Thursday, March 17, 2011

A Paddy's Day bonus




Back in 1999 we were enjoying a sold out concert at the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis, where Steve Earle was stirring up some serious bluegrass with the Del McCoury Band. They had been touring in support of The Mountain, a damn fine album that received favorable reviews and even had Earle’s most fervent alt-country fans ready to dance a jig. Well, all but one in the Guthrie audience that night.

Some clown behind us kept shouting: “Play ‘Guitar Town!’ Play ‘Guitar Town!’ ” Which was hilarious, since Earle had put a lot of trouble and bad times behind him since his 1986 debut album, and this was a night to feature songs like “Carrie Brown,” “Harlan Man” and “Leroy’s Dustbowl Blues.” Needless to say Earle did not play the request. He did stare the guy down and muttered something with which Del probably took offense.

We can’t for the life of us remember if Earl played “Galway Girl,” which may or may not have been written (it appears on Earle’s 2000 album Transcendental Blues). It certainly would have been appropriate that night, just as it is today.

Thanks to our buddy Psycho Ward for reminding us...

3 comments:

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  2. Regarding Galway Girl...thanks for the posting. Huge fan of Earle and love the tin whistle and uilleann pipes. I raise my 'parting glass' ta ye!

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  3. Great song and performance. Galway Girl is another of many gems from Steve Earle.

    His recording of LeRoy's Dustbowl Blues with the Del McCoury Band burns. A one hit wonder could have made a living off of Guitar Town, but Steve Earle has a lot more to say.

    I heard his sister Stacey and Mark Stuart last year, and was knocked out by their acoustic duo. They are prolific writers and have a very high level of musicianship. Check them out.

    Thanks for another quality video post.
    Cheers

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