To Lovett’s point, “This Old Porch” can operate without Gilmer, but his gentle, rhythmic push becomes the song’s heartbeat. “We rode a lot of miles together,” Lovett said of Gilmer.

Lyle Lovett returns to Ireland this month for performances in Dublin and Belfast with what he calls his Acoustic Group, a humdinger ensemble anchored by the renowned bassist Leland Sklar and ...