By Susan Kemp
The first night of the Savannah Music Festival opened with a double-bill: Nashville-based singer-songwriter Justin Townes Earle, and the six-man folk outfit from Seattle, The Head and the Heart.
Justin Townes Earle is a man who has lived. Having just turned 30, the son of legendary folk artist Sam Earle already has three albums under his belt with his fourth, “Nothing’s Gonna to Change the Way You Feel About Me Now,” to be released March 27.
Earle, on stage at the Lucas Theatre for the Arts on March 22, eased into a new place with the first several numbers. And it makes sense: the Tennessee native has taken several departures with his latest release, including performing with a band for the first time.
However, Paul Niehaus on guitar, Jon Radford on drums and Vince Ilagan on upright bass blended with Earle’s soulful lyrics effortlessly, especially Niehaus, whose transitions on pedal steel added a subtle poignancy to some of the newer songs.
Earle’s songs are definitely more subdued and reflective than previous efforts, but if it’s soulful lyrics and powerful refrains listeners are looking for— in a voice that seems earnest not contrived— than “Nothing’s Gonna Change” is worth the listen.
Although, the irony might be that the title track can be misleading for old fans of Earle’s music who may miss the rawness of “Harlem River Blues.”
His change in direction is particularly noticeable in the newer song “Look the Other Way” and the title track, “Nothing’s Gonna Change the Way You Feel About Me Now,” where soft plucks of the bass are reflective of a country ballad style.
It’s these moments that feel the most honest and vulnerable, with some of the more up-tempo songs causing him to strain for the notes, at times almost yelling.
However, Earle seems to know where he’s going with this latest effort. A playful Earle joked, “I think the new album is going to p*** the folkies off.” That may be true, but the lyrics and musicality show a sophistication that can only come from an artist who’s gone through hell. Fortunately, for listeners, he’s lived to write about it.
The Head and the Heart stole the audience’s heart with fan favorite, “Lost in My Mind.”Photo courtesy of Savannah Music FestivalBut if folk fans see a departure in Earle, they’ll still fully embrace Seattle-based The Head and the Heart, who followed Earle on Thursday’s double-bill.
The sextet, including Jon Russell and Josiah Johnson sharing lead vocals, and bandmates Charity Rose Thielen (vocals/violin), Kenny Hensley (keys), Chris Zasche (bass) and Tyler Williams (drums) shift their tone away from a typical Nashville blues style.
The Head and the Heart evince definite folk influences along with noticeable pop undertones; perhaps providing potential for catching the attention of a more mainstream audience.
But that’s not to say that their new sound feels entirely generic. Their recognizably quirky vibe paired with vibrant melodies from Hensley and Thielen make the songs more poignant and nuanced than what is typically heard in the pop genre.
To add even more dynamic, Johnson, Russell and Thielen bolster the group with strong vocal talent, the latter’s twang accentuating the more folk-inspired melodies.
The piano-driven “Lost in My Mind” brought the Savannah crowd to its feet midway through the act with the group never losing their momentum, even through quieter songs like the understated “Oh Virginia.”
It’s no wonder the band sold 10,000 albums before even securing a label in 2010— there is soul in their rich melodies that captivates audiences and the industry alike.
Editor’s note: Justin Townes Earle’s hometown was corrected to Nashville.
