Mark Knopfler and his band just began their massive tour in support of his latest album "Get Lucky", and the show offers some nice surprises. Firstly, the band includes folk/bluegrass eminence Tim O'Brien (Hot Rize, Red Knuckles and the Trailblazers) and wind wizard Michael McGoldrick (Lunasa, Capercaillie, Kate Rusby Band). I gather these two will be part of the American leg of the tour only, while the fabulous John McCusker will fill in the Euro dates.

Secondly, there was an abundance of double-course instruments among the 30 plus necks I counted on the stage. McGoldrick, when not playing flute or low whistle, picked two lovely Sobell ten-string citterns. O'Brien, in addition to playing fiddle, mandolin and banjo, held forth on a couple of archtop guitar-bodied OMs (or perhaps mandocellos, I'm not sure). And long-time Knopfler rhythm guitarist Richard Bennett switched it up with a Flatiron OM and a large-bodied (blarge?) zouk.

The set list was culled mainly from Knopfler's solo work, with only four Dire Straits songs in evidence ("Sultans of Swing", "Romeo and Juliet", "Brothers in Arms" and "Telegraph Road"). While there was certainly no shortage of Mark's trademark wailing fingerpicked electric guitar, the folkiness (country blues, skiffle, and occasional Celtic influences) of his solo work suited this lineup perfectly, and vice versa. Knopfler played his National and a Mrtin acoustic on several songs, and one of the two keyboardists occasionally picked up an accordion, while the other doubled on acoustic guitar.

It was a very satisfying concert. The tour goes on until the end of July. Dates can be found here: http://www.markknopfler.com/tour/gl_northamerica.aspx

Cheers,
Michael