OT:Clint Black Play Steely Dan on Austin City Limits
Steve_2000
country, blues and folk music scenes in the US, Austin TX. It's a
national showcase for many parts of a wide genre of American roots
type music.
This year they are celebrating 25 years on the air. Over the years they
have presented everyone from Chet Atkins, to Garth Brooks (even though
he's a superstar he returns regularly to acknowledge the breaks they
gave him at the start.)
They'll feature alt. folk and outlaw country like the Indigo Girls,
Mary Chapin Carpenter, Lucinda Williams, John Prine, Tom Waits. Blues
from Albert, BB, Freddie King, Stevie Ray Vaughn, John Mayall, the new
kids KWS and Johnny Lang. They present honest musicians in most of the
country-blues genres whether they are major stars or just quality
artists eeking out living by doing 200+ one niters a year, with
releases coming out on small labels and played on rogue or college
stations. You may see some Nashville headliner in the first halfhour,
then a reformed classic bluegrass outfit in the second half hour. Maybe
an up and coming blues, country or rockabilly artist. Occassionally a
big or legendary artist gets the whole hour.
Clint Black got the full hour on the episode airing this week. I've
been trying to find time to post a bit about it. I noticed someone else
mentioned him doing a Steely Dan song, so I thought I'd add my review
of the show and my current (somewhat revised) opinion of Clint Black.
The man is an artist.
Clint Black is a big name in country music. Has built a successful
mainstream 'Nashville' type career over the last decade. He got popular
just after Garth Brooks did in the very early 90's. Clint was one of
that first group of guys that updated country a bit..rocked it up (in
Garth's case-added other elements in Clint's case..blues rock feel etc.)
He was also one of those guys that always wore/wears cowboy hats. I
sorta subconciously lumped him in with the "hat stars". It was
kinda 'inside' derogatory category, as so many male country singers
wore hats, whether they had talent or not. Lot's still do, veterans and
new guys coming out. Talent or not. It's a look and serves a country
artist well, as the talented guys who become stars generally have a
much longer career than a typical counterpart in rock music. Hats help
slow down the aging/image of the artist. Add some sunglasses to the
hat (Like Hank Williams JR.in country...or ZZ Top in rock) and age
becomes a bit irrellevent.
Clint was quickly gained star status, but was of a different breed. He
does sing with an *acceptable* twang-no mistaking him for anything but
a country vocalist. But he sings well within his style.
I eventually noticed that he generally wrote or co-wrote many of his
big songs. He also didn't participate in the "Garth" race to see who
was going to rack up the biggest sales and win the all
that 'entertainer of the year' awards stuff. Clint let guys like Allen
Jackson, Brooks and Dunn etc do all that competitive Nashville stuff.
Clint has just worked steadily compiling a body of mainly country work
that has established him as a top country star. He writes solid songs
with above average lyrics...flavored with a county blues feel. He
regularly charts a top 10 album and a number one single.
I *believe* Clint is based in So. Calif. which makes him an automatic
outsider as far as the Nashville 'family' is concerned. But, like the
Dixie Chicks (based in Texas) his talent can't be denied and he is very
popular nationally in the country genre with some mild crossover. His
quality singing, songs written or co-written by himself or others...For
himself and others, along with top notch players and production have
given him enough country number ones to last a lifetime.
I always liked Clint coz even if he did use many of the top hot
Nashville seesion guns on some of his hits, he let em Play. They'd do
the regular single with the great short solos, the after the final
chorus was sung , he knew he had world class pickers in there...so on
some songs he let em trade 8's for a few extra minutes. The DJ could
fade it...or, as 'modern country' caught on, some DJ's just let those
jams play.
As mentioned, always noticed a blues or subtle rock element to Clint's
mainstream country hits and also noticed the lyrics were developing
into strong, intelligent words-in a genre where some writer's hits are
about pick-up trucks, marrying your grade school sweetheart or
describing your grandfather's plans to join grandma in heaven soon.
Clint has developed into a strong writer and knows how far he can take
it as far as a chart hit, and also will take a Lot of freedom on his
albums. Much further in his stage shows it turns out:)
FYI-he married TV star Lisa Hartman several years ago. Probably another
thing I filed away and added to my subconcious assumption that he was a
Star, into showbiz etc. FYI- it's beem a lasting marriage...against the
percentages.
A couple of years ago I saw him on a TV special, doing a one of his
well written ballads-a recent hit. He didn't bother with the backing
band, as on the record. He simply sang it and accompanied himself very
well on acoustic guitar. I had always sorta liked his stuff but after
being impressed with that song and his mesmerizing of me-and the
audience in the TV studio with just his voice, guitar and Words and
Music, I began Paying Attention when I heard his songs. As I listened I
heard some very well done music-in the 'country genre'. His solo guitar
accompaniment on that TV show was along the lines of James Taylor or
Kenny Loggins.
As a matter of fact, the next time I caught him was on a Kenny Loggins
TV special at Christmas. A low key affair with grammy winning
composer/producer David Foster sitting at the piano as Kenny singing
and playing along with friends including Clint (doing a duet with his
wife on a song of his which was the number one country song in US at
the time). Again, Clint just basically played strong backup on guitar,
although when David Foster is around, there is going to be some tasty
orchestration. I have utter respect for Kenny Loggins as a singer,
writer and musician and his having Clint on the show re-inforced my
opinion that Clint ain't your ordinary, big cowboy hat, Nashville
assembly line 'star.' He's an artist and a musician.
By this point I was intrigued. Clint doesn't tour much and unlike many
of the big country stars, has not had a big HBO or VH1 or TNN special
broadcast of one of his full on live concerts.
I wanted to see what he did live...so last week in the guitar newsgroup
there was a question on what rock guitar virutoso Eric Johnson was
currently up to. Eric is truly a world class electric rock guitarist
based in Austin.
A member of his fan club posted he would be on Clint Black's Austin
City Limits appearance-airing last weekend through this weekend- on
your local PBS station. It seemed a bit odd that Clint would have a
state of the art (high volume) rocker sit in with him. Just gave me
another reason to catch the show. And what a show it was.
Clint may as well call his group 'Clint Black and his Large Band' ala
Lyle Lovett. He must have had 12 pieces up there. At least 2 guitars,
fiddle, steel/dobro, utility-mandolin, banjo/guitar, 3 piece horn
section, keyboards, drums-and Clint-on a variety of instruments. I love
Lyle Lovett's stuff and appreciate what he's doing with his country
swing jazzy big band...but I have to admit Clint's got excellent
players on every instrument who can really play Any Style. Wizards.
I was expecting him to come out-as some 'Nashville' stars do-as Garth
Brooks had done a week or 2 before... and just go through the hits
(Garth's about ready to retire, and it showed..fyi).
Clint Black gave one of the most eclectic and wonderful performances
I've seen on that show...and I've seen a lot. It comes from his
blues/country background and his integrity...and also his taking the
time and money to assemble a top notch group of players who can nail
any style of music.
He started out with an opening ballad on acoustic guitar, then brought
out the band.
They proceeded to do a few numbers where acoustic instruments were the
focus. Right out of the bag they played a cover of a New Orleans
Boogie/Rag that Leon Russel wrote 30 years ago when he was hot. "Dixie
Lullaby." Little Feat fans woulda dug it. Russell was writing that
stuff around the same time Lowell George and company were doing their
thing, cept Leon was from Oklahoma, Lowell was from LA..whatever. They
kicked ass on it and the horn section-which included a clarinet, added
some big dixieland flavor.
They did some other acoustic songs, slipping in a big Clint Black Hit
or 2. Done as acoustic arrangements at this point in the show. Don't
get me wrong. Everyone was playing...just on acoustic instruments where
possible.
Eric Johnson lives in Austin and was called up to play acoustic guitar
on a song about Chet Atkins. Eric did well, but in all fairness,
Clint's lead player-like everyone in his band-is Excellent and had an
edge...as he plays the song every show, and has some killer licks
ready. So he probably played a bit better on it...when it's that good
and musical, it's kinda hard to call. Clint's player did have some
authentic Chet style mind boggling combination arrpegios. Eric did
Eric.
Before winding up the acoustic part of the show, Black pulled out a
harmonica and did a country blues. I've seen lotsa Big stars and major
singer-songwriters (Hello, Bob, Bruce, Neil..) pull out a harmonica and
do ok keeping the harmonica at least playing close to the guitar chords-
but Clint was playing some serious authentic hot blues licks.
Eventually he began doing note for note trade offs with his lead player
and they weren't doing stupid stuff. Clint can play that harp.
The players who were on acoustic instruments eventually switched over
to electric and a few more hits were played, along with some songs
designed to let every player show that he was a master of his
instrument.
Very well done. Very good taste. Some very eclectic selections. They
were doing cajun stomps and some very electrified versions of some of
Clints 'country hits'. During a couple of these, Black demonstrated
that he was very proficient on electric lead guitar. (I had begun to
suspect.) He's no barn burner like Vince Gill or some of the other big
Nashville guys who are secret monster players-and his Own lead player
is way excellent...but Clint did some soloing, swaps and eventually
tightly harmonized lines with his lead and steel players that were well
written, and very well played. He held his ground and took a very nice,
uniquely styled electric solo on another song.
By this point I was Impressed. Being a big Nashville star is only a
part of what Clint Black does. His live show is a cross section of many
different styles of American music..leaning toward the genres any one
band might play on Austin City Limits..but he played a whole bunch of
styles.
They had time for one more, so they had Eric Johnson back up for a
final song. He plugged in a stratocaster to much (local fan) applause.
He is an Electric Player..one of the best. I knew he wouldn't be
getting his huge rock tone (big amps cranked) in Clint's band- as
that's not what they do. So I was ready for a blues or something.
That's when the played Steely Dan's "Josie."
They played it damn good. His 'great players' band is easily up to the
music for that song. Horns and all. And Eric Johnson there to take the
guitar solo. I was just starting to wonder how Clint's 'country' vocals
would fit in. But he didn't sing it-a bandmember did...looked like a
percussionist. And of course though the music was fine-and the
vocal 'ok', it's not really 'Josie' unless DF is singing. The music was
tight though. Didn't sound like a good country band trying to do Josie.
Sounded like a good band doing Josie right.
Eric Johnson took a fine solo...woulda like to have heard him through
his own magical gear, but he took a kinda very musical Drew Zingg solo-
kinda. It was fine. Eric's very much got his own licks, but that is
sorta the direction it was in, as opposed to Walter's classic texture
solo, or one of the tour guitarists' over the top high speed jazz rock
solos. A solid performance that kicked butt musically.
I had lost track of Clint during the song. Couldn't spot that cowboy
hat anywhere. Turns out he took it off...so it wouldn't interfere as he
Played Very Solid (and funky) Drums on Josie! I was laughing out loud
by this point. Guess the drummer came down to bang congas and sing the
lead vocal.
So the guy writes good to great meaningful country tunes-which could be
produced many different ways for different musical genres..altho he is
a country singer. He regularly has big country hits with these self
composed songs. He's got great eclectic taste in music, a side which
he shows to his live audiences. Makes for a very entertaining live show
as opposed to seeing a mega star like Allen Jackson just stand there
and sing his formula hits. Clint Black is a musician, 'good' to
surprisingly 'very good' on a number of instruments-another side you
don't see unless you go to a live show.
And on ACL he has a mega talented guitarist sitting in with his top
notch band (on bascially a country, folk, blues show) and he whips out
a very creditable version of Steely Dan's 'Josie' for the encore...with
Clint playing drums. Austin fans are very open and huge music fans.
They loved it.
The band did such a good job on Josie, and Black was so solid on the
drums-I have a feeling it's a 'soundcheck' song for them. They really
had it down. Many times bands who have to soundcheck everyday will do
band members requests or jams, istead of the show tunes they have to
play that night. It's their time to have fun. With the calibre of
players in Clint Black's excellent band, and his own musical skills and
mentality...'Josie' doesn't seem that off the wall after all. Bet they
play it, and a bunch of other 'interesting' songs at soundchecks.
It was a show full of very pleasant surprises. First rate.
They do a little interview with the artist as the credits roll and
Clint said he was glad to have finally played Austin City Limits. He
said it was the first time he had ever fully documented 'what I do in
my live shows.'
I'll be seeing him on his next tour.
Steve
--
"This ain't all country , this is a party, we're into foolin around."
David Burn,"Life During Primetime" Copyright © 1977 All Rights etc. etc.
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Before you buy.
J. E. Moore
he owned everything SD ever did, and now he'd love to do that kind of music
himself, but that he had made his choice and that he'd stay in country
music. Here's hoping the local PBS outlet broadcasts that Austin show up
our way soon!
-- John