James McMurtry to perform at Bluebird

Anyone who hasn’t experienced the talent of James McMurtry’s style of Texas rock will have a chance Tuesday night at The Bluebird.

The singer-songwriter from Fort Worth, Texas, is the son of novelist Larry McMurtry, who won the Pulitzer Prize for his western novel “Lonesome Dove.” Larry McMurtry gave his son his first guitar at age 7. His mother, an English professor, taught McMurtry how to play.

McMurtry got his first big break in the late ’80s. John Mellencamp was starring in a film based on a script by McMurtry’s father, giving him the opportunity to get a demo tape to him. Mellencamp subsequently served as co-producer on James McMurtry’s 1989 debut album, “Too Long in the Wasteland.”

His biggest claim to fame is the song “We Can’t Make It Here,” according to his Web site. The working-class anthem was released in 2005 on his album “Childish Things” and serves as a long diatribe that lashes out at everything from the Bush administration and corporations to getting by on a low income.

“Minimum wage won’t pay for a roof, won’t pay for a drink, if you gotta have proof / just try it yourself, Mr. CEO / see how far $5.15 an hour will go / Take a part time job at one of your stores, I bet you can’t make it here anymore,” he says in the song.
Graduate student Nick Hillman first heard McMurtry’s protest hit a few years ago. It was his first introduction to the Texan.

“It really stuck in my head,” Hillman said. “Not because of the catchy melody, but because of the thoughtful lyrics.”

He also said the song’s sharp social and political commentary is telling of the direction the country has headed in the past eight years. Between his musical and lyrical prowess, Hillman said he thinks McMurtry is a rare breed.

“We need more folks like him out there mixing good music with thoughtful political messages,” he said. “His music is entreating, but it also serves a great purpose. His lyrics have meaning to the socially conscious listener.”

Durham, N.C., native Noah Skube is a former IU student who first heard McMurtry while in high school. He quickly took a liking to the Texan’s style.

“It appealed to me because it had a nice mid-tempo American rock sound, with a somewhat southern sound and some grittiness to it,” Skube said. “Once I got home from the show, I downloaded some of his stuff and got more into it.”

The 21-year-old regrets he cannot see McMurtry perform at The Bluebird, but he recommends that anyone wanting to experience a great songwriter should see him play.

“His songs are tuneful enough to hook you in, but once he does that, his tremendous flair for writing really gives the songs some staying power,” Skube said. “Another thing that makes him a great writer is how perceptive of an observer he is. He just picks on little things and can turn them into really great lines.”