Saturday, August 1, 2009

Highway Kind

Watched Be Here to Love Me for the first time last night. The doc was so-so, still heartbreaking, but not the greatest film. But the quality of the storytelling doesn't really matter, I love Townes Van Zandt so much that any further glimpses into his story bring me joy. Nothing beats his scenes in Heartworn Highway, though. However, getting to see that much Guy Clark made me so happy. In my circle it seems like everyone knows Townes (and with good cause, he is one of the greatest songwriters of all time) but no one pays much mind to his contemporaries. Guy Clark, Joe Ely, Steve Earle, all great and all I'm going to be listening to in the shop today.

There are two great recordings that I believe are bootlegs. I'll post them on an update soon. There is the "Afternoon Workshop" which was recorded in 1983 at the Vic Theater as part of a songwriter's workshop with John Prine, John Hiatt, Guy Clark, and Joe Ely featuring storytelling and an amazing version of Joe Ely playing Butch Hancock's Boxcars.



Here is Guy Clark playing Rita Ballou on the Texan Connection



And live in Austin, LA Freeway...this one kills me. If you go to the YouTube page there are some crazy comments...



The other record is Steve Earle, Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark - Together at the Bluebird Cafe. It's a superb live album that has amazing story-telling and a great vibe between the three (at least deserving to be called) legends. I highly suggest it. It's funny, heartbreaking, and beautiful.

Here's Steve Earle on David Letterman playing his Celtic Appalachian fusion country hit...Copperhead Road...1988


Here's a cool interview with Steve Earle. Can't find a good embeddable video of "I Ain't Ever Satisfied:


And here is the a crazy Desperados Waiting for a Train All-Stars performance:

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Hey Bev, it's Allison. If you can, and if you have XM or Sirius, you should check out Steve Earle's awesome radio show, Hardcore Troubadour.
I think the reason Townes is so near and dear to all of our hearts is because in Texas, a lot of folks have friends or relatives who lived through that state hospital experience.
I know the "soundtrack to my life" thing is beyond tired, but I don't know what things would be like if there were no Townes. He was such a special person and I think that movie really captured it in a way that most music docs don't.