McMurtry has sounded great live the three times I've seen him. Don't go
expecting to hear stories about the songs or anything like that. McMurtry
lets the character and personality of his songs speak for themselves for the
most part. Occasionally he'll show a bit of his sardonic sense of humor
such as he did during a recent Baltimore gig when the tempo of one song
wasn't to his liking and he stopped the band ("That was swingin' like a dead
monkey.") I enjoy most of the guy's music so for me it's a good show even
without the onstage banter (very much a lost art here in the 90s). Song
selection-wise, a few too many of the duller songs from "It Had to Happen"
and not enough stuff from early gems like "Candyland" but enjoyable
nonetheless.
--Slonedog
