06/22/2007

Lovett & Lang share stage at Interlochen

Pair on stage in Kresge on Wednesday

By MARTA HEPLER DRAHOS

mdrahos@record-eagle.com

K.D. Lang

Lyle Lovett

INTERLOCHEN — Lyle Lovett and K.D. Lang are together again.

The genre-bending Texan is teaming up with the gender-bending Canadian for a two-month summer tour that showcases some of their best — if not new — material. Backed by their own bands, the four-time Grammy Award winners will make a stop at Interlochen Center for the Arts' Kresge Auditorium Wednesday at 8 p.m.

Lovett, whose hits include "Straighten Up and Fly Right,” "San Antonio Girl,” "You've Got a Friend in Me” and "That's Right (You're Not From Texas),” released his last album in 2003, the multi-Grammy nominated "My Baby Don't Tolerate.” Lang, who's known for songs like "Constant Craving,” "Simple” and "Crying,” released her last studio production in 2004, her tribute to Canadian songwriters, "Hymns of the 49th Parallel.”

Two of the most original voices to emerge during the 1980s, the pair continue to draw audiences with their penetrating and often quirky lyrics and eclectic musical styles.

A mild-mannered country maverick with a penchant for cowboy hats and boots, horses and motorcycles, Lovett runs the gamut from country, blues, ballads and gospel to rockabilly, folk, Western swing and big-band. Lang, an animal and gay rights activist, ranges from straight-up country and cow-punk to adult pop, torch and even disco.

"They're sort of uncategorized in terms of a radio format,” said Carey Carlson, music director and midday host for WTCM country radio, and a fan of both performers. "I think Lyle Lovett's just a real clever songwriter and I like his wit. She's that torch singer sort of thing with an edge.”

Lang, 45, hails from Alberta, Canada, where she first sang at county and western venues and earned a 1985 Juno Award for Most Promising Female Vocalist. Now an eight-time Juno winner, her career got a boost in 1987 with the critically acclaimed album, "Angel with a Lariat,” and a hit duet, "Crying,” with country crooner Roy Orbison.

Besides more than a dozen albums of her own, she has recorded with singers like Tony Bennett, Madeleine Peyroux and Nellie McKay, and has contributed to several tribute albums to Ella Fitzgerald, Joni Mitchell and others. She also is heard on the film soundtracks for "Happy Feet,” "Home on the Range,” "Tomorrow Never Dies” and "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil,” among others.

Lovett, 49, grew up in small town near Houston settled by his great-great grandfather and now lives on what's left of his grandparents' old farm. A graduate of Texas A&M University with a double major in journalism and German, he gave up other ambitions to pursue music, signing with MCA Records in 1986. Also an accomplished actor, he has appeared in several films, including "Dr. T and the Women,” "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” and "The Opposite of Sex,” and performed on the film soundtrack for "Toy Story.”

Lovett's personal life made news in 1993 when he married actress Julia Roberts — the pair were divorced two years later — and again in 2002, when he was seriously injured by a bull on his uncle's farm. He began touring again in the summer of 2003.

Tickets for Wednesday's concert are $49.50 and $39.50 at 800-681-5920, 276-7800 or online at tickets.interlochen.org