When I was 18 or 19 years old, someone lent me a Jimmie Rodgers tribute CD. It was called "The Songs of Jimmie Rodgers", and it featured covers of his songs by the likes of John Mellencamp, Willie Nelson, Van Morrison or Bob Dylan (who happened to be releasing the album through his own Egyptian Records label).
It was on this CD where I first heard of the marvelous Iris DeMent, who delivered an amazing rendition of "Hobo Bill's Last Ride". Hearing that woman doing her own version of that song just blew my mind, and right off I fell in love with her vocals. Never before had I heard a voice like that, and I haven't ever since.
At a time when the internet wasn't yet what it would become in just a few years, it took me a while to find out who Iris DeMent was, but as soon as I did I started buying her records. Once again, I got caught by her unique vocals, and somehow I felt like songs such as "Our Town" or "These Hills" were speaking to me, or even 'about' me.
That was a long time ago, but Iris DeMent's voice has been with me ever since. That's why I took a flight from Barcelona to Edinburgh just to see her onstage for the first time (I hope it won't be the last). And that's why something inside me stirred so strongly when I finally heard her sing in the very same room where I was sitting.
Iris DeMent played the Queen's Hall last night. Joining her onstage were the mighty Liz Draper (double bass) and Ana Egge (guitar and mandolin), who also happened to be the opening act. They mostly performed the songs from DeMent's last album, "Workin' on a World", which came out a couple of years ago, but seems to be making even more sense right now.
It was so emotional to hear songs like "Say a Good Word" or "Warriors of Love", and acknowledge once again that music can be the most powerful healing force even in the darkest times. And so was hearing DeMent's words on the late John Prine before delivering such a sweet take on "How Lucky". When the world we live in seems to face immediate wreckage, those three women shed a light of hope by sharing their music with all of us. May God bless the three of them.
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