On Tuesday night, as a belated gift for my 30th birthday, my brother Luke took me to the Steve Earle concert at Hoyt Sherman Place. Steve Earle is a legendary country/folk/blues/rock guitarist, and he recently released an album of songs that were written by the late Townes Van Zandt.
At first I was skeptical about going to this concert. It was a beautiful night, and I was reluctant to spend it indoors. I didn’t know much about Steve Earle or his music, and I don’t listen to much music these days because I’m insanely busy (married, homeowner, father to a 1-year-old baby, working 1.5 jobs).
But here’s the thing – I really loved this concert. Steve Earle is amazing. He’s a guitarist and singer-songwriter, and his music has some growl to it – he’s got grit and authenticity. He’s 54 years old and has survived drug and alcohol addiction and incarceration and has been married seven times (twice to the same woman). He lives in New York City but came of age in Houston, Texas and can sing with equal credibility about the plight of West Virginia coal miners, the heroism of Maine Civil War soldiers at Gettysburg, and the versatility and stamina of the Korean immigrants who own the 24-hour corner deli on his block.
Steve Earle is a genuine showman. I was transfixed by the music and by his performance – I was very glad to have been there. What a great birthday present.
As usual, I was wrong to be skeptical. Lesson #456 in the importance of being open to new experiences – even when (especially when) you’re 30 years old and married and busy.