J.T. Van Zandt -- Clay Pigeon

[JJI6881]

If you ever wondered what townes would look like with a beard--there you go

[Rantomon]

Wow, He's the spit of his dad, If I didn't know better I'd say he was a young Townes... E.C.T. is bad news

[steviegaga]

This is incredible. J.T.Van Zandt (Towne's son) doing one of my favorite Blaze Foley songs - made famous by John Prine who, sadly, I missed at the Calvin Saturday night, BUT this whole thing is about against electro shock therapy, which Towne's was subjected to as a youth. Weirrrd.

[jgray1345]

Its good to see you again my friend.

[joshuapearson80]

What is the little bit of a song with a guitar and harmonica at the beginning of this video? It sounds really familiar. J.T. is a great musician.  Does anybody know if he's written any originals?

[shackkat1]

This has become my favorite youtube song. It's my go to.. Anyone who wants to learn to play Clay Pigeons should learn it from J.T. or Blaze. Every other versions just plain sucks compared to these..

[unclebobunclebob]

@shackkat1 John Prine does a great version too. His doesn't suck.

[shackkat1]

This has become my favorite youtube song. It's my go to.. Anyone who wants to learn to play Clay Pigeons should learn it from J.T. or Blaze. Every other versions just plain sucks compared to these..

[RossM3838]

shock treatment may well have been the best treatment at the time. These days the treatment has been greatly refined. It is only used for extreme cases of depression and for those it does seem to help at least for a while.

[tommmyy93]

i was there!

[redshaftedflicker]

add joey ramone and lou reed to the shock treatment list besides a million others.

[austintxnative]

I wasn't able to attend the concert.

Excellent cover of Blaze's song.

And you are indeed a singer-songwriter in your own right.

Peace,

Norris

[TalamoxSmith]

His speaking voice is almost exactly like his Dad's, but his singing voice differs. Not necessarily in a bad way. Long live the Van Zandt name.

[WillILiveTomorrow]

Actually, recent studies have shown that compared to other schizophrenic and bipolar patients, those who have received ECT tend not to show greater memory loss. I don't know what happened to Townes, but the truth is "shock therapy" has also helped a lot of people. Calling it "mutilation of the brain" doesn't change this fact.

[poorhistorian]

think what they gave townes was insulin shock therapy. not practiced anymore. not at all related to ECT.

[WillILiveTomorrow]

@poorhistorian

That's a good point. Another factor is that ECT today is generally reserved for extreme cases. From what I gather, someone in Townes' position (i.e. brought to a mental hospital by parents who fear that he's out of control or suicidal) nowadays would probably be medicated.

[Masterphonic]

Hey, Roky Erickson in the intro

[bulbheadmyass]

The song is beautiful and the opening was very touching.

[kristlkrost]

How sad <3 My mother also .Thank you for this

[1lofoten]

I so wish I had been there. Not because J.T.'s rendition of this song is special in any way, but because he looks JUST like his amazing, wonderful, late father. The best musician to have ever lived, and one of the greatest artists over all. I would shit my pants if I saw him up close, that face of his would make my knees rattle.

[msaladyga]

Actually a Blaze Foley song, great song.

[kwlindle]

one of my fav. John Prine songs

[nopathatall]

Sounds like his Dad but without the incredible sadness...

[gah11177]

My aunt was a victim of this treatment and electric shock therapy.  Afterward she didn't remember her husband or her children. My mother often talked about how devastated her kids were after a visit with their mom. It's hard to believe that this was a typical treatment up until the late '70's. You would think that the medical profession would have had a clue!

[swssinc]

My mother (Mary Goforth) was also a victim of this barbaric treatment. I found Townes Van Zandt and fell in love with his music. Never got to see him but in Galveston every year they do a tribute to him on Jan 1st I will be there this coming year thanks for posting this. It means alot to me rip Mary Jane Goforth

[ladybard1968]

when I worked at Brockhall in the eighties I was taught that electric shock was an old babaric treatment of the past that had been proven to be mearly placebo effect. I was shocked to find they still use it in the community.

[ChannelChameleon]

Thank you Psychetruth for posting this- I am a victim of The System- I also like to play and sing some of Townes's great songs- he is an inspiration to many- wow JT- no doubt who your Daddy is- Ill share this-5 and fave

[michaelinsanantone]

I met JT at Blaze Foley's grave site, many musicians had gathered there for the 20th Anniversary of Blaze's death. He did this song on my guitar over Blaze's resting place. He is really class act , a good musician and all around good guy. When everyone one compares him to Townes, he is gracious about it, although it must get tiresome. I am glad to have met him.

[saustin151]

Nice to "see you here" !! I'm the cat who organized that special day on Feb 1 for Blaze, as well as the '08 Blaze-o-Rama. It must've been pretty trippy for you guys to stumble on Lost John casner, mandy Mercier, JT, Barbara K and others!

[michaelinsanantone]

hey cool to see you here too...yeah we had no idea everyone would be there...we filmed it too....that was a special thing....glad I was there!

[valverdista]

What a tribute, not only to his dad, but to the late great Blaze Foley too.

[floafy1]

He even sounds like his dad. We miss you Townes.

[coffeescup]

god bless blaze foley and so nice to see townes spirit shine through his son

[Cinnamombunz]

Sure good to see J.T. The last time I saw him was @ Executive Surf Club in Corpus about 6 months before his Pop died. J.T.'s a class act, all the way. We talked about Victoria, where I was living at the time, & after Townes played, I sang him a song I that I had written about him back in 1980. Glad they both got to hear it. Soundin' good, J.T.! Hope to see you sometime. Good choice of songs, too. Blaze & Townes were both 'a caution' but together ... words cannot express.

[Galacticplane]

Wow! JT sure has his fathers eyes, oh Lord I miss Townes....

[austinitesince1979]

Turns out that I'm finding more and more music of Blaze's in existence. All his material is 5 stars out of five. Two of my favorites on the 'Wanted More Dead Than Alive' studio album are 'Down Here Where I Am' and 'Faded Love and Memories'. I knew his friend Jubal Clark who has also gone to the next life now.

[ChefTillDeath]

great song out of the Austin scene, Blaze and Townes wrote great songs and lived drug filled, short lives... its a shame we lost both of them before their times

[lapsteelguy]

I recently heard John Prine sing this song. He gave proper credit and then just blew me away with his plain and soulful performance. The great song writers are out there. Sometimes they are hard to find though.

[Snahbah]

I watched Townes with may late father.

We told security a bunch of lies that we were press and gonna do an interview. Anyhow, I met the late great man, with my late great man. Seems like life goes on doesn't it? Bless you brother.

[PETER1775]

To bad he forgot to mention this Balze Foley's song.

[StarEssence]

He did mention it was a Blaze Foley song. At the end, he said, "thank you, that was a Blaze Foley song". His dad would be very proud of him!

[patsea09]

Great song very well done

[randyflats]

I really like this song. J T looks like his dad.I'm glad he is carrying on....... and to psych., thanks for the links and the info.

carry on..................Randy

[hartabe]

really cool story and song

[austinphotographer]

Calvin Russell's manager Kelley S. said go see JT. So I drove over to Pflugerville to Hanover's. Saw this cat on stage. I hadn't been in town in 14 years and to see TVZ's son on stage floored me. I was stunned. And when he sang it was like Townes being right there again. Too good to be true it was. JT is a good man.

[opiumrebel]

Exactly. The first time a saw JT I was stunned he almost looks like Townes and sounds like the young Townes. It's good seeing him carry on the torch of Townes.

[camtosh]

the late great Blaze Foley wrote this song -- check out "Cold, Cold World" for more of his wonderful songs (on cdbaby)

[austinphotographer]

I photographed the CD cover for Oval Room. You're right tho. Cold, Cold World is an awesome tune. This song here is one of my favorite Blaze songs and JT sings it so well and with feeling.

[decipher86]

pretty cool song