Category Archives: Legends
Willie Nelson and Steven Tyler – Once Is Enough
Willie Nelson and the Supersuckers
Ray Wylie Hubbard – Resurrection
Be Here to Love Me: A Film About Townes Van Zandt
Townes Van Zandt was a Texas singer/songwriter who’s talent equaled the tragedy in his life. “Be Here To Love Me†is a wonderful id heart-breaking documentary of Townes by Director Margaret Brown.
Born in Fort Worth, Texas to an oil-wealthy, aristocratic family, he traveled during his youth around Texas and Colorado. He was the third-great-grandson of Isaac Van Zandt, a prominent leader of the Republic of Texas. Van Zandt County in east Texas was named after his family in 1848.
Townes was diagnosed early in his twenties with manic-depression and was treated with insulin shock therapy, which erased much of his long-term memory. Much of the isolation and passion that ran as themes in his songs seems to be somewhat attributed to these treatments.
The film features a stellar cast of alt.country legends that knew Townes or have recorded his songs – Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Guy Clark, Joe Ely, Steve Earle and Emmylou Harris – along with Townes’ three wives and four children, all tell tales of brilliance, loneliness and heartache of a man bent of destruction that died far too young.
Steve Earle-I Feel Alright – Live In A Tennessee Prison
Townes Van Zandt – Waiting Around To Die
Concert Calendar – New York
And they say city folk don’t know country music! Upcoming shows to the Big Apple. Â
Hank Williams III – 10/4 – Northsix (Brooklyn)
The Sadies – 10/8 – Joe’s Pub
Dwight Yoakam – 10/12 8pm – Society for Ethical Culture
Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins – 10/12 – 10/13 – Town Hall
Drive By Tuckers / Bobby Bare Jr. – 10/21 – Webster Hall
Guy Clark – 10/24 – Joe’s Pub
Bloodshot Annual BBQ Party – 11/4 – w/Mark Pickerel, Scott Biram,The Meat Purveyers, The Silos & More
Robert Earl Keen / Chris Knight – 11/17 – Irving Plaza
Doc Watson – 11/18 – Town Hall
My CMT Crossroads Experience
Due to shear dumb luck I was able to attend an invitation only taping of Country Music Television’s “Crossroads†programs featuring, get this, Rosanne Cash and Steve Earle. I know, holy shit!
Crossroads is toutied as bridging country music and rock music. Past duets have been more like the meeting of both genres most bland, like the pairing of Bon Jovi and Sugarland. And some pair one great (Hank Williams Jr / ZZ Top) with a dud (Kid Rock / Brooks & Dunn). But sometimes they do it right like with their partnership of Bonnie Raitt and Lyle Lovett, Lucinda Williams and Elvis Costello, Ryan Adams and Elton John (!) and with this show.
I’ve been a fan of Earle’s since the mid-80’s when he was riding high on his first three releases and I’ve seen him once since being in New York. Rosanne Cash I’ve wanted to see mostly out of curiosity – how does the offspring of a legend stack up?
The filming was done in the 100 year-old, Mason-built Manhattan Grand Center Ballroom off 34th near Madison Square Garden. The Ballroom is now owned by the Unification Church which is led by Rev. Sun Myung Moon (I wonder if the Earle, a celebrated Left-winger, knew he was performing in a hall owned by a  Right-wing wacko)
The program director came out and had the audience run through a litany of laughter, appease and standing applause shots for the cameras and then the show was on.
The show started with Earle’s “Guitar Town†which also ended the show. Because of the magic of television if a performer, or typically the director, doesn’t care for a performance it’s simply done again. Real concerts don’t get “do overs†but the songs were so great I didn’t mind.
Other song covered were Earls “Devil’s Right Hand†and Cash’s “Burn Down This Town†and “House On The Lake†from her newest release “Black Cadillac.†The two also did a nice cover Rosanne’s Daddy’s “Big River.â€
I left buzzed by being a part of Country-Rock history and taking some small comfort that Country Music Television doesn’t completely suck.
Steve Earle Inks Deal With New West
From Billboard.com :Singer/songwriter Steve Earle has signed a new deal with New West Records. His as-yet-untitled label debut will be released in the first half of next year, according to the company.
It will be the follow-up to Earle’s final album for Artemis, “The Revolution Starts … Now,” which debuted in 2004 at No. 7 on Billboard’s Top Independent Albums chart and No. 12 on the Top Country Albums tally.