Last night the Dave Rawlings Machine sold out the Abbey Pub in Chicago. Tonight they play the High Noon Saloon behind one of the best albums to arrive in the second half of 2009. If you are a regular reader of this site and have not yet picked up a copy of A Friend of a Friend,
Rawlings musical trajectory is on highlighted by his contributions and influence as a behind the scenes man to some of today’s greatest songwriters including Ryan Adams, Bright Eyes, and Gillian Welch. He also produced my favorite Old Crow Medicine Show album, Big Iron World
The aforementioned release, A Friend of a Friend, find Rawlings personalizing his To Be Young (Is To Be Sad, Is To Be High),” (which previously appeared on Ryan Adams’ Heartbreaker), teasing Neil Young’s “Cortez The Killer,” and dusts off a rendition of “Monkey And The Engineer,” which I first came to know via the Grateful Dead’s take on the traditional number. In an album that is loaded front-to-back with greatness, it’s the opening tune, “Ruby” that stands out amongst the diamond filled release. It’s definitely one of the best songs of this year and I’m looking forward to hearing it live tonight in Madison.
Buy: Dave Rawlings Machine – A Friend of a Friend
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Myspace: Dave Rawlings Machine
Agree that Rawlings’ effort is one of the better CDs of the year. Hopefully, we will be treated to a review of the show on MOB as well…