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tunnelsnacks · 1 month

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Deacon head canons from my old blog be upon ye!

The UP Deathclaws were never real...the L&L gang is though

“He’s sharp as a whip, feisty in the field and extraordinarily cautious with his actions and even more careful with his words”

Deacon’s favorite color is green, hazel green

If he had a character theme it would be Deacon Waltz by Christian Sedelmyer and Jerry Douglas (The name’s just a coincidence)

A very very light sleeper, before Wanderer he would only sleep for around 3 hours peppered throughout the day

It always takes him an hour to fall asleep, even after he & Wanderer start ‘their you sleep and I’ll watch over you’ deal

He’s not religious, but he still prays

Before Wanderer he’d have, what my old therapist calls, micro-bursts of stage three sleep without realizing it (REM sleep) people can do this while looking and cting completely awake, which is why Carrington doesn’t take him serious in meetings... he looked like he’s not paying attention but nada, the man’s brain was just shutting down a little bit

Because of the lack of sleep he got for so long, Deacon disassociates between himself & his body constantly. At times careless with himself...cracking jokes & laughing in dangerous situations... his brain was teetering the line between being asleep and awake so often he couldn’t tell the difference. (sleep deprivation makes you feel unstoppable...cocky even)

Another thing he lost as a result of Wanderer was being able to sleep standing up, because his body doesn’t need to take over for his mind anymore

Smells faintly of cigarette smoke (mainly because of Dez) and basil and something else that can’t really be placed

He fell in love with a school teacher once, she was the one that taught him how to read

Can write/read French but oh god pronounces every letter like how they sound in English... so he sticks to writing messages to himself that most people think are ramblings of a child when/if found

October is his favorite month... June makes him ache

If he’s not at Wanderer’s side or on his own op, he’ll be at the Church... but after Tea Party? He settles on the couch in Wanderer and Shaun’s home until she convinces him to just move in, they’ve slept in the same room for so long at this point but he can’t fathom having a home again. It’s a hard adjustment

If you look of the definition of a ginger you’d find a picture of him at age 14, the freckles keep coming back no matter how many times he gets them removed

You know how you can catch him spying on you in the settlements? Yeah, he wanted you to see him... but not near 111 or a few other places

He’s the person in the Third Rail that points Wanderer to MacCready before they meet, he can’t have her traveling alone like that when she still so green to the world

In codes, D is for Desdemona and d is for Deacon

If not written, agents that are high enough to know their names say Big D and Little D (Dez hates it but he thinks it’s cute, if not clever)

He tenses ever so slightly when he hears the name John/Johnathan

Holds tension in his jaw like no one else, it’s a wonder his teeth haven’t shattered

Hates the taste of coffee but constantly drinks it

Was a hell of a swing dancer in his youth, now he likes slow dancing though that wasn’t discovered until Wanderer showed up

He’s 37 at the youngest and 45 at the oldest

When he left the gang at 19, they shattered every bone in his left hand & wrist, it aches when it rains

Hides his eyes because they were her favorite part of him, the one thing he can’t change ironically, also the sleep thing. He can’t let people know how tired he is all the time

He was born in Rivet City and his mother was a hairdresser, father a drunkard of a city security officer

His ma taught him how to French braid hair

His last name is Deacon. Baby Shaun is the only one who knows that though... Shaun said “Hey Mr. Deacon” & he said “Hey Mr. Hale” (Wanderer’s last name) & Shaun being the clever kiddo he is, cocked his head to the side connecting some dots cause if his first name was Deacon why would he respond with Shaun’s last one?)

Absolutely fascinated with the old world, collects information and fun facts about that time forgotten which Wanderer feeds into

His favorite thing Wanderer tells him about/teaches him is the proper pronunciation of some words and how to spell others

The man has always had a temper, got it from his dad, he works very hard to keep it under control (I can think of a few pieces of dialogue where he’s talking through gritted teeth, anger threatening to boil over)

At first, he was only by Wanderer’s side so nobody could pull her away from the Railroad - he knows what a game changer she is... but they work so well together and she plays along with his tall tales so often that after a while he forgot about the first part

A terrifyingly good shot, better than MacCready and he’s doing it with sunglasses on

He 100% is John D, the terminal entry where Pinky(?) says a runner was the sole survivor and then immediately tried to get people to go back for documents?? A classic Deacon move

Only smokes in HQ (I’ve actually only seen his idle animation of that in the church and at Mercer) unless he’s in a role or somewhere where Wanderer is comfortable... or is extremely stressed out

He hates Hancock, well not hate- but he’s not on the Christmas card list

Deacon knew Shaun was taken 60 years before Wanderer woke up. He knew and he didn’t tell her and it is the secret he hopes she never finds out

Dee’s gotta special soft spot for Tinker Tom, loves him like a crazy brother

His sniper rifle is named Church Bell, lovingly crafted by Tinker

Not sure how he feels about gen 1’s and 2’s, especially after knowing Nicky V but... if he’s gotta do it

Exclusively refers to Nick Valentine as Nicky V

He knows Preston Garvey has a fat ass crush on Wanderer but has neglected to tell her this little fun fact

Tries to shave his head nearly every morning, when he’s with Wanderer he does so when it’s his turn on watch and she’s asleep

The Railroad is his family, they mean so much but of course he’s always kept everyone distant after what happened with Agamemnon

Deacon has been with the railroad between 14 and 20 years

He genuinely doesn’t like Carrington but he’s not going to avoid going to him if he’s hurt of course

His hands are always warm, which is great cause Wand’s are always cold (being frozen for 210 years will do that to a gal)

Do I need to go into the heights thing??? He hates tagging along to set up MILAs but he’ll be damned if he lets his best friend fall off a roof again

He picked the name; Wanderer (don’t get me started on Project Wanderer and Dez’s “it seems fitting” I’ll rant for so long guys)

Doesn’t like sweet foods but fancy lads is a whole other topic

Open spaces stress him out, too much he can’t see

Non-binary but uses he/him pronouns

Doesn’t drink more than a beer or two, but has an unsettling high tolerance

He won’t ever instigate a relationship beyond what he and Wanderer have, as his va Ryan Alosio put it in an interview, his heart’s been absolutely shattered and he can’t stand the thought of being the cause of someone he loves getting hurt because of him again. He loves her but he can’t

Before he got surgery for the first time, he looked like Ryan (the devs actually tweaked his design to resemble him) his original face looks close to what he has now, not that he remembers what that face looked like

#fallout #fallout 4 #deacon #deacon fallout 4 #i realized this was only on my old blog and hidden sorry to the person who sent me an ask looking for it xx

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zachbevill · 4 years

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My 10 favorite albums (that I worked on) of the 2010′s

The last decade really had two halves for me in the music world. The first half I was on the creative side - writing, recording, and performing; and for the second half, I marketed and project-managed albums for other artists at Thirty Tigers. While this list may come across as self-indulgent (admittedly, it is), my intent is to just say I'm grateful for all I got to do and to celebrate the opportunities I had to live out my lifelong dream in the music business in Nashville. It wasn't often easy or glamorous, but when I look back, I have very few regrets and a whole bunch of gratitude for what I got to do.

Records I contributed to creatively:

The Farewell Drifters - Echo Boom

This record captured a special time in the life of our band when we had stumbled upon a sound that was really unique. It was us exploring all kinds of rhythms and styles and stretching the limits of the string-band setup. Our songs, our harmonies, and our thirst for exploration fueled and amplified by Christian Sedelmyer's virtuoso fiddling. We were still an all acoustic band and we rehearsed in a knotty-pine paneled spare bedroom in a small circle facing each other. That was where Neilson first heard us, and that was the vibe he said he was trying to capture on the record.

Sierra Hull - Weighted Mind

I spent a couple years writing with other artists more regularly, and Sierra was always my favorite co-write. She was in a really explorative phase as an artist, and I had the opportunity to be there and help her flesh out new creative ideas. I was just in the right place at the right time, I guess. I still sometimes have a hard time believing that Bela Fleck produced songs I co-wrote and that the record received a Grammy nomination for Best Folk Album. This record is a really sparse and cool example of what a great artist can do with not much more than just a mandolin and her voice. Thanks for letting me write with you, Sierra.

The Farewell Drifters - Tomorrow Forever

I couldn't choose between Echo Boom and this record, so they both made it. This was the most intentionally curated record we ever made - we really pushed ourselves to write songs with a higher standard of lyrics and melody and to create musical landscapes that matched that emotion. We had evolved a lot as a band since Echo Boom. The sound became less dense and quirky, and more lush and open. We also explored a whole lot more sounds in the studio and allowed songs to be shaped in that space rather than on stage. While it's hard to pick a favorite album, this was my favorite "making-of" process. I'm still really proud of what we were able to do together on this record.

The Orphan Brigade - Soundtrack to a Ghost Story

I was privileged to engineer this record with Neilson, and got to sing on a track or two. It was a true joy to watch the magic of this record come together - the songs, the arrangements, the sounds - and to feel such a swelling of pride to watch my best friend and Drifter band-mate Josh put his creativity to work in a new place that works so well. In some ways it felt like a send-off of sorts as we were winding down our Drifters shows and this new thing was getting going, although I don't think anyone really knew they'd become a band with multiple records who tours Europe regularly. This record is still my favorite of theirs.

Records I marketed at Thirty Tigers:

Jason Isbell - Southeastern

When I started at Thirty Tigers in 2014, this record had already been out just over a year. A customer complained about the vinyl pressing, and so it was my job to suss it out. I couldn't believe I was being paid to put on headphones and focus intently on the sound of this entire beautiful and gut-wrenching record. "Cover Me Up" is of course one of the greatest songs from the past decade. Side B of the vinyl starts with "Live Oak", and it was when that song came on that I really started to grasp just how special Jason is as an artist. His voice just has a lonesome quality on that song that I've rarely found in modern music.

The Jayhawks - Paging Mr. Proust

I love this band, and this record is one of their finest. Produced by Tucker Martine and Peter Buck, it still sounds like a classic Jayhawks record but with new elements and vibrant exploration. Gary's electric guitar work is awesome and generally under-appreciated. One of my favorite parts of my job at Thirty Tigers was having a voice in the radio single-selection discussion, and "Quiet Corners & Empty Spaces" was a no-brainer.

Lori McKenna - The Bird & the Rifle

As soon as I heard Lori's "Wreck You", I was all in. She is a hit songwriter for artists like Tim McGraw and Little Big Town, but she is the most humble and kind (see what I did there?) artist. Dave Cobb's stripped down production really puts her songs in a great space to speak, and her imperfectly beautiful voice is front and center. "Halfway Home" is another that hit me hard when I heard it.

Blackberry Smoke - Like An Arrow

Straight up rock and roll with no hipster pretense or irony. It's not overly precious, but the songs are sturdy and meaningful. It's like a combination of a bunch of great music from the 70's - sometimes it's Skynyrd, sometimes Black Sabbath, sometimes CSNY, sometimes the Grateful Dead - but somehow it all sounds like Blackberry Smoke. Great guys, great band with a hugely dedicated fanbase. Loved working on this record for them.

CeCe Winans - Let Them Fall In Love

She's a legend, and this comeback album just rocks. It's kind of throwback, but still really CeCe. She includes an unlikely cover and incredible version of "Why Me, Lord" one of Kris Kristofferson's finest songs, but it's the upbeat songs that are what make the record so irresistible.

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit - The Nashville Sound

This record was sort of my crowning achievement at Thirty Tigers. It was a big responsibility and privilege to work on behalf of an album of this caliber, and I'm grateful they entrusted me to lead the efforts as project manager. We did fun things like make custom U-Turn turntables for indie record store contests, and I helped get Jason's face and music on those sidewalk boxes in downtown Nashville. The record includes one of Jason's most powerful love songs, "If We Were Vampires", but "Cumberland Gap" was the 400 Unit rocker I'd really been waiting for.

Thanks for checking the list out.. you can listen to selections from each of these records here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2oh5hHVoQOv3NF6LQwqL8P?si=QOL2hgUmQom00zoGBQMGCg

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listening-through-the-lens · 5 years

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Molly Tuttle with Christian Sedelmyer, AmericanaFest 2018 #mollytuttle #americanafest2018 #compassrecords #jimsface #trifestmusictour #listeningthroughthelens (at Compass Records) https://www.instagram.com/p/BsuXDvHFEyf/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=nrlrv80cnwkw

#mollytuttle #americanafest2018 #compassrecords #jimsface #trifestmusictour #listeningthroughthelens

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sarahjaroszphotostory · 7 years

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June 18, 2017

Photo by Christian Sedelmyer

#sarah jarosz

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cabincountrytn · 11 years

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10 String Symphony - "New Paint". Cabin Country, Nashville, TN.

#10 string symphony #Christian Sedelmyer #Rachel Baiman #Cabin Country #Nashville #TN

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inmycountryyouarealegend · 11 years

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10 String Symphony - The Shine

#music #10 string symphony #10stringsymphony #rachel baiman #christian sedelmyer #fiddle #folk #acoustic #acoustic folk #should be famous

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musicandyourmom · 11 years

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10 String Symphony - Prettiest Girl

I CANNOT get this song out of my head...

Prettiest Girl is the first track off of the album that I bought on Saturday night at their show supporting The Greencards (with whom Christian also plays) at Threadgill's on Riverside in Austin (see picture below).

10 String Symphony is a twin 5-string fiddle (with a little resonator mando and claw-hammer banjer) project by Christian Sedelmyer and Rachel Baiman based out of Nashville. They are exceptional with their fiddles, their voices mingle well together and they are great in front of a crowd.

Check them out, these cats are AWESOME.

#fiddle #5 string fiddle #prettiest girl #10 string symphony #christian sedelmyer #sedelmyer #highly recommended #rachel baiman #baiman

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krispyweiss · 3 years

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Album Reviews: Andrew Marlin - Witching Hour and Fable & Fire

Fatherhood and the COVID-19 pandemic inspired Andrew Marlin to make not one, but two, instrumental solo albums.

Witching Hour and Fable & Fire tackle the life-changing events with tone paintings by three- and four-piece string bands, respectively.

Marlin, the multi-instrumentalist male half of Mandolin Orange, worked with guitarist Josh Oliver, fiddler Christian Sedelmyer and bassist Clint Mullican on both records, with cellist Nat Smith joining on Fable & Fire.

That LP opens with the 11-minute medley “Stormy Point / Back of Beyond / The Seamstress,” which signals an album more classical, leaning further to the East, than its back porch-in-America counterpart, as the 10 tracks ping-pong between what might be the Fable songs and the more bluegrass-oriented Fire songs.

Less adventurous but more successful is Witching Hour, whose inspiration is made clear on aural sketches like the barn dance that is “Milk Drunk” and the playful lullaby “Snowblind on Snoopy Hill.”

The only words on the combined 90-plus minutes of music come on “Hawk is a Mule,” where the title is spoken repeatedly over Sedelmyer’s sawing.

The fiddler also shines on the slinky “Just a Pup,” which resembles something David “Dawg” Grisman might have cooked up for his collaborations with Jerry Garcia. And given the title, that likely was intentional. Meanwhile, the slow waltz that is “Too Hot to Move” lets listeners know Marlin put almost as much thought into the naming the songs as he did to making the music.

Grade card: Andrew Marlin - Witching Hour and Fable & Fire - A-/B-

3/16/21

#andrew marlin #mandolin orange #witching hour #fable & fire #david grisman #jerry garcia #old & in the way #grateful dead #josh oliver #christian sedelmyer #clint mullican #nat smith #2021 albums

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krispyweiss · 7 years

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The Jerry Douglas Band at Thirty One West, Newark, Ohio, Aug. 15, 2017

The Jerry Douglas Band does not play bluegrass music.

“That ain’t happenin’ tonight,” the renown, Ohio-born Dobro player, most recognized for his work with Alison Krauss and Union Station, told an enthusiastic crowd of family and fans at Newark’s Thirty One West Tuesday night. Though he expressed his profound love for his usual genre, Douglass has something else in mind with his self-named septet - namely an eclectic mix of jazz, blues, rock ‘n’ roll and soul music with just a hint of bluegrass-tinged country.

Still, Douglas teased the audience by introducing a cover of Weather Report’s “A Remark You Made” as an old-time bluegrass number that Bill Monroe would have approved of and said the picker probably even played some of the same notes. As it went, “Remark” was a compelling performance, low-key and thoughtful as the players took a series of solos.

Playing a heaping helping of tracks from JDB’s forthcoming debut LP, What If, “as in, ‘what if a Dobro player had a band like this?,’” Douglas cracked, and tunes from Douglas’ back catalog, the group put on an adventurous performance, stretching songs for as long as 20 minutes and featuring vocals on only three of the dozen or so selections that appeared over the course of 50- and 70-minute sets.

Self-deprecating and funny in his stage banter, Douglas sheepishly apologized for the new tunes - that was unnecessary - pretended to not recall Krauss’ name and said he was so moved by the audience’s enthusiasm that he’d tune up between numbers.

As is typically the case, Douglas put on a Dobro clinic and more atypically, also played electric slide guitar on two of the evening’s bluesier selections, including a rambunctious take on Tom Waits’ “2:19.” He was joined by violinist - not fiddler - Christian Sedelmyer; upright and electric bassist Daniel Kimbro (whose family drove up from Tennessee to take in the show); electric guitarist Mike Seal; trumpeter Vance Thompson; Jamel Mitchell on tenor and soprano saxophones; and Doug Belote, who alternately brushed and bashed his drums as he added a taste of jazz to the rhythm section.

Douglas was a generous bandleader, giving his mates ample room to stretch out and standing toe-to-toe with Sedelmyer and Kimbro - whose bass solos proved the instrument is for much more than just holding the bottom end - as they traded riffs at center stage. Applause filled the tiny performance space after particularly strong individual showcase spots - of which there were many, particularly on instrumental tracks such as “Cavebop,” which Douglas said he wrote after a mushroom-induced dream he had where Fred Flintstone and Charlie Parker were discussing the merits of bebop “even though it hadn’t been invented yet.”

“The Last Wild Moor” was equally invigorating and both tracks allowed the horn and rhythm sections to shine.

The band shredded Jimi Hendrix’s “Hey Joe” blueprint and rendered the song as a full-tilt, triple-time rocker with Douglas singing and playing enthusiastically as his compadres cooked so hard behind him that a lesser band of musicians would have probably run off the rails.

The contemplative “Senia’s Lament” was “Joe”’s antithesis; slowly unfolding over several minutes as the players made a tone painting of the tune. “Who’s Your Uncle?” was as close to pure bluegrass as the show got and was so raucous that the band played one more number - a sort of faux encore without leaving the stage - to send the audience off in a more relaxed mood so concertgoers wouldn’t get speeding tickets on the way home.

Grade card: The Jerry Douglas Band at Thirty One West - 8/15/17 - A-

#jerry douglas #the jerry douglas band #alison krauss and union station #tom waits #weather report #bill monroe #jimi hendrix #charlie parker #christian sedelmyer #daniel kimbro #mike seal #doug belote #jamel mitchell #vance thompson

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listening-through-the-lens · 6 years

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What were our very best live shows throughout 2017?

photo Jim Jacob

By Rob Dickens

Smoke On The Water

I had seen only a few shows on water before – the North Mississippi Allstars on the Steamboat Natchez paddling up the Mississippi River off New Orleans. It was when bassist Chris Chew was in the band. Man they funked it up. (I loved that era of the band – check out Hernando (2006)).

Another musica nautica adventure featured the wonderful English guitarist and songwriter Martin Simpson. On a flat watercraft along the upper reaches of the Thames near Windsor, he, along with master player Andy Cutting, gave us a wondrous insight into the best English folk. (The set proceeded while the boat went through a few river locks and paused when, on the captain’s orders due to passing under a VERY low bridge, the entire assembly sat on the floor as the vessel’s roof descended to our heads).

I mention this because my shows at sea experience have been blown out of the water (pardon the pun) by not one music cruise but two, back to back, in 2017 – same port, same ship, same cabin even.

The Big Four

The Cayamo and Outlaw Country Cruises were spiritual revelations in February. So much great music, at such close quarters, with a bunch of music-loving colleagues. The bar therefore was set very high early in the year. The other two great sources of live shows were AmericanaFest in Nashville in September and The Festy Experience near Arrington Virginia just after.

Back To The Well

Our Total Tennessee Tour dug deep into music roots this year and provided a timely reminder of where some of this wonderful stuff that we love came from. We stayed on in Nashville to go to The Opry and Music City Roots, visited Memphis (Gracelands, Stax, Sun Studio, Ardent Studio), Loretta Lynn’s Ranch, Clarksdale (Red’s Lounge, Ground Zero, Delta Blues Museum) and deep into The Blue Ridge Mountains heritage trail (Bristol, Galax, Abingdon) – hell, we even stopped off in Chattanooga. This provided me with a re-education, a re-positioning of where all this fits. It enhanced what I saw even more.

What was I thinking?!

It was the last evening of The Festy Experience. I had a writing deadline and a monster trip home the next day (30+ hours). It was raining steadily – there were acts on that I had seen before for the next three hours, at the end of which Billy Strings was due. I packed up early – big mistake!

Sound Advice

There were a couple of exceptions – once at The High Watt and twice at the Cannery Ballroom, but the sound at AmericanaFest was again remarkably good, sound engineers seemingly invisible moving from one set to the next with aplomb.

Some disappointments

Wanda Jackson on the Outlaw Cruise demonstrated that it best we all concentrate and rejoice in her legacy and that further live appearances, based on the ship performances, are not necessary. Amanda Shires‘ set at the Station Inn during AmericanaFest 2017 was meandering. Jason Eady‘s show at the aforementioned Cannery Ballroom was absolutely ruined by the sound no matter where I stood. Buddy Miller and Rodney Crowell were both absent from the Americana Honors and Awards Show due to illness. Van Morrison‘s acceptance of his Americana Honor (I won’t use the term ‘speech’ as that would be misleading) was awkward and frigid. Steve Earle kept checking his watch during one show even while he was playing the guitar – it broke the spell.

The loudest

Easy. Deke Harp at Levon’s Bar and Grill in Clarksdale. Even the food covered its ears!

The best story-teller

Justin Hayward (Moody Blues) had some great stories – early band, War Of The Worls soundtrack and touring with Cream.

Honorable mentions

Hard to fit everyone into twenty, as some wise person once said. Here are some terrific shows that got edged out:

Tim O’Brien Caravan Music Club Melbourne Aus

Rosie Flores (with Sophia Johnson), Outlaw Country Cruise

Lucinda Williams, Outlaw Country Cruise

Teskey Brothers, Music On The Hill Melbourne Aus

Doug Seegers, The Mercy Lounge Nashville TN (AmericanaFest)

Nick Forster and Danny Barnes, The Festy Experience

Carl Anderson, The Festy Experience

Robbie Fulks, The Caravan Club Melbourne

Christian Lopez, Cayamo Cruise

All photos Rob Dickens except where noted

The BEST

20. Paul Thorn Band – Cayamo Cruise, Somewhere At Sea – 22 Feb

I’ve seen Thorn play quite a few times. Always love his enthusiasm, his folksy rock and blues vibe, no pretensions, nothing but uplifting messages. So embraceable. On the Cayamo Cruise, we attended the Stardust Theatre waiting patiently for the long-drop red velvet curtains to let go of their embrace and see beyond. Finally they parted like the Red Sea and we were greeted by a screen and engrossing mini-doco featuring Thorn and focussing on his pre-music, accomplished boxing career. He then appeared in person and announced that his permanent break with The Ring led him to his debut Hammer and Nail which he, in order to celebrate its twentieth anniversary, would perform the entire album front-to-back, with the whole set recorded. It was a celebration for him and, without a shred of doubt, everyone in that room.

19. Lori McKenna – 3rd & Lindsley Nashville TN @ AmericanaFest – 14 Sep

Now here’s a songwriter! Ten albums to her name, she has remained in Stoughton, Massachusetts despite the amount of time she spends in Nashville, so grounded is she with her extensive family and possibly being able to captures insights afresh living away from ‘the business’. That has not stopped her garnering considerable success – her songs covered by Alison Krauss, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw and Keith Urban. Number one Billboard hits, a CMA Award, a National Songwriter Association International gong and her first Grammy attest to her craft.

Her latest album The Bird & The Wire is highly acclaimed and adds to her already impressive set of achievements. This night she was humble, engaging and warm, with plenty of banter that provided context to her evocative stories.

18. Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen – Fern Tree Gully Bowls Club, Melbourne Aus – 21 Nov

Frank Solivan with Caleb Klauder in Nashville – photo Jim Jacob

A Grammy-nominated, twice IBMA-award winning (for the coveted Best Instrumental Band) outfit from Washington DC. As well as being a super group of musicians, their repertoire extends way beyond traditional bluegrass, mixing pop, rock and other standard fare effortlessly. I have seen them live a few times now, both in Raleigh NC and Nashville TN but tonight had a little edge to it. Perhaps it was the modest setting, the small but adoring audience, the collaborative willingness to share the stage with the support act and other musicians or their sheer joy of travelling around Australia for the first time and ending their tour this night. Whatever the reason, it was special.

17, Big Star and Friends – Cannery Ballroom, Nashville TN @ AmericanaFest – 12 Sep

Big Star drummer Jody Stephens at Ardent Studio in Memphis, a few days after the AmericanaFest show

In 2010 an all-star band unearthed the original scores, assembled an orchestra and performed fabled cult band Big Star’s album Third. Following the death of front man Chilton just before a scheduled SXSW performance in 2010, performer friends came to play the gig in his honor. A concert documentary film Thank You, Friends: Big Star’s Third Live…And More followed and screened at AmericanaFest 2017.

The day following the film, the concert at the Cannery Ballroom was performed in its entirety, featuring the original Third conductor Carl Marsh and core players including sole surviving Big Star member Jody Stephens along with Mike Mills (REM), Mitch Easter (Let’s Active), Chris Stamey (the dB’s) and Pat Sansone (Wilco) to name a few. The Third performance was followed by a set of Big Star hits with many special musical guests. Two hours of magic.

16. Joe Ely Band – Outlaw Country Cruise, Somewhere At Sea – 26 Feb

‘Twas a breezy night on the ship’s deck. The Joe Ely Band members were in cracking form. This Texas legend with his distinctive chants and unique blend of Texas country, honky tonk, rock and Tex-Mex held our attention with ease. Ely’s long-time band cohorts were tight, prancing around the stage ready to pounce (well, except for the drummer). It had been a while since I caught him at Antone’s in Austin TX. Absence DOES make the heart grow fonder!

15. Jerry Douglas Band – The Festy Experience, Infinity Downs Farm Virginia – 8 Oct

Jerry Douglas – photo Rob Dickens

A new album (out just in the latter part of this year) What If represents another significant departure and music adventure for the redoubtable musician, producer and collaborator extraordinaire. The Jerry Douglas Band contains some of finest players in the land which reminded me of the sheer unadulterated virtuosity of Punch Brothers. Jerry was plugged in and a far cry from his more well-known bluegrass/country contributions. Tonight he was channelling his early influences Weather Report and Chick Corea. There was jazz fusion, Douglas’ party vocals and some highly inventive covers. For the record, the other band members are Doug Belote (drums), bassist Daniel Kimbro, violinist Christian Sedelmyer, Mike Seal electric guitarist. Spell-binding!

14. Bottle Rockets – Outlaw Country Cruise, Somewhere At Sea – 21 Feb

The Bottle Rockets make their music sound simple. Almost hay seed primal. Maybe that is the attraction. It is anthemic, lyrically cut-to-the-bone and contains a wave of sound that picks you up and dumps you if you’re not on your mettle. Pleasing us since the early 90’s, this St Louis, Missouri-based power four piece has been a stalwart of the thumping roots rock movement for a long time, well before it came into fashion in fact. This was my first viewing and after many attempts of travelling across the Pacific. ‘1000 Dollar Car’, ‘Welfare Music’ and, most of all, ‘Dog’. I must see them again – it was too much to take in.

13. David Luning – Music City Roots, Franklin TN 19 Sep

David Who? Former American Idol contestant? Hmmm. Well, consider me blown away by this unique rocking storyteller from California’s Sonoma County. Covering fast and slower material with aplomb, he has that knack that the best comedians have when telling a joke – using space and timing to gripping effect. The thundering ‘Bet It On Black’, the pleading ‘Danger’ and the reflective and majestic ‘Be Like Gold’. Go see him or buy his album Restless – or do both.

12. Larry Cordle, Carl Jackson with Val Storey and others, The Station Inn Nashville TN – 11 Sep

A wonderful band steeped in country, gospel and just about anything good. Larry Cordle is an acclaimed songwriter, singer, stalwart – Carl Jackson the same with guitar sidekick and close friend to Glen Campbell to add to his bio. Many guests including Campbell’s daughter Ashley (god-daughter to Jackson), the honeyed voice of Val Storey, even a visiting Irishman got up and sang a love song to his wife in the crowd (I admit it wasn’t a musical highlight of the night, but a glorious example of community and song). When someone sang Glen’s last release ‘Adios’ with Ashley in the crowd, it proved to be one of the heightened emotional moments of the year. AND this core outfit does this show EVERY MONDAY NIGHT.

11. Courtney Marie Andrews and Joe Pug, The Spotted Mallard Melbourne Aus – 13 July

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I’m not sure why this tour pairing was arranged and how. Joe Pug, the Austin Texas troubadour who has graced these shores a considerable number of times before returning on the back of his release last year Windfall. The younger Courtney Marie Andrews, hailing from Phoenix Arizona, whose debut album in 2016 Honest Life was a serious eye opener. Tonight was the fifth stop on an eight-date tour of Australia, with both artists largely in solo acoustic guitar mode, except for Pug on keyboards for a spell. Eminently good vocals and songwriting through the night with not a dip in excellence to be seen.

10. Old 97’s Outlaw Country Cruise, Somewhere At Sea – 27 Feb

The next set after The Bottle Rockets (see above) in The Stardust Theatre. The new album from Old 97‘s released almost to the day – we got a wonderful opportunity to hear just about all the new material plus plenty of the old stuff too. Energy, passion, songwriting with messages crystal clear and highly agreeable. Much of it delivered at their renowned breakneck tempo but their sensitive side shone through as well. I heard that their later show on the pool deck was even better! Holy cowpunk!

9. Infamous Stringsdusters – The Festy Experience, Infinity Downs Farm Virginia – 6 Oct

The Infamous Stringdusters were from around these parts but have since spread themselves a little, with Brevard North Carolina now their base. But they are hometown picks for sure. In fact, they formed the backbone of the festival schedule. Members comprise guitarist Andy Falco, banjo man Chris Pandolfi, Andy Hall (dobro), Jeremy Garrett (fiddle) and Travis Book (double bass) and together they are formidable. Roving around the stage with ease, they break out of any restrictions that other bluegrass outfits may feel hidebound by. A set list with plenty of covers, all of them distinctive and cleverly chosen. The band’s jamming was spectacular.

8. The Mavericks – Outlaw Country Cruise, Somewhere At Sea – 26 Feb

This one’s easy. The sail-away show of the Outlaw Cruise. Shots of something or other handed out to every passenger before it started. The large ship moved, as if propelled by the irresistible sounds of The Mavericks, gliding through the air and now across the water. What they do is make every moment a joyous one. If you can’t get uplifted when The Mavericks are playing, you need medical help or give up music. Funnily enough, the band mis-timed the set and walked off thinking they were done but plenty more was to come. They called a team huddle (see above) and proceeded with nary a scratch. A guest appearance from Steve Earle didn’t hurt either.

7. Lee Roy Parnell – Music City Roots, Franklin TN – 19 Sep

Texas country rocker Lee Roy Parnell looked the goods. His interview prior to the set was informative and gave me the impression that he doesn’t like being messed around. He carried that onto the set., fiery guitar perfectly attuned to that unique Texas take on many genres of which I never tire. His new CD Midnight Believer was on display with pride and it was a joyous opportunity to set my eyes and ears on someone who surprisingly is not a little (or a lot) more well-known.

6. Son Volt – The Corner Hotel, Melbourne Aus – 12 Oct

Jay Farrar – photo Jim Jacob

My first time with Jay Farrar in band mode. I had enjoyed a couple of acoustic shows over the years but this was revelatory. This night I made a decision to leave my notebook behind – determined not to write anything down as it would prove to be a distraction. It was a prudent call at the time as the band’s power interplay was astoundingly good but doesn’t help me now as I write this with only my memory to guide me. I have a lot of friends that were there or saw the band at Out On The Weekend festival just before who rate this as one of their best concerts EVER. If you want any information about the set list or other details, leave a comment and I’ll get my expert buddies onto the job (they know who they are).

5. Patty Griffin and Friends – Cayamo Cruise, Somewhere At Sea – 24 Feb

The ‘Patty Griffin and Friends’ session included Griffin, Buddy Miller, Rodney Crowell, Lee Ann Womack, Emmylou Harris and Jedd Hughes (crack Australian guitarist). In the round, sharing songs, stories, emotions. I was in the front row (thanks Sixthman!) and it seemed like the shortest set possible. More more!

4. Americana Honors and Awards – Ryman Auditorium @ Americanafest, Nashville TN – 13 Sep

Again, a magnificent cornerstone for AmericanaFest, held on the Wednesday night. After five of these in a row, you can get a little picky (I rate the 2014 Show with Ry Cooder in the All-Star band as my favourite). Performers on this star-studded night were: Old Crow Medicine Show, Jim Lauderdale, Brent Cobb, Lori McKenna, Iris Dement, John Prine, Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives, Sam Outlaw, Amanda Shires, Billy Bragg/Joe Henry, Graham Nash with the Milk Carton Kids, Drive-By Truckers, Aaron Lee Tasjan, The Lumineers, Robert Cray, Hurray For The Riff Raff, Margo Price, Jason Isbell and Van Morrison.

There was more but the list above is enough to justify a special night’s work.

3. Guy Clark Tribute – Cayamo Cruise – Somewhere At Sea – 21 Feb

Melody Duncan of The Mulligan Brothers during the Tribute

I had just finished reading Without Getting Killed or Caught: The Story of Guy Clark (Tamara Saviano) and his departure became raw again. The tribute set was stunning and emotional – contributions both musical and personal from Steve Earle, Rodney Crowell, Emmylou Harris, Sarah Jarosz, Aaron Lee Tasjan, Brian Wright, Angaleena Presley, Paul Thorn and others. Another of the seemingly shortest sets of the year but it actually stretched to ninety minutes. A wonderful emotional farewell to a legend.

2. Drive-by Truckers – The Festy Experience, Infinity Downs Farm Virginia – 7 Oct

A ninety minute blast that ended my busy festival day. I had seen Drive-By Truckers at the Cannery Ballroom as part of AmericanaFest just three weeks earlier (it seemed much longer) but tonight surpassed that one by a home stretch. Perhaps due to the beautiful setting here and my proximity to the stage hence the ‘immersion factor’. The light rain started almost at the same time as their opening greeting. They were pretty angry in the lead up to the release of their last album, the elegantly simple titled American Band and that was BEFORE the US Presidential election and its aftermath, not to mention a number of controversies and incidents down South during 2017. Tonight they really wanted to make a statement – ‘Black Lives Matter’ prominently displayed with pride. And so they did. Patterson Hood and Mike Cooley strode the stage with a Southern Rock majesty. This correspondent spent most of the time in the photography pit. A recent song “This Perilous Ride” was potent, a blistering version of one of my favourites “Ronnie and Neil”, the driving “Ever South”, “Tom Petty’s “The Waiting” and the closing protest “Hell No I Ain’t Happy”.

Brian Wright – Fond Objects @ Americanafest, Nashville TN – 17 Sep

Not many words required for this. Brian Wright, guitarist for Aaron Lee Tasjan, solo artist and co-founder of Cafe Rooster Records at just about the last set of AmericanaFest 2017 – see below:

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What ya reckon? Tell me if you were at these shows and what you think

How ’bout your own faves of 2017?

What were our very best live shows throughout 2017?

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Best Live Shows 2017 What were our very best live shows throughout 2017?

#Best Gigs #best live shows 2017

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