PORTLAND – Amos Lee, who with his band has performed with Bob Dylan, Paul Simon and other music greats, will play Friday, Feb. 23, at The Big Easy.

“Supply and Demand,” the second studio album from Lee, a Philadelphia native, illuminates his growth from emerging singer-songwriter to established recording artist. From the sparse, powerful, family elegy “Long Line of Pain” to the country/R&B- flavored title track, “Supply and Demand,” this album is rich with songwriting, musicianship and vocals.

“People are always asking, ‘What’s next?’ – but as a songwriter, it can be a bit troubling to get too far ahead of yourself,” Lee said in a prepared statement, referring to the pressure of putting out a sophomore album. “Most of my life these days is spent either performing songs I’ve already written, thinking about songs that are half finished, or starting new tunes. I’m aware of people’s expectations, but my job is to serve the song, and that’s what I focus on.”

The bulk of the material on “Supply and Demand” was penned either backstage, onstage at soundchecks, or in hotel rooms because Lee and his band have spent the better part of three years on the road – sharing the stage with such legendary artists as Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Merle Haggard, and John Prine.

“When guys like that are sitting at the table, you sometimes don’t even want to touch your fork, but we showed up every night and stood behind the songs the best we could. And, for the most part, had a good time doing it,” Lee said.

One song, “Sweet Pea,” features Lee on vocals, guitar, vocorgan, and drums. “We didn’t really think much about that tune until Barries’ friend John Hughes showed up one night with his uke,” Lee said.

“I had John re-teach me the chords, which I’d forgotten, and we went in and laid it down. After we finished up, we all stepped out to a bar around the corner. I came back a little looser than I left, and played the drums, more as a joke than anything, but when I came to the studio the next day, Barrie told me the take sounded good. … I was shocked.”

On “Careless,” written during studio sessions in Philadelphia, the band stands side by side with Lee through this scathing personal tale of lost love and friendship. “On the second day we were recording in Philly, I went in a bit earlier than the guys, sat down in the vocal booth, and finished the song,” Lee said. “When they showed up in the afternoon, we set up the mics and did this on the first take. It is a moment I am really proud to have shared with these guys.”

Go and do

WHO: Amos Lee

WHAT: Solo acoustic performance

SPECIAL GUEST: Mutlo

WHEN: 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 23

WHERE: The Big Easy, 55 Market St, Portland

TICKETS: $16.50 in advance, $18.50 day of show. Tickets available at any Bull Moose music store.

This is a 21+ event.

MORE INFO: www.bigeasyportland.comGGGgg