They included a suitably honky tonk version of The Rolling Stones’ “Honky Tonk Women,” and a version of Nick Lowe’s “12 Step Program (to Quit You Babe),” throwing in an instrumental as well, the “Power Lounger Theme.”
Borges had some covers of her own, a duet version of Carl Smith’s “Loose Talk,” a hit for Buck Owens and Rose Maddox in 1960, and a swell run-through of Al Anderson’s NRBQ number “It Comes to Me Naturally” to cap the set.
But her own songwriting is getting sharper, too, even as she joshes that most songs are about meeting up, breaking up or partying down. Lately things have been looking up for her, though, meeting up with a new boyfriend who also happens to be her bass player, Keith Voegele of the Bottle Rockets. In addition to being a good match for her, Voegele also makes for a fine rhythm section with hard-hitting drummer Kenny Soule,
Borges is feeling so full of fortune, two new songs on the album are titled “Lucky Rocks” and “Lucky Day.” And like rolling snake eyes, she played them back to back in the set.
Part of the theme of her new album “Together Alone” was to reflect the isolation at the heart of the pandemic days — the parts on the album had to be recorded separately, for one thing. But there was hardly a feeling of loneliness or sorrow in the performance. Instead, a return to the rocking’ good time for which she is known. And no more truck driving jobs.
Opening the show, the Virginia band the Highballers were a good match for the headliners, right down to the leopard print of singer Victoria Patchen’s dress. Just about every song of the band led by Kendall Jackson, though, was about drinking, a subject from which Borges has moved on.
The setlist for Sarah Borges at the Pearl Street Warehouse was:
- “House on a Hill”
- “She’s a Trucker”
- “Wouldn’t Know You”
- “Daniel Lee”
- “12-Step Program (to Quit You Babe)”
- “Loose Talk”
- “13th Floor”
- “Me and Your Ghost”
- “Are You Still Taking Them Pills”
- “Power Lounger Theme”
- “Honky Tonk Women”
- “Get as Gone Can Get”
- “Wasting My Time”
- “Tendency to Riot”
- “Lucky Rocks”
- “Lucky Day”
- “Together Alone”
- “It Comes to Me Naturally”
