Vince Gill and Lyle Lovett are on a nine-city tour that includes the biggest little one in the world. The clever country stars will appear Saturday, March 25, in the Silver Legacy’s Reno Ballroom as part of their “Songs and Stories” tour.
Call it country with comedy. Obviously a great combination, the duo also toured together in 2015 and 2016.
For a night like this, there is no plan,” Gill said in a press statement. “I know Lyle won’t have a plan, and I won’t either. What he plays will inspire me, and probably vice-versa. It’ll be like playing ping-pong. Whatever song he chooses to sing will inspire the next song that comes out of me.”
“I enjoy shows that are not planned out,” Lovett added. “This will be two songwriters in the round. It’s informal, so there will be lots of ad-libbing. It will be like little snapshots of our experiences.”
On one of his early records, Lovett introduced himself. “Hello. I’m the guy who sits next to you and reads the newspaper over your shoulder. Wait. Don’t turn the page. I’m not finished. Life is so uncertain.”
A proud Texas native, Lovett, 59, has won four Grammy Awards. He’s considered a country artist, but his songs often are swing, folk, blues, jazz and even gospel. He has a penchant for long, humorous stories and concise, catchy tunes.
Off the stage, Lovett is known for numerous movie appearances and a short marriage to actress Julie Roberts.
Gill is a godfather of country music. He has collected 21 Grammys, the most won by by a male country artist. He also collects guitars, lots of them, and is an ambassador for the newly opened Songbirds Guitar Museum in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
The Norman, Oklahoma, native turns 60 next month. Last year, he released his 19th studio album, “Down To My Last Bad Habit.” But when he was inducted in the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2007, Gill was considered all good.
“Vince Gill is quite simply a living prism refracting all that is good in country music. He uses the crystal planes of his songwriting, his playing and his singing to give us a musical rainbow that embraces all men and spans all seasons,” said Kyle Young of the Country Music Foundation upon Gill’s induction.
Gill arrived on the national country music scene in 1979 as frontman for the Pure Praire League. He left that group two years later and by 1983 he began a career as a solo artist. The country star with a bluegrass background (and with some blue-eyed soul and Southern rocks roots) is a multi-instrumentalist in addition to a singer and songwriter. Along with his beloved guitars, he plays banjo, bass, mandolin, dobro and fiddle.
It’s been a busy month for Gill. He and his wife, singer Amy Grant, celebrated their 17th anniversary on March 10 and shared with fans on Facebook. That’s the same day the Songbirds Guitar Musem first opened its doors.
Perhaps that is Gill’s last bad habit, collecting guitars, or maybe it’s a good one. He’s been doing it for 40 years. But talking about the new museum puts a sparkle in his eyes and a crack in his voice.
“I’m a guitar geek, a nut for guitars …,” he told People Magazine. “But the museum’s collection is just unheard of. It’s absolutely breathtaking and mine pales in comparison.”
- Vince Gill and Lyle Lovett
When: 8 p.m. Saturday, March 25
Where: Silver Legacy’s Reno Ballroom
Tickets: $59.50 and $79.50
Purchase: Ticketmaster.com or by calling 1-888-288-1833
