Am I man enough to take on Bettye LaVette Twice In One Night? Yes I am.

           
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The High Preistess of emotionally drenched, gut-punch, way-down-deep-inside soul and R&B singing, Bettye LaVette is playing The Purcell Room in London on Thursday night.

Actually, Bettye is playng two shows: one at 8pm and 10pm. I'm pulling double duty and going to both. There is no way that I could allow myself to leave the venue knowing that Bettye was coming out to deliver the (more) goods.

 
My love affair with Bettye started when my good friend, The Kingfish, turned me on to her album, "Child of the 70's".  After that I latched on to "I've Got My Own Hell to Raise" (check our her version of Lucinda William's "Joy") and "Scene of the Crime". This last album was recorded with the Drive-By Truckers and Spooner Oldham backing her up.  Patterson worked with Bettye to write the song, "Before the Money Came: The Battle of Bettye LaVette". Are you unfamiliar with Bettye's story?  Do you want to find out about her in under five minutes? Just hit play, brothers and sisters. (all those album links I gave you are to reviews...worth the read)
 
Here are the songs I mentioned plus a few others that make my water boil:
 
 
Now, I am flat out hooked on her new album, "Interpretations: The British Rock Songbook". To everyone of the artists that she covers on this set...sorry, Bettye owns these songs now. This video is her rendition of The Who's, "Love Reign O'er Me", performed at the Kennedy Center Honors in 2008. Surely you have seen this, right? If not...buckle up.
 
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I'll post my review of the night's two shows. Bettye is my fave female singer of all time. I won't sacrifice her at the Alter of Unmet Expectations (assuming I set them too high)...I am just happy to get the chance to see her...twice.
 
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My concert going  is about to pick up a mighty head of steam. I have already seen Winwood/Clapton and Willie Nelson...and now, Bettye on Thursday. After that I take off in an all out sprint until I hit the Wilco gig in September. Here is what is on the menu (for now):
  • The Hold Steady
  • The Black Keys
  • Stevie Wonder / Alejandro  Escovedo / Carinne Bailey Rae / Florence Rawlings (festival)
  • Jackson Browne
  • Jeff Tweedy (solo gig)
  • Buddy Guy
  • Leon Russell
  • Kris Kristofferson
  • Wilco
Yeah...LOTS of concert reviews coming up. 

 

 

Poorman's Podcast: It DOES come easy: thoughts on Italy, decent proposals & the High Priestess of Soul, Bettye LaVette

Listen!

Talking Old Soldiers...(Neil and Crosby strike an "old" pose)

When I saw this pic, I thought of the Bettye Lavette cover of the Elton John song, "Talking Old Soldiers". Bettye sings the shit out of this song. She sings the shit out of every song she sings. She sticks her soul-finger into emotion's open wound and wiggles it around until emotions got nothing left in the tank to give. She's no steeler though...she's a natural born sender.

I included Elton's version here as well. I figured you need to hear how his floor gets mopped up...even though he does it justice it...Bettye wears the Blue Ribbon. 

This pic also reminded me of a Neil and Willie tune. You'll be tappin' a toe and slappin' a knee before you can say, "Trans".

Fucking Neil...

 

The Sunday Sauce: Scenes from The Soul Kitchen

Back in August I posted about a family tradition: the Sunday Sauce. Each Sunday my old man would make a homemade pasta sauce. There is lots of Italian blood running through both sides of my family.  Have a read of that post to find about more about the tradition if you like.

Today is Sunday and I needed the plasma. I cooked up a batch of sauce and took a few snaps. As always, the key ingredient was used: music. Nothing like spending an hour or so making sauce with good rhythms and good blues playing in the background.

I have an iTunes playlist I created that I use as the soundtrack to my cooking; its called, 'Blues With a Feeling".  It is a great blend of Blues, Gospel, Country, Soul and R&B...all old, old school. Just the way I like it.

A little bit of garlic, a little bit of oregano, a little bit of Booker T. & the MGs, a little bit of Waylon Jennings and a heathy dose of Bettye Lavette.

Perfect

                                   

p.s. I made enough for everyone. Come over if you want. Bring wine.

(If you've never heard this Bettye LaVatte song...LISTEN NOW!  The Drive-By Truckers are backing her up)

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