go back again.

Second time I've seen him. This was the first time solo. Montrose Room was an excellent venue for an intimate show and prefect for a solo McMurty show. Got to talk to him before the show and learn more about a singer/songwriter I truly appreciate. He's the Woodie Guthrie of our generation. He played "Can't make it here anymore" in the middle of the set and received a standing ovation! "Choctaw Bingo" got all of the ladies dancing. "Calling out" took on some poignancy during a cold Chicago night. Great show. Don't miss him live! Venue is akin to a mini Park West. Free parking voucher at the Intercontinental.

James McMurtry played an amazing solo set Friday night at the Montrose Room. Switching back and forth between 12 string and 6 string acoustic guitars, his guitar work was dazzling. "Solo" is a great way to see a "poet-rocker" like McMurtry, so you can hear the words that mean so much. He was witty and self-effacing between songs, and responded to multiple standing ovations with an encore. The only songs missing for this fan were "Lost in the Backyard" and "Where'd You Hide The Body." I'll just have to see him again tonight in Evanston!

Great venue. Closest I've ever been to a performer without being pressed by a human wall behind me. Great sound. McMurtry may be known for his song writing but he plays a great guitar. Gets a fantastic sound out of it.

McMurtry is an amazing songwriter, musician and singer. He doesn't have a pretty singing voice but it's real. His songs are about real people - not necessarily happy but honest with humor and nostalgia. His band is first-rate. See him!! He's based in Austin and plays at the Continental Wednesdays at midnight when he's in town (so he said).

Mr. McMurtry's command of his guitars and voice was as usual perfect. The only reason I give it a 3 instead of a 5 was because of the audience. I sat in the back where I could still get a good view of the stage and could hear quite well. Quite well of course but for the dozen or so concertgoers who would not shut their mouths. They were there for the socializing not the music. Most of them seemed unaware that a concert was even going on. Maybe it's just the Mizzou fans???

my second James McMurty concert, and he didn't disappoint. The venue was great, the music was outstanding, what a blast! Can't wait to catch him in concert again. People that don't know his music are really missing out. PS: Has anyone ever seen McMurty smile?

James did a great job. Playing some of his best stuff. Of course Chactaw Bingo is a classic done perfectly by both James and the crowd. Would like to have heard something off his latest album and off of my favorite album "Candyland"

One goes to hear McMurty for his lyrics-- But the drums and guitars overwhelmed his voice

My brother in Texas recommended James to me. Glad he did. He's a great guitar picker and songwriter!

I'd be careful about letting Ray Wylie Hubbard open for me (expecailly given his incredible backers, son Lucas and a great drummer whose name i've lost). He's great and offered many surprises, laughs, and copecetic insights. This is not to take anything away from James McMurtry, who was also great--what a storyteller! There seemed to be constant guitar-tuning and sound mixing problems with McMurtry's set, which was distracting but understandable.

If you like Leo Kotke's guitar playing and Paul Kelly's songwriting, it's McMurtry you want. James is unique -- deep lyrics, with a ringing 12-string guitar that mesmerizes, and beautifully written word-stories that make you listen hard. You'll remember them in the morning. Gratifying but not stodgy grown-up music.

the fact that McMurtry didn't play "We Can't Make it Here, Anymore" Otherwise was great.

Grateful these two performers could come up from Texas to the Birchmere. It seems like so many texans don't venture outside of the state enough. Ray Wylie is such a natural entertainer and I was captivated by his performance. There is something real deep down in these old guys you can feel when they play. His guitar playing is restrained and soulful, very dirty blues style that matches well with his voice. His son was on electric. Must be cool to tour with the offspring. James McMurtry grabbed my gut with his rhythm and tempo. I was stunned by his playing style. Partial capos, double capo and alternate tunings like I haven't seen before. I wanted the show to go on a couple more hours. But James was wearing me out with his energy and driving guitar. I Wish Ray Wylie could have played longer. I could listen to him all day.

James McMurtry is reluctant, or perhaps uninterested, when it comes to conversing with the audience. He seldom sets up his songs with a story as many performers do. At times he'll throw out a quick tidbit of biting social commentary. Instead he seems to prefer to let his songs tell his stories; and do they ever. His writing is among the best out there. His lyrics are as clever as they get and range from heart-breaking love songs to political commentary. It is a joy to learn his lyrics and to hear him sing them is a great pleasure. The most amazing thing about his shows is his guitar playing. If you close your eyes at his show and listen you'd swear he had a couple of pals up there accompanying him on the guitar. Open your eyes and you see a right hand that is seemingly unmoving and a left hand that is gracefully gliding up and down the neck; fingers moving across the strings with unimaginable speed and dexterity. It is an amazing thing to watch and to hear. It makes me want to go home and burn my guitar and take up the flute. It would be sacrilege to make the noises I make with the thing when there are soundwaves like that still vibrating in the air.

Unbelievable talent. Great songwriter, phenomenal guitar player.

great great show. about 200 people, small, intimate, intense.

Like good bourbon, McMurty is an acquired taste, but gawdamighty can he paint a picture and take you to some places you may have never visited Ferocity. Range. Heart. He's one of the best singer songwriters in the galaxy. I spent an amazing evening at a Hurricane Party, growing older with my friends, playing a little bingo with Uncle Slaton, sitting on the back porch in the flatlands and watching Ruby and Carlos screw things up. Freeway View has to be one of the ultimate passing lane recordings of all time.

he just rocks if you like his albums, you will just be amazed in concert. The CDs are good, but man, when he cranks it up in person it's too wonderful. Go see him, any chance you get.

James and the boys really rocked it out that night, playing all of his most memorable tunes one right after another. The band was tight and as the night wore on, the amps kept getting pegged sending vibrations throughout the crowd. James songs hit the note, and his storys resonated with the diverse crowd, from college aged bohemians to worn out hippie types sporting tie die Tees and balding crowns. The only regret I had over his performance is the band didn't work the crowd too much, not much talk, and no requests. They performed well, but just didn't wrap the crowd up to love 'em even more. This was the first time I've seen them, so maybe that's the way he works it.

McMurtry was great! He is one of the most talented singer songwriter performers I have ever seen or heard. Thank you for your time to come autograph my album and also for the time you took to talk to me. Your lyrics speak out for us little guys. Thank you again for the music!

Sharp bunch of musicians, McMurtry's vocals excellent > was looking for some new material though!

If you have never seen a James Mcmurtry show do yourself a favor and go ,you will not want to miss another one.

James McMurtry was amazing as usual. Loved the small venue, it's the environment he thrives in. My only complaint about the venue-chairs are uncomfortable.

James McMurtry and his band owned Delmar Hall in St Louis. I ve seen James before and enjoyed him, but he is now at a different level-energized and engaged like never before. Love the guy and his music, and this performance was his best yet. Go see him while he s in the zone.

I haven't seen James and Curtis perform together so was fun to see father and son in this venue. I love the Birchmere and their solo sets were the best.

I love listening to James McMurtry perform whenever he comes through town. He is such a fantastic storyteller through his songs and he is a very under-rated guitar player. I love wondering which of his songs he will play this time (there are so many gems to choose from that he will always have to leave out some of my personal favorites. It was also nice to hear his son Curtis openig for him. They have very different vocal styles but he also is a great songwriter just coming into his own. However one area I would note as a weakness is the originality of stage presence. He does basically the same show every time with between song patter limited to his comments about Methodists when he is inviting people to dance to a more upbeat song and then a comment about being generous tippers and be nice to the cop if you get pulled over on your way home. And the last several times I have seen him him has come back to do and encore of just one song. Would love to get 2 or 3 songs at least. (by comparison I just saw Wilco and they did 2 encores totalling about 7-8 songs.

I'm a huge fan, and was excited by the chance, finally, to see James McMurtry in person. It was nice to see some of them (he didn't play long) performed live, but he's a classic case of a performer who acts like he's doing you a favor by being there. Basically, he's the antithesis of Lyle Lovett and other performers who seem to appreciate and be energized by their fans. Pay to see McMurtry live? Never again.

Longtime fan of all the McMurtrysand the first time I saw Curtis at the Birchmere and heard James solo. Both were excellent and are great performers. The acoustics at the Birchmere are great and ti's wonderful to hear music in such an intimate environment. The new album is great. Highly recommend the McMurtrys and the Birchmere.

Loved his show at the Birchmere. His son, Curtis, opened for him, and while I think he is a talented young man, I didn't think that his music "warmed Up" the audience as an opening act usually is intended to do. Not my cup of tea. We really enjoyed the acoustic aspect of this show; we've seen JM with his full band as well, but the same songs done acoustically was really great! ...but again, the Birchmere's food leaves a lot to be desired. Better to eat at RT's Restaurant across the street before the show!

James McMurtry is a master storyteller. His songs are filled with imagery and paint a vivid picture. Guitar driven songs with strong base lines. He is definitely work seeing if you are a "singer songwriter" fan. I have seen him twice and plan to see him again when he returns.

I've seen James McMurtry three times now, twice as a solo act and with his band this time. His guitar mastery continues to amaze me, and his incredibly well crafted lyrics seem to speak directly to middle aged guys like me. His band is tight and accomplished musicians in their own rights. He played a mix of his older material and songs from his soon to be released album (which sounds great). There wasn't a bad song in the bunch. My only problem is he has so many great songs in his catalog that I will invariably walk away saying I wish he played this or that song. But I can live with that kind of problem. In short, James McMurtry once again put on an amazing show.

I love McMurtry's music and tonight was no exception...he put on a great show, as always.

Excellent performance. Lots of spirit, playfulness and quality music. Venue is good too.

Quite possibly the country's greatest singer-songwriter (with apologies to Dylan), James McMurtry never fails to impress, whether in concert or in recording. Tuesday's show at the Birchmere was just like all the others; that is to say, superb. The old favorites were played with a level of precision not often found in live performances, but truly exciting were the glimpses provided of the upcoming album. From what I saw, the next record promises to be outstanding. McMurtry was also kind enough to hang around the merch table after the show, speaking with fans. Always a nice touch.

I stumbled into James McMurtry's music a few years ago, & had to hear more. I've ended up buying all of his CDs that I could find in print. His songs paint pictures as they tell stories. His genre is hard to pigeon-hole, but I guess I'd call it a blend of country, Texas rock n roll, & Americana. McMurtry is an also an excellent guitarist, and his band doesn't miss a lick. He has a remarkable mind to keep all of those complex lyrics at the tip of his tongue. "Choctaw Bingo" is nearly 10 min long, and only one verse repeats. "We Can't Make It Here" is a protest song for the ages. I live over in Illinois, & this was this the first time this Austin TX artists has toured this far North so I could see him live. This show was well worth the ticket price and the 3 hour drive, and I won't hesitate to do it again. I do wish the venue had a few more seats available, because after the opening band, and two solid hours by the headliner, I was dead tired of standing on that concrete floor. But as I said, I'd do it again. (& sneak in a pop-up chair)

James McMurtry is one of the most underappreciated artists of our time. He is both a brilliant musician and lyricist. I'm talking Springsteen level story telling. WIth his band, McMurtry rocks the house. But solo-accoustic, with his 12 string guitar, he amazes perhaps even more. Please search out and support him!!! Artists like this deserve success!!!

Having not seen James McMurtry live in ten years, I was not prepared at how great his guitar skills have become. His show at the Birchmere was an amazing performance. He played most of his songs, many of them with new and different guitar tunings and impressive work up and down the neck. His open tuning on the 12-string Martin gave his unforgettable lyrics a full, almost orchestra-like accompaniment. And his always present humor was lively and entertaining as ever!

James was in great form and his guitar playing was spectacular. Can't say anything negative about his show - song selection was excellent. Was wondering how he would be without his band but first song rocked out and continued. Only sour note was the Birchmere's sound board - I like loud music, I really like loud music, but the volume was grossly too loud and they didn't figure out James' voice was not coming out of one set of speakers until he had played 5 or 6 songs. Once sound was fixed you could hear his lyrics. To Birchmere - turn down the sound from 11 to 8.

Don't miss any opportunity to see James McMurtry-- one of America's best singer/songwriters and performers. Absolutely brilliant songwriting, and a great performer-- he really fills the room & gets the crowd moving (and thinking) even though it's just him & his guitars on this tour.

I have been a fan of James Mcmurty for years but had never seen him live. I didn't really know what to expect since he was playing solo. In short, he was great. He did a lot of his songs that I liked and on many played 12 string guitar. His musicianship was outstanding -- the sound he got out of the 12 string made it seem like two guitarists were playing. I would highly recommend seeing him.

My first experience with McMurtry on friend's recommendation and he is very good. Great guitar playing (12 string Takamine with very full sound and Guild 6 string) and very relevant and heartfelt lyrics. Political comments between songs (while tuning guitars) were relevant and insightful for a musician. General admission seats got us to stage right, 3 tables from stage. Seating appears to be first come, first served so get there early for best seats but there didn't seem to be any bad seats.

I am a big McMurtry fan, but had never seen him play solo before. I thought the show would be lacking w/out the Heartless Bastards, but I couldn't have been more mistaken. James was in total command the entire evening. Great stage presence and more banter with the audience than when he plays with the band. And as often as I have seen and listened to him, did not realize how good he is on the guitar. Wonderful night of old and new songs. He even pulled off a rousing version of Choctaw Bingo by himself and with the aid of the stereotypical bad concert drunk, had people dancing - at The Birchmere (for those of you who have never been there, it's generally frowned upon)!

When you see him solo, no band, you remember what a great guitar player he really is. The performance is always good, but this partcular one was out of the park.

Fun performance. James has a presence that requires very little other than him and his band on stage. His song writing is dynamite and I wasn't fully familiar with his work before this event. The venue was intimate which really added to the enjoyment. If you have an opportunity to see him, you should, you won't be disappointed.

Johnny Burke was the highlight. I've seen McMurtry before at the RR and thought the show was exciting, so this time I brought 12 friends. Major mistake. JM and the team were extremely disappointing. The sound mix was terrible -- vocals didn't come through so lyrics were lost in too loud bass & hammering drums and reverb in vocal amps. No interaction between JM and customers. Looked like JM was depressed and/or suffering from a hangover. Only one acoustic number. Johnny Burke was interesting and engaged with the audience (esp after he busted his stomp box). He should open for someone else..

Generally a good performance, of course focused on new stuff. I have listened to him for a long time and although at least 3 people in this small venue asked for some of his older songs (Safeside, Where's Johnny), he ignored them. Even Bob Dylan at least plays a convoluted version of his older tunes to humor his longtime fans. The sound was a bit distorted so you could only hear part of the lyrics, which are his strong point. He is a great songwriter and the new stuff is everybit as good (if not better) than the older stuff. As someone said, he is not a showman. He seems to play for his own edification which is absolutely his right as an artist. I will continue to be a fan and listen to his music old and new, but not live.

James McMurtry is a great songwriter! The Rhythm Room is an intimate venue and perfect for him. Sound wasn't so great but....

I Saw James McMurtry at the Continental in Austin last year and I loved his songs even though I had never heard any of them prior to the show. Salient political/Americana commentary with the guitar work of a top notch blues act. The music is hard driving. I will see him every time he is in the D.C. area for sure.

Only problem we had was understanding the words of the songs, and his songs have a lot of words that are important! We were sitting in the balcony, which were great seats. The wonderful thing about this location is we were able to go down in front of the stage a "move" with the music. Once down there we could see and understand everything. Great fun!

This was the third time I've seen him play. The crowds are getting larger, which is awesome. He and the band tore through their songs and had the crowd going. Choctaw Bingo and We Can't Make It Here were powerful. Thanks again for another great show.

Played his cold hard heart out. Best show I have been to in years

First saw James McMurtry and the Heartless Bastards on Austin City Limits TV show several years ago and never forgot about him. I picked up a couple CD's over the last couple years and it is some of the best road music I've ever heard. There is a little bit of humor in almost every song he writes. There is no mistaking his style, his licks or his honesty. When one man yelled out "Choctaw Bingo!" (the title of a song), James said "I'm glad you're familiar with our hits, just because you say it doesn't mean you're gonna hear it." But we did get to hear it! With some good times narration too. This is not a show, James is not a showman. It is an experience we loved and we will be looking forward to seeing him again.