My Concert Forecast: Joe Ely (solo)
Joe Ely – Saturday, August 4th, 7:00pm – $35 – Club Passim, Cambridge, MA
photo from lubbockonline.
Some of you may already be aware of my obsession with the Austin, TX country scene – More specifically, the 1970s scene that put Austin where it is today. One of these pioneers is a man by the name of Joe Ely, formerly of the Flatlanders, and former employee of the Ringling Brother’s Circus. The man has skills, style, and has played with a wide variety of musicians from the Clash to Chuck Berry to Townes Van Zandt. According to his own FAQs, his first demo was recorded by Buddy Holly, a tape that has since been lost. Shame, shame.
Joe Ely writes story-style country and blues. His musical style is a cross between honky-tonk and hard Texas blues. He’s doesn’t write in the same way TVZ or Lightnin’ Hopkins did; he writes stories, which I think is more in the Texas tradition than anything else. He’s very similar to Robert Earl Keen, Jr. and Steve Earle, both who tend to tell an equal amount of boozing stories and moral-ridden life stories. With these musicians, being along for the ride is really what counts. “One more road,” indeed…
This is a solo show, so I don’t really know what to expect. In my mind the show resembles a country version of the Billy Bragg concert I saw in Winnipeg. I expect him to play acoustic guitar, but I’m really not sure what he’s going to do. Will be do some Flatlanders covers? Townes Van Zandt? Or all of his more recent solo stuff? It’s hard to say.
If you’re in the Boston area check him out tomorrow at Club Passim in Cambridge for $35. It’s almost as expensive as Lez Zeppelin at the Middle East ($20), but [a lot] cheaper than seeing the Police. All legends in their own right.
Flatlanders – Rose From The Mountain
Flatlanders – One Road More
Joe Ely – Baby Needs A New Pair Of Shoes
Joe Ely – Up A Tree
Joe Ely – Tennessee’s Not The State I’m In
Joe Ely – Boxcars
Joe Ely – Roll Again
Joe Ely – You’re Workin For The Man
**EDIT** This man plays country the way it should be played. Excellent guitar playing – switches from finger picking to flat picking to finger picking without picks. He’s got a style for each song he plays, and it’s obvious that he’s obsessed with the sound he has associated to each song. I’ve never been at a show where it’s actually been acceptable for the audience to yell out requests and then have the performer actually play them. I don’t think he even came with a set list. He even played two of my favorite Townes Van Zandt songs – White Freight Liner and Tecumseh Valley. See him live, if you haven’t already.
Leave a comment