Justin Townes Earle has passed away at the age of 38 due to undisclosed causes. He was one hell of a songwriter and guitarist, and his voice reflected a pain that cut right through, like it was you explaining to your partner why you’re always gone, or to your mother why you’re “sick” today, both knowing damn well the real reason.
Few articles neglect to mention the demons he was repeatedly battling, the ying & yang of his moods and performances, and especially that he was the son of Steve Earle, one of the patriarchs of the modern generation of singer/songwriters and country-rock/Americana. These things were complicated and intertwined. He would only occasionally allude to it publicly, but the shadow of his father and that of his namesake Townes Van Zandt seemed to weigh heavy on him in terms of art, success, addiction, and bloodline. He was quick to call out his father in his lyrics for being historically unavailable, and just as quick to declare allegiances to his mother, who we have come to feel like we know through the imagery he presented. He was also consistently clear that neither Townes nor his father were heroes, having seen them both “passed out in a pile of their own puke.” The next week you might hear him being cordially interviewed by Steve on his weekly radio show or sitting in with him on stage.
I had the opportunity to see JTE a few times. The first was opening for X at the Majestic Theatre in Detroit, but I really “got it” a few months later, taking in a headline set in the pool hall upstairs. Shortly after that, he released the first of what I consider his two best albums “Harlem River Blues” (2010) and the follow up “Nothing’s Gonna Change The Way You Feel About Me Now” (2012). There was no Detroit stop on the tour supporting “NGCTW…” so I impulsively drove 11 hours to Minneapolis to catch the show at the Varsity Theater. It was one of those nights where everything lined up – the venue, sound, crowd, performance, set-list…just a beautiful reminder of how powerful live music can be. I left torn between being inspired and motivated and not sure if I should just pack it in and leave it to the experts. That show stuck with me for a long time and I still think back on the impact of the performance. That record continues to be in rotation 8 years later.
Even with the baggage he carried, this one came very unexpected and hit hard. Maybe it’s because of his prowess with words, the sadness in his voice, or the melancholy chords that came from his acoustic guitar. Or maybe it’s because we just weren’t ready for him to go.
Jeremy Porter lives near Detroit and fronts the rock and roll band Jeremy Porter And The Tucos. Follow them on Facebook to read his road blog about their adventures on the dive-bar circuit.
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Twitter: @jeremyportermi | Instagram: @onetogive & @jeremyportermusic
