Now, the New Chapter · 1:00am Feb 19th, 2013
Just a note:
On the song Fluttershy sings to close the just-posted chapter of History--"So I Can Take My Rest" by Robert Earl Keen--since hearing it for the first time is still one of the greatest moments I've ever had at a concert.
Keen's touring group back then--this would've been in 1994 or 95--was a quintet: himself on acoustic and electric rhythm guitar and vocals, a lead electric guitarist, an electric bass player, a guy who doubled on fiddle and mandolin, and a drummer. They did their whole set--quite loud, most of it, to a guy like me who prefers things gentle and acoustic--and when they were done, we all stood up and clapped till they came back. Keen grabbed his acoustic guitar and pulled the amplifier cord out. His drummer dug a maraca from amongst his equipment, and all five of them advanced to the very lip of the stage--past the microphones, even.
They then proceeded to do "So I Can Take My Rest" with Keen strumming along and singing the verses, the drummer providing the only other instrumental accompaniment with the maraca. And when they came to the chorus, all five of 'em joined in with what is still to me the most amazing display of sheer vocal harmony I've come across. I mean, these five guys had been playing together for so long--Keen had earlier said that he and the fiddle/mandolin player had gone to grade school together--that they could stand with no monitor speakers and no amplification and simply create a perfect blend in the room.
The version of the song in the video above is from the studio album and is nowhere near as spectacular as I remember that live version being. But it's still a good song.
Mike
