SONGWRITER, playwright, multimedia and visual artist, sculptor, author, and associate professor about town, Terry Allen is not your average Americana act. He hasn't toured Europe (as a singer/songwriter, at least) since the mid 1980s, and he's never performed in Ireland before, so it was with a collective holding of breath that the faithful gathered to witness and pay their respects.
Allen is one of those left of centre country singers whose quality and pitch of voice doesn't matter. Phrasing is all, and the way he roughly bends notes to express any number of nuances is a joy to hear.
The real voice, though, is imbedded in the songs, of which there were an abundance. For tuneful reference points, refer to the likes of Guy Clark and Townes Van, Zandt. For lyrical comparisons, try a singularly perverse combination of basic Randy Newman (with whom Allen has been often likened) and the artful wordplay of ex Talking Heads frontman, David Byrne a like minded pop thinker with whom Allen has worked on various projects.
The songs? Too many great ones to mention, but high points were Beautiful Waitress, The Wolfman of Del Rio, New Delhi Freight Train, and Our Land ("Not Ireland," said Allen to diminishing cheers. "Don't get too excited), each/all of which were expertly played by Allen, his son Bukka, and the standout instrumentalist of the night, fiddle player Richard Bowden. Terry Allen required listening for people who think they know what country music sounds like.
