Justin Townes Earle Performs "Harlem River Blues" on Letterman

[no1soce]

This song makes me want to take a shot of whisky...Oh! I have one right here...

[hory14cess]

what kind of guitar is jason playing , I like that sound

[nilradem]

@hory14cess

Dusenberg Goldtop Starplayer - it is a pretty one, as well as making good music. Unfortunately, this was stolen, along with the rest of the 400-unit gear from Isbell's trailer last fall, though I heard it was spotted on ebay, so he may have it back.

[ROADDANCE]

"EVEN A GOOD MAN WILL PRAY..."

[darlincommitme]

'@ROADDANCE

I am pretty sure from the context that the lyrics are "even a good man will break." Also a better rhyme with "stake" in the next line.

[hory1cess]

Okay this is fresh not sounding too much like what several artist play in outlaw country in my opinion hes found a great style

[luckyg71]

Sounds great

[jwtimmerman]

Jason Isbell on the guitar. That's pretty cool.

[matt37862]

this song sounds way to upbeat for the lyrics

[goreri]

@matt37862 I have to disagree, I think it's swinging!

[matt37862]

@goreri

yes it is "swinging"...it's just a matter of taste I guess......I don't like my blues "swinging" : )

[roydagger]

Yes.....we all love the bass player.!!But this version kicks it!!

[rvkdena]

I just saw his father play @ Ramshead in Annapolis. Impressive musical pedigree there.

[dakbradley1]

Is that Jason Isbell on lead?

[alex240163]

@dakbradley1 Yes he is !!!

[NothingcleverOo]

I agree with Paul S. on Letterman, "very rootsy". The sound is very fresh and does have very ture rootsy sound. Great music, hope he can find an audience!!!!!!!

[24byrnes]

who the girl playing the big guitar thing?????????

[nilradem]

@24byrnes

Bryn Davies, and it is an acoustic bass.

[krasomin]

This video literally just brought tears to my eyes.

[TheAviatorsCompass]

Bryn so has this song!

[stefdirekte]

love how Schäfer gets to play a solo with a real band :)

[aarosen42]

Matthew Stafford on lead guitar!

[zfike5020]

Justin Townes Earle and Jason Isbell on one stage is almost too much for me to handle at once. Awesome singer/songwriters. I have so much respect for both of these guys. Great video.

[cojax91]

I didn't know Sheldon Cooper played guitar...

[carterburton]

2:45 ... wow

[14u2ponder]

that bass player was playing that song. She lit a fire under that song.

[joes6666]

I had a dream the other night and I was hearing this awsome tune going round and round in my head and it was just a swing'in, magical, then I woke up to the Americana Festival on PBS, and there was Justin belting out this tune. First time I heard it, now it's my new "favorite song" .....Yahooo!!

[kurt2rsenjazz]

Playback, country-britney

[MsCaleb79]

Great man!! He played yesterday in my town in sweden, I was there.

[CrikeyAlexNick]

Letterman doesn't get nearly enough credit for booking relatively unknown artists and bands. He has helped launch A LOT of careers over the years. Good man who appreciates good music.

[Erickd87]

holy cow, he's really tall. looks like a giant. anyway. song is great. i'd kill to have a hq version of this. is way better than the studio version.

[imhomike]

Hank Williams/Johhny Cash body language, bad-ass talent, fantastic bass line. Who else could make killing yourself sound like a party! This song is incredible and I am definitely a new JTE fan.

[KenCarpenter]

JTE is terrific, but Paul Shaffer is a mad man!

[greybird2011]

4 ppl are going to hell

[imhomike]

Just 4?

[LukeThomsonMusic]

lukethomson.bandcamp.com

[cantarooots]

Jason Isbell! And Justin Townes Earle! man this is incredible.

[lordhelmet77]

this is a great song! I'm going to learn to play it right now!!!

[oldmuskogees]

David Letterman is always so matter-of-fact when telling the band they did a great job. Show some enthusiasm dude!

[cpanetta87]

@oldmuskogees really? he seemed pretty enthusiastic to me!

[AlienBusDriver]

@oldmuskogees I dont think he is being disingenuous I think Letterman is a music head. I like this song.

[djdbrice]

this song is so rich. and great overall look & performance by band. and I also remembered how damn good P Schafe is on keys. this song is one of my favorite songs I've heard in long while...

[JolietAl]

I dont think he is from Chicago

[nilradem]

@JolietAl

He lived in Chicago for a year or so in his early 20s, but grew up in Nashville and now lives in NYC.

[ebbyguru]

Just for that, I'm hitting "like".

[kmb117]

This kicks so much ass, Jesus himself decided to come back and play some drums for JTE.

[Tigford]

Album

of

the

year!

[audiesolympic]

Seriously JTE & Jason Isbell, awesome.

[xxxferro]

I am a big fan of Aussie country music but these sounds are something special! This guy HAS GOT IT!!! This song was in my head for days and days! The album is real strong!

[sethadamlee]

ahh what up jason isbell. reppin the shoals haha

[snowturtlegates]

how does one guy dislike this 4 times?

[georgeamolochitis]

seriously jason isbell with JTW...neat-o!

[Badelier]

That backup singer, Dawn Landes, is hot and super talented.

[Rubadubdel]

Bass player chick is the COOLEST. Check out her move at the end.

[Badelier]

@Rubadubdel She is great.

[vthokie011]

just saw justin at the rhythm and roots festival this past weekend in bristol va-tenn outdoor show and was pretty chillly but he sounded very good and everyone really enjoyed his music had the same girl playing bass as in this clip but had another girl on fiddle i didnt know anyone know who plays fiddle for him?

[appleyjax]

JTE DOES NOT use looping! :) Has anyone been to a show where he ranted about this recently? Love it!

[syferdvine]

This version on Letterman was actually better than the version on his CD. Same goes with some of his other live versions of his songs. His latest CD's always feel washed out. He's still an excellent musician though and I have respect for his abilities for sure. Lone Pine Hill should be inducted into the country music hall of fame.

[barnanimal62]

Brilliant!!!!

[iksnyzczselxila]

oh man, I was so lucky enough to see JTE yesterday in Philly. so. good.

[newyorksong]

Whoa do you realize how good that girl is on standup bass!

Sheesh. Great group!

[14u2ponder]

@newyorksong I just said the same thing. It just hit me, she WAS that song.

[thevomitcomit]

i wanted to see these guys in detroit BUT i was busy entertaining guests from out of the country. blast it all.

[loumac101]

Jonaslikesdonuts.....I am not really surprised you're flabbergasted, I get the feeling from your comment that most things would astonish you, you don't sound to bright.

By the way it's not country, why am I not surprised you didn't know that.

[wufdude]

The upright bass player is smoking hot.

[martinman87]

@wufdude We just went and seen them in Detroit and I thought the same thing. The way she plays that bass makes her even sexier.

[ayuhgirl18]

Ok - saw him in Northampton & introducing one of his songs, he said "I've always been a hard dog to keep under the porch, to say the least"

. Then a chuckle.."And it's been fun!" - Loved it & loved the show.

[dyork423]

From a couple angles he looks just like Andy from the Office. Seeing him tonight for the first time... can't wait.

[ayuhgirl18]

Going to see him tonight in Northampton, MA. Can't wait!

[JoeHottel]

Spectacular!

[rrrasmus]

This is unbelievably good, he's such a charismatic performer.

[cbennz514]

Saw him the other night in MN. It. Was. Awesome!!

[arsletirott]

this guy is fantastic

[getoutofmyway01]

@arsletirott yes!  :)

[br00talshadyd00d]

That suit makes a very bold statement.

[151caligula]

Saw him at The Stables recently he was really good. Great performer.

Love his new album 'Midnight at the movies'

[nilradem]

@151caligula

His most recent album is Harlem RIver... Midnight is a couple years old now... but I agree Midnight is a great album.

[151caligula]

@nilradem ooops sorry well its good news in a way more to buy !!

[151caligula]

@nilradem Ok cheers looking forward to getting Midnight then !

[151caligula]

@151caligula I mean Harlem River......

[nilradem]

@151caligula

Enjoy!  It is a great album, though less country, more rock than his earlier work.

[getoutofmyway01]

shades of Johnny Cash...  Great performer

[bacardi119]

@getoutofmyway01 You think so?. Well, time will tell, I wouldn't be surprised though.\

[getoutofmyway01]

@bacardi119 yes, it's his persona. Not so much his voice.. Young Cash, Yep. I see it.

[luvndanestrin]

His live shows are amazing. Definitely worth checking out. One of my fave shows.

[TheBassoProfondo]

You can tell David genuinely loved it.

[Totawbaws]

HILLBILLY'S 4EVER!!! LOL!~

[circlebs1]

wheres the cowbell..we need more cowbell

[MrKamakazi21]

Haha Compare this to Steve when he was on Letterman in '88. BIG difference. Both are awesome.

[nilradem]

@MrKamakazi21

I think Justin and Steve have a lot in common musically - This is not so different from Steve's appearances for Guitar Town, for instance. I agree both are great though.

[theherk]

I feel like I just struck gold finding Justin Townes Earle. Great stuff.

[NotoriousElderly0]

@theherk Yeah, same here. I was just listening to the new Buddy Holly tribute album and after hearing his take on "Maybe Baby", I had to look at the tracklisting to know who was making this glorious noise. "ooh, Steve Earle's kid, that's right." Townes Van Zandt would be proud.

[kurumais]

just saw him tonight he was great a much better guitarist then knew he was

and dawn landes joined him for this song i was psyched

[songtruth]

Saw him play live in Nashville -- just his guitar and him. He was AMAZING!!!

[vintagedeluxe1275]

jason isbell on guitar!

[mpattongac]

@vintagedeluxe1275 and Jesus is on the drums!

[anjanrb]

Beautiful beautiful beautiful.

[ernestodelalistuq]

i heard 30 seconds of the song on amazon.de - then i ordered the record... i love it. and when i saw this, i just thought "young johnny cash"!!!

[scheissheiss]

This still just blows me away. It's like seeing Elvis on the Ed Sullivan show. You're seeing greatness.

[76scarfoot]

Justin Townes Earle, with Jesus on drums

[idave03]

Second coming of johnny cash? Cant duplicate the original but he seems like the 21st century version of cash.

[mircubstation]

Who's that spunky bass player? Check her out at 2:47 She's hot.

[floppyd0g]

@mircubstation Yeah, it's Bryn Davies.

[GorterPoss]

Adrien Brody(ish) on the drums

[scoll1310]

How 2 people can dislike this has me worried about the future of mankind . . . .

[JonasLikesDonuts]

@scoll1310 OMG! Some people don't like the same music you do! OMG! Some people don't like country. I'm so fucking flabbergasted.

[scoll1310]

@JonasLikesDonuts OMG! Dude! Some people don't like the same donuts

you like either. How do you handle it? By coming here and hitting the dislike

button with your fat, greasy fingers? OMG! Don't let that take you too far from

your donuts .....

[JonasLikesDonuts]

@scoll1310 You know the best name for a retarded person? Hercules. Are you Hercules?

[scoll1310]

@JonasLikesDonuts ~~Clever comeback. WHAT AN ASSet to youtube, just like my dumbass to keep responding to you ~!~

[JonasLikesDonuts]

@scoll1310 You mean 'your dumb_ass'? And yes all of us make this website the stinking hole of retards and dipshits that it is with our idiotic insulting comments. By the way, you totally missed the point of my first comment which was posted ages ago. Way to bump up!

[scoll1310]

@JonasLikesDonuts Hey! I'm gonna comment . . . . get ready . . . .

[garryt37]

is that Jason Isbell formerly of the Drive By Truckers on guitar?

[serialjigga]

@garryt37 Yes. He says it at the 2:09 mark before the solo.

[Misskrumpin]

Yahhh Justin !!!!!

[RDBeatnik]

I just saw him perform at a free concert at the pritzker pavillion in Chicago. He closed with this song.

[Deathbringer09]

I hung out with this guy a few months ago after he played in a local record shop. Really down to Earth guy. We converse over Facebook still xD

[TheVoolasOfficial]

He's so real compared to everything else around.

[kurumais]

bow ties are cool

[kurumais]

he is playing propect park bandshell in brooklyn  i am going

[bgreer1977]

See ya @ Bonnaroo!! :)

[TressaTaylor]

Saw Justin last night on the Main Stage at the Beaufort Music Festival in Beaufort, NC. A one man show and he absolutely rocked! Always loved his Dad and now I'm grooving on JTE!

[spf1410]

epic

[4laragh]

JTE, the future is upon us!

Pure class.

[ChillyCheezItz]

That was a-great! Very rootsy.

[heileman28]

watch bryn spin that bass at 2:49...think i'm in love

[Mikkelsen1977]

Love that Dave is showing the VINYL - not the CD... :-)

[KingMinosxxvi]

i saw this in january it s been given me the goosebumps ever since ...have mercy

.... and im not sure i see a bass player

[nilradem]

@KingMinosxxvi

Huh??? The bass is the biggest instrument on the stage (except the organ). Played by the lovely Bryn Davies.

[omglolwots]

@KingMinosxxvi How can you not see the upright bass?

[723taylorjharris]

JTE + JASON ISBELL = FTW

[apratsunrthd]

@723taylorjharris this

[planezane]

Man this is a good groove...Great performance by all....Love the bass player!

[theBrazzzy]

whoa, is that jason isbell with justin?  cool...

[princessofhesse]

yep, he's great...of course, he swims in the deep end of the gene pool, that's for sure.....

[chacne713]

You can tell Dave actually liked him. I've seen him live and boy does he kill

[princessofhesse]

@chacne713 you are right, my friend! he's great...

[slowassmonkey]

Gonna buy tickets to see him in Louisville based off of this video.

[jettimothy]

0 dislikes. whatssup

[beckywixon94]

so good, when i saw him live he was fucked, nice to see him performing in a good state, so much better! 

[52Napoli]

True music royalty. This is good!

napoli52

[crittertime]

Going to see him play in a few hours time in Auckland NZ - at 45yo you'd think I'd be over getting excited for a gig, but I can't wait! A legend in the making

[Estigon2006]

@crittertime Same! Going to be brilliant!

[jettimothy]

Saw this the day it was aired. Blew my mind. Immediately hooked.

[belbird]

@jettimothy

Same here. I didn't realise he was on and happened to flick over in time to see that he would be on the show. I live in Australia so don't really follow who is going to be on Letterman. Keep coming back here every so often to have a listen, prefer it to the album version!

[denisverhiest]

Great song!!!!! Great artist!!!! and justin looks like sheldon :)

[4laragh]

Behold the future!

[seifukusha]

After watching this a few times,its kind of obvious he takes his performing cues from Hank 1 and maybe George Jones, esp with the way he gestures. This guy knows his music history, it seems. Count me a new fan.

[seifukusha]

i was looking on Pitchfork and saw an article about Steve Earle, and in it, he mentioned his son and had a link. Well, I didnt know he had a son, so I clicked it to see what he looked like, which led me to look for a song or video, and that led me here, and Oh Lordie, am I thankful for it. HE IS FANTASTIC!

[die4eu]

His music and lyrics are so good they bring tears to my eyes. He may be the single most talented person I've witnessed in my lifetime.

[die4eu]

@die4eu I can't believe he played in a small bar across the street from me just a few months ago. I will be lucky if I get to see him at a small bar ever,

[valverdista]

Justin Townes Earle blow my damn' mind!!!

[slowassmonkey]

I can't stop watching this. Absolutely incredible talent.

[benmorse]

So this is amazing. Yay!

[jettimothy]

zero dislikes. and for good reason.

[sugerkat]

Looks like Dawn Landes singing back up....with the strappy-dress.

[forreall219]

"i'm no fool, I know the difference between tempted and choosing my fate"...hell yea

[brawnr]

Groovy baby, yeah!

[brettalexander1968]

Justin that song f""king rocks along boy

[stratocastahguy]

STRAIGHT UP TRUCKING

[indiana1fats]

@stratocastahguy - Yep, driving music for sure. Makes me push down with my right foot.

[DouglasDouma]

He nods his head when he starts singing. I think he's saying "damn I'm good, and I know it" to the audience

[jazzbass12]

I cant stop watching this Vid. Im happy for Justin breaking to the mainstream music with "REAL TALENT" and great songs...Such a fresh spin on a classic sound thats been almost forgotten..Keep em coming Justin.....

[55nick15]

is that jason isbell on the electric?!

[indiana1fats]

@55nick15 - Yep. Hat & all.

[die4eu]

I can't get enough of this guy. I've always been a huge Steve Earle fan and I hate to say it but his son has passed him as far as talent goes.

[valverdista]

Nice suit, it's a damn' inspiration for my marriage!!!