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| photo by Will Piper |
Amanda Shires is a prolific Americana songwriter who showcased her skills as a vocalist, guitarist and above all, a master fiddle player, before a sold-out crowd in the Back Room of the Collectivo Coffeehouse on Prospect Avenue. Joined by a drummer, guitarist and bass player, Shires and her band compassed their catalog in a ninety minute set. focusing on Shires's most recent record, 2016's My Piece of Land, but playing a nice array from her previous work too. The performance was intimate and genuine, with fans seated throughout the venue in tightly packed rows hanging on every subtle swoop of Shires's violin bow.
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| photo by Will Piper |
I was drawn to Shires after seeing her perform alongside her husband, Jason Isbell, as part of his band "The 400 Unit" this past spring. What was perhaps most engaging about that performance was the raw chemistry the couple exuded while playing music together. While Isbell was not on this tour with Shires, her catalog of songs stood up well on its own, with the soft-spoken Shires sharing anecdotes and a few stories along the way.
Much of Shires's recent work comes from her new role as a mother, and focuses on themes related to family. In fact the set opener, "You Are My Home," epitomizes this idea. However, the highlight of the evening was her cover of "Daughter" by Loudon Wainwright III which gave me goosebumps as Shires talked about growing as a person with her, her husband, and their new daughter. As a father, I can totally relate myself to these themes. After seeing Shires perform solo, I have new found respect for the beauty of her haunting fiddle work and her narrative songwriting craft. She is charming, intimate, thought provoking and engaging as an artist.
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