Not only is Steve Earle firmly established as one of America’s greatest songwriters, he’s also something of a rarity in this day and age. In an age when most singer/songwriters clumsily toe the line between the explicitly confessional and the willfully obtuse, Earle aspires to be neither of those things. Instead, he’s a modern day Woody Guthrie, singing about the plights of the less fortunate and acting as a voice for those who can’t speak up for themselves. This year, he’s heading out on tour with fellow troubadour Robert Earl Keen for a series of intimate acoustic performances. It’s a rare opportunity to see a legend strip his songs down to their bare essence; we suggest that you take advantage.