Q&A
Folk-rocker Shawn Mulllins at home on new album
‘Live at the Variety Playhouse’ to be released Tuesday
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Shawn Mullins’ version of home for the holidays includes the usual family and friends, plus several hundred guests thrown in for good measure.
On Tuesday, he’ll release his first live CD, “Live at the Variety Playhouse,” on Vanguard Records. What better way to celebrate than with a live show Saturday at — where else — the Variety Playhouse?
Vanguard Records
Shawn Mullins has written Atlanta-themed songs that are crowd favorites. ‘It’s my home,’ he says of the city. ‘I never really moved away.’
‘Live at the Variety Playhouse’ was recorded at this time last year. The artist has sentimental reasons for enjoying the venue.
Shawn Mullins. 8:30 p.m. Saturday at the Variety Playhouse, 1099 Euclid Ave. in Little Five Points. $20. 404-524-7354. www.variety-playhouse.com.
It’s been a year since the Atlanta singer-songwriter made the recording during a similar post-Thanksgiving show at the Variety.
Mullins had taped dozens of concerts over the years but never thought one was strong enough to release until now.
“This is one of the better shows I’ve had with my band and a great representation of what we do live,” he said in his distinctive warm, baritone drawl.
The CD captures Mullins with a solid band behind him, Atlanta blues and soul legend Francine Reed beside him and a sold-out hometown crowd cheering him on.
And the setting didn’t hurt, either.
Mullins not only considers the Variety one of the best-sounding venues in town, but admits a sentimental attachment to the site: “My parents used to go see moves there when I was a kid.”
Q: What live albums did you listen to growing up?
A: We had some great live recordings around the house, like Simon & Garfunkel. I love Bob Marley’s live stuff, and there’s a great James Taylor project that’s one of the better-sounding ones.
But the first one I had growing up was “Kiss Alive!” I know, who woulda thunk it, right? I was about 9 years old when that record came out, and musically there’s not a whole lot to brag about with Kiss. When I listen back now I think, “What did I hear in this?” But I think it was that kind of classic rock ‘n’ roll concert, masquerade thing — like seeing a monster movie on TV, but with rock ‘n’ roll in it.
Q: Can you tell which of your songs will go over well with a live audience?
A: Absolutely, and over the years you hopefully get better at realizing what those are. Obviously the songs I’ve had on the radio like “Lullaby” and “Shimmer” and “Beautiful Wreck.” But there are also some deeper cuts that people like live, where they seem to connect because there’s a story-telling element there.
Q: You’ve written some Atlanta-based songs like “Cabbagetown” and “The Ballad of Kathryn Johnston” that local audiences are bound to connect with in concert.
A: Atlanta and Georgia have really come into my music a lot over the years. It’s my home. I never really moved away, so it always pops in — just like any artist or writer who creates using the real stuff that’s around them.
Then there’s a song like “Homeless Joe” that’s not based on one particular person but is more of a conglomerate of different homeless musicians I’ve listened to and seen over the years in Atlanta.
Q: It must feel good to come full circle with this show.
A: Yeah, it’s been a few years that I’ve been doing these shows at the Variety right around Thanksgiving weekend, and I love it. A lot of my family comes into town, and the whole thing turns into a big homecoming celebration.
