Country star Janie Fricke performed at Nashville's legendary Station Inn on Thursday night as part of the monthly Station Inn Sessions with Mike Terry.
Fricke appeared in support of a new album titled Country Side of Bluegrass in which she re-interprets her past country hits like "Down to My Last Broken Heart," "Tell Me a Lie," "She's Single Again" and "You Don't Know Love" in bluegrass arrangements. Fricke has been touring with The Roys, whose band backed her up on Thursday night accompanied by Elaine Roy. Lee Roy was out of town, replaced for the occasion by the very capable Josh Williams.
Fricke's voice is perhaps a bit thinner in the uppermost part of her range than it was during her eighties chart run, but she delivered her songs flawlessly in tune, with a mixture of energy and stage presence that is the hallmark of a true seasoned veteran. Standouts included "Down to My Last Broken Heart," a gorgeous cover of "The Rose" that isn't on the new album but should be, Fricke's self-penned "Goodbye Broken Heart," and "He's a Heartache."
Elaine Roy revealed a different side to her voice, providing some haunting Emmylou Harris-esque backing vocals, while Fricke herself displayed a previously hidden talent for clogging during an instrumental led by Josh Williams. Roy also took the lead for The Roys' current single, "Trailblazer," and Fricke earned a big laugh with a comical recap of some of her better-known commercial jingles, ending with the familiar refrain, "Red Lobster for the seafood lover in you."
Fricke will be on tour both with and without The Roys throughout most of the rest of the year. Country Side of Bluegrass is available at her official website, at Ernest Tubb Record Shops and at her live shows.
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