Leo Kottke: Live At The Ordway – St. Paul, MN – December 5th, 2024

Dakota Presents:
Leo Kottke: Live at the Ordway with Special Guest Nellie McKay

Review and Photos by: Patrick Dunn

Getting to see a performer who has spent a lifetime perfecting their craft is special and not to be missed. One such artist is Leo Kottke, who has been a fixture around the Twin Cities music scene for decades. I was thrilled to be among fans who capitalized on an exceptional opportunity to see him perform live at The Ordway in St. Paul on December 5th. Having both The Dakota and The Ordway involved in presenting the engagement was significant considering their reputation for promoting important music and consistently delivering on performance excellence.

As I observed the mostly middle-aged audience filtering into the beautifully intimate concert hall, I had a sense that these were not just casual listeners and wondered what their introduction to Kottke’s virtuosity may have been over the years. It was also amusing to see the ample size stage nearly empty, except for a single chair and microphone stand. I can only imagine the pressure one must feel walking out in front of a packed house with no supporting cast, no fancy gear to fall back on, and really nothing of substance to hide behind. For Kottke, it appeared as if it were no different than approaching the morning breakfast table, but he looked badass doing it with a 6-string in one hand and a 12-string in the other.

With an overwhelming amount of material to choose from and no visible setlist, it’s hard to say how planned the evening’s selections were, but the informal vibe may be an indicator that Kottke was acting on impulse and playing whatever felt right in the moment. Opening with Tiny Island certainly felt right and had the crowd’s absolute attention as the gentle chords rang out so beautifully from his Camilleri acoustic 6-string providing the perfect backdrop for Kottke’s complimentary vocal. He was very conversational throughout the performance and tapped into his dry sense of humor and some good storytelling to setup most songs.

There was a good mix of instrumental tunes that allowed plenty of opportunity to appreciate the complex fingerpicking style Kottke is known for. Its percussive nature was particularly evident during Mr. Fonebone, which even inspired some foot stomping along to its infectious groove. A stretch of songs that featured the 12-string was especially enjoyable in this setting. Kottke gave the instrument a good workout on Last Train to Chico and the rich low-end sounded so incredible reverberating throughout the room. Everything really came together for Louise, which was the evening’s standout. Kottke delivered his best vocal over a tasteful drop-D tuning and his slide work is what really pushed it over the top.

Nellie McKay was an excellent special guest and started the evening off with an enjoyable set that was fun, charming and a little quirky in a good way.