Monday Music features a random track for your listening enjoyment.
Today’s song is House is Not a Motel, originally performed by Arthur Lee and Love. This is one of my favorite tunes that Robert does live. He’s been performing it off and on since 1999 with Priory of Brion and throughout 2001 and 2002 with Strange Sensation. The most recent performance of House is Not a Motel was in 2005.
This track is from June 2001 at Roseland Ballroom in New York. I picked this one because it starts out with a funny bit as Robert is decidedly not happy with the sound system. It runs about 9 minutes. Martians anyone?
Click the triangle to start the player, click again to stop it.
This video is from the Lexington, KY show on July 18, 2008 which I attended. As a long time patron of Rupp arena I’m well aware that this venue doesn’t often lend itself to good acoustics that you’d think necessary for the Raising Sand show. Kudos to Robert’s long time sound man for making the sound much better than I had expected.
The video is “Down to the River to Pray” from the “O Brother Where art Thou” soundtrack, which was also produced by T-Bone Burnett. Alison’s performance of the song was mesmerising as usual, and it was interesting watching Robert sing with the backing voices. You could clearly hear him in the mix, yet it wasn’t overpowering the trio. Great job on this one.
From where I sat, both Robert’s fans and Alison’s fans enjoyed the song. Overall it seemed like Alison’s fans also came away with an appreciation for Robert’s singing, judging by the comments I heard as I left the arena.
