by rick grant rickgrant01@comcast.net
Hallelujah--suddenly established singer/songwriters are coming through town with high caliber shows and exemplary repertoires of original material. Ah yes, it has been a rare and magical time for this tired old journalist. It has lit a hot blast of nostalgia from deep in my consciousness. Then this Thursday night, I covered Shawn Mullins at Freebird Live, and again I was blown away by his catchy songs and superb musicianship.
I liked Shawn’s material so much from his MP3 samples, I downloaded his latest album from Rhapsody before his show. So, going into his set, I was at least familiar with his material, which crosses over many musical genres. Shawn performed with a keyboardist who also played electric guitar. And, for this Southern leg of his tour, he has been opening for the Gin Blossoms, that headlined the Freebird gig.
Shawn Mullins live show is a somewhat scaled down version of his latest album 9th Ward Picking Parlor. However, his live duo sound was the best I’ve heard in this showcase club in a long time. I could hear every nuance of his acoustic guitar and his partner’s keyboard or electric guitar. I marveled at his perfect sound and the power of his songs.
For years, Shawn slugged away producing his own CDs until he finally signed with Vanguard Records with the release of 9th Ward Pickin’ Parlor. The album and title are a tribute to Shawn’s friend and collaborator, Mike West who owned the studio where Shawn recorded 9th Ward. Shawn and Mike made it out of the city before Katrina hit. Sadly, the studio located on Dauphine Street was a total loss.
Shawn’s music is inspired by eclectic influences but distinctive in that it’s an original gumbo of folk, country, blues, and rock with a slight Cajun flavor. The album is dedicated to the brave people of New Orleans. The radio single off the album Beautiful Wreck has hit potential. And, Shawn has been getting radio play on many country and pop stations as well as satellite radio.
In 1998, Shawn penned a Top Ten hit single, Lullaby long before his association with Vanguard. So, he has high expectations for 9th Ward with the promotional backing of a big record company. Shawn’s Freebird show had all the earmarks of a singer/songwriter intimately communicating with his audience, who showed their appreciation with wild abandon. Yes, he’s hovering on attaining household word name recognition but he’s still comes across as a humble musician just trying to make a living in the overcrowded genre of folk rock.
After driving around for a few days with 9th Ward playing in my car, seeing Shawn perform the songs live was a rare thrill. Twenty three years as an entertainment journalist has left me cynical and jaded, but occasionally, I get turned on when I hear something new and intelligently conceived like Shawn’s latest music.
The bottom line: Shawn Mullins is a class act either on CD or live. He continues to write meaningful songs that hold up over time. His experience with the Katrina tragedy and his sensitive emotional reaction to it are revealed in the lyrics and music of his songs. This cat will inspire a new generation of songwriters who choose this difficult path as a profession and lifestyle. “Long may he run.”
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