Over the weekend I began working on my year end lists, and, like always, was prepared to roll out my favorite concerts of the year this week. I held off on publishing that list because I had a ticket to see the Dave Rawlings Machine last night at the High Noon Saloon. The show was unquestionably great, probably one of the best sounding shows I have ever heard at this venue. No lie, for most of the night I actually felt like I was at a Midnight Ramble, only this wasn’t a ramble, rather a machine well-oiled by Dave Rawlings.

The night started out like a borrowed page from the Grateful Dead’s Reckoning, opening with “Monkey And The Engineer” and segueing the second song into “Candyman.” It was an unexpected turn so early in the show, and the first indicator that the crowd was in for a special night. It also proved the evening would be just as much about others material and highlighting the incredible assembly of talent on stage including the stunning Gillian Welch. It wasn’t long into “I Hear Them All” before Rawlings found a path to “This Land Is Your Land” and had the entire audience quietly singing along. They of course played “Ruby” the standout track of the recently released A Friend of a Friend and followed that up with a beautiful take on the Dlyan’s “Diamond Joe” performed as a duet by Rawlings and Welch.

Most of the night alternated between a full band of five members (including 3 members of Old Crow Medicine Show) and Dave and Gillian as a duo. After a rousing versions of “Sweet Tooth” and “Spottie Ottie,” Rawlings handed the reins over to Gillian Welch who took lead vocals for the first time on “No One Knows My Name” and “Wreaking Ball” to widespread applause.

The evening continued with “Method Acting” that ran straight into Neil Youn’g “Cortez The Killer,” which, great as it is on the new album, soars to even greater heights in concert. At this point they could have called it a night and sent everyone home satisfied. They were just getting started. The second Dylan cover of the night, “Queen Jane Approximately,” was a big surprise that was quickly overshadowed a couple songs later by Gillian Welch’s “Look At Miss Ohio.”

For the encore the band kept their promise to a fan up front and delivered an amazing take on The Band’s “The Weight” (see above video). After a brief departure from stage, the band returned, led by Welch on a foot-stomping, a capella version of “Go To Sleep You Little Baby” made famous in the film “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” Stunned doesn’t come close to describing how I felt as it finally came to an end. I walked in with great expectations last night and those were far exceeded.

Last night felt like a living room show. It was easily one of the best shows I’ve seen all year, might even crack my all-time list. It was that good. Don’t pass up a chance to see these guys while they’re still out there playing tiny clubs. Time to make room for one more at the top of the list of best shows of 2009.

Buy: Dave Rawlings Machine – A Friend of a Friend
Myspace: Dave Rawlings Machine