Photo courtesy of Keith I. Marszalek | NOLA.com
Even after last Friday’s New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival set, it still stands unclear to most whether or not Justin Townes Earle likes trouble more than it likes him. After getting harassed by security and “one of [New Orleans’] fine policemen,” Earle made his way to the shack-like Fais Do-Do stage clad in a classic cream- colored suit and candy cane pinstripe shirt. Adorned with just an upright bassist and fiddler, Townes’ band poured doses of southern pain via folk ballads, as well as rowdy traditionalist country numbers.
Stories of mama, fried chicken, and trailer-dwelling, kiddie-pool bathing women from South Georgia resonated in the southern heat, despite an unfortunate schedule clash with Mumford & Sons. Towards the latter half of Earle’s set, the Mumford audience poured over to the Fais Do-Do stage, enjoying perhaps less powerful yet more earnest tunes such as “Slippin and Slidin,” a song from Earle’s most recent release “Harlem River Blues” about how he “shoulda learned better” from the rash decision making that sometimes gets him into notorious trouble. A Samuel Lightnin’ Hopkins cover was a welcome nod to the blues and slight departure from the mostly Johnny Cash-esque country set. The distinctive influence of these legends, as well as his father, Steve Earle, was evident in Earle’s voice, stirring the crowd around me to gossip about how “he’s only like…22!” (although he’s really 29.) Regardless of the rumours, whether they be about his age or about the trouble he gets himself into, Earle’s voice rang true to the tune of his country fathers before him and pleased the Jazz Fest set on Friday.–Michelle Landry