- Talk about intimate ...
When Shelby Lynne takes the stage of the intimate Beachland Tavern tonight, she’s bringing an intimate collection of new tunes with her. The sultry Southern songstress — who wowed listeners with I Am Shelby Lynne, her 2000 declaration of independence from Nashville tropes — is touring behind Tears, Lies, and Alibis, a set of largely downbeat originals. Although tracks like “Rains Came,” “Old Dog,” and “Alibi” are relatively animated, the overall tone of the album is bleak and lonely. Lynne’s smooth voice is seductive, and arrangements featuring the cream of Muscle Shoals musicians give the album integrity but not sufficient muscle to keep it engaging. Still, Lynne’s narrative talents shine on the wistful, lovely “Something to Be Said” and “Old #7,” which should take a place on the shelf of all-time great drinking songs. Despite questionable pacing and a sparseness that keeps it from blasting off, there’s honesty and character to burn in “Tears, Lies, and Alibis.” And it’s good that Lynne is writing again after Just a Little Lovin’, her 2008 homage to Dusty Springfield, a similarly underappreciated pop icon. Opening for Lynne on this acoustic tour will be Findlay Brown, a British singer known for “Come Home,” which you may have heard in MasterCard commercials. Showtime is 8 p.m. Tickets: $26. —Carlo Wolff
