The Flatlanders

March 7, 2000

The Ark

Ann Arbor, MI

The name of the Flatlanders only album is More a Legend than a Band. This describes this enigmatic group of singer-songwriters perfectly. The Flatlanders were started by Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Joe Ely and Butch Hancock in Lubbock, Texas in the early 70's. Their name was inspired by the level terrain of their West Texas home and their music was equal parts Willie Nelson and Townes Van Zandt. Unfortunately, they were a short lived outfit. They released only one album and it was only available on 8-track at truck stops (what I wouldn't give for a copy of that 8-track…)

In the 70's and 80's, Gilmore, Ely, and Hancock became successful as solo acts and Rounder Records finally released the album on vinyl in 1980 and on CD in 1990. They are sort of like the Travelling Wilburys of alternative country and their album is now considered a classic which has deservedly gained a cult status among the "No Depression" country crowd.

In 1998 the Flatlanders unexpectedly reformed to cut a track for the soundtrack to the Horse Whisperer. Around that time they made a few TV appearances and played a select few live dates, but I never expected that they would mount a full scale tour and play right here in Ann Arbor. I was really excited for this show because it was one of those things you never really thought you would see: The Flatlanders playing at an extremely intimate venue.

Another Texas singer songwriter named Anna Egge opened the show playing a short set of solo acoustic tunes. I thought she was impressive especially on guitar and her song "River under the Road" cowritten with Jimmie Dale Gilmore was great.

After a short break the Flatlanders hit the stage augmented by a three piece backup band consisting of a guitar/Dobro/mandolin player, a bassist, and a drummer. Excitement in the crowd was high as they started off with a ragged but right set of tunes including "Hello Stranger" which was on their original album. They clearly enjoyed playing together and joked around a lot between songs. Before they "South Wind of Summer", the song they wrote for the Horse Whisperer, Joe Ely wondered aloud if their was such thing as a Gerbil Whisperer.

Butch Hancock and Joe Ely look like guys you might see eating at the counter of a truck stop. Real Texas shitkickers, but their songs are eloquent and funny. In comparison Jimmie Dale Gilmore with his long grey hair comes off as a sort of a cowboy hippie philosopher. Gilmore possesses a voice that falls into the same category as Frank Sinatra, Bob Dylan and Tom Waits. You may love it or hate it, but when you hear him sing you can't mistake him for anybody else. His voice lies in some borderland between Willie Nelson and Roy Orbison, but unique unto its own.

Throughout the night they traded vocals on each other's songs including "Dallas", "One More Road", "If you were a Bluebird", "DFW" and "West Texas Waltz". They also played a few select covers including two by the late great Townes Van Zandt, "Snowing on Raton" and "White Freightliner Blues". Joe Ely told the story of picking up Townes hitchhiking on a back road near Lubbock and in thanks he gave Joe a copy of his album, Our Mother the Mountain. Joe said that later that night he got together with Jimmie and Butch and they put on the LP and didn't stop listening for months.

One of the most exciting things about the evening was the performance of brand new songs that Ely, Gilmore and Hancock have been writing together for inclusion on a future all new Flatlanders album. The good news is that the new material sounded great to me and I can't wait for them to get enough songs to put out a record.

After several encores the band finally left the stage and I headed out into the uncharacteristically warm night completely satisfied. Hopefully next time they come back to Ann Arbor it will be in support of a brand new album.