HIGH FREQUENCIES: MacDougal Blues

Kevn Kinney, Lenny Kaye, and Peter Buck were offered warm welcomes for two sold-out shows at Eddie’s Attic Wednesday, Feb. 26. Lead singer/songwriter for the enduring Drivin N Cryin, it’s Kinney’s solo shows, such as the ones his been performing at this Decatur nightspot, when Kinney’s lyrical genius shines the best.

Onstage at Eddie’s, with Kaye to his right and Buck to his left, Kinney added stream of conscious observations to his already piercing lyrics, commenting on issues facing everyone in the audience with insightfulness and wit in the face of adversity, offering attentiveness to the challenges facing our society and culture.

Kaye shared the spotlight with Kinney, offering readings from two of the books he’s penned — Waylon, the autobiography of Waylon Jennings, and Lightning Striking, his descriptive tome on ten major moments in popular music during the 20th century — and telling recollections of his personal life, punctuating them with songs reflective of the various eras he discussed.

Meanwhile Buck, leaving the loquaciousness to the other two, was content providing structure and foundation to the songs — which included covers of The Stooges’ “I Wanna Be Your Dog” and the Patti Smith Group’s “Ghost Dance” — switching from bass to acoustic guitar and back throughout the evening.

Watching Kinney perform in his nasally, somewhat plaintive voice with the two guitarists flanking him on each side, offering support and assistance, was reminiscent of another performance from decades ago, that of Bob Dylan playing Live Aid with Keith Richards and Ron Wood at his sides. —CL—