Sublime Singer-Songwriters
Diamond in the Rough, Musical Meals, Shawn Colvin, Yordan Álvarez, Obvious Observation
Welcome to my weekly newsletter. This week’s issue features my five favorite female singer-songwriters, a memoir from this week’s marvelous musician, four spots to dine at when attending Ann Arbor concerts, the singer who made me aware of the Cayamo music cruise, the Astros’ Álvarez, and one of Yogi Berra’s famous sayings. I hope you like the picks and pics.
Fave Five 54: Sublime Singer-Songwriters. Shawn’s Story (Diamond in the Rough), Musical Meals (Pokē Pokē, Krazy Jim's Blimpy Burger, Shalimar, Amer’s Deli), South Dakota Singer (Shawn Colvin), Houston’s Hottest Hitter (Yordan Álvarez), and an Obvious Observation.
Fave Five Lists: Favorite Female Singer-Songwriters
I have previously profiled three of these five, and Shawn Colvin is in this edition. I will feature Kim Richey in a future issue.
Book Best Bet
Diamond in the Rough by Shawn Colvin
On the Cayamo cruise in 2009, Shawn humorously admitted from the stage that she had probably brought the wrong book to read on a boat — The Perfect Storm: A True Story of Men Against the Sea by Sebastian Junger. The next day I was walking along the ship’s balcony when I spotted an open copy of that book on a chaise longue. I waited for its owner to return and sure enough, it was Shawn.
I have read and enjoyed both The Perfect Storm and Shawn’s autobiography. I highly recommend Diamond in the Rough.
From Amazon: After learning to play guitar at the age of ten, Shawn Colvin was determined to make a life in music—a decision that would send a small-town girl out on the open road for good. In 1997, two decades after she started, she got her big break. Like the troubled would-be arsonist and survivor of her smash hit "Sunny Came Home," Colvin knows a thing or two about heartache—and setting fires. Diamond in the Rough recounts this passionate musician's coming-of-age, from the prairies of South Dakota to the dark smoky bars in Austin, Texas, to the world stage at the Grammys.
Humorous and deeply honest, Colvin relates the experiences behind her best-loved songs in vivid color in this memoir. Diamond in the Rough captures her years of touring cross-country in bands and vans full of guys; falling in and out of love; meeting heroes like Joni Mitchell; searching for her musical identity; and making friendships that would last a lifetime. It is also an unflinching account of Colvin's struggles—weathering addiction and depression, learning to care for not only herself but also a child—and, always, channeling those experiences into song.
With the wit, lyricism, and empathy that have characterized Colvin's performances and inspired audiences worldwide, Diamond in the Rough looks back over a rich lifetime of highs and lows with stunning insight and candor. In its pages, we witness the inspiring story of a woman honing her artistry, finding her voice, and making herself whole.
Restaurant Recommendations
Musical Meals
I frequently drive the 20 minutes from my home in Northville to Ann Arbor to attend concerts, sometimes preceded or followed by a meal. Here are good places where I have dined before or after four recent concerts.
Pokē Pokē- 312 S State St. Ann Arbor MI 48104
(Before Rosanne Cash at The Michigan Theater)
Volcano Bowl: Spicy Salmon, Spicy Tuna, Green Onion, Cabbage, Cucumber, Carrot, Jalapeno, Ginger, House Sauce mixed with light sriracha, Furikake
Krazy Jim's Blimpy Burger 304 S. Ashley St, Ann Arbor MI 48104
(After The Accidentals at Sonic Lunch)
Chili Size Combination: Triple cheese smothered with chili and topped with tomato, banana peppers, and onions. Includes a side of fries, a fork and a napkin.
Shalimar 307 S. Main, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
(Before Joshua Radin at The Ark)
Onion Kulcha: Leavened bread stuffed with chopped onions and fresh herbs
Mix Grill: Daal soup, tandoori chicken, lamb seekh kebab, tandoori shrimp, chicken angaar and chicken malai tikka. Served with rice, naan, and mint sauce
Amer’s Deli 314 S. State St., Ann Arbor, MI 48104
(Before Mary Chapin Carpenter and Shawn Colvin and at The Michigan Theater)
#36 New York Club: Hot Corned Beef, Roast Beef, Swiss Cheese, Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato, Russian Dressing on Toasted Pumpernickel
Marvelous Musician
My friend John Bommarito invited me to join him to see Mary Chapin Carpenter and Shawn Colvin at The Michigan Theater last night. He had also done so ten years ago when they appeared together at Power Center.
I bought Steady On in 1989 and then went looking for her Live '88 cassette, which I found at Elderly Instruments in Lansing. I went to see Shawn at the previous location of The Ark around that time and was disappointed when the show was cancelled due to illness. I later saw her twice at the current location of The Ark. I saw her with Mary Chapin Carpenter on May 21, 2013 at Power Center for the Performing Arts in Ann Arbor and on October 19, 2019 and October 10, 2023 at The Michigan Theater.
I learned about the original Cayamo in 2008 from being on Shawn's mailing list, and I was ready to go on that cruise based on her presence alone. When I then found out that Patty Griffin, Emmylou Harris, John Hiatt, and Lyle Lovett would also be on board, I booked immediately. I saw her on Cayamo 2008, 2009, 2013, 2015, and 2016. And also in 2010 when she was an occasional guest performer as an unbilled stowaway. I will never forget the moment when Shawn, Patty Griffin, and Emmylou Harris ran onstage to join Buddy Miller on the first Cayamo.
In 2008, Cayamo offered special shows featuring the headliners in more intimate settings than the main auditorium. I chose to attend Patty Griffin’s, and my friend Robin Mueller suggested that we also try to attend additional sessions. One of these was with Brandi Carile, whom I discovered that year and who would go on to achieve great success. The lounge was full and Robin went to stand at the rear, but I tried to find a good seat up close. I spotted an empty seat at a round table, and asked if I could sit there. I was told that it was okay until another member of their party arrived. I ended up chatting with two older people seated there, and I asked where they were from. They said they currently lived in Austin, but they were originally from South Dakota. After considering this for a moment, I asked them if they were Shawn’s parents, and they confirmed that they were. I then enjoyed Brandi’s special show in the presence of Shawn’s parents.
In 2009, Barb and I were joined on Cayamo by our friends Barbara and David Osher. On the first night, David expressed his wish to see Shawn’s 11 pm show, but we didn’t have tickets. As I wandered the ship, I passed the photo gallery where pictures taken as we boarded the ship were displayed in glass cases. I happened to notice something stuck inside the door of one of them, and I opened it to take a look. It was a windfall — four tickets to the 11 pm show, in Row C. When I showed them to David, he was very happy, and the four of us enjoyed the show from the third row.
At a later show on that second Cayamo, Shawn announced from the stage that people were asking her why she was such a “doggie downer”—she meant to say “Debbie Downer.” She said that she would try harder to be positive. But in the next breath she asked, “But has anybody had a good meal on this ship?”
From her site: Born in Vermilion, South Dakota and raised in part in Illinois and Ontario, Shawn Colvin was already a well-traveled and seasoned performer by the time she won her first Grammy for Best Contemporary Folk Album with her debut Steady On in 1989. In the decades since, Colvin has released a string of superlative albums and established an enduring reputation as one of America’s great live performers. Her lasting appeal is due in part to her willingness to lay herself bare couple with a dry wit; intrigued parties would do well to investigate Colvin’s superb memoir Diamond In The Rough.
“I learned to play guitar when I was ten,” Shawn explains. “I learned fast and could copy anybody. My favorite artists were songwriters: James Taylor, Carole King, and Paul Simon among them. I was so in awe of the fact that these were actually songs that someone had written. I was terrified, like, how could I ever live up to that? I had writer’s block before I was a writer.”
In time, Colvin refashioned that block into a notable self-penned body of work. Colvin compositions include Billboard chart lodgers “Round of Blues” and “I Don’t Know Why” (both from 1992’s Fat City), “Whole New You” (2001) and “Nothin’ On Me” (1997) as well as 1997’s pop hit “Sunny Came Home” (co-written with John Leventhal), which earned her two of Grammy’s biggest awards, Record Of The Year and Song of the Year.
“I met John Leventhal when I first moved to New York around 1980,” Shawn explains. “He invited me into the process of writing. I began to write lyrics and they were terrible. But I had this epiphany that I was a solo artist with stuff to say. Maybe it’s all been said before, but at least it’ll be me saying it. And I realized I could write my own songs.
Had the pleasure of warbling with the sweet and divine Emmylou Harris at a house concert in Nashville. — Shawn Colvin
From Wikipedia: Shawn Colvin (born Shawna Lee Colvin, January 10, 1956 in Vermillion, South Dakota) is an American singer-songwriter and musician. She spent her youth in Carbondale, Illinois and London, Ontario, Canada. Colvin relocated to New York City, joining the Buddy Miller Band in 1980 and later became involved in the Fast Folk cooperative of Greenwich Village. While participating in off-Broadway shows such as Pump Boys and Dinettes she was featured in Fast Folk magazine, and in 1987, producer Steve Addabbo hired her to sing backup vocals on the song "Luka" by Suzanne Vega.
Grammys
1991 Steady On - Best Contemporary Folk Album - Won
1994 "I Don't Know Why" - Best Female Pop Vocal Performance - Nominated
1994 Fat City - Best Contemporary Folk Album - Nominated
1995 Cover Girl - Best Contemporary Folk Album - Nominated
1997 A Few Small Repairs - Best Pop Vocal Album - Nominated
1997 "Get Out of This House" - Best Female Pop Vocal Performance - Nominated
1998 "Sunny Came Home" - Best Female Pop Vocal Performance - Nominated
1998 "Sunny Came Home" - Record of the Year - Won
1998 "Sunny Came Home" - Song of the Year - Won
2009 Shawn Colvin Live - Best Contemporary Folk Album - Nominated
Sunny Came Home
Round Of Blues
One Cool Remove (with Mary Chapin Carpenter)
Shotgun Down The Avalanche (with Alison Krauss)
You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go
My Playlist
Sports Star
Houston beat Minnesota, 3 games to 1, in the American League Division Series, advancing to the American League Championship Series for the seventh consecutive time. The star of the series was this Astros slugger.
Yordan Alvarez slugging at historic clip in 2023 ALDS
Alvarez went 3-for-5 with two doubles and his fourth home run of the American League Division Series, driving in a pair of runs in the Astros’ 9-1 Game 3 win over Minnesota on Tuesday night -- a performance that bolstered his postseason legend. In the three ALDS games, Alvarez is hitting .500 (6-for-12) with four homers, six RBIs and 20 total bases.
From Wikipedia: Yordan Ruben Álvarez (born June 27, 1997 in Las Tunas, Cuba) is a Cuban professional baseball designated hitter and left fielder for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2019 for the Astros. Nicknamed "Air Yordan", Álvarez stands 6 ft 5 in, weighs 225 pounds, bats left-handed and throws right-handed.
Prior to his American career, Álvarez played two seasons in the Cuban National Series for Las Tunas. He defected from Cuba in 2016 to establish residency in Haiti, where he first signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers as an international free agent. Houston acquired him via trade from the Dodgers in 2016 before he made his professional debut. In 2019, he was unanimously named American League (AL) Rookie of the Year after posting the highest slugging percentage (.655) by a qualified rookie in history.
After missing all but two games of the abbreviated 2020 season due to injury, Álvarez became known for his slugging numbers and for being a clutch hitter. He won the 2021 ALCS MVP award, and in 2022, he hit the first walk-off home run in postseason history hit by a team down by multiple runs. He also hit a go-ahead home run in the 2022 World Series to secure his first championship.
Picture Pun
“You can observe a lot just by watching.” — Yogi Berra
Her cover of Someday by Steve Earle is just so sublime.
It always make me think that there are two perfect versions of every great song.