Joan Osborne feels her way through fine folk feeling in double-bill with The Weepies
CAROL BANKS WEBER
Seven-time, multi-Grammy-nominated, platinum recording artist Joan Osborne makes waves with her Sept. 1, 2017 release, Songs of Bob Dylan — full of fine folk feeling. She performs in a double-bill with The Weepies, the strumming, harmonizing husband/wife team of Steve Tannen and Deb Talan, March 24 7:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. at the ECA Theater.
Both Osborne and Dylan tuck comfy folk wisdom in the back door of a lyrical tide, with voices as distinctive as a whiskey morning. And, she’s been covering the iconic ‘60s folk artist — emphasis on art — for most of her career.
She avoids the obvious (“Blowin’ In The Wind,” “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right,” “Mr. Tambourine Man,” “Gotta Serve Somebody”), feeling her way through different, luminous, historic terrain nonetheless.
I try not to do a straight-up imitation of what someone else has done… Like if you’re going to sing an Otis Redding song, you’re never going to out-Otis him so you shouldn’t even try.
I try not to do a straight-up imitation of what someone else has done, Osborne says on her website bio. Like if you’re going to sing an Otis Redding song, you’re never going to out-Otis him so you shouldn’t even try. So I always try to find some unique way into the song, and also to pick songs where the intersection between the song and my voice hits some kind of sweet spot. It was a joy being able to sing these brilliant lyrics. It’s like an actor being given a great part. You are just so excited to say these lines because they’re so powerful that it lifts you up above yourself.
The Weepies is a top Spotify-streaming, singing/songwriting duo staying true to their indie roots, with seven records to their name, a smattering of personally resonant downloadables that’s been speaking to a growing movement of meta-philes (“World Spins Madly On,” “Sunflower”), and over 100 media placements for TV/movie programming, including PBS Kids.
We will each be doing our own act, one after the other. However, you never know if collaboration may happen…! – Steve Tannen adds.
Joan Osborne and The Weepies share several concert dates through 2020.
