Lyle Lovett and K.D. Lang each shocked and awed the country world in the mid-1980s. Lovett's self-titled debut came out on MCA in '86 and proved the Texas singer/songwriter was not your typical Nashville star, thanks to after-hours crooning on smart, biting breakup ballads like "God Will." Lang's breakthrough album Angel with a Lariat came out the following year on Sire and showed her to be a jaw-dropping torch singer in the Patsy Cline mode, but with a wicked sense of humor. In the past 20 years, both artists have distanced themselves from the country crowd — particularly Lang — while maintaining loyal followings thanks to consistent, classy output. In short, these are two performers who make music that is timeless and should appeal to folks from the country, pop and alternative circles. Thurs., June 14, 7:30 p.m., Ford Amphitheatre, 4802 U.S. 301 N., Tampa, $15-$72.
This article appears in Jun 13-19, 2007.