Steve Earle with Justin Townes Earle singing the Townes Van Zandt song "Mr. Mudd+ Mr. Gold" LIVE @ The Egg in Albany, New York on Saturday May 30th 2009
RIP Justin. I was there that night, that was such a good show. It was my first time seeing Steve, and little did I know that his son was just as good. He actually ended up signing my vinyl copy of The Mountain, and he said “let me see if I can’t get my dad to sign this too, since it’s his album”. Really nice guy, really down to earth. He will be missed.
I love these two - both extraordinary in their own ways - singing together the song written by one's mentor; one's namesake - the song to bring them together finally.
I'm also a member of that cult, I wrote the lyrics to, if I needed you. on the walls of my kitchen 4times one over the other back in 93. townes told me the first time I ever laid eyes on him that I was a reincarnation of calamity Jane. I was thrilled. knowing him and Blaze change the dynamics of my thought pattern. I'm lucky to have courted his greatness.
Larry McMurtry wrote a hilarious piece of dialog speculating upon Calamity Jane in his novel "Buffalo Girls." Since I don't have my copy of the book handy right now, I can't remember which of the two old beaver trappers, Bartle Bone or Jim Ragg, posed the question: "...did you know some folks say that Jane is a hermaphrodite?" The other replied: "I don't care what her religion is, I still like the old gal!"
Yeah! It's a happy day here on the left coast of Canada when Steve Earle releases a new album..... AND it's all Townes Van Sandt. Can't wait to get it.
Apparently Townes shut up after Steve sang this song in its entirety in front of him. A lot of lyrics. Townes was pretty impressed. A musical love affair was born.....
I just discovered Justin Townes Earle! Being that I was and am a big Townes VanZandt fan, where have I been? Anyway, I really dig him alot and plan to listen some more. I wish him the best.
wish i could see Steve and his boy together...incredible...Justin has the longest legs i've ever seen on anyone!!! he and his daddy have a nice sound together...oh, and steve told this story about townes heckling him during the MN show and then, of course, later some idiot in the audience yelled, "play the Wabash Cannonball," and Steve said, "if i didn't play it for Townes Van Zandt do you think i'm fuckin' gonna play it for you?" ha!
I have seen another version of this song and there is a video of them on the TV show Treme (search their names and Treme), but they really don't perform together often. I also remember one where JTE invited several people up for the refrain of Harlem River Blues, including Steve and Allison, but none others with just the two. JTE did do this with Steve on Steve's album "Townes.".
I am not sure their relationship is completely broken- reading interviews with Justin, it seems like sometimes he has great things to say about Steve and at other times sounds angry. I expect it doesn't help that he still struggles with addiction. Would be cool to hear more from them together, and expect with time that might happen. I get the feeling they are both pretty hard headed.
Just one problem: "Mudd he checked and Gold bet all, and Mudd he raised and Gold did call..." - if Gold bet all, why the Mudd raise? All Gold's chips are on the line. Suggestion: "Gold he raised and Mudd bet all, and Gold he grinned and then he called..." Then you may ask how Mudd could be considered the victor when he only captured a fraction of Gold's huge winnings to that point - but it makes more sense than Townes's narrative. As if Townes even cared, what with poetic license and all that.
Hahaha!! That's great. I always thought of Gold as NEVER being all in. Mudd raised just to pour a bit of salt in the wound. Gold is just that...Gold... through and through, so to me Mudd was more the victor for wiping the preverbial smile from the face of "The Powers that Be" if only for a few seconds... "Amigo lay them raises down"
Maybe Gold threw in somethings else?? I know there is a story about Townes betting his gold tooth (and losing it, but they pulled out the wrong one with pliers - he tells the story on the joint Live at the Bluebird album.) I have also heard a story from Steve Earle about him betting, and losing, his coat. Seriously, though, I think you can chalk it up to poetic license.)
General personal observation: You have to participate in or at least observe closely much foolish behavior, usually alcohol related, to be a great folk song writer. Townes lost his saddle once up in Crested Butte. He used to ride his horse through the mountains in his younger years, each Summer. I never ran into him back then that I recall in Colorado. I'm older than dirt now but I kid you not, back in those days I was riding around on horseback writing songs, too. The hoofbeats help... Like a four armed drummer or the Dead in the background.
Thanks for replying. Yeah, Trying to make sense of Townes's lyrics, like Dylan's, can frustrate. TVZ hisself doesn't know what Pancho and Lefty is about. I'll forget it and move on..."Mr. Mudd" is superb.
Great song, but RE Steve's comment about Roy Acuff: I've met both Roy Acuff and Steve Earle, and I can guarantee you that one definitely WAS an asshole. It wasn't Mr. Acuff.
Ive heard and read by many of the best musician's who worked w acuff that he was not a nice guy and hated working w him. Idk anything about earle personally. Im going back as far as Gram Parsons who had some harsh words about acuff too. As I said Idk any of these people personally
I met Steve in early 2000s and asked him for an autograph for my mom who had just had surgery. He was really nice and even offered me and my girl free tickets to his sold out show. After the show his manager brought us a set list and some picks. I have nothing bad to say about him.
OOh thats unco.mfortable viewing, as far as father/son interaction is concerned. Hug avoidance on the fathers part, and no acknowledgement of the son, by the father , as his son walks off the stage! . Makes you wonder..
I'm also a member of that cult, I wrote the lyrics to, if I needed you. on the walls of my kitchen 4times one over the other back in 93. townes told me the first time I ever laid eyes on him that I was a reincarnation of calamity Jane. I was thrilled. knowing him and Blaze change the dynamics of my thought pattern. I'm lucky to have courted his greatness.
