Joe Ely ~ Me and Billy the Kid

Joe Ely and band performing his "Me and Billy the Kid" on the steps of the Texas State Capitol as a featured presentation of the Texas Book Festival. He shared a set with Johnny Bush (videos coming soon) and Lavelle White (who i missed). Joe also spoke at the festival about his new book "Bonfire of Roadmaps".

One of the most enduring memories i have of my own days on the road is sitting with Lyle watching Joe perform at the Kerrville Folk Festival as a huge thunderstorm rolled in from behind the stage. Joe just kept on wailing, seeming to gain power as the lightning crashed all around us. Impossible to describe the electricity of the moment (every pun intended), the whole scenario is seared in my being. Joe will always be that most charismatic of performers, but that night for me makes him legendary.

Check out his site at http://www.ely.com/

and the Texas Book Festival here: www.texasbookfestival.org

and someone has posted some excellent photos of the event here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/angrysong/sets/72157602948900900/

The Band
Joe Ely ~ Vocals/Acoustic Guitar
Joel Guzman ~ Accordion
David Holt ~ Lead Guitar
Jimmy Pettit ~ Bass
Davis McLarty ~ Drums

Filmed and edited by tony gallucci, milk river film
Holly Riedel, executive producer

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Joe
• Ely
• Me
• and
• Billy
• the
• Kid
• music
• Texas
• Book
• Festival
• Austin
• tony
• gallucci
• milkriverfilm
• milk
• river
• film

[tomvar53]

This is not a criticism of this vid, but I wish more music vids would show more guitar work rather than faces.

[milkriverfilm]

Agree, and i often do, but this was a one-cam handheld shoot, and for the most part it results in bad vids to be moving around without being able to pick up the target (guitar) . . . so i often rely on faces or back way off to full bands stuff (which i didn't do here). in my others in this series i was occasionally able to pick up some picking, but i also ruined the films for several songs in trying to do that. so this is my compromise if you will.

tg

[texascougar04]

This song does not do Pat Green justice.....

[milkriverfilm]

you're kidding right?!?? ??

[MVPPresents]

Great video. Don't listen to the haters. :-)

[robertmorganfisher]

Would have loved to see a more wide-shot vid -- rather than extreme close-ups of Joe's facial pores. Nevertheless, of the greatest story songs every written.

[alan4sure]

Some of this sounds an awful like "The road goes on forever" or whatever its called. Songwriters have been sued for plagiarizing for their own songs. Ask John Fogerty.

[theNifflefoot]

An American treasure.

[rpm4565]

@milkriverfilm -- He must be, MRF. No one using Texas in their screen name could be that ignorant. Or perhaps he's just a child who doesn't know better.

[rocknloretta]

@tec6506 I totally agree~

[rocknloretta]

I love this video and find myself watching it over again from time to time. I rather like the close up of Joe becuz I know the music but his expressions?...PRICELESS Wonderful job!

[louquarm]

You gotta admit that Joe Ely is one handsome fukker,though.

Brilliant video,thanks for posting.

[miket163]

@texascougar04 Are you retarded...? This is joe's song

[iceorgrasswewinpitt]

joe's the best. the backyard is the perfect venue,