Billy Bragg - live in St Ives last night

[RocknRollDave]

Excellent show. Just Bragg and his acoustics (including one of the new Gretsch resonators which he played some nice bottleneck on, believe it or not).

Two sets - first one was a selection of Woody Guthrie stuff, second was Billy's own material.

I didn't know a single Guthrie tune before last night but Bragg's introduction to each song was so evocative, he painted such a vivid picture of Guthrie and the US of the 40's etc that it was impossible not to get absorbed in it all. Plus the music was damn fine too, delivered with such genuine passion.

Great second set too.

[Not_the_DJ]

Have you got/heard the Mermaid Avenue albums he did with Wilco (and others)?...all Guthire stuff and bloody good.

[RocknRollDave]

Not heard them, but he played selections from all of them and talked a lot about the recording of them last night, so I shall be investing in them...

[Not_the_DJ]

Certainly worth getting. When I've seen him live donig that stuff (with the Blokes) he'd re-arranged them again. Personnally I prefered the versions with Wilco (and others) on the albums.

[RocknRollDave]

He was offering a 3 cd pack of them including a DVD...if I'd had the cash on me I'd have got it there an then. Will have to buy it online instead. Proper inspiring stuff, what music's all about.

[Not_the_DJ]

He was offering a 3 cd pack of them including a DVD...if I'd had the cash on me I'd have got it there an then. Will have to buy it online instead. Proper inspiring stuff, what music's all about.

That means there's a disc I don't have (I've got volume I and II)....must check that out.

I guess the DVD was 'Man in the Sand'. They broadcast that on the TV when Volume 1 came out. I'd like to see that again

[heads of to the shops]

[Not_the_DJ]

Was it this:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mermaid-Aven...7445799&sr=1-2

Edit: Seems I can't buy Volume 3 on it's own....but still I don't own the DVD so that still seems worthwhile.

[RocknRollDave]

Yes, that looks like the one.

[Not_the_DJ]

Thread bump.

I splashed out on the 3 CD + 1 DVD set this week. Despite already owning V1 and 2 I really wanted to hear V3 and the DVD.

I need to have a good read of the liner notes to see who's on what track (apart from BB and Wilco of course). V3 is certainly not a "this is the crap we left off" type collection, there's some gems on there with the great (and often witty) lyrics from Woody of course.

Superb stuff.

[RocknRollDave]

Thread bump.

I splashed out on the 3 CD + 1 DVD set this week. Despite already owning V1 and 2 I really wanted to hear V3 and the DVD.

I need to have a good read of the liner notes to see who's on what track (apart from BB and Wilco of course). V3 is certainly not a "this is the crap we left off" type collection, there's some gems on there with the great (and often witty) lyrics from Woody of course.

Superb stuff.

Excellent!

Not got as far as disc three nor the DVD yet...(the new Down EP, the new ZZ Top and a crafty purchase of Buddy Guy's latest CD distracted me...oops).

Have saved the DVD for a rainy day. Judging by the weather for the rest of the week, I should be able to report back very soon...