Shawn Mullins

Shawn Mullins
November 10, 2010
World Cafe Live

If you like stories - bar stories - civil war stories - true stories - fictional stories - stories about stories - then you should LOVE Shawn Mullins. 

Shawn Mullins is a story teller, a dreamer, a heart tugger.  The stories between the songs were as captivating as the stories IN the songs.  As soon as he spoke, he threw a net over the audience with his voice and drew us all in.  

I've only seen Shawn "live" once before - when he toured with The Thorns - Matthew Sweet, Pete Droge and Shawn (spectacular, by the way) - and I think he must have deferred that night because I was totally unprepared for the range, power and depth of his voice.  The resonance was palpable - both when he spoke and when he sang.  It covered us like a warm blanket.  (The incredible acoustics at World Cafe Live didn't hurt a bit.)

It was just Shawn and Patrick Blanchard on stage - and it was enough.  Well... actually...  Shawn and Patrick and a few guitars.  It was a night for Gibson acoustic guitars with Shawn's big ol' Gibsons and Patrick's Gibson J-45 (I think).  Shawn also used a third guitar (maybe an Alvarez ???) - for "Lullabye" and Patrick added color to the evening with a Telecaster.  It was a great night for acoustic guitar with a little sweet electric thrown in.

Although Patrick Blanchard usually plays bass with Shawn's band, there was no bass for Patrick on Wednesday night.  He did more than an adequate job taking the solos and playing some great licks.  He played like he meant it.

Although Shawn Mullin's catalog is full of great songs, everyone still wants to hear "Lullabye" before the night is over.  We were not disappointed.  Shawn closed the show (the last show on this tour for him) with the ever-favorite, "Lullabye".  For an encore, he performed Kris Kristofferson's "Sunday Morning Coming Down".  An amazing ending to an amazing night!  (and the song is available on iTunes)  Great show - wonderful music - a night to remember!

I may even start a Shawn Mullins channel on my Pandora.

Everything's gonna be alright
     Rockabye Rockabye
          Bye bye, baby
               Bye bye