The show at the Englert Theatre in Iowa City was a letdown. Greg
mentioned having played with Joe Price the couple of nights before
and that he was "just a shell." It showed. He also said later that
he had a cold. It seemed to a number off people I spoke with, and to
me, too, that he just didn't much want to be there.

He played with bassist Ric Cicalo, which is usually a treat. Nice to
see the electric guitar, but having Bo there may have given him a
bit more energy (or concealed his lack of same, anyway). But still
cool to see his guitar skills on display. The introducer pointed out
that Greg is a new grandfather, with Bo and Pieta's baby having
arrived (kinda creepy, but happy, news, and well received by the
home town crowd).

Honestly, for much of it, it was just plain boring, which I never
thought I'd say about a Greg Brown concert, especially one in Iowa
City. The songs just never got off the ground--not that he's ever
been a whirlwind, but I've never seen him this sluggish. His vocals
were barely discernible, a murky, muddy mumble. A fair number of
people left early. I'm guessing it was especially sleepy up in the
balcony. There was a review in the Cedar Rapids paper to this
effect, too, but I couldn't find it online to pass on.

The highlights were when openers Mike and Amy Finders joined him for
the encore of Iowa Waltz--that girl can flat-out sing. Beautiful.
And his daughter Consti joined him for the closer, a Libba Cotton
song, Everything I Have is in Pawn (or something close to that).
That was nice, just seeing them share a moment singing together. She
joined them all for the encore, too.

Oh, well, an off night. Shit happens.

Jon H