As an artist, John Hiatt accumulated a moderate helping of hits, while cultivating a steady and dedicated audience since he debuted 45 years ago. However, he’s especially excelled as a songwriter for others with a lengthy list of appreciators that includes Eric Clapton & B.B. King, Willie Nelson, Bonnie Raitt, Don Henley, Chaka Khan, Joe Cocker, Buddy Guy, Keith Urban, Aaron Neville, Emmylou Harris, Three Dog Night, Iggy Pop and even Bob Dylan.

Throughout them all, John Hiatt unpacked a bounty of heartland sounds such as country, folk, rock, blues, Americana and straight up singer/songwriter stylings framed around his textbook gravely growl.

Both sides were on display for the start of a sold out triple header at the intimate City Winery, and considering it was just Hiatt with an acoustic guitar, harmonica and keyboard, the extensive evening flowed exactly as the headliner felt. Though he’s technically touring behind “The Eclipse Sessions,” which released in 2018 after a four-year absence from the studio, there wasn’t an overwhelming amount of new material, though “Aces Up Your Sleeve” was noteworthy as an ongoing example of his insightful songwriting.

In terms of older tunes, the warm and witty Hiatt pleased with “Perfectly Good Guitar” (accompanied by some impressive whistling), “Slow Turning” “She’s Crossing Muddy Water,” “Cry Love,” “Tennessee Plates” and “Feels Like Rain.” Throughout them all, he unpacked a bounty of heartland sounds such as country, folk, rock, blues, Americana and straight up singer/songwriter stylings framed around his textbook gravely growl.

The Indianapolis native dedicated “Thing Called Love” to Raitt with thanks for helping put him on the international map, though Hiatt’s snarling vocal and guitar skills more than spoke for themselves. The same could be said as he switched to keys for a soulful rendering of the classic “Have A Little Faith In Me,” which sent the entire City Winery straight to its feet and earned an encore of “Memphis In The Meantime” as a final shot of rootsy rhythms and terrific storytelling.

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For additional information on John Hiatt, visit JohnHiatt.com.

Upcoming concert highlights at City Winery include John Hiatt (Oct. 31-Nov. 1); Ed Lover’s Jokes & Jam Brunch (Nov. 3); William DuVall  (Nov. 3); Mark Allen Felton (Nov. 4); Such (Nov. 5); Edwin McCain (Nov. 7); Terisa Griffin (Nov. 8); The Flatlanders (Nov. 10); John Lodge (Nov. 12); Marc Cohn (Nov. 13); Booker T. Jones (Nov. 14); Hip Hop Yoga (Nov. 16); Watch What Crappens (Nov. 16); Story Jam (Nov. 17); Jimmy Webb (Nov. 17); Corey Smith (Nov. 18); On A Winter’s Night (Nov. 19); Kris Allen (Nov. 20); Don McLean (Nov. 21); Heather McDonald (Nov. 22); Chicago Philharmonic Fall Series (Nov. 24); Enter The Haggis (Nov. 24); Cherie Currie & Brie Darling (Nov. 25); Digable Planets (Nov. 26-27); Dwele (Nov. 29) and BoDeans (Nov. 30-Dec. 1). For additional details, visit CityWinery.com/Chicago.

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