Mar 21, 2008

Musicians bonded musically, legally

By Paul Freeman / Entertainment Writer

Steve Earle and Allison Moorer have endured unimaginable pain and survived to create unparalleled music.

After suffering through drug addiction and incarceration, Earle has re-established himself as one of the truly great songwriters of his generation. His latest album, "Washington Square Serenade," won the Grammy for Best Contemporary Folk Album. "Days Aren't Long Enough," his duet with Moorer from that record, snared another nomination.

Moorer (sister of another talented singer-songwriter, Shelby Lynne) immersed herself in music at age 13, following her parents' murder-suicide. Her song "A Soft Place to Fall," from Robert Redford's "The Horse Whisperer," earned Moorer an Academy Award nomination.

But for Earle and Moorer, the biggest prizes might be each another. They married in 2005 and are currently touring together, playing the Palace of Fine Arts tonight and tomorrow night.

They would like to make a duet album together someday. Their voices entwine beautifully. "Every night, it amazes me that it works as well as it does," Earle said, "as bad as I sing and as well as she sings."

"Washington Square Serenade" reflects Earle's happy new environment. It's his most personal album. "There were a lot of big changes," Earle said. "Allison and I met, got married and moved to New York City. So I artistically sort of had that business to take care of.

"There are some songs that aren't about Allison and New York City on the record, but only a couple."

After filling several albums with brilliant original songs, Moorer has just released an album featuring the works of female songwriters she admires. Titled "Mockingbird," it includes tunes penned by such artists as Nina Simone, Joni MItchell, Patti Smith and Shelby Lynne.

You can hear Moorer's connection to each song. "I put myself in emotional places that aren't comfortable in order to get a performance that I want from a song," she said. "I love all these songs dearly. I figure if you can't get in there and get your heart and soul into it, then you don't need to be doing it."

The project provided a valuable lesson. "It's funny," she said, "you'll do all sorts of bad things to your own songs. You'll go into a studio, beat 'em up and dismantle them, things that you wouldn't necessarily do to someone else's song. So in some strange way, it's given me a new perspective and a new respect for my own work."

Earle has tremendous respect for Moorer's work. "It's a new experience for me, living with another artist. It's a new experience for me, living with a girl that has a job," Earle quipped.

Now completing a novel, Earle believes this marriage (his seventh, but first clean and sober) enhances his process.

"Art's about discipline," he said. "They call these different things we do 'disciplines' for a reason. It's because you don't punch a clock. If you don't have discipline, it doesn't get done. There's even more discipline involved when you have to share a living space and a life with another artist. That's been good for me."

Earle's keen interest in politics affects Moorer. "Honestly, I'm not a big fan of the political process," Moorer said. "I would prefer to get past all that and concentrate on how we treat each other. If we did, I really do believe all the nasty stuff would fall away. But maybe we're not that evolved yet. So as a citizen, I have to stay engaged. Living in the same house with Steve definitely makes me stay up on things."

Earle said, "I follow two sports - baseball and politics. The campaign is interesting for me in a different way from somebody who's a Democrat or a Republican. I'm essentially a Socialist in a country with no viable Socialist Party. That being said, I'll vote for whoever the Democratic nominee is. If I ever vote for a Republican, you'll know aliens have come and snatched me."

Though John Edwards was his favorite, Earle hasn't endorsed anyone this time. "I've discovered that the best thing I can do for a candidate I support is to stay as far the f--- away from them as possible," he said. "During the last election, at a political event in Nashville, I witnessed Al and Tipper Gore literally levitate trying to avoid having their picture taken with me."

Earle maintains optimism. "We're still in the same crisis I was writing about on the last two records. I think things can get better. Even if they don't for the United States as a political entity, I don't give up on the people ... ever."

His political songs resonated with fans on previous albums, but the personal ones have universal appeal. "People respond to this record because they've needed a change in their lives, changed locations and been in love before. It's our common experiences that bind us all together."

Earle and Moorer plan album releases so they can tour together. "It's not a marketing decision. It's about staying married," Earle said. "We're never away from each other. It's hard sometimes. But it beats the f--- out of the alternative. It's much harder on us to be away from each other than it is to deal with being in close quarters for long periods of time."

Moorer agreed. "There are times when we butt heads," she said. "We have to work at not being as strong-willed as we naturally would tend to be. A softer approach is always best. It's a challenge."

They appreciate the rare relationship they're building. "We get to see the world together and sing together," Moorer said. "We have a pretty amazing life. Why would we complain?"