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Knoxville sound
I can see where you’re coming from, Don, but you must have a pretty advanced home system and/or very discerning ears to let that ruin the experience for you. I concede the sound quality could have been better, but I thought it was just a venue-specific thing, as Will suggests.
However, the volume itself, and the song selection, fit me to a “T.” I sat about midway back on right/center. I would’ve liked to have been closer, but I find I don’t like to sit TOO close.
David, you’re a scholar and a gentleman! A great time was had by all! Let’s do it again sometime.
Vic
KNOXVILLE
I guess the rest are on their way to Bartlett, so I’ll go ahead and say it was great to meet Si, Si’s friends, Dave from St. Louis, David Day, and everybody else in Knoxville! Thanks to Allisa for the wonderful gesture and David for the drinks and conversation.
I’ll go ahead and say the show was incredible. Apparently it had been 10 years since Bruce had been in Knoxville. The Tennessee Theatre is beautiful, but I think the Tivoli in Chattanooga has it beat as far as acoustics go. I wish I could give everyone a full set list, but I can’t remember it all. Tapers seemed to be in abundance, so I’m sure it’ll be available soon.
Bruce appeared to be “in the zone” even more than usual. He opened up playing for what seemed like an hour straight, hardly looking up or speaking … just moving briskly from one great number to the next. I was particularly pleased to hear Big Swing Face songs “Place Under the Sun” and “Sticks and Stones” (solo, a la the boxed set) and both “Darling Corey” and “Crown of Jewels.”
He played “Song F” into a beautiful version of “End of the Innocence.” “Fields of Grey” was touching. A “Big Rock>Candy Mountain Run” combo brought the house down after the intermission. It was almost all up tempo, finishing with a rowdy “Rainbow’s Cadillac.”
The best part of that finale was a guy jumping on stage to dance and being carried off when he seemed not to comprehend that the backstage staff didn’t want him there. However, women were allowed, and Bruce was quickly surrounded. There were so many dancers, you couldn’t see the band.
For the encore, Bruce squeezed in a lengthy medley of ballads from “Dreamland” to “Halcyon Days.” I’ve seen only three shows this year, but I’d vote it Concert of the Year.
Knoxville
Battled a rough summertime head cold over the weekend, but I should be in fine form by tomorrow. Loved the set list from Biltmo’, so with minor tweaks, Knoxville’s looking pretty sweet!
David, I think we should begin taking up a collection tomorrow to fly Allisa in for next year’s Biltmore show. Round-trip airfare shouldn’t be more than $400-$500, should it? Don’t get your hopes up, though, Allisa; I’m a poor, struggling writer.
Looking forward to meeting everybody at the pre-show watering hole tomorrow!
Vic
Knoxville
Amanda,
I’ll be the short, pasty-faced humpback sitting with David and Si.
David,
I think I must have offended Allisa when I referred to her homeplace as the hinterlands!
Vic
my Intersections review
I can never understand when I read a lackluster review of Bruce in the media. But the two reviews from the New York Times — written almost 20 years apart and included in the box set’s booklet (one of which seems to have inspired the “Intersections” name) — shed some light on the subject. Those two critics are knowledgeable enough to review Bruce.
Some music critics are simply enthusiasts who follow the whims of societal tastes, whereas others are educated musicians themselves who speak the musical language and understand the rarity of someone like Bruce. As an individual, I fall into the former group; just a mild music enthusiast — but even as a novice, I’m lucky to have been able to readily see Bruce’s genius, and I’m able to appreciate the way he moves “at the speed of music,” as Doug Derryberry says so eloquently on the “Three Nights” DVD.
“Intersections” is a remarkable testament to one man’s career. To many others, this would be three lifetimes’ worth of quality material; for Bruce, it’s just the first 20 years. To be specific, the second disc is my favorite, as I knew it would be, with all the solo piano arranged in order, the bluegrass and the jazzy pieces. It whets the appetite for Ricky+Bruce and the jazz trio albums to come.
The box set is great for people like me who aren’t really into taping; it’s the “Best of Bruce Live” plus some of the best of his studio work, plus all these disparate, wonderful side projects grouped into one place for the first time. Some of the DVD videos are wonderfully dated and bring back a lot of memories — I’d forgotten what an impressive “rat tail” Bruce was sporting back in the day!
Though I must say, Jonathan should have his TrueBruceFan license revoked for having never heard “Love Me Still” — one of the all-time great ballads. 😮 My only complaint is with the binding of the box set’s booklet. As I tore through it, the book fell to pieces; so I have a series of pamphlets now, rather than a booklet.
It was the first time I’d seen or heard Bruce’s performance of “Imagine” — it was so perfect that, if I’d been him, I would have just quit and retired on the spot; doesn’t get any better. A lot of people in the world would like to hear that song right about now. Maybe Bruce can play it again soon.
I need fiber…
You’re both sweet kids. When I was knee-high to a mandolin, the Downtown Grill was the W.W. Woodruff Hardware Store. I used to listen to their jingles during the Cas Walker radio hour on the radio I bought at Miller Bros. Furniture Co. across the street.
That looks like a fine place to raise a glass, David, and I’d be happy to share a round with you and Mr. Twining himself.
I’m just sorry little Allisa won’t be able to attend. Maybe one day she’ll set sail from the faraway land of Coeur d’Alene and join us here in the good ol’ U. S. of A.
My age
Yes, Allisa, I’m 76 — but I don’t look a day over 72. I’m pretty fly for an old guy.
If a cute little filly such as yourself would like to meet-up before the Knoxville show, I’m staying at the Knox County Retirement Center, where they mix a mean wheat-grass and seaweed cocktail.
It’s a great chaser for my split-pea soup and makes me kind of “frisky.”
Knoxville
Yeah, the Tennessee Theatre should have a sound as good or better than the Tivoli in Chattanooga. I believe the Tennessee has a big pipe organ there… I wonder if Bruce or JT will be able to get ahold of that!?!
I can ask around about a good place for folks to meet beforehand — unless somebody already has a place in mind.
Vic
Biltmo’
David,
I’m not going to be able to make it to Biltmore unfortunately, but I’ll be in Knoxville for sure.
Vic
Big Day
The stars are finally aligning.
I bought the Chattanooga show CD (no downloads available yet) and I preordered the Intersections boxed set both in the same day.
Pretty cool.
Atlanta “not-at-all, everything-but solo” Show
What do I think? I’m a tella ya!
I’m glad somebody got the set list up. I feel like we’ve already experienced the private show you’ve been promoting, David.
As a fan of the last two albums, I have to admit, I do wish Bruce would play more of those songs.
But the show was outstanding.
ATL
What a great time! Centerstage is a neat venue, and Deluge and everybody there were true fans. I hope Sonny’s charity made some good money. We were surprised to see the Noisemakers there, minus Bobby Read — whom I can only assume dislikes Sonny Emory entirely (I kid; I kid. I’m sure Bobby would have been there if he could).
Francine Reed was devine, and Sonny’s band surprised me. So good. We were close enough to see Bruce’s every move. He dedicated “Sunflower Cat” to Welnick.
Si: Bruce didn’t bite on my request for the 80s demo songs, but someone got “Every Little Kiss” out of him — a great little impromptu version that I hope he plays more often. It’s really a great song.
Chasingcars: Was your friend the blonde in the miniskirt that Bruce “followed” offstage? That cracked me up.
LitS
I believe Bruce has said he based the lyrics on a factual account he read in a newspaper. Seems like it was in the Northwest U.S., but I’m not sure.
Nice going on the novel, though. Is it your first?
New LIVE dates available for download
Eureka!
7/31/05 – Salt Lake City
8/18/05 – Chattanooga, TN
9/2/05 – Gilford, NHNow available at http://www.brucehornsbylive.com.
I can’t speak for the other two dates, but Chattanooga is a great mix of solo and band, classic Bruce and new Bruce.
Unfortunately, the “Musings on a Ricky+Bruce number” with R.S. Hornsby seems to be missing — I guess they’re keeping it under wraps for now.
fall tour
One interesting tidbit I noticed on the radio show, in addition to Bruce’s fondness for Joni Mitchell and Randy Newman, was his mention of a fall solo tour (no overseas tour; sorry).
I wonder if the solo tour’s in conjunction with Ricky Scaggs or just in support of the boxed set? The Ricky/Bruce record will be available next year, so I guess he’s just going solo for the boxed set?
Props to Si
They just spent several minutes talking about Si and answering his question on song length.
Memphis
I was on the left side of the crowd, Jenni … in good position to watch Mr. Spider Fingers go to work. I was just joking about the muddy shoes and rain poncho. I think almost everybody fit that description considering the weather. 😉
Looking forward to the upcoming shows in Atlanta and at the Tennessee Theatre in Knoxville!
I tried unsuccessfully to get a request for the demo “Fly on the Wall” to Bruce in Memphis. I’ll try Atlanta in June.
Memphis
Hello Jenni,
Were you the person in the rain poncho and muddy shoes in Memphis?
Bruce was really good at “Memphis in May” on Saturday, following Jerry Lee Lewis at about 9 p.m. There was some confusion because Bruce was originally scheduled to play before Jerry, but I think old Killer had to be home early to take out his teeth.
Actually, Jerry Lee can still pound the keys at age 70-something. The crowd really liked him, and I got a kick out of watching Bruce’s reaction from the window of his trailer, which just happened to be off to stage left.I also have an extremely grainy photo, taken with a crappy disposable camera, of Bruce giving Huey Lewis a big hug outside the trailer before going onstage. Huey played before Bruce on one of the other four stages at the festival, but they didn’t play together.
Bruce opened with a great version of “I’m Down With That” and then “King of the Hill.” Next came “Mystery Train,” with nice solos by JV, JT, and Bruce. That was followed by nice versions of End of the Innocence, Jacob’s Ladder>I Put a Spell on You, The Way It Is, Big Rumble (by request and with a big vocal finish by Doug D.), and Mandolin Rain (minor key version) that were all consistent with recent performances.
I think that’s the entire set, but I could be mistaken.
Actually, Jerry Lee can still pound the keys at age 70-something. The crowd really liked him, and I got a kick out of watching Bruce’s reaction from the window of his trailer, which just happened to be off to stage left.