The Grammy-winning singer-songwriters played a relaxed Grand Rapids show on Thursday, one filled with entertaining tales about their songs, travels and 30-year friendship. (Review, photo gallery)
Two acoustic guitars. Two phenomenal voices. Two perspectives on songwriting.
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A bevy of well-crafted tunes and charming stories.
Revered singer-songwriters Mary Chapin Carpenter and Shawn Colvin launched the 2013-14 season of concerts at the Forest Hills Fine Arts Center on Thursday night with a cozy and congenial display of folk, country and Americana that felt every bit as comfy as a favorite pair of slippers or cup of coffee on the back porch.
The duo’s tour, stemming from an idea born a couple of years ago, has been all about replicating the atmosphere of “hanging out in our living room” and trading songs, Carpenter explained, “just trying to create that good feeling.”
The Grammy-winning singers and longtime pals had little trouble with that, singing together – as they did on the opening tune, Donovan’s “Catch the Wind” – singing separately, harmonizing or exchanging amusing anecdotes about songwriting, touring and, yes, facing life in their mid-50s.
Although short of a capacity crowd of 1,200, those on hand clearly seemed enamored of Carpenter and Colvin’s engaging repartee and tender, heartfelt songs, listening with rapt attention in the acoustically striking auditorium.
It was the sort of relaxed two-hour show that even forgave the occasional forgotten lyric, an appealing informality that allowed the performers to laugh it off and move on to the delight of their audience.
Through it all, the duo played familiar singles such as Carpenter’s “He Thinks He’ll Keep Her,” Colvin’s “Diamond in the Rough” and duets such as “One Cool Remove,” while chatting amiably about their different approaches to songwriting, the artists who’ve influenced them and their experiences in traveling the world together.
And much of it felt just as comfy as sitting in their living room.
Check out the photo gallery by Local Spins photographer Anthony Norkus. Next up at the Forest Hills Fine Arts Center: another dynamic duo, Lyle Lovett and John Hiatt, playing an evening of acoustic music on Oct. 30. For tickets, go online to fhfineartscenter.com.
MARY CHAPIN CARPENTER/SHAWN COLVIN: THE LOCAL SPINS PHOTO GALLERY BY ANTHONY NORKUS
Email John Sinkevics at jsinkevics@gmail.com.
Copyright 2013, Spins on Music