Townes Van Zandt Stories: -Partying With Gram Parsons, Allman Brothers, Lightnin Hopkins 

What's your favorite Townes song? My favorites have evolved over the years, but I've always loved The Catfish Song. I'm also really drawn to the later era albums like The Highway Kind. I don't even know if these are official releases, but his voice sounds so tired and weary on those recordings. It's pure blues. It's not the most accessible way to turn someone on to Townes, but the sound resonates deeply to me.

I can't say this enough, this channel is an oasis in the you tube desert of bleached bones. So refreshing to encounter such rich , authentic material. Thank you so much!

I'm a trucker, so white freightliner blues, but I'd listen to any of them forevermore

Snowin’ on Raton and Rake are two of my favorite songs of all time

Catching up with this interview waaaay late but just a note to say how happy I was to hear that Townes was a big fan of Gram's. Two legends. Lots of great stories. Also always glad to hear again how much Townes admired Lightnin' Hopkins. Thank you. Favorite Townes song? Probably Tower Song -- personal experience causes me to resonate with that one in particular.

Live at the old quarter is a phenomenal record. God Bless TVZ RIP maestro!!!

Back to Louisville for a minute ...somewhere after I played with Townes...quite a while after, I had a gig in Louisville that the promoter had for some reason moved to the local comedy club. The Zanies bit here reminded me. That night, I was in control of my skills, and did a little bit with the audience called "First Show" which involves audience members that I point at to tell me who they saw at their first show. Invariably you get some too cool for school cats who say the big names but most of time the pure honesty leads to some improvisational comedy bits and basically that night was one of the best of the dozen or so times I've done it. There was a lot of laughter and it was a really fun show. The house manager told me afterwards I did better than most comedians there in regards to loosening up the audience to laugh. It was a lucky night. Doesn't always happen that way. Especially lately! Great work here Otis. I think my fav Townes song is No Place To Fall. quite a fancy chord progression. I have also learned many of those LIghtnin' riffs. Both from Townes and repeated listening of the man himself. Gotta learn from the best. The alternative is stagnation.

Life tip: if you're not really able to go out and hang out with people right now because of winter or viruses or distance or death or whatever... listen to people tell stories. It almost tricks your brain into thinking you're having a great conversation with another human and it beats just arguing about politics on the internet.

I’m trying to imagine the sound of Townes jamming with the Allman Bros. I love both but I can’t picture it. That being said, they were all great musicians, and especially Dickie- he was so good, he could be an asset to any singer.

Otis, love your site, the stories and the inside scoop of real world of musicians and artists. Thank you!

I’m so glad the RU-vid algorithm brought me to your channel as a massive Townes fan.

I love these stories about people's experiences of the music. It makes it much more *alive.* Thanks for all you do Otis Gibbs!

Favorite Townes song: "Waitin' Round to Die" Been playin' it since about 1979 or so. Learned it off Live at the Old Quarter record. Townes Best..

Now I understand why uncle Seymour washington cried, cause he was dyin. I really loved the footage of uncle Seymour washington an i kept his life advice.

This full episode is great. This is a form of interview/conversation that should happen more often but rarely does. Usually it’s the same stories, legends and lies. Hearing him talk about Parsons bring him into a normal perspective vs. the stuff that came after he died and was burned in Joshua Tree.

I have 500 km to go today, this is a great start! Thanks Otis for keep the moments no one knew that were part of their life you will never find on a book. Was an awesome thing to see this morning.

An outstanding edition of a wonderful channel. Much appreciate your mission-we need more such oral histories!

That heartworn highways part with Townes is a damn treasure to get a glimpse of that time is a gift. It reminds me of a masterpiece painting or something.

Mr Mudd and Mr Gold from Live at the Old Quarter blew my mind from the first listen. Fan for life from that moment. Steve Earle put me onto him.

Great interview! Thanks for sharing, brought back many memories: Saw Townes many times in the NYC area, one night at a club Folk City, the crowd thinned out after the first set (many tourists, I guess) and they made an announcement that we could stay for the late show which we did along with maybe 20-30 others. I was lucky to see Gram once and remember "the bus" parked right in front of Max's Kansas City down in the village. Again, small club but that was packed, first time I saw Emmylou. And the Allmans, first show I ever worked (30 years working security and production in "the bizness"), Central Theatre, Passaic, NJ - Sept. 1971. The best of times....

Rex's blues, just does for me every time. Grew up in Austin in the early 70's, learned many of my music heroes from the KUT's DJ Larry Monroe. Saw Townes at several places in Austin over the years. I loved every show I saw at the Cactus, he was always in good form at the shows I saw there. Even saw him in New Orleans once, which was not a good show. The audience didn't care much for him, he left early. He was pretty toasted. Saw SRV before Texas Flood came out in the french quarter on the same trip to the big easy. Wonderful time to be alive for sure if you loved raw and real Texas music. Thanks much for sharing.

Thanks so much, Otis, this is just great stuff. I saw Townes live, 2 years running, here in the UK, at Trysull village hall in Staffordshire, in the late '80s. I sat dead centre in the front row at both gigs, and the power of his close presence was almost overpowering. In '87, 'At My Window' had just come out, and at the end of the evenng Townes, having shaken hands and courteously tolerated my awed fan-babble, dedicated and signed my copy 'To Andrew: Good luck and thank everybody you love - Townes Van Zandt' ... in other words, he was gently suggesting there might be others who were equally deserving of my admiration. I thought, and still do, that it was a profoundly kind and wise response, and indicative of Townes's innate wisdom and humility. He also signed 3 or 4 of his earlier LPs that I'd taken along, and as a set, they are still among my most treasured possessions. Townes's songs remain a strong and reliable refuge of wisdom and support, especially in these times of pandemic and global breakdown ... we will not see his like again. He was the best. Thanks again, Otis.

Man, great recollections!The authenticity is what I truly miss. A bygone era for sure, but the we still have the music. Thanks for sharing.

Man, Otis, this channel has some gems sir.. Wow... I'm sifting through em... Thanks for sharing them..

This is a wonderful channel , I can't believe that it hasn't blown up, I totally learn something in every one , of course I love music and the history of the artists who play

WOW! First time I've heard Caddo's name spoken in just AGES! I was living in Austin and spent many, many nights at the 11th Door watching Townes play. I knew the manager ( Richard Moore) so I got to hang out after my job at the Jade Room was over. WHEW...this was a fabulous flash back. Many, many thanks !

Really cool to listen to, thanks for sharing this!

I can really relate to Townes. I had never known about him. I live in Tucson butI am from Tulsa, and went to Austin on ocassion and all over Texas really. He is so relatable and down to earth. He just reminds me of me. I wish I had found out about him earlier.

Wonderful material thank you.

Town came to Dallas in 11983 or 4 to record, my brother playing violin in the sessions. Poncho and Lefty gave him some money and he wanted to get on the road again, where he belonged, not pumping gas. He was a a great writer, he is an icon to many.

Again the ol algorithm sent u to me. I love all the lil tidbit stories, Otis. Makes me feel like a fly on the wall Even tho I was 17 in '71, knew Gram's stuff and had already seen Emmylou, ppl like him , Townes and Guy were very remote . Certainly not in print. Thx for the back in time peek . Nice start to another too busy day for an ol lady, lol . Love the cat...jyst had coffe on the patio w/my 16 feral buddies! Thx and more plz...Peace and love

Big fan of Townes and you too! Never realized you had this channel, thankful to RU-vid for suggesting it!

Amazing !!!!!!!! Thank you.

I have never been so entertained just by looking at an old GE tape recorder, merci from an old French Québec fan.

Love your channel!! In my teens, probably ‘73/‘74, I saw Lightnin’ on the pbs channel out of San Francisco. I was never the same. My friends would go on to follow the spandex glam rock, but my heart and my head went straight to Texas and Mississippi.

So glad I found your channel!!!!! Awesome content dude.

This is fantastic. I’m pretty sure I heard part of it on thanks for giving a damn but it’s so good to hear. So lucky you got to record these and share them. Thanks so much

THANK U!!! NOTHING LIKE THE OLD CASSETTE RECORDERS i still have several and have posted some times in Detroit with Rodriguez and various amazing artists that we spent our days with late 90's early 00's.. I was in art school in Detroit listening to the epic Liz Copeland nightly show (she came on 12-5am weeknights ) my favorite all time dj and i still have her show on tape where i first heard Townes in the mix.. For the Sake of the Song mixed in with all sorts of genres and decades which is always amazing (she goes by Liz Clarin now on the west coast with the amazing Dublab ).. As soon as I heard it I thought "I have to meet this guy" and then found out he had just passed a few years earlier was intense.. Over the years i collected all his music, interviews, still learn his songs, raised my son watching him and made a comment on Townes's first wife myspace about how my son loved watching "Townesie that smiles at me" we would watch the hotel room 4am concert doc mostly.. Thankful she wrote a reply.. Now my son is 16 and playing fiddle n more.. so cool.. Slight tangent but Jack White has attacked and bounced off of us 23+ years, talks shit.. had to make a video about his bs

Too many to choose a favorite but "Snowin on Raton" comes very close for me.

Thanks for this, Otis. . . while listening, I pulled out my 6 Towns LPS on Tomato Records , looked at the covers, read the lyrics. Afterwards, on this Saturday Night listening to them. I want to thank my friend, Gary of Freeport, WV., for suggesting your Channel.....yes, I Subscribed.

To live is to fly, snowing on raton, Marie. Man... There's so many. I'm currently on a deep Townes rabbit hole/trip.. Led me back to Steve Earle and guy Clark. But this is really cool brother, thanks for sharing this. Subscribed and ready for anything else you can throw at us!!

I remember listening to Thanks for Giving a Damn a lot a few years back. I’m glad all these old stories are coming to life again.

WOW. Thanks for posting!

I haven't seen a cassete recorder like that in over 30 yrs...

These stories are so great!

Hi Otis! I'm grateful you posted this and grateful it appeared on my YT screen this morning. I became a Townes fan after watching Austin City Limit's tribute to him. Guy Clark hosting a great gang of Townes' talented friends and admirers. I went into the show knowing Townes as the writer of "Pancho & Lefty". Within a few days I had 4 or 5 of his CDs. When Jack Clements ended the circle with "For the Sake of Song" I was floored, again. Probably has stayed my favorite song- especially after hearing Townes do it. I began gobbling up all the information I could find about Townes. Read two biographies- Hardy's is the best, I feel. I was lucky enough to talk with folks that were close to Townes and give me a better idea about the man. But, it still is his songwriting "poetry" that captured me. He is on the top of the pedestal in my my mind- shared by very few others. BTW, I enjoyed Charlie Sexton's portrayal of him in "Blaze". Thanks for sharing this with us and thanks for being a friend with and caring about Townes.

This is amazing, thanks. Favourite song is probably rake.

This is awesome love this kind of stuff

Loved it. Thanks!

Thank You so much for sharing. Peace!

Thank you for this.

Wow! This is fantastic! I love just letting your casts follow one after the next. Bought a Bluetooth to RCA adaptor into my amp.... you're in every room Otis... 14 speakers in my house and decks both front and back... its Otis in full swing....

this is pure gold! thanks!

Thanks for sharing,

I was just about to go outside, it’s a beautiful day. But I saw this and had to give it a listen, this is good stuff! Thank you Otis, a great way to start my day!

Great stuff!!!

Thanks for this.

Great content. I’ve read “The Gulf Coast Boys” so I recognized that cover as soon as I saw the first image.

To Live Is To Fly...But I fly airplanes for a living, so that’s maybe too easy. Love this series Otis!

Thanks for sharing this.

Love the content, love the artistic style of your podcasts. Please keep them coming. The stories need to be documented and heard. Awesome!!!

Ferlinghetti hey? "It takes a fast car to lead a double life" is a line from a Ferlinghetti poem, for anyone who digs The Cars... and "Candy-O" is their best album by miles! Great upload, thanks.

Thanks Otis, Number of years ago attended a Steve Earle concert in my hometown of Cork (in Ireland) where Steve introduced us to The Great (Late) Townes songs. Few later later got Towne's "Legend" album (LP) which was a learning curve. "Live in the Old Quarter" remains my favourite Townes Van Zandt album. Have a listen!

There are many songs I could pick as my favourite... Tecumseh Valley and Snake Song among them, but Snow Don't Fall is absolutely devastating. More than once, I've had to leave the room when I hear it in the company of others.

Great stuff Otis. I miss seeing you at The Vogue in Broad Ripple.

Thank you!! 🤩

Snow Don't Fall is my fav TVZ song. Beautiful Darryl. Hope I spelled that right. Townes came to Toronto, Canada and played the Horseshoe and Mariposa Folk Festival a couple of years before he passed. I interviewed him a few times. Special guy. Everyone loved him, whoever met him. And what a poet. He said his favourite poet was Baudelaire. That figures.

Thank you for the taped info.

I could listen to these old stories about Townes forever, he had everything he needed to make it big and just didn't want it for whatever reason, but the other artists that speak of him knew he was on another level. Anyway really enjoy your stuff and just subscribed.

Haven’t heard the story but Mr Jimmy Jingles does have a picture of himself and Steve Earle and Townes at Lake Barkley Bridge on his Facebook page. I heard second hand that they had been to metropolis Illinois to the gambling boat and Townes had a bad night of gambling that night and was dreading going back home to Nashville to face his wife or girlfriend. I believe it’s still on his Facebook page. Love to see those old vhs tapes. Enjoy your stories and keep up the great work. Thank you friend.

That was great

''fallen in with the right crowd'' haha!

thank you!!

Hi Otis! I want to thank you for the impeccable pieces you offer. Everything is so artistically presented and filmed. Not to mention top notch guests. Your voice is so soothing too...and can't forget your cat making his cameo appearances. Best Wishes to you ❤️ PS, you are also a painter aren't you? I would love it if you would do a video about your artwork!

Thanks for this Otis. Favourite Townes song? That's a real tough one, as he just didn't write bad ones. Snowin' on Raton is up there, To live is to Fly, Sake of the Song..so many. I came across a download of a live recording of a concert her did in the UK, sounds like it's just a mic in a room kind of recording but he's talking in between songs and he tells the audience something along the lines of ''hey, I put a pound coin in the fruit machine in the lobby and emptied it. Anyway, it's behind the bar, have a drink on me'' I just think that's great. Be well, Otis.

One day our whispers will be louder than their screams...

not too many people know about Townes here in england - i was fortunate enough to be put onto his music by a texan friend of mine a few years back... i have drip-fed myself his discography - knowing how special it is - i won't allow myself to listen to more than one album at once, making sure to savour each song.. it's taken a few years but i think i've covered most of them now. at present i'm struggling through a break-up of sorts and buckskin stallion blues; only him or me and come tomorrow are helping me out hugely

When I was a bartender in houston Townes would try to trade his autograph for drinks. After I had 4 or 5 napkins with autographs I told him no more so then he wanted to roll dice for drinks. He ended up that night playing poker with some of the other bartenders and literally lost his shirt (it was like a gas station shirt with Townes monogrammed on the pocket). It was a sad sight to see him leaving the bar at 5am walking down the deserted sidewalk shirtless

Thank You! My last artist to be obsessed about

Welcome to the fellowship!

I love these stories but would like to see more of the cat.

Oh my favorite song still is Quicksilver Daydreams of Maria.

This is gold

Tank yuo 4 dis video

This is great! Ha, I hope you have that little tab on the top of cassette removed in case your cat steps on the record button! 😃

love it Otis my kitties love watching you your beard which mine is slowly approaching and ur kitties of course...and i have gotten you another new fan deservedly in maybe susie! i met her in hayes carll and the good rev todd livestreams and shes one of my who have become supporters of my lil community radio show (uve been aired on!) our julesworks follies troupe and variety show and a friend...thanks!

Americana music owes an unpayable debt to the Lomax family. I am grateful for their efforts. We'd all be listening to big band bubble gum bullshit if it wasn't for them. Never would have known about Leadbelly and many other great influential musicians.

Otis i am impressed with the shots you use as backdrops , I don't know if some of the small things you ( or whomever does these things ) does, are on purpose .The end result is a simple shot with some depth , IE the shot of the old recorder with a bit of cat hair . Most people would simply blow the thing off to spare the viewer a shot of a dirty recorder . It would take a genius to realise that those tiny squiggly hairs are ubiquitous to humanity in the many pets we own and that they have a tendency to evoke memories of said pets and thus somehow create an emotional link between yourself and the warm feelings we have for them . Which stands in stark contrast to how clean many of the other shots are , which is why i think it's slightly more than accident . I listened to Pancho and Lefty many times before i discovered TVZ , Which never would have happened without the miracle of RU-vid , Neither this , But i found a copy with a full accompaniment that i did not like as it sounded too ... bandy , but another that was more simple and had a violin arrangement along with it was the greatest elevation of the song i have ever heard . Having heard Willies version and many others i listen to TVZ sing it there and wonder that he did not have a greater commercial success, But I also have to think that my enjoyment of that piece is somehow linked to the many other versions i have heard . Mud and Gold , The Snake song ,Loretta . In truth I discovered TVZ at around the same time i discovered JTE , Some 10 or 15 years ago now i think , I listened to Mammas eyes and Midnight at the movies and was impressed . I was on a trend at the time and found the Tallest man on earth singing the gardener , which i thought was incredible , and Gillian Welch , who is responsible for all of it because of Oh brother where art though and me and my late father having enjoyed the follow up mountain music documentary you are no doubt familiar with . This all led to Old crow medicine show and "devil makes three" .. Peter Bernhard is incredible . , like you wanted to hear all that . Point being though he resides behind a door where a lot of music dwells that i never would have thought i would like as i pretty much dislike POP country .In fact i think they have ruined other music for me entirely and whats worse , few other people i know ( Get It ) .. Nice backdrops though . Looks like you have read a book on commercial art or two ..

Is John related to the great Alan Lomax, who recorded all the musicians? I watched, well, listened, to several snippets of Alan and Woodie Guthrie chats/ songs last night. It was fantastic. I think the chat, or interview, is in the Library of Congress.

Really cool.

Hi Otis, I've always thought that Poncho and Lefty is a story of how Townes' personalities or mental illnesses would take over his life, and he was two people ( at least), or different when drinking, or manic depressive, maybe. The words describe his adventures similar to theirs. As if he don't know what happened. Even when he was a young kid, he was just self medicating, trying to manage. Listen again closely to all the words, he even said the song kind of wrote itself. Thanks for amazing info. More later. I

Otis Gibbs. I'm sorry to say that I have no earthly idea who you are and I'm going to wait till I make it through your 74 Playlist to Google you but with that being said I am hooked on your story telling. I have made it this far in your play list and I am mesmerized by your voice and talent. I really can't wait to Google you and see what works you have done but for now you only have me wanting more. More stories about The Killer, Bocephus, Marty Robbins, and Earnest Tubbs. About legends on the Opery or even Hee Haw like Buck Owens, String Bean, or even Grandpa Jones. I'm not real big into names of the bands and who all is behind the music but I do love old old country, blues, rock, and odd stuff that sounds a little different than anything else. Thank you for giving me so many names to look up so I can find me music to listen to. Keep up the GREAT stories and I'll keep listening. And maybe if I ever find the end I'll look you up, but until then I kinda like the mystery. Thanks Brent

I think John Lomax was Alan Lomaxes' son. Alan discovered Leadbelly and guys like Woody Guthrie. He used to drive around the south with a huge recorder in the back of his car that weighed like 500lbs I read? Library of Congress employee. Needless to say, without guys like this we never woulda heard the real roots of American Music. I met Townes twice, in Seattle and Portland N.W. clubs 80s, 90s.

The way i pick the cords is very good

Very VERY intersting/stimulating... I have questions. . .

I'm so happy to have stumbled upon your channel. BTW love Darrell, or Daryl, how ever you spell it. Cool cat.

The love uuo got tawns is amasing keepim alaive

77 Cornell masters in eng lit .. townes made me move to texas.. still trying to catch that ember

Could you imagine if Duane would have been alive during that Allman's show? One of the greatest slide guitarist with a great songwriter like Townes. But still , what a show that would have been.

Anyone have any more Gram Parsons stories? Thanks for all these Otis!!!