Many great songwriters—Dylan, Cohen, Mitchell, Prine—secure their places in history through an oeuvre, but the rare few do it with a song or two. Iris DeMent is one, with a pair of compositions—1993’s much-covered agnostic hymn “Let the Mystery Be” and 1994’s miraculous song-about-songwriting “Sweet Is the Melody”—so pure and good (conceptually, lyrically, vocally) that they’ll be revered for as long as white folks take up acoustic guitars. In 2003, DeMent made headlines by swearing off performing while the US waged war in Iraq. Tonight, she returns to the Seattle stage, with opener Rachel Harrington. (The Triple Door, 216 Union St, www.thetripledoor.net, 7:30 pm, $35 adv/$38 DOS, all ages)
David Schmader—former weed columnist and Stranger associate editor—is the author of the solo plays Straight and Letter to Axl, which he’s performed in Seattle and across the US. His latest... More by David Schmader
I saw Iris in Oregon a few nights ago, in a converted church, possibly the perfect venue for her. She is completely unique,not another like her on the planet. Go, go, go to see her.
Aww! Iris Dement reminds me of my mother circa 2002. It was one of few musicians we could agree on, even when I was 18. Dare we say she’s universally appealing?
@ we dare say not universally.
Unfortunately for Iris, she’s broken her promise. There is still a war being waged, albeit a private one.
Iris’ other great great song – Our Town. Full song played with no dialogue over last scene in Northern Exposure. Beautiful and understated – like Iris. And damn if these lyrics don’t resonate with Miyagi Prefecture towns now too. Universal and sad.