Steve Earle ?

[swampbrain]

Any other fans.
Not really the fan boy type but I've listened to and liked so much of his (diverse) catalog of music he's probably my favorite musical artist.

IMHO he's the greatest storyteller/songwriter ever.
And so many people just think "copperhead road" or slap the "country" label on him.

Mans kept his twang but has done rock albums, blues albums, bluegrass, acoustic, all while spinning tales of the everyman/everywoman that have beginnings, middles, and ends and show a degree of empathy that seems uncommon in many songwriters/performers.

 

[mkt]

Recent article and sad story.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.ny...usic/steve-earle-justin-townes-earle.amp.html

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

Galway Girl, one of his great story songs.

 

[GD Fan]

His live album Shut Up and Die Like an Aviator is especially enjoyable.

 

[pwjazz]

I got to see him play in San Marcos years ago and had a good time. I can't say that I follow him in particular though.

 

[swampbrain]

His rendition of "Pigrim" is my favorite, and "The Devil's Right Hand" isn't far behind. Jim Taylor

Not a religious person myself but LOVE that song.

His live album Shut Up and Die Like an Aviator is especially enjoyable.

That album was my 1st exposure to Steve (aside from hearing copperhead road of course) and my fiance at the time and I listened to "Billy Austin" and it blew me away. I've got only a few artists that rate more than 1 or 2 full albums in my collection, the rest are selected cuts. And I've got 12 of his albums - most full.

Recent article and sad story.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.ny...usic/steve-earle-justin-townes-earle.amp.html

Read that when it happened. RIP Justin.

 

[mkt]

Released today

https://steveearle.bandcamp.com/album/j-t

 

[swampbrain]

"My name is Billy Austin
I'm twenty-nine years old
I was born in Oklahoma
Quarter Cherokee, I'm told
Don't remember Oklahoma
It's been so long since I left home
Seems like I've always been in prison
Like I've always been alone

Didn't mean to hurt nobody
Never thought I'd cross that line
I held up a filling station
Like I'd done a hundred times
The kid done like I told him
And he lay face down on the floor
Guess I'll never know what made me
Turn and walk back through that door

The shot rang out like thunder
My ears rang like a bell
No one came running
So I called the cops myself
Took their time to get there
And I guess I could've run
I knew I should be feeling something
But I never shed tear one
I didn't even make the papers
Because I only killed one man
But my trial was over quickly
And then the long hard way began
The court appointed lawyer
Couldn't look me in the eye
He just stood up and closed his briefcase
When they sentenced me to die

And now my waiting's over
As the final hour drags by
I ain't about to tell you
That I don't deserve to die
There's twenty-seven men here
Mostly black and brown and poor
Most of them are guilty
But who are you to say for sure?

So when the preacher comes to get me
And they shave off all my hair
Could you take that long walk with me
Knowing Hell is waiting there?
Could you pull that switch yourself, sir
With a sure and steady hand?
Could you still tell yourself, sir
That you're better than I am?
My name is Billy Austin
I'm twenty-nine years old
I was born in Oklahoma
Quarter Cherokee, I'm told"

 

[swampbrain]

Released today
View attachment 103722
https://steveearle.bandcamp.com/album/j-t

Thanks Man! Regarding his sons death I remember a quote by him after he got clean. Something along the lines of he didn't believe that you had to suffer to create art but if you have suffered it should be in your art.

 

[quimbo]

There are several live Steve Earle downloads at LossLess Legs, a bit-torrent site that torrents artists who support free electronic trading of their live material - https://www.shnflac.net/

 

[swampbrain]

There are several live Steve Earle downloads at LossLess Legs, a bit-torrent site that torrents artists who support free electronic trading of their live material - https://www.shnflac.net/

Thx! I'll check that out. He's usually great live. Best show I've ever seen was a small venue with an incredible all acoustic lineup supporting the "Train a Comin" album.

 

[Shorty]

I’d never heard of Steve Earle before attending a Garth Brooks concert in Rotterdam, in ‘94. Earle’s music was played through the P.A. before the start of the show and wowed me: ‘Copperhead Road’, ‘Someday’... I still listen to those early songs now and then, but lost track of Earle after El Corazón.