Steve Earle with Laura Cantrell at The Danforth Music Hall

Steve Earle held court at the Danforth Music Hall Tuesday night. The veteran singer-songwriter’s 5051 Years of Songs & Stories tour arrived in Toronto with no elaborate staging, a sparse light show, no backing band, just the man, the guitars, the harmonica, and five decades of gritty, pretty melodies he’s known for.

The show format was solo acoustic. Between songs he talked about the songs, his life and the current state of world affairs. He touched on subjects related to growing up in Texas, his years of addiction and recovery, the music industry as well as the trials and tribulations of being involved in said industry.

The songs choices went through his extensive history of recording. Covering a large swath of his discography. Classics like Guitar Town, Someday and of course, the fan favourite, Copperhead Road. Earle mentioned that he started this tour with a small series of shows last year. Stating that he realized he didn’t have enough songs for the ladies so he added a few to the setlist. Before Sparkle & Shine he noted that when asked by a woman “which songs are for me?”, he didn’t have the heart to tell them all the songs are about him.

Transitioning from Sparkle & Shine he mused about the convenience of 24 hour neighbourhood grocers. Being able to buy flowers any time of day was invaluable since whether he was single or married, he has been known to f*ck up. This segued into the fact that a lot of these stores are owned by immigrants and that they are hard working, indispensable members of our collective communities.

Earle switched to his 12-string guitar for a selection of songs which included the mesmerizing Transcendental Blues. A hypnotic blues song infused with Indian sitar-like sounds which had my mind leaving my body in a moment of meditated joy. Maybe Steve’s mind left his body for a moment too because during Angel Is The Devil it looked like he paused on a verse. He said he didn’t forget the words, he just likes to do that (pause).

The topic of immigration was a thread through the entire evening. The fact he spoke a lot about this was refreshing and hopeful. Relating another story of his life to the crowd, he talked about an experience working construction with a group of Mexicans. “Mexican’s work their asses off!” he exclaimed. Not to mention their carne asada lunch was more appealing than his bologna sandwich. The new single he is putting out, City Of Immigrants, is a collaboration with his Mexican/American friends Los Lobos. Earle led a singalong on this new single as the closer.

That moment was the emotional peak of the night. Sending the crowd home full of love and a message of cultural unity. The Danforth itself proved an ideal room for this kind of show. Its size and good acoustics ensured that even Earle’s quietest passages reached the furthest points of the venue.

Fifty-one years in, Steve Earle remains one of the finest live performers of American roots music and Tuesday night, Toronto got to feel that firsthand.

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Be sure to check out Live Nation Ontario to see all of the other great acts that they will be bringing to Toronto this year.