By Joanie Cox-Henry
Photo by Joanie Cox-Henry
Few singer/songwriters possess the tenacity of Lucinda Williams. The three-time Grammy winner suffered a stroke that impaired her left side in 2020 and lost her home to a tornado, but no disaster can keep this sinewy songbird from doing what she was born to do—to create thought-provoking art. She released Stories From A Rock n Roll Heart last June, and she is now in the midst of a 2024 tour.
Williams graced the stage at Coral Springs Center for the Performing Arts on Feb. 3, 2024. She is more inspiring than ever as she sings her celebrated catalog of original songs that have shaped the very fibers of her being. It takes months, if not years, to properly soak in the artistry of Lucinda Williams. She has a sound that can't be rushed. It must be administered to the soul like medicine and by the end of that song, she will heal you in some way.
Williams goes deep with her lyrics on her quest to dream outside the lines. This was the first time I saw Williams perform live, although I have been a fan of hers for over two decades. Lucinda opened the show in a beautiful, bare way with just her signature voice and an acoustic guitar player accompanying her. Eventually, she was joined by a full band on stage, but Williams appeared to want to ease the crowd into her show, which was peppered with tales that spanned from her childhood to her earliest days in the music business to the current challenges she's facing.
One of the defining aspects of Lucinda Williams' performance was the authenticity that permeated every note and lyric. Williams, a seasoned troubadour with a career spanning decades, showcased a remarkable ability to connect with her audience on a deeply emotional level. Her gravelly yet soulful voice, weathered by life's experiences, carried an undeniable weight that added layers of meaning to each song.
The setlist from her Coral Springs show seamlessly blended classics from her extensive discography with newer compositions that continued to showcase Williams' songwriting prowess. From the poignant reflections of "Drunken Angel" to the raw honesty of "Car Wheels on a Gravel Road," every song was delivered with an unshakable intensity.
"'Car Wheels On A Gravel Road' is about looking back at my childhood, growing up in the south, sitting in the back seat of the car watching all the things roll by outside the window," Williams said at her Coral Springs show. "It's kind of like life as seen through a child's eyes, as it turned out, through my eyes when I was small. But when I was writing this song, I didn't realize I was writing about myself until I had a show at The Bluebird in Nashville. My dad was there. He recognized me in the song and came backstage after wards and said he was sorry. And I asked him what he meant and he said 'Well, you're the child in the back seat with a little bit of dirt mixed with tears.' And that's the first time I realized that was me in the backseat of the song. It was a bittersweet moment, but he was a poet...so he knew."
The interaction between Lucinda Williams and her band is a chemistry all its own, with each musician complementing her distinctive style. The interplay between guitars, the thump of an upright bass, and the rhythmic pulse of the drums created a rich tapestry of sound that served as the perfect backdrop for Williams' evocative narratives.
Her original song "Where The Song Will Find Me" from Stories From A Rock n Roll Heart particularly resonated with me. She explained that the song is about how the muses will find her and inspire her at the right time. It celebrates the evolutionary catharsis of a true creative and how our work is never finished, and that, most importantly, we must sit down and let the words out and simply be bold enough to get the work done.
Williams also performed the title track "Rock N Roll Heart," which she recorded on her album with Bruce Springsteen and his wife Patti Scialfa.
Lucinda Williams' ability to infuse her music with a timeless quality was particularly evident during the acoustic segments of the show. Stripping down the arrangements to the bare essentials, she bared her soul through simple yet powerful renditions of her songs, proving that great music doesn't always need elaborate production.
Beyond the musical aspect, Williams' stage presence was magnetic. Her anecdotes and reflections between songs offered a glimpse into the inspiration behind her compositions, further immersing the audience in the stories woven into each melody. It was clear that every lyric was a piece of her heart, shared openly and honestly with those fortunate enough to be in the audience.
Williams and her band closed the show with "Joy." The boot-stomping, folk-rock banger morphs into a mantra of moving on from a situation that is proving to be too draining. It's an essential message.
Lucinda Williams is a beautiful reminder that, in the hands of a true master, music has the ability to transcend time and resonate with the human experience in profound ways. Lucinda Williams' 2024 tour was not just a concert; it was a musical pilgrimage. She challenges you to look within for answers. Just put one of her albums on and open the door to your own innermost poetry.
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