The legendary Billy Joe

I was going to title this post "The legend of Billy Joe", but I thought people might think i was talking about the classic 80s film starring the Slater siblings (Helen and Christian). In truth though, probably no one would have even gotten the reference. Which is okay too, because i'm not talking about a movie.

I'm talking about the one and only Billy Joe Shaver. It's possible you might not know him, but you should. Everyone should. Truly, he's one of the greatest songwriters around. Willie says so, Kris Kristofferson says so, Johnny Cash says so, and I say so. What more do you need? Well, have you ever heard of the outlaw country movement? The seminal record in that movement--- Waylon's "Honkytonk Heroes", featured 10 songs. 9 were written by Billy Joe. "Old five and Dimers Like Me" is perhaps one of the most perfect country songs of all time: simple, yet to the point, capturing exactly what the lives of most ordinary folks are like. I can't adequately enough put into words how legendary he is.

And Thursday night he was playing in Falls Church, only 2 hours from me. He doesn't leave TX a whole lot, so whenever he comes close by I have to go. I was really looking forward to this one.
Before I had a chance to purchase tickets, they put a call out to the Billy Joe fans that he was needing help selling merch at some stops on this tour. The Falls Church show was one where they needed help. So I volunteered. By doing so I'd get a free shirt, free show, and get to help out one of my musical idols. What did i have to lose?

Well... the merch booth was set up in the lobby and NOT in the actual auditorium. That totally stressed me out. It worked out okay because not too many people were buying stuff during the show so I'd sneak into the back of the auditorium. But it was kind of distracting trying to keep an eye on the merch table. It made it hard to totally get into the show, but I tried my best.

Bob Brown, the guitar player in Billy's band told me before the show that half the band (including Billy) had come down with bad colds and were feeling pretty miserable. You wouldn't have known it from the performance that they put on. The band was rockin,and Billy Joe was more animated than usual (and he's usually pretty animated anyway!). They sounded great, and played almost 2 hours, taking requests from the crowd. It would have been easy for them to just put it on autopilot--going thru the motions for 90 minutes and heading back on the road.
But Billy Joe wouldn't do that. I've seen plenty of legends who just go through the motions these days: collecting their pay from the club singing a couple tunes, and never engaging w/ the crowd. Not Billy. He always gives 100%. He loves playing music. And he loves that people are there to listen to his music. He doesn't take that for granted. After every show he graciously signs autographs and poses for pictures. I've met him several times, and I can honestly say that he's probably the most down to earth performer you will ever meet.

It was a good turnout for the show, and I'm glad. And I'm sure they (the fans) are glad. They were rewarded with a tremendous show from one of the all time legends of country music. Billy Joe played most of the songs that other's had hits out of: "honkytonk heroes", "you asked me to", "just an old chunk of coal", etc. He also pulled out some rare ones, which was great. After playing "Live Forever"---one of my favorite songs of all time, he strayed from the setlist, and announced to the band that he wanted to play one solo. He talked for a minute or 2 about losing his son Eddy to drugs, and then got a little choked up before playing a powerful version of "Star in my Heart".

The fans there that night were lucky. Anyone that gets to see Billy Joe is lucky. If he ever comes anywhere close to your town: GO. You won't be disappointed. I guarantee it.
Check out his tourdates at www.billyjoeshaver.com
Pick up a CD while you're there too if you want. His most recent official studio CD is called "Freedom's Child" and is as good as any album he's ever put out. And way better than anything you'll hear on the radio these days.

It's rare that you get to see such a legend. It's even more rare to see one that's still at the top of their game. Unlike many of his contemporaries who have faded away (or passed away unfortunately) Billy Joe is still out there , putting out tremendous music, puting on tremendous shows.

Go see him. Or at least check out some of his music. It's your loss if you don't.

It's amazing how humble he is considering how talented he is. Countless other people have sang his songs, and made millions of dollars. Billy Joe still lives in a modest brick house in Waco, driving his white van from show to show. And I think he's okay with it. I don't think he ever set out to become a platinum selling artist. I think he was blessed with a gift to capture the truth in song, and he just wants to share his songs w/ the world, for any one that will listen.

You should listen.

"Old Five and Dimers" by Billy Joe Shaver

I've spent a lifetime making up my mind to be,
More than the measure of what I thought others could see.
Good luck and fast bucks are too far and too few between,
Cadillac buyers and old five and dimers like me.

She stood beside me, letting me know she would be,
Something to lean on when everything ran out on me.
Fenced yards ain't hold cards and, like as not, never will be,
Reasons for rhymers and old five and dimers like me.

It's taken me so long but now that I know, I believe,
All that I do or say is all that I ever will be.
Too much ain't enough for old five and dimers like me
Too far and too high and too deep ain't too much to see.
An old five and dimer was all I intented to be.

Joe Ely

Tuesday night I had 'one of those nights'. Not a bad 'one of those nights'---no no... far from it. One of those nights where everything is just about perfect, and you want it to go on forever.

Tuesday after work The Bills and I met up to head out to Richmond to Ashland Coffee and Tea to see the legendary Joe Ely. I had just seen him at the ACL fest last month, but he was with a band there, and I assumed he would be solo here, and was really looking fwd to it.

My buddy Bill drove, which was awesome, since it meant I could relax, and drink a little more. The Bills are just as hardcore about getting a good seat as I am--perhaps even more so, and as a result we got to the venue about 40 minutes before the doors even opened. Ashland is a small little town, so we strolled down the street to find a bar and grab a drink beforehand. We found a bar, but they had nothing on tap. Unfortunately that was the only bar to be found, so we drank there anyway. I ordered up some kind of Legend beer, and was presented with a 22oz bottle. Nothing like that to start the evening off right (except the beer was $8, but Bill ended up picking up the tab there). So... on we go...

We drank our gigantic beers (the one Bill had ordered the same beer as me), and strolled back to Ashland Coffee and Tea. They were just starting to let people into the listening room. Our timing was almost perfect. About 15 had gone in before we did, and had staked claims to most of the prestigious tables. (There's not really a bad seat in the house, but it's nice to get a table right in front). As I quickly scanned the room, I saw, there in the middle of the other occupied tables, an empty one DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE STAGE. It couldn't have been more centered, or closer. It was directly in front of the microphone. It was perfect. And it was ours.

We sat there, and after the Bills giving much grief about how bad our table was--- we ordered food and drinks. The food and drinks were excellent, service was great, and we lucked out and got the most attractive waitress in the place to be our waitress.

Oh yeah... and there was music.
There was an opening act. He was pretty good.

And then Joe Ely came out. He announced that there was another performer that would be joining him at some point in the evening, but that he was caught up in traffic. He said if we'd never seen Joel Guzman (pronounced 'Jo-El'), then we were in for a treat. I was a little discouraged, because I had been hoping for a solo show, but I figured I'd at least get a solo show for a couple songs and hope for the best.

Ely played about 3 songs solo. They were really good. Joe had just started the 4th song when I saw movement to the side of the stage, and saw this guy stroll in. He threw his bags in the dressing room picked up his accordion, started playing--- while walking thru the crowd, and hopping up on stage---never missing a beat.

It was incredible. From that moment on there was just a tremendous amount of 'electricity' in the room. Ely was already great. The addition of Joel Guzman took it to a whole new level. Joe's guitar and Joel's accordion were just in sync the entire night. It was amazing to watch. I don't know how long they've been playing together, but it seems like they were born to play music together. It was simply tremendous. Bill H. said one of the songs was so beautiful he actually had tears well up in his eyes.

Joe told some great stories about Townes van Zandt, and about Joe Strummer. Unbeknownst to me, The Clash were big fans of Ely. In 79 they met in England, and Ely arranged a tour for them through some cool TX towns, and in 1980 they arranged some tourdates for him in the UK. Wacky stuff. Very cool.
The concert lasted about 2 hours. It was 2 hours of pure musical goodness. I've seen literally hundreds of shows. This one was one of the great ones. Joe Ely has a great stage presence and an impressive resume of songs. Joel Guzman, who I had never heard of before, just wails on the accordion. The second coming of Flaco Jimenez. Together they were mind blowing.

Bill H. is an old Deadhead. He's seen over 100 Dead shows. After the show he told me that this show was as good as any Grateful Dead show he'd ever seen.

That's saying a lot. It's probably blasphemy to the other Deadheads out there.
But that's how good this show was.
It's not blasphemy if it's the truth.

a taste of Austin in Cville

Last night I went to the Gravity Lounge to check out two Austin musicians: Jon Dee Graham and Danny Schmidt. Danny actually used to be a Charlottesville musician, but I never saw him during his years here. I'd never personally heard Jon Dee, but I'd heard lots of good hype, so I decided to go.

I had a great time. Danny and Jon Dee each played solo acoustic, and they took turns singing: Danny for 30 minutes, Jon Dee for 30, Danny for 45, Jon Dee for 45. I was pleasantly surprised by Danny Schmidt. I'm actually sorry I never saw him when he was a regular in Charlottesville. I got a chance to listen to 2 of his CDs before the show, and on CD he reminded me a little of John Prine or Slaid Cleaves. In concert, I didn't feel either of those vibes too strongly, but he sang some really great songs. He's got 10 or so songs on his website that you can download and listen to. DO IT NOW! Seriously. What have you got to lose? www.dannyschmidt.com
My favorite song is "Stained Glass". "This too shall pass" is pretty excellent as well, and "Circus of Clowns" is perhaps appropriate concerning the time of year that is. Go check out his stuff now.

Jon Dee was quite impressive as well. I really knew nothing about him at all. His vocal stylings are very Tom Waits-esque, and he has a really good stage presence. I researched him a little after the show. He has a pretty eclectic resume-- played in some punk bands in the 70s, and opened up for the Clash and the Ramones, then played in an americana band in the 80s called the True Believers w/ Alejandro Escovedo, played in a couple New Wave bands also, and has worked w/ John Doe, from X, Kelly Willis, and a bunch of other people. Now he's out there just playing songs. I think he usually plays with a full band, but he was solo. It was really good.

I'm so glad I went. I love going out on Sunday nights. It's a different kind of person that goes out on a Sunday night. I'm one of those persons. And I saw three or four people I knew at the show. I guess they're my kind of people.

Last night was fun. If i had more nights like last night i wouldn't be so inclined to move to Austin.
Austin could come to me.

Joe Ely is tomorrow. Billy Joe is Thursday. It's shaping up to be a great week.
Texas is everywhere.

Mindy

Last thursday I saw Mindy Smith at Starr Hill Music Hall in Charlottesville.
I have been too tired to write about it until now. But here's the quick lowdown:
I really liked her. I'd seen her once before-- at the Philly Folk Festival, and that time she was solo, acoustic. This time she had a full band with her. The band was quite rockin.
A decent amount of people came out for the Starr Hill show. Unfortunately a good number of them were idiots who distracted me all night. There were 2 drunk girls in the back who talked the entire night, numerous other people who felt like carrying on conversations nonstop, and several cell phone calls and people talking on cell phones.

My head hurt so bad at the end of it, from trying to focus on Mindy while ignoring the idiots.
Sometimes I hate people.

I hate Starr Hill. I felt like they're staff should have shushed people. It shouldn't have been my job to do that. But I had to. During one very quiet, sentimental song I had to turn around and tell the people in the back to be quiet. And my buddy Bill had to tell a cell phone user to take his conversation somewhere else. That shouldn't be our responsibility.
I emailed Starr Hill to tell them this but got no response. I'm not really surprised-- they're a poorly run club.

Why do people like that even come to shows? Stay home, put on a CD and save your $15.
Did I mention that sometimes I hate people?

But i really liked Mindy Smith. The encore of "Come to Jesus" and "Jolene" was pretty awesome. I wish she would have played those two earlier though, because i think some of the dissrespectful folks were just there to hear those two songs and didn't care about the others. I guess that's the catch-22 of having a top 40 hit: more people come out, but how many of them are real fans, and how many just wanna hear that one song?

Unfortunately, in addition to the constant crowd noise, her vocal mic seemed a little low. The sound is often less than stellar at Starr Hill, which is a shame. It could be a really cool place. But it's not.
Hopefully next time Mindy comes to town she can play at Gravity Lounge.
The Starr Hill management and crowd don't really deserve to have her there.
The 3/4 of the crowd that was there to actually listen to her would have a much better time at a better managed club.

Too much music?

Sometimes I think it'd be easier if I didn't like music so much. Or more specifically, if I didn't like so much music. At the ACL fest it was almost overwhelming trying to map out each day. I had some friends that went, and they just didn't care. All they wanted to see was Wilco. And Ben Harper. That was it. What??? 80 bands are there, at least 30 of which are cool, and you only really want to see two of them? I don't get it. But life might be easier if I did. Easier, but less enjoyable.
I got to thinking about this because once again my concert calendar is filling up quick. Mindy Smith is playing here in town on Thursday night. On the 15th, Tim O Brien is playing in town, on the 17th Jon Dee Graham, from Austin, is playing my favorite venue here, on the 19th Joe Ely is playing 65 minutes away, and Billy Joe Shaver is playing on the 21st--2 hours away. I'm definitely going to Joe Ely and Billy Joe. Most likely going to Mindy Smith. And maybe going to the others. AND, as if that weren't enough, I'm also going to see Slaid Cleaves on October 30th, and thinking about taking a road trip to go see Billy Joe again on October 23rd. Mercy. I'm insane.
Sometimes i think it'd be easier if i didn't like so much music.