Lucinda Williams | Texas Review | Ralph Arvesen
Lucinda Williams performing at the ACL Live Moody Theater in Austin, Texas on August 9, 2021, with Lucinda Williams, Stuart Mathis, David Sutton, and Butch Norton. (Photo: Ralph Arvesen)

“It’s all come full circle,” says Lucinda Williams about her powerful new album, Good Souls, Better Angels. After more than forty years of music making, the pioneering, Louisiana-born artist has returned to the gritty blues foundation that first inspired her as a young singer-songwriter in the late 1970s.

After spending the last year on her sold-out “Car Wheels on a Gravel Road” 20th Anniversary tour, Williams has reunited with that game-changing 1998 album’s co-producer and engineer Ray Kennedy, recording Good Souls, Better Angels with her ace touring band at his Nashville studio. Joining them as co-producer is Williams’ manager Tom Overby, to whom she’s been married for a decade and who contributed lyrics to her masterful songcraft. “That’s what I always dreamed of – a relationship with someone I could create with,” Williams enthuses.

The result, Good Souls, Better Angels, is the most topical album of Williams’ career. The dangerous world we live in, the constant barrage of a frightening news cycle, depression, domestic abuse, a man without a soul, and, yeah, the devil, figure prominently among its twelve tracks. “The devil comes into play quite a bit on this album,” Williams says. “I’ve always loved the imagery in Robert Johnson songs and those really dark Delta blues that are sort of biblical. I was inspired by Leonard Cohen, he dealt with that in his songs, and Bob Dylan and Nick Cave.” While, Good Souls, Better Angels reflects many dark realities that surround us, the album is tied together with themes of perseverance, resilience and ultimately, hope.

As for the topicality of the material, Williams says, “Because of all this crap that’s going on, it’s on the top of everybody’s minds, it’s all anybody talks about: Basically the world’s falling apart, it’s like the apocalypse. That’s where that Old Testament stuff comes from. It’s different from my other albums in that there aren’t the story songs about my childhood and all. It feels exciting.”
She sounds so amazing! Vocals and instruments were dialed in!

Excellent show. Lucinda William is such a great act to see. She is just so cool, so emotional. And, her band is about the finest 3-piece band out there. They rock, they jam, the capture the emotions of her various songs. Third time seeing this lineup, and this was the best show (not that the others were not great shows, too). They are just so tight. A must-see, for sure. Kudos to Stuart Mathis, excellent guitarist; David Sutton, mostly on this cool acoustic/electric bass; and great drums and percussion by Butch Norton.

Lucinda was fantastic, wat a real performer, showing her true feelings in her songs, with a great band on hand. I had no idea who she was till my wife said we should see her. She was unbelievable in person.

Lucinda was great as always, love her voice and phrasing, and enjoyed her subtle political comments. Her backup band Buick 6 is phenomenal.

Lucinda just keeps getting better, a Lucinda show is always a treat. Her voice is so unique, her music is simple on the surface but with unexpected depth of feeling and passion. It is very hard to write what sounds like a simple song but is not, the kind that sticks in the head and heart. She is master of that. She has so many great songs that you know you won’t hear all your favorites at any show because there just isn’t enough time. Buick 6, the band that has backed her for years, is perfect. Each of the three musicians is at the top of their game and they have worked with her long enough that every song is seamless. Everyone loved the show.
Setlist for the show at the ACL Live Moody Theater
  • Something Wicked This Way Comes
  • Bad News Blues
  • West Memphis
  • Lake Charles
  • You Can't Rule Me
  • Essence
  • Pray the Devil Back to Hell
  • Jesus Just Left Chicago
  • Joy
  • Get Right With God

Lucinda Williams shared the stage with Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit at the ACL Live Moody Theater. They continue across the United States with the last stop at the Panther Island Pavilion in Fort Worth, Texas on August 13, 2021.

Lucinda Williams
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Photos by Ralph Arvesen
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