Justin Townes Earl Performs This Sunday Night at The Cactus Cafe
You look at the name: Justin Townes Earl. You might do a double take, depending on your musical tastes. Perhaps you think, “Wait a minute. Is he named after…but then also…?”
He is, indeed, the son of singer-songwriter Steve Earl, and his middle name comes from his dad’s musical hero, Townes Van Zandt. So honestly, that doubles the coolness factor.
But let us not forget the music that makes the man stand out. Justin Townes Earl has a sort of rock edge to his style of American roots music, and it works perfectly. It may be due to the inspiration of his own musical heroes, like Kurt Cobain, The Replacements, Ray Charles, The Pogues, and of course, Townes Van Zandt. But Earl isn’t trying to imitate his favorite artists.
“Anyone who tries to live up to Van Zandt is a fool,” he says. “I’m honored to carry the name, but if I spent my life trying to live up to it, I’d have a pretty miserable life.”
Living in Nashville also taught the younger Earl some harsh life lessons. After being fired from his previous bands on account of some unhealthy habits interfering with his playing, he straightened himself out and really began focusing on his songwriting. He’s now made a name for himself quite successfully.
Earl’s got a gig this Sunday evening at The Cactus Cafe, 2247 Guadalupe, in the Texas Union Building on the UT campus. Opening the show is Samantha Crain & The Midnight Shivers. Everything gets started at 7:30 p.m.
