Townes Van Zandt - backstage before concert + a few songs

[andy131481]

Catholic school gives you a scab you can pick for the rest of your life.I got kicked out of one.

[briankofke]

Do you know her? What's her favorite color? Does she like a bath or shower? When she wipes, dos she roll the paper around her non-dominant hand, or does she bundle it up before the deed? No one knows anyone, and thats the deal man. Thats what this stuff is all about. Cheap shot to use this stuff for some celebrity connection. I don;t like that at all. And to bring this musicians daughter into the mix; be careful with that. That is WRONG on so many levels. Please be aware of your actions

[samban]

@briankofke Dont be so negative, if you were a fan and knew his daughter you'd mention it.. be good

[polishpaulie]

@briankofke really~how do we know?someone had to go to school with her.i myself went to h.s. with bobby hull,john prine,lemmy,and i'm not sure,but i think jesus h.christ was in my p.e. class.though he wasn't a good swimmer 'cause of the holes..OK! I'M SORRY~THAT WAS WRONG!!I'M A CATHOLIC AND I THINK THAT WAS WRONG.SORRY TO OFFENDED ANYONYONE.AS A CATHOLIC I WAS TOUGHT I'M GOING TO HELL FOR PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING.THE NUNS TOUGHT US THAT.ok God bless( ashamed-went to prom with rossanne barr)

[okee9]

Saw him twice in the Union Chapel in Islington, London back in the early 90's, he had a great rapport with the audience, told some great stories, sadly missed.

[bush1tman]

Lefty sold Pancho out, took the blood money to split then tasted the bitter taste of betrayal of friend when Pancho bit the dust.

[28fireflies]

another great gone too soon; drugs, alcohol and doctors who think they can cure anything. Rest in Peace Townes.

[begonianut]

I was lucky enough to see Townes & Guy Clark together at Gruene Hall. Think it was about a year or so before Townes died. Where was this?

[nootaramus]

would have loved to hear townes sing spider john- lots of people try it but no one other that willis can pull it off. I expect Townes could have made it his own tho.

[cbfromsr]

Interesting to see a much younger Guy Clark with our beloved Townes.

[lancer89032]

I am a recent newcomer to this poet's contributions. I love his songs and he seems like such a goodhearted guy. He is gifted and talented and yet so humble. There is just something sincere and honest about him. No guile and so rare you know.

[Warmoose76]

I wish I got to see Townes before he died he is the best folk muscian ever. Thanks for uploading this I am glad to see the full version of Dollar Bill Blues live, its just a shame the video skips a bit during that song.

[countryboyon]

Any one understand what Townes said from.45 to .50 ??

[MissHollisBrown]

i wish i could have seen townes once before he passed.... he was absolutely brilliant. this is an awesome video!!

[tatran78]

At first I though I was seeing double or halucinating in Pancho and Lefty, then I realized it was Guy Clark with the same colored shirt!

Townes was something special. It seems like he knew that, or at least he knew that other people knew that and it made him uncomfortable about it.  The fact remains, Townes is something special.

[Sissham]

Townes is beautiful..

[lucybean975]

isn't he, though?

[Sissham]

Where can I get this on dvd!? :)

[mccrabapple]

October 21st at 8:00 at Northside in Akron we will be having a Townes Van Zandt Night to help his friend, bass player, and Hurricane Ike survivior Wrecks (Rex's Blues) Bell. For details type in the usual MySpace URL and add townesnight for details.

[deatheater459]

i know van zandts daughter katie belle

i went to high school with her...

[Agamenticus]

"I don't envision a very long life for myself. I think my life will run out (pause) before my work does, you know? I've designed it that way." — In: Be Here To Love Me

I met Townes in 1971 , in college , coffee house circuit, his lyrics and melodies have been a mighty influence on me and many more. Yes, we miss his genius.

[kiramouse]

"Kathleen" is written about my mama.

[sketchyfolk]

so sweet

[spacegrass19]

Is Guy Clarke blowing a hit in Townes' face?

[rlegear19]

Maybe, but i really think he was offering Townes a tuned guitar because the one he was playing sounded like shit.

[pyromanic78]

WTF johnfish??? you angry wee man lol

[mysteria31]

... so do I

[gbrook834]

when people say they miss him, I understand. He's one of the few (also Doug Sahm) who if you saw him play you could feel that he's your friend... that you would go to hear him again to see how he's doing and what he's up to.

I miss him often.

[stepheninthesurf]

Miss you Townes - every day

[mikemenh]

this is for " Iwillcontrolyourmind"

when townes was on he was the very best ...on a bad day he was only wonderful . just before he left us , he had forgotten more than you will ever know.you are a child and a child needs to learn to know when to keep his mouth shut

[Guitarman1968]

Folks like Townes are few and far between now a days.Too much luv 4 a buck and fame than music.

[Guitarman1968]

Whatever happened to folks like Townes?Too much luv for money now.

[stepheninthesurf]

Gotta concur - we dont get the likes of Townes too often - rich times - much missed by so many

[rolltidemcs]

check out the avett brothers from concord, nc. they are very talented and lyrical dynamics much like townes

[joecoolmccall]

Interesting thought..I like both, although I don't exactly group them together...lol

[johnfish1]

shut the fuck up you arsehole everyone has an opinion,we dont all share yours, you dont know iwiill,u dont know townes you just listen to a few of his songs our the fuckin child

[groupeezeehond]

Everyone who saw him, especially in the last decade of his life will verify that no two concerts were ever the same, sometimes stumbling over his own songs, forgetting the words & chords other times in touch with the gods. RIP. The songs are Dollar Bill Blues / Loretta / Pancho & Lefty.

[iwillcontrolyourmind]

you're all a bunch of sheep!

[villagodzilla]

why are we sheep? I don't understand.

[iwillcontrolyourmind]

i really have no idea, i think i was drunk. i'm sorry. townes van zandts great i like him a lot. bert janschs new album is great too. produced by devendra banhart and crue.

[craigschirato]

One of the most candid, honest & descriptive songwriters of our time. I'da' given a right arm to play harmonica along with him live and onstage. Some songs so sad, ya wanna find a tree and hang yerself.

[universalbeing]

exellent!!!

[jayhawks69]

the best songwriter EVER!!

[Arjanajanath]

yepp! EVER!

[smog900]

bob dylan himself said in (honest laughter) townes made him feel like a premadonna !

[macdries]

Comparisons are odious. Townes, Dylan, Bruce, Joni, Willie, Waylon, Merle, Ryan Adams, Cole Porter, Jimmie Van Huesen, Patty Griffin, Janis Ian, Neil Young, and many more. I need them all.

[jessifly]

Bob Dylan once said "Here is a song by the best song writer to ever live. His name was Townes Van Zandt." He then covered "To Live Is To Fly." I think it not possible to say one is better than the other because it depends on what song I NEED to be hearing on any given day. Just my opinion I may be right or wrong....

[DaveInCalgary]

1990 - Tivoli (Utrecht, Holland) and

Paradiso (Amsterdam) - 'Poncho & Lefty' included

[imairlax]

i'm with you guys, i'm a huge dylan and phil ochs fan but i think townes is just in a class by himself. i read an interview with him once where he said "people don't know how to look at you when you tell them your two biggest influences are lightnin' hopkins and robert frost". brilliant.

[TC1233]

If there is any doubt who is the greatest writer just listen to The Rake.

[Freewheelin9]

Bob Dylan's the very best. Townes Van Zandt is great though. There's no need for comparison anyways. They both have different writing styles. But there is no one that can use the English language through songs like Dylan can and no one ever has.

[cpking50]

nope ... he is the best. I hope we can chill in heaven one day, cause that'd make everything better.

[drnutfrostycold]

Does anyone think there was a better songwriter of the 2Oth century than Townes Van Zandt?

[blacklagoon2005]

Nope. I'll wager that there won't be one in the 21st century, either. And this is coming from a huge Dylan fan. 'Rex's Blues' represents songwriting nirvana.

[jwca]

I believe it was Steve Earle who said he would stand on Bob Dylan's coffee table in his cowboy boots and yell at the top of his voice that Townes was the best songwriter ever.

[WindEnergy]

Townes said, "I guess Steve Earle hadn't seen Dylan's bodyguards when he said that."

[skoester]

yes, "rex's blues" lends creedence to earle's statement. poetic perfection.

[howcomedaddy]

Is that Richard Lewis in the background?

[kikiscout]

no, that's guy clark. he is amazing too!

[Cocrteau3]

Fucking Great! Thanks a million...I would have slit some throaths just to see these clips..

[dnadrummer]

Awesome! Thanks!!

[townesphat]

thanks for posting this. if you have more townes post away. love townes. one of a kind.