Singer-songwriter and Grammy-winning producer Joe Henry will play Headliners Music Hall next Tuesday, Jan. 20, touring behind his latest album, Invisible Hour. Big Big featuring Adam Kramer will open.
My title makes a little play on the name of Henry's website, joehenrylovesyoumadly.com, but he did write about his love for Louisville very eloquently in an essay for Afar.com, so I'm not just making it up. Henry had occasion to sample some of Louisville's culture when he came to town to film a movie with friends Aimee Mann and Loudoun Wainright. Louisville also happens to be home to his brother, writer and photographer David Henry, with whom he co-wrote the recent book, Furious Cool: Richard Pryor and the World that Made Him.
All of this is to say that Joe Henry is a Renaissance man in the true sense -- he's a writer, actor, producer, and of course a musician, who has been turning out fine albums since his debut in 1986. His songs have been recorded by Madonna (who is also his sister-in-law) as well as Rosanne Cash, and he has produced albums for many, including Ani Di Franco, Elvis Costello, Bonnie Raitt, and Billy Bragg. He is the kind of craftsman to whom artists have no trouble turning over their own projects.
Henry's Invisible Hour is the first album released on his own label, Work Song, a work of spare, weathered beauty, meditating on love and relationships.
The Headliners show is next Tuesday at 8:00 p.m. with limited partial seating for a general admission audience (doors at 7:00). Tickets can be purchased online in advance for $22 and at the door for $25.
