2014 Americana Music Awards LIVE Blog
Winners of the 2014 Americana Music Awards
- Album of the Year: Jason Isbell & Dave Cobb “Southeastern”
- Artist of the Year: Jason Isbell
- Emerging Artist of the Year: Sturgill Simpson
- Instrumentalist of the Year: Buddy Miller
- Song of the Year: Jason Isbell “Cover Me Up”
- Duo or Group of the Year: The Milk Carton Kids
Welcome ladies and gentlemen to the Saving Country Music 2014 Americana Music Awards LIVE Blog! Emanating from the Mother Church of Country Music, The Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, The Americana Music Awards looks to recognize the finest artists in the Americana industry as part of the greater Americana Music Conference transpiring this week.
It will be hosted by Jim Lauderdale, and Buddy Miller will lead the house band.
Normally if you can’t be in attendance, you can’t participate in the AMA’s, but this year NPR will be streaming the event. So pull it up and follow along with us as we chronicle the night’s events and give our knee jerk reactions to winners and performances. Be ready to refresh often, and don’t be afraid to pipe up in the comments section.
Set to perform on the night are:
” Loretta Lynn ” Jason Isbell ” Jackson Browne ” Emmylou Harris ” JD Souther ” Rosanne Cash ” Patty Griffin ” Sturgill Simpson ” Hurray For The Riff Raff ” St. Paul & The Broken Bones ” Parker Milsap ” Robert Ellis ” Valerie June ” Flaco Jimenez ” Taj Mahal ” Rodney Crowell ” Sarah Jarosz ” The Devil Makes Three ” The Milk Carton Kids ” Cassandra Wilson
See Full List of Americana Music Awards Nominees
Winners of the 2014 Americana Music Awards
- Album of the Year: Jason Isbell & Dave Cobb “Southeastern”
- Artist of the Year: Jason Isbell
- Emerging Artist of the Year: Sturgill Simpson
- Instrumentalist of the Year: Buddy Miller
- Song of the Year: Jason Isbell “Cover Me Up”
- Duo or Group of the Year: The Milk Carton Kids
10:16: Jason Isbell is the big winner of the 2014 Americana Music Awards, but really so are all of the younger artists that the awards stepped up to honor this year, while also doing an excellent job paying tribute to past greats from a diverse swath of the Americana world. Sturgill Simpson and The Milk Carton Kids were also big winners, and this will give a boost to their growing careers. There were some great performances, but I will keep referencing back to Marty Stuart, JD Souther, Keb Mo, and their great introductions to worthy artists.
The night was beset with technical difficulties, in the presentation, the sound, and in the live stream, and unusually so from what we’ve seen from the Americana Awards in recent years. But this shouldn’t be harped on either. Overall the night did its job of shining a spotlight on artists that do not get recognition from the mainstream music industry.
10:10: Well that’s a wrap! I’m going to make one more encapsulating post and recap the winners, and then we’ll call it a night. Thanks to everyone for stopping by, and reposting and commenting, etc. etc, and sorry for the technical difficulties at the beginning of the LIVE blog. It was a night of them!
10:08: Everyone on stage for “Get Rhythm.” (sorry, pictures getting grainier and grainier)
10:02: Everyone comes out on stage for a rendition of Johnny Cash’s “Get Rhythm.”
10:00: Jason Isbell: “The people in this room make the best music in Nashville. Proud to be a member of this particular family.”
9:57: WINNER Jason Isbell & Dave Cobb accepting their Album of the Year award for “Southeastern.”
9:55: Lucinda Williams & Josh Ritter miss their fist cue to come out on stage to present the Album of the Year award … Here they come.
9:54: Great performance by Jackson Browne. This depth of songwriting is what is missing in most music today.
9:52: They give Jackson Browne a second song, and he invites his friend JD Souther to the stage to join him.
9:46: Been absolutely astounded by some of the introductions to music greats tonight. Marty Stuart and JD Souther especially. Look forward to hearing them again and getting them in print.
9:43: Jackson Browne takes time to tune before his performance—another awkward pause in the presentation. Somebody backstage did not check that? But once Jackson gets started, he does excellent as you would expect.
9:39: Jackson Browne accepting his “Spirit of Americana Award, Free Speech in Music” award.
“It’s part of the American character to say what you believe … Commercialism has never been a friend of free speech.”
9:36: Once again the teleprompter goes out for JD Souther. This has been a chronic problem all night.
9:33: JD Souther comes out to present the “Spirit of Americana Award, Free Speech in Music” award to Jackson Browne. He tells a story about living in Echo Park in LA with Jackson, knowing Warren Zevon, and getting mugged when you have no money.
9:31: Sturgill Simpson is very humble in accepting his award. “There’s to many people I could thank, so I’ll just thank my family.”
9:28: WINNER Shovels & Rope present the Emerging Artist of the Year to Sturgill Simpson.
9:25: Sturgill Simpson takes the stage! Great performance of “Life of Sin.”
9:22: Jason Isbell thanks his producer Dave Cobb, and his Manager Traci Thomas, who are two very important people in Americana.
9:21: WINNER The Americana Artist of the Year goes to Jason Isbell.
9:18: Marty Stuart just gave one of the best tributes to anyone I have ever heard. It happened to be for Jimmie Rodgers. I will have to run it down in full and transcribe it in the future. “Every time a train passes, so does he. He’s a part of you, he’s a pert of me.” He gives the introduction with a lamp glowing on a stool. It was a train lamp given to Marty Stuart from Hank Snow. This presentation gave me shivers. Two guns up Marty!
9:12: Hey, it’s a Marty Stuart sighting! Also from Mississippi.
9:07: Once again, the sound causes fits on stage as Paul Thorn comes out to introduce Cassandra Wilson. He’s telling an excellent story about gospel music in white and black churches in Tupelo, MS. This presentation has been a little rough in places.
9:05: St. Paul over-gesticulating and over-singing on the Americana stage. And for the record, I still like their music. But come on.
9:03: Alright, this is my opportunity to give my unfettered opinion of St. Paul & The Broken Bones: I think they are the whitest band I have ever seen, despite their skin deep “soul.” My best comparison is if that dancing guy that did nothing esle from the Mighty Mighty Bosstones got his own band. Sorry. People love them because they’re nerds, and that’s really, really cool right now.
9:00: John Paul White introduces St. Paul & The Broken Bones to the stage, who happen to be on John Paul’s record.
8:58: Emmylou Harris when presenting Vocal Duo or Group Award. “So good to be in the Ryman Auditorium. So glad they didn’t tear it down.” Emmylou was seminal in preserving it when she cut a live album at the Ryman in the mid 90’s when the venue was shuttered.
8:55: WINNER Joey Henry and Emmylou Harris present the award for Vocal Duo or Group of the Year to the Milk Carton Kids.
8:52: The Milk Carton Kids doing the world-class acoustics of the Ryman Auditorium proper justice. The ghosts are awakened.
8:50: Sarah Jarosz jumps right off the stage to introduce The Milk Carton Kids.
8:47: The Milk Carton Kids do a 4-minute comedy routine to introduce Sarah Jarosz to the stage.
8:41: Americana supergroup Hard Working Americans takes the stage.
8:40: Jason Isbell accepting his Song of the Year award: “Happy birthday to Hank Williams, has anyone said that yet? If it wasn’t for him, we’d be doing this at a old burned out Kmart in Murfeesboro.”
8:34: WINNER Rhett Miller and Amy Ray present the Song of the Year to “Cover Me Up” by Jason Isbell.
8:33: Beyond being an award winning songwriter, Jason Isbell is one of the most stunning performers of our generation. He killed it.
8:28: Jason Isbell, the current King of Americana Music, takes the stage to perform his Song of the Year nominated “Cover Me Up” with his wife Amanda Shires-Isbell.
8:26: Patty Griffin and Robert Plant performing “Ohio.” Was kind of a shaky performance, but it’s still cool to see the frontman of Led Zepplin paying attention to such worthy music.
8:21: Americana couple Robert Plant and Patty Griffin take the stage. I love Robert Plant, but he’s kind of taking away from this performance with his wonky harmonies.
8:19: The Americana Music Awards honors Taj Mahal.
8:16: Sound has been inconsistent and farty all night. Just got really bad with the lead guitar during the Taj performance.
8:13: Keb Mo presenting the Lifetime Achievement Award for Performance to Taj Mahal. “He was world music before there was ever such a thing.”
Taj didn’t open his eyes during his entire acceptance speech. Because he’s cool like that.
8:09: Keb Mo comes out to present an award. “The music of my people, became the music of all people. The blues only seems simple. It’s only easy to play badly.”
8:07: Rosanne Cash performing with Buddy Miller and the Americana band.
8:03: Rosanne Cash take the stage to sing “A Feather’s Not A Bird.”
8:00: Robert Ellis playing “Only Lies” for the Americana crowd. The song is up for “Song of the Year.”
7:58: Carlene Carter introduces Valerie June while pointing out her mother’s full name was Valerie June Carter. Valerie comes out stunning in a canary yellow dress.
7:53: Buddy Miller wins Instrumentalist of the Year, presented by Vince Gill and Carlene Carter.
7:51: WINNER: Carlene Carter and Vince Gill show up to present Instrumentalist of the Year to Buddy Miller.
7:49: Check out the badass Nudie suit on Hurray for the Riff Raff as she sings “The Body Electric.”
7:44: Devil Makes Three playing “Hand Back Down”
7:40: The Devil Makes Three takes the Americana Music Awards stage! I remember seeing these guys in a 50-person capacity bar a decade ago. They’ve been doing it a long time, and it’s great to see them finally recognized.
7:38: Flaco Jiménez and Ry Cooder performing an 80-year-old tune together on the Ryman stage.
7:34: While we were down, Kacey Musgraves and Angaleena Presley presented Loretta Lynn with the Lifetime Achievement for Songwriting! And then Loretta Lynn performed for the Americana crowd.
7:31: Ry Cooder is presenting the Lifetime Achievement Award as an Instrumentalist to accordion player Flaco Jiménez!
7:30: Sorry folks, historic, catastrophic error with the site RIGHT as the awards were staring. We’re back up now, and hopefully have everything squared away.
6:52: Valerie June & Loretta Lynn hanging out before the awards, from The Tennessean’s Shelley Mays
6:50: Picture from Hurray For The Riff Raff of New Orleans from earlier today during practice. “Who dares me to yell ‘who dat’ if we win?”
6:48: Get ready to see some cool collaborations on the night, especially at the very end. Here’s a sot from a previous Americana Music Awards with Jim Lauderdale, Ketch Secor (Old Crow Medicine Show), Joy Williams (The Civil Wars), Emmylou Harris, Rosanne Cash, and Rodney Crowell.
6:46: One of the cool parts about the Americana Music Awards is the house band led by Buddy Miller. Be on the lookout for Ry Cooder, John Leventhal, Don Was, and who knows else who may hop up on stage.
6:45: The Americana Music Awards hand out Lifetime Achievement distinctions each year in four different categories. This year the honorees are:
- Loretta Lynn – For Lifetime Achievement in Songwriting
- Taj Mahal – For Lifetime Achievement in Performance
- Flaco Jim̩nez РFor Lifetime Achievement as an Instrumentalist
- Jackson Browne – For the “Spirit of Americana Award, Free Speech in Music” award.
6:45: Here’s a quick rundown of the nominees if you’ve not seen them yet:
September 17, 2014 @ 7:09 pm
Isbell’s performance was unbelievably excellent. Thankful to be living at a time when he’s writing, singing and playing.
September 17, 2014 @ 7:20 pm
I am chromecasting this and thought that was causing the sound issues. The sound is pretty all over the place.
September 17, 2014 @ 7:55 pm
Yes, all night it’s been technical difficulties.
September 17, 2014 @ 7:27 pm
Of course the Americana Awards are being streamed by NPR… makes prefect sense. 😉
Not only am I not at the show, I can’t get the dang video stream to work either. I’m enjoying the audio stream and the live blog though. Thanks as always for doing this, Trig.
September 17, 2014 @ 7:31 pm
Isbell is a wiseass…Murfreesboro is dope.
September 17, 2014 @ 8:28 pm
Last time he told his manager Traci Thomas to scream at an empty chair and pretend it was Scott Borchetta. He brings the bits to his acceptance speeches.
September 17, 2014 @ 7:31 pm
Sturgill.
September 18, 2014 @ 7:59 pm
Valerie.
September 17, 2014 @ 7:34 pm
Due to being at a concert, I can’t watch the livestream so I am appreciating the live blog even more than usual–thanks. Thrilled for all the well-deserved recognition coming Isbell’s way tonight.
September 17, 2014 @ 7:56 pm
I’m not against Jackson Browne, but does his brand of slick singer-songwriter pop really fit in with the roots-oriented vibe of Americana?
Maybe it does, I’m just asking.
September 17, 2014 @ 8:27 pm
Americana likes to get their political commentary into the presentation. That is what the award he received is all about. I have mixed feelings on it.
September 18, 2014 @ 3:37 am
Speaking of the free speech award did you see the dust up about Sturgill using goddamn on Conan? Apparently people were chastising him on his Facebook page.
September 18, 2014 @ 7:36 am
Oh good grief. I read a little piece on Rolling Stone Country about that… I actually saw that ‘Conan’ performance, and while it did catch me a little off-guard (if only because I’d assumed he would do “Life of Sin” again, like he did on ‘Letterman’), I’ve also watched enough ‘Conan’ to know that TBS lets you get away with a lot more language-wise than you can on the broadcast networks.
September 18, 2014 @ 7:36 am
Yeah man, his response was epic and above reproach.
September 18, 2014 @ 4:12 pm
“Yeah man, his response was epic and above reproach.”
I must be the only person on the internet who thought Sturgill’s grandstanding about “free speech” was totally over the top. I said this on another website, and I’ll say it again here:
From what I can tell, one particular woman on Sturgill’s original Facebook post about the Conan performance stated that she was “heartbroken” over Sturgill”™s choice of language due to her Christian beliefs and the fact that she has young children. I thought she expressed her opinion fairly respectfully, even though several others made fun of her and Sturgill told her she was “self-righteous” and full of shit. At the time, aside from two other random comments expressing disappointment, that was it. The rest of the 200+ comments about the performance were all glowingly, overwhelmingly positive.
Apparently, this caused Sturgill to go on a mini-rant about “free speech” and censorship, which in turn led to several press outlets running stories about the “controversy.” Quite frankly, I thought there was actually more self-righteousness in Sturgill”™s rant than in the original woman”™s comments, but what the hell.
Anyway, to me, the internet’s reproach of Sturgill’s “critics,” (basically one random mom on Facebook) bugs me in the same way Peter Cooper’s column referring to Taylor Swift’s critics as “tacky,” also bugged me. Obviously, I support Sturgill’s right to express himself, but by the same token, other people have the right to respectfully express disagreement with, or criticism of anything he says or does in the public sphere. It’s the same principle that allows sites like SCM and Farce the Music to publicly skewer Florida Georgia Line’s choice of lyrics, for example. Does this freedom not apply to religious objections? And in the case of Sturgill’s performance on Conan, the criticism (if it can be called that) was extremely mild.
Personally, I’ve been frustrated by the brash nature of some of Sturgill’s public comments recently. I could say more about that, but I don’t want to add too much negativity to this thread.
Anyway, as a Sturgill fan I’m thrilled that he got the Emerging Artist of the Year award last night. There were several deserving candidates, but in this case (as with Jason Isbell), the AMA absolutely made the right call.
September 19, 2014 @ 2:34 pm
Applejack makes some good points, but it just aggravated me that the woman had to come on Sturgill’s Facebook page to make her judgmental comments. I’m pretty sure SCM and Farce the Music are not posting negative comments on Fla Ga line’s fan page. My favorite Sturgill quote: “Get in where you fit in, and if you don’t like it, ignore it.”
September 22, 2014 @ 6:39 am
Applejack, not sure how you got the impression that his response was grandstanding or rantish, even in a ‘mini’ sort of way. An artist who wishes to explain or defend his choices against detractors seems a normal and acceptable part of the dialogue, just as listeners have a right to express their opinion. His explanation that religion is used to suggest ways of thinking to its adherents and how that relates to other larger issues in society struck a chord with me because I tend to agree with that perspective. A person has a right to express to him that he or she does not agree with the use of a particular word, and the creator of the art has a right to express their reasoning. As for young children, the performance aired at roughly 11:50 pm in my time zone, so maybe the doctors who suggest a later school start time should weigh in on that aspect. The ‘self-righteous’ term was not leveled at one commenter in specific, but at the ethos in religion (and equally in politics these days) that provides believers a platform to demonstrate that they know how another person should be behaving. If you take his response on the whole, it was a comment about society at large and not an attack on a particular person. I doubt if one FB comment was enough to elicit this response, more likely a straw broke somewhere after much feedback that he did not perceive as being based on the principles he believes in. Thanks also for pointing out that Turtles had been released online prior to his being asked back on the Opry, your detraction smacks of one FB commenter looking for a person to tear down. Often when I have skipped a meal I find myself wanting to go out of my way to pick on someone I disagree with (usually Clint!). Who knows, maybe Sturgill hadn’t had a good meal before he wrote his response. Either way, on the whole, I appreciate and enjoy your comments on this site- but don’t care for being targeted by a single stream of reasoning with such a narrow focus. Thanks for the dialogue and keep up the overall good work.
September 18, 2014 @ 11:14 am
Yea! Loved his response on Facebook…
Sturgill:
Been some folks coming to my page to chastise (judge) me for taking the Lord’s name in vain on Conan so figured I should address it.
Ironically, the song is actually a metaphor comparing the soothing yet completely addictive and damaging effects of hard narcotic opiates to the negative sociological impact of organized religion and blind faith when forced upon society and used as a political tool by self-righteous, thinly-veiled bigots to control and manipulate the masses and enhance the suffering of impoverished, lower class citizens. Also, since I’m self-funding/self-releasing my art instead of shooting for ACM awards and taking it up the ass from the music row man, I have the right to write and sing and say whatever I choose just as you have the right to not buy or listen to my music and stay away from my page if you don’t like it.
So with that said…
1. I sang it like I wrote it
2. Censorship is bullshit
3. This is America and people can say anything they want including “Goddamn” at the top of their lungs on national TV
September 17, 2014 @ 7:59 pm
I’ve been fortunate enough to see Jason Isbell perform a handfull of times in or around Nashville. As great as his recordings are, they pale in comparison to hearing him perform them live. He’s just amazing on stage. I’d advise anyone to go see him. I thought Sturgill’s performance was great, but with this being a national broadcast, I would have loved to see him do Turtles, The Promise, It Ain’t All Flowers, or even Water In A Well from his last album. He’s singing to a lot of people who haven’t heard him before, so give them something to stand out to them. I thought maybe he was either overwhelmelmed, unexpecting, or possibly didn’t give a damn about getting an award from the speech…… Isbell wins again! Americana has gone modern finally.
September 18, 2014 @ 7:04 pm
I’m going to see Jason and Sturgill at the Ryman in October – really looking forward to seeing these two.
I just read Sturgill’s Facebook post about some backlash he’s had for saying God Damn on tv and the guy seriously rocks.
September 18, 2014 @ 7:18 pm
I’ve got tickets to that show too. Really looking forward to that one. Jason Isbell is always great, and will be my first of hopefully many times seeing Sturgill. I had seats to all the nights of Jason Isbell at the Ryman, but took a new job after I bought the tickets and wouldn’t be able to make the first two nights, but no way I’m giving up tickets to the October 26th show. Hope you enjoy the show Liza.
September 18, 2014 @ 7:33 pm
Thanks, you too.
September 17, 2014 @ 8:04 pm
What was Sturgill wearing, Trigger?
September 17, 2014 @ 8:06 pm
His whole thing is to be very understated. I get the notion he’s embarrassed by all of this stuff. He just wants to play music.
September 17, 2014 @ 8:13 pm
I agree, but if he’s going to keep putting out the quality of music that he has so far, and I’m sure he will, he better get used to the spotlight and the recognition.
September 18, 2014 @ 7:41 am
I personally don’t want him to get used to anything, he’s doing it so well already. As best I can tell, his personality is exactly what you see from him on stage and in interviews- I don’t think it’s about being anything but honest and figuring it out as it all happens. Nor do I think there is much danger of him changing…
September 17, 2014 @ 8:16 pm
Thanks for another running commentary, Triggerman. I was sweating for you when SCM was down for those 20 minutes
September 17, 2014 @ 8:26 pm
2nd most catastrophic failure of the site I’ve ever had, and probably the worst I’ve had in the past three years … and it happened right at 7:00 PM Central on the dot.
September 17, 2014 @ 9:03 pm
Congrats to all the nominees and the winners. What a great night of performances from a diverse group of great artists. Valerie June is a home girl and she will be around a long time. Sturgill Simpson is doing it his way and I respect his style and its understated approach. He lets the music do the talking. Jason Isbell is a great torchbearer and his success is so well deserved. Thanks for the clear and concise coverage. It is greatly appreciated.
September 17, 2014 @ 9:28 pm
I don’t want to sound like a grocery store rag but FYI– Robert Plant and Patty Griffin are no longer a couple, a fact which might or might not explain why their duet was a little off.
Jason Isbell was awesome. This should more than make up for getting dissed at the Grammy Awards.
September 18, 2014 @ 10:07 am
Maybe that’s why their performance was so “awkward.” Love those two, but it was the worst of the night. All over the place.
September 17, 2014 @ 10:55 pm
Great coverage Trigger. Thanks!
September 18, 2014 @ 5:14 am
Agree with those comments that say Isbell is much greater live than on Southeastern. Saw him in June, was blown away by his personality and voice.
Looking forward to seeing Jason and Sturgill at the Ryman on October 26!
Oh yeah: Strugill is playing the Opry on October 25…
September 18, 2014 @ 7:43 am
Thanks for the Opry update GregN, I was worried ‘Turtles’ might make them hesitate to ask him on again. I’ll be listening on the WSM stream just like the other times he’s played.
September 18, 2014 @ 3:20 pm
The last time Sturgill was on the Opry was April 25, which is after the “Turtles All the Way Down,” was already released online.
Anyway, I’m not sure how the Opry audience would react to “Turtles,” but WSM did let him sing it uncensored on his live Station Inn Session a few months ago.
September 18, 2014 @ 7:51 am
I think that’s a testimony to how great a live performer he is, as the album Southeastern is a classic. I saw him in January in DC. Absoultely great show. His version of “Cover Me Up” that night was one of the most memorable single song concert experiences ever for me. Up there with seeing Rick Danko/Levon Helm in the early 80’s in a small venue and hearing Rick sing “It Makes No Differernce.” Not as good as that, but close.
September 18, 2014 @ 5:16 am
Are these awards are more inbred than the CMAs?
I think not, because:
1. Jason Isbell actually deserves all these awards.
2. The quality of the performers on the AMAs is so much better, anyway.
3. Looks like they got the nominees right.
September 18, 2014 @ 10:09 am
The nominees were really spot-on this year. But in some previous years that hasn’t always been the case. This is still a close-knit scene that’s hard for many artists to break in to.
September 18, 2014 @ 5:46 am
You got a chuckle out of me with the Mighty Mighty Bosstones joke. That really is the most accurate way to describe it.
September 18, 2014 @ 7:21 am
Historic night for Jason Isbell. I looked at the part award winners and the only other person to win all three of those awards was Johnny Cash, around the time of The Man Comes Around and Hurt. Buddy amd Julie Miller won album, song, and duo/group for Written in Chalk in 2009. Well, well deserved. Southeastern is a straight up masterpiece.
I don’t agree your characterization of St. Paul and the Broken Bones, at least with respect to their music. As far as being the so called “whitest” band, they’ve got nothing on Lake Street Dive. I watched/listened to them for the first time yesterday afternoon (KEXP performance on youtube) and they strike me as pretty damn close to the genuine article. And I’m too damn old to care about what’s cool. It reminds me a little of your reaction to Jason Isbell covering Heart on a String on Here We Rest, whcih I didn’t quite agree with.
September 18, 2014 @ 10:15 am
Rachael Price has got way more genuine soul than Paul Janeway. The only reason we even know about St. Paul and the Broken Bones is because John Paul White and Traci Thomas got behind them. There’s 1,000 other bands that could do much better with the same push. They’re trying to hit on the same anti-hero nerd magic that made Brittany Howard of the Alabama Shakes so cool. But that’s already been done.
I know this is a wholly unpopular sentiment, and it means me crossing swords with a lot of people I respect. But this is sincerely what I believe. St. Paul is an “act” if there ever was one.
I still respect the music though.
September 18, 2014 @ 10:48 am
Rachael Price has got way more genuine soul than Paul Janeway.
Yeah, I’m not convinced of that, but OK. I like her and her band OK, but they leave me just a little bit cold. Maybe because I think their brand of soul is closer to Motown, whereas St. Paul/Broken Bones is more Muscle Shoals/Stax, which I prefer.
September 18, 2014 @ 11:19 am
I’ll tell you what. You go see LSD live and stand 6 feet away from Rachael – you can feel that lightning running through her. She’s pretty magical to watch and hear. It’s like she’s letting that music out via exorcism. 🙂
September 19, 2014 @ 9:06 am
Well, I’ll back off my somewhat flippant statement about LSD. I just listened to their whole KEXP performance. They are very good and she’s a great soul singer. I’m still not convinced that she clearly has more “genuine soul” than the St. Paul guy. I think they’re different kinds of soul singers. She’s more understated where he seems to be more of an Otis Redding disciple.
September 18, 2014 @ 7:39 am
Sounds like I missed a helluva show! 😀 Congrats to Jason, Sturgill and the other winners.
September 18, 2014 @ 7:39 am
Wow, Jason Isbell’s performance was stunning and he had a nice chemistry with his wife. Couldn’t help but notice the contrast between that performance and Robert Plant and Patty Griffin, which seemed kind of lackluster.
So glad awards were given to Taj Mahal and Flaco Jimenez. Nice.
September 18, 2014 @ 11:28 am
I am also thrilled to see awards go to Taj and Flaco… outside of the inner circle of Americana for one thing, but they are greats regardless. When people ask the “best live show” question, I always say it was a Taj Mahal show at a small venue in the mid-1990s. Haven’t seen him recently, but he was a magic performer who ranged widely in genre and knew how to lead while still trusting his band enough to let them shine. Such a warm presence, as well.
September 18, 2014 @ 12:42 pm
That’s great – thanks for sharing that story. I got to see Flaco a few years back play with the current incarnation of the Texas Tornados. At 70+ – he still sounded really good and was working the crowd – cracking jokes and so on – he seemed like he was having a great time and he got a lot of love from the crowd.
September 18, 2014 @ 7:49 am
Great stuff. I watched until I fell asleep! Ugh. I totally wanted to see Isbell, Simpson, Valerie June, etc but I couldn’t make the eyelids stay open. But my #1 reason was Loretta Lynn. That is my girl! So awesome to see her first out. Just saw her live here in the Carolina’s a few weeks back. I will say it again.. to be her age and all these years she has put into the road and stage.. she still sounds so, so, so amazing. Her and the Coal Miners both. I cry each time I see her on stage and a TV screen. (or computer) She without a doubt is one of the truest American legends and artists the world has ever had.
Great blog Trigger!
September 18, 2014 @ 8:34 am
White, brown, yellow, Puerto Rican or Haitian – St. Paul & the Broken Bones absolutely killed. Burned down the Ryman. Who cares what he looks like when he sounds like that? And so what if he’s a throwback act. He’s awesome, and aren’t we here if nothing but to celebrate awesome music? Will remember that performance for a long time and the raucous standing ovation he deserved.
September 18, 2014 @ 4:53 pm
Bummed I missed this, but thank you for all the live updates. I still need to pick up Isbell’s album.