Jason Isbell Live at Austin City Limits

‘For all he’s been through and for the success he’s attained, Jason Isbell comes across as a man who’s both confident and thankful. His new Live At Austin City Limits DVD brilliantly captures Isbell and his 400 Unit’s music, for sure … but it also provides a very intimate look at Isbell himself in a very public setting.

From his greeting to the crowd (“I can’t tell you how happy we are to be playing here on Austin City Limits … hopefully you can just see it in our eyes.”) to his between-tune comments (“I grew up watching this show … I love this show. This is the coolest thing on earth for me.”) to the final thank-you, there’s no question that Isbell means every word he says. And every note he plays.’

Jason Isbell – Live At Austin City Limits

Looking forward to seeing him play here in a couple of months.

Dave’s Picks, Volume 13, Winterland, San Francisco, 2/24/74

The first release of the new subscription period, it does not disappoint. From their site:

On the fertile grounds of their home turf and on the edge of what would become the Wall of Sound era, the Dead embarked upon a tremendous three-night run at Winterland. On this particular night, the last in the run, they warmed up the crowd with stellar new tracks “U.S. Blues” (previously known as “Wave That Flag”), “Ship of Fools,” and “It Must Have Been The Roses.” And while these debuts, nestled among fan favorites like “Playing In The Band” and “Brown-Eyed Women,” were quite tantalizing, the 2nd set really brought it all home. Witness the magic on an incredibly jazz, introspective “Dark Star,” perhaps one of the finest version of “Morning Dew” during this time, and a beautifully arranged cover of “It’s All Over Now Baby Blue.” The moments making up this masterpiece are made even more clear by the crispness of Kidd Candelario’s recording. Epic, indeed!

Not really in agreement on the ‘Baby Blue’ assessment above, it is a little weak. But the Cumberland and Big River early in the second set are maybe the finest versions of those two I have heard.

http://www.dead.net/store/1970s/daves-picks-volume-13-winterland-san-francisco-ca-22474

What a terrible world, what a beautiful world

A great new effort by one of the better bands around. A movement towards a more mature sound, it is well written and lushly produced as usual. Tracks 5 and 6, Lake Song and Till the Waters All Long Gone, are my two favorites and have an Astral Weeks feel to them. A solid effort and worth your attention.

Stones in Exile

A very well produced documentary on the making of one of my favorite albums.

In the spring of 1971 the Rolling Stones reluctantly departed the UK to take up residence in France. Keith Richards settled at a villa called Nellcôte in Villefranche-sur-Mer and this became the venue for the recording of much of the band’s masterpieceExile On Main Street. Stones In Exile tells the story in the band’s own words and through extensive archive footage of their time away from England and the creation of this extraordinary double album, which many regard as the Rolling Stones finest achievement