Muscle Shoals Meets the 70s rewind

Part 20: I’ll try to love again

Just when we thought it was safe to go back into the water, Angela Hacker's final performance of the Muscle Shoals Meets the 70s two-night stand absolutely devoured us. Oh, there's something in the water, y’all, that's for sure, and it's more dangerous than any ole shark. Yeah. It's this little thing called "three chords and the truth" at the hands of a master. Angela is one dangerous siren, friends, and I will never get enough of her song.

Surprise, surprise … I’m finding it a little difficult to find the best words to describe Angela’s rendition of the timeless treasure, “First Cut is the Deepest.” Just like Angela, "First Cut is the Deepest" is rooted in the Shoals. You knew that, right? This beautiful, heart-wrenching song, penned in the late 1960s by Cat Stevens, has served many an artist well. And, Rod Stewart's 1976 cover was actually recorded in the Shoals. (Hello, Jackson Highway!) That's so very cool, right?

Of course, I love Rod — always have, aways will — but Sheryl Crow’s early 2000s version is the one most ingrained in my psyche. At first, I think having those two iconic versions of this song already living rent-free in my brain for a good chunk of my life now had me struggling to neatly place Angela’s rendition into one of those two boxes. Therein lies the problem … Angela’s MSM the 70s version stands alone. Her gift to us that night included elements of Rod’s version — hello, grit and growl — but Angela’s vocal prowess more than matched that of Sheryl. The rest, though, the spirit and vulnerability of the performance, well, that was all Angela. Amen.

There was something extra extra special about Angela that Saturday night in Florence’s historic Shoals Theatre, y’all. Yes, her voice is always on point and she’s always absolutely magnetic behind a microphone and on stage but that night, she was also home. I felt it … you felt it, too, right? I just love her aura.

One of my favorite “banter” moments of the entire MSM the 70s two-night stand came from Angela while she was trying to plug in her guitar before this performance. It was a little awkward as we all looked on in anticipation. Do you remember? Then Angela said, “It’s my first gig, y’all.” I was absolutely beside myself with fangirl admiration. Now that’s a world-class superstar who’s home with her people.

Honestly, I didn't think it was possible for Angela to top her three earlier MSM the 70s performances but she did, y'all. Thinking about it now, this third to last song of night two of Muscle Shoals Meets the 70s ranks pretty high on my overall list of show favorites.

This was a super impressive tight, rich, emotionally-charged performance. Those world-famous Fiddleworms left it all on the stage, friends. Kirk Russell on mandolin projected such an encouraging spirit that added so much depth and heart to this to performance. Oh, and, the Shoals Strings layered on an especially elevated element to the performance, too. Shoals Sisters, Marie Lewey and Cindy Walker, were perfectly in sync with Angela and their combined voice was pure perfection. Mitch Mann's guitar solo hit just right, too.

This performance was so very high caliber – like recording-level perfection — but with all the authentic live energy. No one was trying too hard, though – they were all in the same pocket. It felt so natural. This one had all the heart and all the feels and all the grit and all the class. So so so good, y’all.

Yes, Angela cut us deep and tore us apart many times during Muscle Shoals Meets the 70s. Yeah, she did. But, ultimately, the strength and generosity of her talent left me with the courage to love again. Metaphorically speaking, though, my three chords and the truth wounds may never heal enough to go back into the water, friends.

Stay tuned … more to come.

Dig Worms!

Photo credit: Devona Hawkins