Steve Martin and Emmylou Harris at Chateau Ste. Michelle

Emmylou Harris with Steve Martin

Steve Martin was up to his old tricks again and played to a sold out crowd at Chateau Ste. Michelle in Woodinville.  We hustled to get tickets last minute when we found our week opened up and had the time to go.  We didn’t want to pass up this one because we saw Steve in 2010 and loved him.  Also, I’d never seen Emmylou Harris.  She’s now a part of my growing musical family tree and has played with Marshall Chapman and Will Kimbrough.  Will was  in her band this night, so it was a no-brainer.

I didn’t take many notes; I just wanted to enjoy the evening.  I’m taking this month off from serious writing due to our crazy family summer schedule.

Steve Martin and The Steep Canyon Rangers

Steve’s set consisted of many songs from their 2010 album, The Crow.  He recycled a few jokes from last time, but we still laughed heartily.  In fact, a guy in front of us laughed in falsetto at every joke,  and the surrounding audience members couldn’t help but join in on the infectious laughter.  An example of this night’s quips from Steve:

“I am wearing white pants tonight. I will wear them the rest of the evening unless something goes horribly, horribly wrong.” 

“I am using an iPad on stage tonight to keep up on my Twitter posts.  Oh, look.  One is coming in now.  It says, ‘Stop talking and start playing, you diKWAD!’ DiKWAD…hmm…DiKWAD…I wonder what that means…”

“This is our last song of the evening, but not to worry, there are 17 encores.”

He also had fun belittling the band, similar to the last time we saw him.

Another wonderful show, and the music was spectacular.   The Steep Canyon Rangers have beautiful harmonies and work so well with Steve.  A very talented bunch.

Will Kimbrough (guitar) with Emmylou Harris

Before Emmylou came on, we had a chance to talk to Will Kimbrough briefly.  I hadn’t seen him since we went to Nashville last year, and Pat saw him in January with his home inspector buddies when they were in Nashville at their convention.  Will never played at the winery, and I don’t think he’s been in the Seattle area since about 2005.  He was in a rush to get to the stage, since they had such a limited time to get their gear set up.  He was gracious enough to have a little chat with us though.

Emmylou has a new album out and kicked it up with a full band, The Red Dirt Boys.  She also played covers, including a Buck Owens song; Will scorched the guitar solo on that one.  Many of her songs are slower ballads or leaned toward gospel.  Her voice is so ethereal and has a sadness in it.  She also gave a nod to Kitty Wells, The Queen of Country, who recently passed.  She felt honored to be in Kitty’s footsteps as the only girl leading an all-male band.

In the finale, Emmylou invited Steve and the Rangers onstage to have an appropriate bluegrass jam.  Her two rescued doggies also joined in on the fun.  Check out her website for her nonprofit dog rescue/foster program.

Emmylou and dogs