by Kellie B. Gormly
The acoustic concert was very appropriately named “An Evening with Lyle Lovett and Shawn Colvin.” That makes it sound like a mellow, relaxed, intimate, quiet evening with friends in their living room – which is just what it felt like at the Carnegie Music Hall of Oakland.
During the Sunday night show, country star Lovett and folk star Colvin, who are old friends, casually sat side-by-side on the stage, each flanked by a few acoustic guitars. Rather than a typical concert with an opener and then a headliner, Lovett and Colvin performed the show as an equal duo. Lovett would sing one of his songs, and then Colvin would sing one of hers – then, they would sing some songs together as a duet, like Lovett’s “(One-Eyed) Fiona.”
The two singers and songwriters made a dynamic duo in the most understated way, without any of the embellishments of typical concerts like electric instruments, drums, video screens and other effects. It was just two singers and friends, playing their guitars and singing together for a relaxing, authentic experience that delighted the mostly middle-aged crowd.
In between their songs, Colvin and Lovett told stories about their lives, made the audience chuckle, and poked fun at each other, like friends do. Both of the music veterans have vocals that still sound great.
