India, Oct. 20 -- At a recent gig in Oklahoma, during his ongoing Why Not? tour of the US, UK and Europe, Sturgill Simpson and his band launched into a medley. They segued from his song, One for the Road, into Prince's iconic Purple Rain, before diving into another of Simpson's songs, Call to Arms. The medley lasted more than 27 minutes and was emblematic of what Simpson's music is all about.
Critics often pigeonhole the 46-year-old as a country musician, but he is only sort of that. Born in Kentucky, he lives in Nashville, Tennessee, the centre of the universe as far as that genre is concerned. Country music does form the roots of his style. Yet his influences extend far beyond it.
Even as he pays homage to greats such as Waylon Jennings...