May 12-18, 2005

musicpicks

Rodney Crowell

country

Rodney Crowell spent many years being defined by his relationships with others: Rosanne Cash's hubby (now ex)/producer; original member of Emmylou's Hot Band; writer of other people's hit country songs. But since his early Nashville days pallin' around with fellow neo-traditionalists like Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark, this Texas troubadour never fails to show his own musical mettle with incisive songs about hard livin' and hard lovin'. Crowell took a six-year hiatus at the end of the '90s only to return with a vengeance with 2001's The Houston Kid, a record Rosanne Cash said blew her away with its potency. Crowell's currently out plugging his upcoming CD, The Outsider, said to be his rowdiest and most politically outspoken effort to date.

Thu., May 12, 8 p.m., $25.50, Sellersville Theater, Main and Temple sts., Sellersville, 215-257-5808

—Nicole Pensiero