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| Lucinda Williams @ the Greek Theatre (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
Lucinda Williams has had an unfair amount of adversity since 2020, but with her performance Tuesday night at UC Berkeley’s Greek Theatre, she didn’t just overcome it – she punched it in the face and left it sprawled out on the side of a gravel road.
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| Lucinda Williams @ the Greek Theatre (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
Taking the opening slot on a double bill that co-featured Big Thief, Williams took the stage to a truly multi-generational audience where many of the young faces had no doubt never seen her and perhaps not heard her music. But by the time she was assisted off the stage, 8,500 people were cheering with all their might in appreciation of a performer that had delivered a musical celebration that no one there will ever forget.
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| Lucinda Williams @ the Greek Theatre (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
We all had an awful 2020 as a global pandemic caused tension, hardship and suffering on so many. Williams’ March 2020 started off with the roof being ripped off her Nashville home by the tornado that devastated that area. Then, as the new unnormal began to settle in that fall, Williams, then 67, suffered a stroke at her home as she was about to shower. The stroke still has Williams on a self-described “hiatus from the guitar” and saw her requiring assistance to take the stage, where a high-backed chair sat at the ready. But, on this night, Williams took in the joy of an adoring audience and gave it right back as she stood the entire performance, hobbled but with no less of her ability to create beautiful, emotional vocal tapestries and deliver a vigorous hiss to anything and anyone who has ever tried to hold her down.
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| Stuart Mathis @ the Greek Theatre (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
Opening with this year’s “Let’s Get the Band Back Together” from her album (and coming memoir) Stories from A Rock N Roll Heart, Williams was ably supported by guitarists Stuart Mathis and Doug Pettibone, drummer Butch Norton and bassist David Sutton. “Rock N Roll Heart” followed with a kick-start as the story of a small-town dreamer’s rise to stardom was delivered with its raspy chorus of “you’ve got a rock n roll heart.” Following that she brought the pace slower with 'another new song, "Stolen Moments”' which she dedicated to Tom Petty and how she still found herself feeling his presence. Mathis delivered an excellent solo on the song.
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| Doug Pettibone @ the Greek Theatre (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
“Drunken Angel” a song now 25 years old followed next with Williams leaning heavily into the pain her unique Louisiana-born voice can bring forth. She dedicated the song to Blaze Foley. 'Most of us have demons we are fighting. Some lose the battle. Some lose, some don’t. Blake kinda’ dragged trouble with him. Artists who lost their way and fell. Kurt Cobain. Graham Parsons. So many others.'
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| David Sutton @ the Greek Theatre (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
“Fruits of My Labor” from 2003’s World Without Tears followed as Sutton switched to a standup bass and the Pettibone’s heavy Southern reverb combined with Williams to set an end of the night in the honky-tonk vibe as the sun set and the Greek’s lights began to take effect. Pettibone’s extended solo was one of the highlights of the night as Williams sang the lyric 'Truth is my savior.'
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| Butch Norton @ the Greek Theatre (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
After a sweet and lilting version of “Are you Down” Williams changed the energy of the song selections, telling the now deeply connected crowd 'The is a little more up tempo. You can all shake your hips to this one.' She led the band through her cover of Memphis Minnie’s “You Can’t Rule Me” – perhaps her greatest middle finger song to those who have ever tried to get in her way. This version featured a great solo by Mathis and leaned heavily on Sutton’s bass.
Next up was Williams’ cover of Tom Petty’s “Changed the Locks” as Williams once again reflected on her lost friend. 'God bless him. We miss him so much.' As the lights hit the audience, most in the crowd were swinging their hips to the song and Pettibone’s solo and a big drum finale from Norton crowned the song’s end. “Essence” – a song of heartbreak, waiting and longing that featured Pettibone laying down licks reminiscent of Heartbreaker Mike Campbell was up next as Williams implored 'Shoot your love into my vein.'
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| Lucinda Williams @ the Greek Theatre (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
“Joy” resonated with many of the women in the audience as a lot of the crowd sang along with the William’s howling chorus of 'You took my joy and I want it back!' She ended her 11-song set with “Honey Bee” - a song filled with sexual double entendres that Williams seemed to have a blast singing. As she said goodbye to the audience, Williams expressed her gratitude. 'We’ve really enjoyed this y’all. There’s a really good energy here right now. I had a stroke a little while ago and I’m on hiatus from the guitar. But I’ll get it back. This was very healing for me tonight. Thanks so much! Your presence was truly a gift.'
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| Lucinda Williams & Big Thief @ the Greek Theatre (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
But that was far from the end for the celebration of Williams. After Big Thief played three songs to open their set, they welcomed Williams back to the stage. 'We just worked these out this afternoon,' Williams told the crowd 'And we had fun and thought we’d play them for you.' With that Williams and Big Thief tackled “People Talking” and “Metal Firecracker” with Thief lead singer Adrienne Lenker yielding most vocals to Williams and drummer James Krivchenia driving the songs forward with bassist Max Oleartchik and guitarist Buck Meek completing the support. The group provided great harmonies on “Metal Firecracker”s chorus of 'All I ask. Don’t tell anybody the secret. Don’t tell anybody the secret I told you.' As the crowd sang along and then kept Williams on stage for more than a minute after the songs as she bathed in their warm and heartfelt applause.
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| Adrienne Lenker of Big Thief @ the Greek Theatre (Photo: Sean Reiter) |
'I’m kinda’ speechless right now,' said Lenker. 'That was the honor of a lifetime. She’s a real legend in my heart. I just wanna play one more of her songs. They’ve really gotten me through a lot in life.' With that intro, Lenker delivered a beautiful take on “Minneapolis” embracing all its sorrow and keeping the audience’s rapt attention. 'Thanks to Lucinda Williams and all her beautiful band and crew who have been so sweet to us. I will always remember this.' And all of those who were there will remember Lucinda Williams too.
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