From the first note and phrase, Texas-based, Americana singer-songwriter James McMurtry captivates ears with his gravelly, baritone voice, soulfully rendered to deliver his precisely crafted lyrics in a semi-conversational, narrative way. McMurtry , who plays Variety Playhouse on Wednesday, is a singing storyteller. His words are writerly.
In the same way a good novel triggers the imagination to manifest worlds and characters in the mind’s eye, McMurtry’s songs are evocative, bringing to life people (with their idiosyncrasies and personalities), places (with observed specificity) and scenery (often snapshots taken from the great open road where the musician feels most at home and spends much of his time on tour).
