Saturday, September 10, 2011

John Hiatt and the Combo at the Shaftman Performance Hall (Roanoke, VA)

  John Hiatt and the Combo stopped in Roanoke on Friday evening (September 9, 2011) on their tour supporting their new album "Dirty Jeans and Mudslide Hymns."  John was in his usual good form, belting out mostly old favorites and several new selections.  He was very animated and chattered quite a bit between songs.  His songs (both old and new) have such great lyrics and funky beats.  It was an interesting crowd.  Some were there specifically to see the opening act, Big Head Todd and the Monsters.  They played an energetic set and have an interesting sound.  Here are some photos of John Hiatt and the Combo:






and several of Big Head Todd and the Monsters:





John Hiatt and the Combo
Jefferson Center – Shaftman Performance Center – Roanoke, Virginia
September 9, 2011
 
                                                SET LIST

Perfectly Good Guitar
Your Dad Did
Train to Birmingham
Open Road
Cry Love
Down Around My Place
Drive South
Thing Called Love
Adios to California
Damn This Town
Slow Turning
Tennessee Plates
Memphis in the Meantime
                Encore
Have a Little Faith in Me



     The highlights of the Hiatt portion of the show for me were many:  opening with "Perfectly Good Guitar" was one.  The others included "Your Dad Did" and "Slow Turning," old favorites which I had never heard him perform live.  The best of the new numbers was "Down Around My Place", which apparently was inspired by the 2010 Nashville flood.  I would have liked to have heard some more of the new album, particularly "I Love That Girl", but he has so many great songs that he can't play them all.

     The Shaftman Performance Hall at the Jefferson Center in Roanoke is a fabulous venue with great acoustics and comfortable seating.  It is relatively small and, therefore, a perfect venue for Mr. Hiatt.  This concert was a rockin' good time and I hope that John Hiatt comes back to Central Virginia soon!

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