Nick and Helen Forster’s nationally-syndicated weekly radio show, eTown, opened its 2011 season at the on Sunday night to a sold out crowd and two great guests: Louisiana’s and the always entertaining master-of-all-trades . The evening, which was sponsored by Celestial Seasonings, New Belgium brewing and Rudi’s bakery, was a thought-provoking mix of artist interviews, music and environmental discussion. It is a mix that has made eTown a Boulder staple and national hit for just shy of 20 years.
After an impressive introduction by Nick, who was an amiable host throughout, Keller Williams took the stage accompanied by renowned bluegrass couple Larry and Jenny Keel. The trio, Keller and the Keels, are fresh off the release of “Thief,” an album of unexpected modern covers played with a bluegrass twist as only Keller can.
The group played three high-energy, flat-picking filled songs off the album to start the show: Kris Kristofferson’s “Don’t Cuss That Fiddle,” Danny Barnes’ “Get It While You Can,” and Patterson Hood’s “Uncle Disney.” Nick then began a brief, humorous interview with the band.
Keller touched on his own “somewhat ruleless” radio show (Keller’s Cellar), the inspiration behind an album of covers from “bluegrass legends like Amy Winehouse,” and the ease of leaving behind the illicit nature of the jam culture following the recent release of his first kids album, “Kids.”
“Only lyrically do you leave it behind, really,” said Keller as he ended the interview to laugher from the crowd.
Following the E-chievement award given to listener Blake Couvillion for his work in restoring the Louisiana bayou through the Teche Project, Cajun favorite Marc Broussard was introduced and immediately grabbed the crowd with his dynamic vocal range. Following two songs — the first acoustic, the second accompanied by a full band — the singer-songwriter sat down to chat with Nick.
The two discussed personal topics like Broussard’s philanthropy towards the Cajun culture (he is spokesperson for the United Way of Acadiana) and life growing up in a family of music (his dad is legendary guitarist of the Boogie Kings, Ted Broussard).
Broussard continued to serenade the crowd with his soothing, soulful delivery on new tunes like “Lucky,” “Let Me Do It Over” and “Yes Man” (which he insists is not based on a true story).
Keller & the Keels then returned to the stage for a second set of feel-good bluegrass. The set opened with a melodic, palindrome-structured medley of Beck’s “Loser” and the Grateful Dead tune of the same name. It ended with Keller’s well-known sing-along, “Freeker By the Speaker.”
To close out the show, Nick read a series of inspiring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. quotes in honor of the impending holiday before the entire cast took to the stage for a reggae-tinged take of the Stones classic, “Wild Horses.” A standing ovation ensued.
Have no fear…eTown is back and as good as ever in 2011.
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Nate Etter is a Boulder-based musician and a new contributor to Reverb.
Joshua Elioseff is a Boulder-based freelance photographer and regular Reverb contributor. Check out his .
