Thursday, February 18, 2010

UNPLUGGED at the PARAMOUNT featuring JOE ELY, BILLY JOE SHAVER, SLAID CLEAVES and AMY COOK

Won tickets to this through KUT. It was a charity event for the Livestrong Foundation. Pretty excited to win the tickets as you're talking some great artists on one stage. Song swap format.
Each musician played 4 songs, I think.
All played Billy Joe Shaver's "Live Forever" to close out the main set. That was spectacular.
Amy Cook opened with "Hotel Lights," a song off her soon to be released record that Alejandro Escovedo produced. I look for this to be her breakout year. I've seen her a couple of times over the last 5 years or so. She just gets better and better. That song, "Hotel Lights," in an erlier time, would be a big indie hit. Great song.
Slaid followed Amy. He's one of my favorites. One of the few guys from Maine, I'm guessing, who can yodel!
Then came Billy Joe. I had never seen him. What a character! He is seriously funny between songs, if you can understand him. Between his mumbling, rambling Texas twang, you gotta concentrate but it's worth it. He's written many great songs. It was a thrill to see him live.
Joe Ely was Joe. Just the greatest. If I had to say who defines the Texas style of great songwriting and sound, it would be Joe.
The show lasted about an hour and a half. It was not sold out or even close. Our seats were up in the nose bleeds but we were able to move way down. Sound was terrific. A Friday night spent listening to great songwriters. Pretty cool.

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