What does normalcy look like in Nashville? Live shows at local venues for starters. John R. Miller marked the debut of Depreciated on Friday, July 16. The album was released on Rounder Records at 3rd and Lindsley Sunday.
John R. Miller and band at the 3rd and Lindsley stage.
Miller, who originally hails from West Virginia, now calls Nashville home. After picking up a guitar in middle school, he started with punk music. Soon he discovered what would become some of his major influences—John Prine, Jerry Jeff Walker, Guy Clark, Steve Earle and more. His voice and musical style have drawn a range of comparisons and has been championed by other fresh voices on the Americana/Folk scene, including Tyler Childers. But John R. Miller maintains his individuality.
Over the course of his career, Miller has dealt with the tension between ties to home and the need to escape one’s roots. He is open about the effect touring with his music has had on relationships, as well as his struggle with depression and alcohol. As his website bio notes, “Ultimately, the music won out.” He has taken “years of self-education provide by life experiences” and channeled them into his lyrics.
A testament to Miller’s fan base, members of the audience sang along to songs from the album released just two days before. Some were there because of word-of-mouth recommendations; others knew to expect good live music at this venue.
Kentucky singer-songwriter Abby Hamilton opened for Miller. Accompanied by Zac Hamilton on guitar and background vocals and Ryan Allen on keyboard, she sang from her 2020 EP Afraid of the Dark. Along with that title track, she performed her original songs with clever lyrics, some reflecting the songwriter’s struggle:
You can’t make a living off royalty checks
if nobody’s cutting your songs. . . .
Kentucky singer-songwriter opened for Miller.
John R. Miller took the stage in an unassuming manner—if you disregarded the stellar lineup of musicians accompanying him. Yet he shone both on the guitar and in the vocals with his stellar lyrics. He opened with a crowd pleaser, “How It Feels in the Light,” from his 2018 album The Trouble You Follow before moving to “Borrowed Time”:
. . .soon as you drive it off the lot, it’s in decline. . .
John R. Miller plays 3rd & Lindsley
This single from his new album Depreciated is one of several songs with a metaphorical tip of the hat to losses resulting from the passage of time suggested by the title.
All night Miller alternated between the old and the new. He played “Been Here Too Long” and “Red Eyes,” the latter setting up breaks to showcase John Looney on mandolin and Chloe Edmonstone on fiddle, as well as harmony. Adam Meisterhan, who also produced the new album with Grammy-nominated Justin Francis, accompanied on lead guitar. Chris Justice joined on bass and John Clay on drums and background vocals.
In “Shenandoah Shakedown,” Miller’s voice, as well as his lyrics,is reminiscent of Jerry Jeff Walker, Todd Snider, and Andrew Marlin of Watchhouse (formerly Mandolin Orange.) He introduced “Half Ton Van,” asking who had ever bought a vehicle off the internet. After the rollicking “I’m Looking over My Shoulder,” he thanked the crowd for helping to celebrate the new album release. He added, “It’s nice to see some people here.” The crowd echoed the sentiment after the long stretch when music was relegated to livestreaming.
The crowd responded to the new songs, new listeners and loyal fans alike, while the songs from The Trouble You Follow — “Ghosts” and “Holy Dirt”— were obvious favorites. After “Faustina,” Miller remarked, “This is more quiet than I’m used to,” suggesting he was more accustomed to playing and singing over conversation. His clear delivery of the poetic lyrics, both the serious and the playful, were reason enough to sit quietly and listen.
After Lightning 100’s announcer signed off for the evening, the band played a few more, starting with “Old Dance Floor” from Depreciated. For fun, Miller took a break from his own songs to perform Gary Stewart’s “Single Again”:
He’s got a black mustache and a red Cadillac.
Now he’s got you,
and I’ve got two divorce lawyers on my back.
As house lights rose, the crowd hung back hoping for the obligatory encore. Upon leaving, one woman announced to those around her this was her first time to hear Miller—but she has tickets to see him again at Red Rocks in September. Depreciated, it seems, is appreciated.
Miller’s touring schedule can be found at his website.
Adam Meisterhans on guitar John Looney on mandolin Chris Justice on bass Chloe Edmonstone on fiddle and harmony vocals