Sweet Iris

May 1, 2003

“I’m gonna let my feet go dancing to my very favourite songs/’cause I know the time for leaving is bound to come before too long/and there ain’t no way of me knowing how tomorrow’s gonna be/so I’ll just dance the shores of Jordan ‘til the angels carry me” – from The Shores of Jordan, by Iris Dement

Inside the Cat’s Cradle tonight, Erin and I hugging the back wall, Iris DeMent soothed us with her plaintive and melancholy singing voice. In the lulling, I found myself cherishing simple performances in nondescript concert halls. I once saw Jimmy Dale Gilmore at the Beachland Ballroom and heard him waltz through his country tunes, sittin’ up there on stage in his boots and jeans. That’s how I like to hear live music.

Anton Zuiker ☄