Continue reading February 13: Bob Dylan, Avett Brothers and Mumford & Sons Grammys 2011
Americana is an amalgam of roots music formed by the confluence of the shared and varied traditions that make up the American musical ethos; specifically those sounds that are merged from folk, country, blues, rhythm and blues, rock and roll and other external influences. Americana, as defined by the Americana Music Association (AMA), is “contemporary music that incorporates elements of various American roots music styles, including country, roots-rock, folk, bluegrass, R&B and blues, resulting in a distinctive roots-oriented sound that lives in a world apart from the pure forms of the genres upon which it may draw. While acoustic instruments are often present and vital, Americana also often uses a full electric band.”
A while ago I did a post on my top 10 country versions of Bob Dylan songs (soon to be updated), since then I’ve been made aware of a lot more songs from people who read the original post. Then most of my pickings where of classic country leaning on outlaw country, in this post I will concentrate on the new generation of country/ alt. country.
Here are 13 favourite Bob Dylan songs performed by Americana artists. Lets start with a great live version:
Bobby Long & John Fullbright – It’s Not Dark Yet:
What a wonderful sound and such a great performance. These guys are just so good!
Continue reading 13 great Americana versions of Bob Dylan songs
The Avett Brothers are a band from Concord, North Carolina. Two brothers, Seth and Scott, formed the group after the breakup of the former rock band, Nemo, adding a third member, Bob Crawford on bass. More recently, they have been joined by cellist Joe Kwon. Simone Felice (Felice Brothers, The Duke & The King) played drums on some of the tracks on their latest album I and Love and You.
Murder in the city (official video):
The Avett Brothers combine country, bluegrass, pop, folk, rock and roll, honky tonk and ragtime to produce a sound described by the Washington Post as “post civil-war modern rock”, or by other reviewers as “grungegrass”.
They are great on record and their concerts take your breath away. I saw them in August 2011 at oyafestival in Oslo, Norway and heard the song Murder in the city for the first time, I mean really heard it for the first time. I did listen to it before the concert, but at the show it really hit me, hard.
Continue reading The Best Songs: Murder in The City – The Avett Brothers
The Avett Brothers from Concord, North Carolina is made up of two brothers, Scott Avett (banjo) and Seth Avett (guitar), as well as Bob Crawford (double bass) and Joe Kwon (cello). Mike Marsh (drums) and Paul Delfigia (keyboard) are touring members of the band, with Kwon featured on recordings from 2007’s Emotionalism and later.
I saw them at Oya Festival in Oslo a few years ago, a great concert.
The Avett Brothers have spent much of the past decade nurturing their skill as songwriters, along with their skills as vocalists and musicians. That said, most of their shows include very fine cover songs. I have dug up some fine interpretations of Bob Dylan songs.
The Avett Brothers talk about their favorite album: Bob Dylan’s “Blood on the Tracks”:
The Avett Brothers pull out a Bob Dylan cover in Columbus, OH @ Lifestyles Communities Pavilion 5/19/2012.
The Avett Brothers – The Man in Me:
Continue reading The Avett Brothers plays Bob Dylan