Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, June 12, 1995 TAG: 9506150018
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MARK MORRISON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
``It used to be a divorce song, but all the alimony's been paid. So, it's just another love-gone-wrong song,'' he said in introducing one song during his show Sunday night at the Roanoke Civic Center Auditorium.
``They're all coming, but they're in alphabetical order,'' he replied on cue when someone yelled for his older songs.
And when someone else in the audience of 1,157 started singing Willie Nelson's ``Whiskey River,'' Prine observed: ``I was wondering what Willie did on his nights off.''
It is his trademark tragedy-meets-comedy songs, though, whether the sound is big and shiny or simply acoustic, that set Prine apart.
But he seemed to like having the band along.
The last time Prine played Roanoke, in 1988, he performed a solo acoustic show. Clearly, Prine enjoyed playing with a band Sunday night.
The five-member group not only fleshed out Prine's typically understated songs with a fat sound, it was also a crack outfit of multi-instrumentalists that was a treat to listen to in its own right.
Prine did include a long acoustic segment in the middle of his 90-minute show, but it was with his band that he seemed most engaged.
It was too bad the auditorium was only half full for one of the better concerts of the year.
Opening Sunday for Prine was Victoria Williams, who logged a loose, informal 40-minute set memorable for her unusual voice, captivating songwriting - and her dog, Molly.
Molly first caused a stir during her owner's first song when she wandered briefly around the stage behind Williams and her four-member band. Later, Molly walked out to center stage, peered out at the audience and disappeared again backstage to a chorus of laughter.
Molly only added to the informal mood set by Williams, whose stage setting included a pair of living room lamps.
It was Williams' unique, Betty Boop-like, little-girl voice, however, that really set the tone.
At once disorienting and beautiful, her singing probably isn't for all tastes; but when combined with her equally peculiar lyrical storytelling style, it made for a performance that was highly interesting.
One last note: Williams, who suffers from multiple sclerosis that has left her with bouts of temporary blindness and paralysis, appeared relatively unbothered by the disease during her opening set Sunday.
by CNB