Tom Russell posted the following on Facebook and I felt a need to share it — a collaborative effort of three great singer-songwriters:
“Exciting news….we were walking through the old Greenwich Village this afternoon, vastly changed, and I thought – “it would be great to do an album release show at The Bitter End.” So we walked into The Bitter End, and out walks the owner. He warms up to us and I tell him I used to work there every Sunday…so we might hook the opening gig there for the next album release tour. Maybe a return to The Bitter End! Lets make Greenwich Village great again! This is Lucinda Williams and myself doing Bob Dylan‘s “A Hard Rain’s Gonna Fall” off of the record “Mesabi.” All records and books: www.fronterarecords.com Your reporter for Nova Beat at the corner of Bleecker and MacDougal….”
Ken Grumbles, Dave Pierce & Joe Hill — image by kenne
Whether in a pub, a concert hall or someone’s living-room, poetry put to a chant, rap or song has a way of stirring the inter feelings of all of us and will generally create a memorable experience. Such was the case the Friday before Thanksgiving. Dave Pierce invited some of his friends over to connect with the word as music with two of his fellow American cantautori, Ken Grumble and Joe Hill. What an enjoyable evening of singing, story-telling and pickin’! The following video represents only a fraction of the evening, and like so many snapshots will mean much more to those, who by the presense, will add so much more to this 4 1/2 minute video.
Dave Boils Crawfish and Introduces New Political Song
This past Sunday (April 12, 2009) Dave Pierce had friends and family over for a crawfish boil, after which he played guitar and sang his songs. One of the songs was the recently written, “You Can’t See Main Street from Wall Street.”
Chorus
You can’t see Main Street from Wall Street, any more.
The wolves of Manhattan keep us Standards, Poor.
A trillion more dollars, just borrowed on time.
But who signed your name, on the long dotted line ?
Ok, if you don’t know, or just don’t remember, who John is, do you remember the group The Lovin’ Spoonful? They, with John’s writing skills, utilized blues, country, folk and jug band sources to create a new modern American music in the 60’s — “Do You Believe In Magic?” “You Didn’t Have To Be So Nice.” “Daydream.” “Younger Girl.” “Did You Ever Have To Make Up Your Mind?” “Summer In The City.” “Rain On The Roof.” “Nashville Cats.” “Six O’Clock.” “Darling Be Home Soon.” “Younger Generation.” “Do You Believe In Magic?” “You Didn’t Have To Be So Nice.” “Daydream.” “Younger Girl.” “Did You Ever Have To Make Up Your Mind?” “Summer In The City.” “Rain On The Roof.” “Nashville Cats.” “Six O’Clock.” “Darling Be Home Soon.” “Younger Generation.”
Here’s “Summer In The City” done by Quincy Jones — a different take.
