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Ricky Skaggs and Bruce filmed their episode of CMT’s Crossroads last night at The Factory in Franklin, Tenn., and thanks to a kind benefactor, I had a seat for the show inside a converted iron stove foundry. A CMT person said the crowd was the largest-ever for a taping (700-800?), and the musicianship combo was the best they’d had.
I don’t have a full set list, but the evening went something like this: The Dreaded Spoon, Come On Out With Your Hands Up, The Way It Is, Across the Rocky Mountains (Roscoe Holcomb), Mandolin Rain, End of the Innocence, The Valley Road, Sheep Shell Corn, Super Freak. Skaggs’ “Stubb” and “Little Sadie” might have been in there, too; I think I’m missing one or two.
“Come On Out With Your Hands Up (And Reach for the Sky)” is a “very deep, somewhat spiritual-type song that we could get our teeth into,” Ricky said. Gordon Kennedy was guest artist for that number. John Anderson (of “Swingin'” fame) was guest vocalist on “Super Freak,” which, of course, was a real kick as a bluegrass song!
“Sheep Shell Corn (By the Rattling of His Horn)” brought out the “Holy Ghost,” as Ricky said, in several dancers. “Gulf of Mexico Fishing Boat Blues,” “The Hills of Mexico,” “Crown of Jewels,” “Night On The Town,” and “The Road Not Taken” were also recorded for the album, according to the official site.
The band was Ricky’s Kentucky Thunder. Sonny Emory played drums; he was the only Noisemaker there. I thought Ricky’s 21-year-old fiddle player, Andy Leftwich, was impressive and made many contributions, particularly to “The Way It Is” and “End of the Innocence.”
The show is scheduled to air Feb. 24 at 9 p.m. eastern on CMT. The album is due March 20, says a Billboard magazine article.
Through the generosity of the good folks at brucehornsby.com, I got two tickets to the show in Franklin as well. What a fantastic performance.
My wife and I got to sit on the fourth row…maybe 20 or 25 feet from the stage on Bruce’s side (always good to be able to watch the prestidigitation!)As the guy from CMT said in his intro, that was the most amazing collection of true musicians on stage that Crossroads has ever seen. The chemistry between Bruce and Ricky was great and, as Victor said, Kentucky Thunder’s fiddle player (Andy) is amazing.
I’ll have to say, the live version of “Mandolin Rain” was incredible…and to hear it played with Ricky Skaggs on mandolin…wow. And it’s always good to hear “The Valley Road” played Bluegrass style. “The Dreaded Spoon” is a new favorite. I am counting the days until the show airs on CMT and the Hornsby/Skaggs bluegrass album comes out.
It was a fantastic evening…two great musicians in front of a talented band in a small, intimate hall….it was well worth the 8-hour drive from Virginia (through an ice storm, no less).
Yes, I know the photo quality isn’t great….I was following CMT’s no-flash rule.
My seat was on the opposite side of the floor, also four rows back, GreenFlag.
I had good line-of-sight from Ricky to Bruce and straight back to Sonny. What a great bunch of musicians! I think this record has the potential to really take off and hit the collective consciousness like the “Oh Brother Where Art Thou” soundtrack a few years ago. Anybody agree/disagree?
I hope Ricky and Bruce are able to align their schedules to promote the record adequately. After the CMT appearance, Bruce said it would be difficult for them to do very many shows together because of their conflicting schedules.
Does anyone know how the New York show at B.B. King’s went?
Bruce and Ricky in NYC
I was at the show in NY last night. Paul Thorn was a wonderful warmup…great, funny, original songs! Of course, Shawn Colvin’s set was haunting and beautiful.
Ricky and Bruce set the house on fire! What a treat to see these two spectacular musicians perform together. The band was so tight and it was obvious that both Bruce and Ricky were pushing the envelope as far as it would go and having a ball doing it. I can’t wait for the cd to be released. And, the onstage banter hinted at a second collaboration….so we’ll just have to see what happens on that! They certainly left the audience wanting more!!
Kat
That’s too cool, Victor.
I agree totally….this partnership has the potential to bring a lot of crossover. I noticed there weren’t too many people yelling out ‘bruuuuuce’ during the show (I was one of a few). The folks sitting around me weren’t as familiar with Bruce before the show, but were really turned on to him afterwards.Kat, how about that fiddle player? In my opinion, he was the third star of the show.
Victor, I gotta tell you….when either Bruce or Ricky said that anyone who showed up in NY with their CMT flyer in hand would get in free, my wife and I had to think about the logistics of the trip! But, one cross-country trip in a week was all our babysitters could stand.
I agree…the fiddle player was the third star!
And…the fiddle is a cool variant in Bruce’s music. It’s always great to hear a new twist!
Kat
If you think they’ve heard these Bruce standards plenty of times before … you’ve never heard them quite like this!
I honestly didn’t think Bluegrass would be an ideal vehicle for songs like “The Way It Is” or “The End of the Innocence,” but they’ve done something really special with them. Obviously “Mandolin Rain” and “Valley Road” are custom-fit for a Bluegrass environment, but even those songs have been improved upon.
The new material and classic Bluegrass numbers are also great stuff! “Across the Rocky Mountains” and “Come on Out” really grow on you… I can’t wait to hear the whole record!
Vic
Hopefully someone can record this show when it airs on 24 Feb and post it onto dime for us folk across the pond who don’t get the chance to see it.
bb king’s show
I too was at the show in New York. It could not have been any better. My only disappointment was to hear that their incredible version of “The End of the Innocence” was NOT going to be on their joint record. Bruce alluded to it a bit, saying that CMT wanted “the hits” so they did it for the tv show, but it would have to go on “volume two” of the skaggs/hornsby collaberation.
CMT Crossroads
Remember to set your VCRs, Tivos, DVRs and what-have-yous tomorrow at 9 p.m. Eastern for CMT’s “Crossroads.”
And look for me, hooting and hollering and Bruuuceing, four rows back on the right side.
Hey Vic!
I’ll be there! You’ll be the only good looking guy there! 😆 That might be different if I was there! 😆
You seem to be ticked off at me, but it was meant in good intentions! You’re a good looking fella and the Bruce Nation wants to see that! To be able to put a familiar name to a friendly face. We can still meet on the “red hills of Georgia” or the “shores of Lake Lanier” and still have a good time!
Your literary style, skills and rhetoric are exceptional! I mean that! I do look forward to your next syallable!
David Day
Lake Lanier, GAPutting CMT show on Torrent thread
It has been many moons since I have been to this great site. It looks great and it is great to see the Bruce fire is still lit and growing stronger. I pulled out the Gadsden Alabama show tonight on my way home and it put me back in Bruce mode. I had to take a few steps back from Bruce mode as my wife got really tired of Halcyon Days and the live show. But I feel rejuvenated and I am ready for more Bruciness.
All that being said, I was wondering if anyone was planning to Tivo or record the CMT show tonight and put it up for download. I have the John Mayer and Brad Paisley show but it took me almost a year to find it. I would love to get it down on a CD and spread Bruce to the masses here in Alabama. I work for Honda Manufacturing of Alabama and have contact with several hunderd people a day and have been spreading Bruce’s newer stuff around to all that will listen. This will only add to my Bruce for Everyone campaign that I started after I got my Gadsden show. Thanks in advance for any help that is given and it’s great to be back.
CMT show
I can’t wait until the CMT show tonight! I have been looking forward to seeing these two guys together, and haven’t been able to see the preview on CMT.com since I have a Mac, so it’s all going to be new. And Vic, I cannot adequately express my jealousy of you in having attended the CMT taping.
Amanda
CMT and stuff
Amanda, I can’t see the CMT video on my Mac either. But I can view it on YouTube … if you want to spoil yourself before tonight! As to attending the taping, I have to thank Si’s giveaway and my benefactor, a Bruce überfan who shared a ticket with me!
BamaFan, good to have you back — even if your sports allegiances are dubious. Good luck with your “Bruce for Everyone” campaign; it’s funny how we all love to proselytize for Bruce.
David, how could I be mad at you? You do realize I was only joking in the Avatar thread!?! Since you’re my Brucian mentor, I’m allowed to give you a hard time now and again. BTW, I got lost on I-85 last week and almost paid you a visit at Lake Lanier. 😯
For everybody else, I’ll one day try to figure out how to post my amateurish recordings of the CMT performances of The Way It Is and End of the Innocence — if one or the other doesn’t make the final cut on the show (neither made it to the record).
Re: CMT show
Amanda wrote:I can’t wait until the CMT show tonight! I have been looking forward to seeing these two guys together, and haven’t been able to see the preview on CMT.com since I have a Mac, so it’s all going to be new. And Vic, I cannot adequately express my jealousy of you in having attended the CMT taping.Amanda
Hey Amanda! Welcome back! Where you been?
David Day
Lake Lanier, GARe: CMT and stuff
Victor wrote:BamaFan, good to have you back — even if your sports allegiances are dubious. Good luck with your “Bruce for Everyone” campaign; it’s funny how we all love to proselytize for Bruce.When I was driving up for the Knoxville show this past summer, I saw a bumper sticker that said, “Avoid the Rush, Hate Bama Early”! 😆
Of course the bumper sticker was orange & white. (You can’t trust anyone who wears orange!)BamaFan, poor Vic must have been born on the wrong side of the railroad tracks. Lives in GA, but pulls for the Vols. Speaking of Bama, do you know what the best thing to come out of Alabama is? I-85! 😆
Speaking of I-85, Vic you’re welcome at Day’s End anytime!
What does all this have to do with Ricky + Bruce?
Nothing! 😆
Go DAWGS!
David Day
Lake Lanier, GAI’m a little dissapointed in the CMT special. Not the music selection or the performance, which were great, but too many commercials! 😡
I don’t watch TV very much. I’d rather be on the Bruuuce.com forum!
Hey Vic, the few songs that had drums was that Sonny?
David Day
Lake Lanier, GADavid,
Hope you don’t mind if I answer your question instead of Vic. Maybe you can ask him a different one.
Yes, Sonny was the drummer for the CMT show.Carey
CMT show
I enjoyed the show; it was interesting to see how they cut it together with the pre-recorded interviews. Bruce and Ricky have great chemistry.
I’ll have to go back and look at it again, but there was one song in particular that I remember Bruce wasn’t happy with for some reason at the taping (sounded good to me!). And as you’re watching the show on TV, as the song ends, the camera pulls back to an empty audience. Did they not use ANY of the versions recorded with the audience and opt for a version they performed in rehearsals?
I’m thinking the song was “Valley Road,” but I’m not sure. They tried that, Super Freak, and another song or two twice during the audience taping because they had problems or weren’t happy with what they were hearing for whatever reason.
Re: CMT show
Victor wrote:I enjoyed the show; it was interesting to see how they cut it together with the pre-recorded interviews. Bruce and Ricky have great chemistry.I’ll have to go back and look at it again, but there was one song in particular that I remember Bruce wasn’t happy with for some reason at the taping (sounded good to me!). And as you’re watching the show on TV, as the song ends, the camera pulls back to an empty audience. Did they not use ANY of the versions recorded with the audience and opt for a version they performed in rehearsals?
I’m thinking the song was “Valley Road,” but I’m not sure. They tried that, Super Freak, and another song or two twice during the audience taping because they had problems or weren’t happy with what they were hearing for whatever reason.
I was at the tv taping as well and I believe the song you’re thinking of was Mandolin Rain. I too was waiting on the applause at the end of the tv broadcast but instead it was just Skaggs saying “that’s beautiful, just beautiful”. I’m getting chills just thinking about it. Thank God for DVR.
countrydoctor wrote:I was at the tv taping as well and I believe the song you’re thinking of was Mandolin Rain. I too was waiting on the applause at the end of the tv broadcast but instead it was just Skaggs saying “that’s beautiful, just beautiful”. I’m getting chills just thinking about it. Thank God for DVR.Yeah, I guess they did that for effect as much as anything.
Hi all – the BruceHornsby.com site just got updated with the yet-to-be-released CD. There are ‘snippets’ of each song…enjoy!
http://www.brucehornsby.com/album_ricky … ornsby.htm
(if you’ve visited recently and don’t see this new CD, make sure you hit refresh on your browser)
Snippets!
bryandunn wrote:Hi all – the BruceHornsby.com site just got updated with the yet-to-be-released CD.That sounds great, Bryan, thanks! I do prefer Bruce’s voice stylings to Ricky’s, but it’s all good.
Ever since Bruce played Chattanooga in August 2005 and he and R.S. opened with a duet he called “musings on a Ricky & Bruce number,” I’ve wondered what piece that was. I think it might have been “Gulf of Mexico Fishing Boat Blues,” but I’m going to have to go back and give it another listen.Personally, Bruce has hit a note that coincides with my own recent interest in bluegrass. It’s weird how Bruce has managed to do that for me over the years.
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