So what’s been playing on the iPod over these last few days. A couple of the albums are the latest albums for two old favorites. The first is a two disc live album from Slaid Cleaves titled Sorrow & Smoke: Live at the Horeshoe Lounge. I’ve been a Slaid fan since I first heard him one Sunday night on Gene Shay’s folk show. We’ve been to many of Slaid’s shows here in Philly and this album does a good job of capturing the spirit of his show.The album was recorded at two shows one in April 4 and the other in September of 2010 at the Horseshoe Lounge in Austin. Helped out by frequent bandmates Michael O’Connor on acoustic lead guitar and vocals and Oliver Steck on accordion, harmonica, trumpet and harmony vocals, Slaid makes his way through 20 songs most of them from his last four albums No Angel Knows, Wishbones, Broke Down and Everything You Love will Be Taken Away, along with a couple of Don Walser songs, where Slaid’s yodeling prowess is showcased. One new track “Go for the Gold” closes the show.
There’s really not a bad track on the album highlights for me always include” “Broke Down”, “No Angel Knows” the touching “Lydia” and the audience participation song “Breakfast in Hell” the story of a logging disaster featuring the brave Sandy Gray and this one “Black T Shirt”
The second album is Tom Russell new album Mesabi. This is another great album from (for me) the best Americana songwriter out there! I am going to hold off writing about this album right now and will write a full review later in the week! This year Elizabeth decided that rather than go to William and Mary’s family weekend (Sept 23-25) we will go to Washington go to the Braves- Nationals game. So when Mesabi came out a few weeks ago I went to Russell’s website and saw he was touring and will be in Vienna, Virginia on Sunday of that weekend. So I quickly went and purchased tickets and Kathy and I will be going to see Tom on Sunday September 25 at Jammin’ Java!
Related articles
- Slaid Cleaves – Sorrow & Smoke: Live At the Horseshoe Lounge (twangville.com)
- Slaid Cleaves: Sorrow & Smoke: Live at the Horseshoe Lounge (Review) (popmatters.com)
- Music Review: Slaid Cleaves – Sorrow & Smoke: Live At The Horseshoe Lounge (blogcritics.org)
