Rhett Miller at the Iron Horse

While watching Rhett Miller play a solo-acoustic show Tuesday at the Iron Horse in Northampton, it occurred to me that the Old 97's frontman is one of the few lead singers I'm interested in seeing perform on his own. The others that came to mind right away were Jeff Tweedy of Wilco and Jay Farrar of Son Volt. (Springsteen doesn't count -- he's outstanding by himself, but he's sort of the focal point of his band anyway.)

There are other lead singers who are popular solo draws: Aaron Lewis of Staind sells out the Cabaret Theatre at Mohegan Sun every time he's booked there and Bret Michaels of Poison does well enough at the Webster Theatre to play there at least once a year.

But who else is there? (I'm not saying there's no one, I'm just asking.)

Miller's performance Tuesday was better than the one he gave at the Iron Horse last October. He was just as lively on stage, bopping around like his whole band was there. But he played a better mix of his own songs and Old 97's stuff, and threw in a pair of covers: Olivia Newton John's "Please Mister Please" and, um, the Chili's Baby Back Ribs song, which the Old 97's recorded for the restaurant chain.

"Please don't go home and write on your blog that I'm a sellout!" Miller joked to the audience. There will be no such charge here. I just hope the band received enough money to fund another Old 97's record.

Comments

[Mark]

Jim James of My Morning Jacket would be interesting.

Eric replies: Ooh, yeah. Good one.

[francesca]

I can't think of anyone else I have any interest in seeing solo - wait do Ray Davies and Lou Barlow count since their bands don't actually exist anymore?
Last night's show was fantastic. I love everything Old 97s (I even saw the Breakup because they were in it) and am getting used to solo Rhett Miller.

[ChrisB.]

My hands-down favorite is Mark Eitzel (on most nights anyway). With Eitzel you get everything from gut-wrenching songs to absurd comedic banter.