Saturday Afternoon Country: Justin Townes Earle

Yes, that would be Steve Earle’s boy and yes he’s named after the great Townes van Zandt. One of the things I like about country music is it that, in the end, it’s all one big family. Granted, a family that sings about heartbreak and loss and the endless miseries of life quite a lot, but a family nonetheless. So it’s good to see Steve’s son following the family tradition.

And the kid can play and sing and write. He’s good, in a reflective, acoustic fashion that differentiates him from some of his old man’s more rock-influenced stuff. There’s a certain mischief too. Consider this song, Mama’s Eyes, from his sophomore album Midnight at the Movies that was released earlier this year. This is one for Norm’s Momma’n’Daddy collection for sure.