Justin Townes Earle Carries On a Family Tradition

By Chuck Sudo in Arts & Entertainment on Feb 4, 2011 7:40PM

It's been written here previously: Justin Townes Earle has some mighty large footsteps to follow as a musician. The son of hardcore troubadour Steve Earle (one of the best songwriters of the past 40 years) and named after his father's best friend and hero Townes Van Zandt, Earle's musical education rivals anything you can get at the Old Town School of Folk Music.

Earle inherited the mercurial behavior and vices of both his father and namesake. But he also inherited more musical talent than most know what to do with, which he put to amazing effect with his latest album, Harlem River Blues. A collection of original story-songs brimming with life, Harlem River Blues was one of our favorite albums of 2010 and proof that the younger Earle has found his own road separate from his father.

We missed our chance to catch Earle in concert when he blew through town last September. From what we heard, Earle's solo show was a pitch-perfect match for the pristine acoustics of Lincoln Hall. Next Thursday's show at Metro won't have the acoustics of Lincoln Hall, but the venue does handle acoustic shows better than it should.

Justin Townes Earle, with Jessica Lea Mayfield and Tom Schraeder, plays an 18 and over show Feb. 10 at Metro (3730 N. Clark St.). Doors open at 8 p.m., show starts at 9 p.m. Tickets ($15) are available for purchase by clicking here.