Austin City Limits Season 27 Episode 13 Natalie Merchant / Eric Taylor
- January 26, 2002
Natalie Merchant and Eric Taylor take the Austin City Limits stage in season 27, episode 13. Known for her soulful voice and poetic lyrics, Natalie Merchant brings her solo work to the iconic music series. Merchant rose to fame as the lead singer of the alternative rock band 10,000 Maniacs before embarking on her solo career in the mid-1990s. Her musical style covers a range of genres from rock and pop to folk and world music influences.
Merchant starts off her set with "Wonder," a track off her debut solo album "Tigerlily." This song sets the tone for Merchant's melancholic yet powerful performance. She follows up with "Saint Judas" and "Carnival," both from the same album. The latter song shows off Merchant's signature storytelling abilities, as she takes listeners through a carnival and all its different characters. The crowd sways along as Merchant's voice carries over the Austin night.
Merchant then moves on to "Life Is Sweet," a track off her follow-up album "Ophelia." This song brings an upbeat energy to the set, with a catchy chorus and driving rhythm. Merchant also performs "Kind and Generous" and "Break Your Heart," two of her most well-known songs. The former features a fun call-and-response section with the audience, and the latter showcases Merchant's ability to infuse emotion into her music.
Next up to the stage is Eric Taylor, a Texas singer-songwriter with a loyal following. Taylor's songs often tell stories of love and loss, as well as the beauty and pain of life in the Lone Star State. Taylor's songwriting style is reminiscent of Bob Dylan and Townes Van Zandt, and he has been praised by many in the folk music community. He starts off his set with "The Fathers Are the Sons," a haunting song about the cycle of life and death.
Taylor then moves into "Happy Endings," a track off his album "Resurrect." This song features Taylor's signature fingerpicking style and poetic lyrics. He follows up with "All So Much Like Me" and "Deadwood, South Dakota," both of which showcase Taylor's storytelling abilities. The latter song tells the story of a young man who died in a bar fight, with Taylor painting a vivid picture of the Wild West.
Taylor then performs "Dean Moriarty" and "Reno," both fan favorites. The former is a tribute to the character from Jack Kerouac's "On the Road," while the latter tells the story of a man searching for a lost love. Taylor's final song of the set is "Shameless Love," a beautiful ballad about a love that cannot be broken.
Merchant and Taylor then collaborate on a cover of "Four Strong Winds," a classic folk song written by Ian Tyson. The two singers' voices blend together beautifully, as they sing about love and the passage of time. The crowd sways along, entranced by the power of the two performers.
Overall, this episode of Austin City Limits showcases two talented singer-songwriters from different backgrounds. Natalie Merchant's soulful voice and poetic lyrics are perfectly complemented by Eric Taylor's storytelling abilities and fingerpicking style. The two artists come together to create a memorable night of music that will surely leave a lasting impression on the audience.
