Thirty Tigers threw a closing night party at the Americana Music Festival in Nashville, showcasing a remarkable line-up.
After a strong opening set by Amy Speace, Nikki Lane, a retro country singer with a rock edge, followed, previewing songs from her new “Walk of Shame” album. You just know Lee Hazelwood would have loved to produce her.
Then came the highlight for the record geeks in the audience (and I am one.) In the mid-’70s, Garland Jeffreys was a fresh new voice, and his “Wild in the Streets” was as big a radio hit as you could get without actually having a hit. Over the years, he’s released smart and topical records, but the commerical breakthrough never came. I’ve been waiting 30 years to hear him play “Wild in the Streets” and 35 Millimeter Dreams.” I was not disappointed. His new album is “King of In Between.”
Raul Malo was up next, but cut his set to two songs because of loud conversations in the bar. Shelby Lynne is the only other performer I’ve ever seen do that.The Malo fans were not happy.
Chuck Mead then closed the show with an entergetic and entertaining set, including his salute to engagments, “She Got the Ring, I Got the Finger.” The show was just three blocks from where Mead and BR5-49 first rocked lower Broadway, and a reminder of just how dynamic a performer he has always been.
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