Lucinda Williams in a mellower mood at the Dakota in February
Lucinda Williams doesn't do corporate gigs — those private parties where some company (or rich person) ponies up for an exclusive performance.
But somehow this one fit like a pair of old cowgirls boots: Lu and her three-man band at Kieran's Irish Pub headlining Martin Williams ad agency's 4 1/2-hour, 3-stage, 10-act "Let's Jubilate" party on Monday.
This wasn't a bunch of suits in a hotel ballroom. This was a couple hundred hipsters who perked up when Williams hit the small bandstand.
Playing a compact 57-minute set, she rocked with new-found ferociousness. Credit new guitarist Blake Mills, 24, an L.A. hotshot who signed on this year. He may lack the country-leaning seasonings of Doug Pettibone, Williams' longtime guitarist, but Mills was slashing, aggressive and expressive. He and the singer clearly seemed simpatico.
The set list was heavy on songs from this year's excellent album "Blessed" — "Buttercup," the title track, "Born To Be Loved" and "Kiss Like Your Kiss." She also tossed in some older tunes —"Joy," "Can't Let Go," "Pineola," "Drunken Angel," "Honey Bee" and her Paul Westerberg tribute, the crowd-thrilling "Real Live Bleeding Fingers and Broken Guitar Strings."
At set's end, with a big smile on her face, Williams announced: "We love Minneapolis."
Yep, she was married just down the street at First Avenue in 2009. She was also giddy because, as she put it afterward while mixing with partgoers, "I haven't played a bar like this in a while."
The Kieran's gig came together fairly recently, as a logical followup to Williams' amphitheater show in Mankato on Sunday.
Her manager/producer/husband Tom Overby said he hopes to book an open-to-the-public Twin Cities gig in the fall. Williams last played the Twin Cities in February at the Dakota as a solo act to warm up for her tour with this band.
The other performers at "Let's Jubilate" were a bunch of locals, including the always rewarding Americana songstress Molly Maher, Cities 97-styled singer Ashley Gold, a slimmed down and blazingly bluesy Charlie Parr, and potent rockers 4onthefloor, who put the kick in kick drum.
Props to Martin Williams' creative director Tom Moudry, the event organizer, and his good taste in music.
