For many performers, the music business is a bitch coming and going. Is it tougher breaking into the business when you’re young and vital and primarily competing with your peers, or is it harder remaining IN the business after your commercial heyday is over and the business decides your presence is no longer required?
Returning to Denver for the first time since 2000, played the acoustically excellent on Friday night. On the verge of his 30th year as a solo recording artist, Crenshaw has more than stayed viable, appearing in film (“Peggy Sue Got Married,” “La Bamba”), authoring the excellent “Hollywood Rock: A Guide to Rock ‘n’ Roll in the Movies,” writing songs for the Gin Blossoms in the ’90s and the title song for the 2007 film, “Walk Hard” in 2004. He filled Fred “Sonic” Smith’s rhythm guitar role with DKT/MC5, the band fronted by MC5 survivors, Wayne Kramer, Michael Davis and Dennis Thompson.
These days Crenshaw primarily performs alone, but, thankfully, on electric guitar, not acoustic. The roughly 80 minute set generally alternated between material from his Warner Brothers years, particularly the killers from his self-titled debut (“There She Goes Again,” “Someday, Someway,” “Not For Me,” “Cynical Girl”). Crenshaw also played other early songs like “You’re My Favorite Waste Of Time,” his first ever release, “Something’s Gonna Happen” and newer material including “Right On Time,” “Live And Learn” (co-written with Dan Bern and Matt Bair) and “Never Coming Down” off his 2009 release, “Jaggedland.”
Throughout the set, Crenshaw would, almost matter-of-factly, unleash Danny Gatton/James Burton/Buddy Holly influenced flourishes in his solos. While the solos were generally subdued, they were anything but run-of-the-mill. Crenshaw’s best songs, replete with irresistible hooks and perfect for his voice, are what drew critics and listeners from the beginning. Yet, in live performances, as well as on record, Crenshaw’s noted guitar talents shine through. His between song stage banter was warm, germane to the songs he was about to play (unlike the self- indulgent meanderings of some) and often witty.
Crenshaw is noted for covering quite a few excellent songs on record and in live appearances. He opened his three song encore with Ben Vaughn’s “I’m Sorry (But So Is Brenda Lee),” off his third album, “Downtown” and Grant Hartap “2541,” and closed with his own ”Television Light.” While hearing all this material backed by a full band would have been most longtime fans’ preference, his exquisite guitar playing , still impressive voice, and, above all, the songs themselves, made for a performance that more than showed how Crenshaw has remained in the business as long as he has.
Follow our news and updates on , our whereabouts on and everything else on . Or send us a telegram.
Mike Long is a Longmont-based writer and comedian and a regular contributor to Reverb.
Ryan Cutler is a Denver photographer and new contributor to Reverb.
