The 2024 Americana Music Awards Show
By MCAU Correspondent Wil Comstock
Tonight, the AMA broke the record for the longest award show in history! It’s not easy for an old man, with no butt, to sit on a hard seat for close to four hours! But there were rewards.
I’ll focus on a few of the performances that stood out for me.
The retro country Kaitlin Butts did a superb job on her tongue-in-cheek “You Ain’t Gotta Die (To Be Dead To Me).” Ernest Tubb would have loved it! I know I did.
Susan Tedeschi’s tender induction speech for the Blind Boys of Alabama’s Lifetime Achievement Award just about moved me to tears. Their performance of “Work Until My Days Are Done” brought proud nods and smiles to the audience, then laughter as the lead singer started dancing all over the stage and his guardian chased after him trying to bring him back to center stage.
I had never heard of Jobi Riccio before this evening. Her nostalgic and heartfelt “For Me It’s You” left me wanting to discover more of her music. I’d encourage you to do the same.
A posthumous Legacy of Americana Music Award was given to the Reverend Gary Davis for his contribution to gospel music. Fantastic Negrito did an energetic rendition of Reverend Gary’s “Samson and Delilah” that won’t soon be forgotten.
Emerging Act of The Year, The War and Treaty, brought the house down with the temperature-rising “That’s How Love Is Made.” It doesn’t get any better than this!
My personal favorite was Brandy Clark accompanied by Sista Strings on the tender “Take Mine.” So, so good.
After accepting his Lifetime Achievement Award, it looked like Dwight Yoakum was going to leave the stage. Buddy Miller asked him if he wanted to do a song. He turned around, picked up a guitar, and eased into “Fast As You.” The house band rocked as they traded smiles backing him. Jim Lauderdale appeared from nowhere and sang backup vocals. Certainly, a highlight of the evening.
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