Amazon.com
When Willie calls, Austin responds. Tragedy brings out the best in this music-minded community, as some of the city's finest artists showed by joining forces with Willie Nelson in a concert to benefit the victims of South Asia's tsunami. With
Patty Griffin's "Love Be Heard" and Nelson's rendition of "Living in the Promiseland" setting the idealistic tone, the performances range from the go-for-broke rock of
Joe Ely and
Alejandro Escovedo to the folkish country of
Bruce Robison and
Kelly Willis and the arty, indie pop of
Spoon. "Travelin' Soldier" provides the best example of the communal spirit of Austin music, as that hit for the
Dixie Chicks finds Natalie Maines harmonizing here with the song's composer Robison and his wife Willis. Maines provides vocal support for Griffin on "Mary," and Griffin teams with Nelson on a set-closing duet of "Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground." With a generous selection of 18 tracks, the last third of the album features Nelson in fine form, his conversational phrasing and distinctive guitar even jazzier than usual. Though he's plainly the headliner, all of the performers rise to the occasion, to the delight of the responsive hometown crowd.
--Don McLeese
Product Description
On January 9th, 2005, Austin's own country music stars gathered together for a night of legendary compassion to benefit the survivors of the recent devastation in South Asia. Willie, and the others involved in this event hope to turn the tide beyond this concert by offering a DVD and CD of this historic event. PROCEEDS FROM THE SALE OF THE DVD AND CD "Songs FOR TSUNAMI RELIEF" WILL BENEFIT THE TSUNAMI RELIEF EFFORTS OF C.A.R.E. AND UNICEF. Performing with Willie on this special night at The Austin Music Hall were Patty Griffin, Natalie Maines, Joe Ely, Alejandro Escovedo featuring John Dee Graham, Spoon, Kelly Willis and Bruce Robison featuring Mickey Raphael.
See all Editorial Reviews