With an back catalogue of the quality possessed by Slaid Cleaves the only problem envisaged with a live release would be which tracks to include, a problem partly alleviated by making the release a double disc affair and ensuring the fans favourites make the cut, the album is a true reflection of the artist in his element, rather than pick and choose tracks from historical live shows the album was recorded at the Horseshoe Lounge Austin TX, a warts-and-all release with audience banter and clinking glasses it’s as authentic as the songs themselves.
The album fittingly takes it’s title Sorrow & Smoke from the closing words of a Slaid favourite Horseshoe Lounge, the album is released twenty years on from when Cleaves moved from Portland, Maine to Austin. Album highlights include the award winning title track to Slaid’s break out album Broke Down co-written with childhood friend Rod Picott whose recent release Welding Burns I’ve been enjoying of late.
Sorrow & Smoke: Live at the Horseshoe Lounge, is released on Music Road Records on September 6, 2011, and features support from Michael O’Connor on acoustic lead guitar and Oliver Steck on accordion, harmonica and trumpet.
If you’re unfamiliar with the man’s work you’re missing out and this album will give you a taste Slaid’s song craft and if live albums are not your thing I’d recommend kicking of your Slaid collection with Broke Down or Wishbones, use the links below.
Better still the man himself is in the UK later this year, here are the dates you need for your diaries.
September:
21st Up In Arms, BIDULPH
22nd Henry Boons, WAKEFIELD
23rd Village Hall, ELFORD
24th Radcliffe Centre, BUCKINGHAM
25th The Kitchen Gate, BIRMINGHAM
26th The Slaughtered Lamb, LONDON
27th St Bons, BRISTOL
28th The Musician, LEICESTER
29th Old Town Hall, GATESHEAD
30th The Pleasance, EDINBURGH
October:
1st St Bede’s, CHORLEY
2nd The Maze, NOTTINGHAM
4th The Green Note, LONDON
For fans the full track-listing is:
Hard To Believe
Slaid Cleaves – Horseshoe Lounge
Drinkin’ Days
Black T-Shirt
No Angel Knows
Below
Tumbleweed Stew
The Sinner’s Prayer
Broke Down
Wishbones
New Year’s Day
Cry
Lydia
Green Mountains and Me
Horses
Texas Top Hand
Rolling Stone From Texas
Breakfast in Hell
Key Chain
Slaid Cleaves – One Good Year
Go For The Gold
T-Bone
Buy @ Amazon
Download @ iTunes
Connect @ Facebook
