blog
Friday, November 7, 2008
God Save the Long Players
I am as guilty as anybody of taking my adopted
hometown for granted. I complain about everything form the number of
luxury condos blighting the once familiar landscape to the current state
of country music. However, every now and then I am reminded why Nashville is such a unique place to live. This usually happens every time I see a Long Players gig. The Long Players are a
group of stellar musicians and friends who come together every couple
of months to perform a classic album in its entirety. The catch is that
they employ a guest vocalist for each individual song and the results
are always fun and occasionally thrilling.
The
group emerged from a secret cabal of record collectors and vinyl
enthusiasts (of which I could say more but they would have to shoot me). Core members of the band include Bill Lloyd, Steve Allen, the always amazing Steve Ebe, John Deaderick and Brad Jones (in the bass player spot
formerly occupied by Garry Tallent). Although multi-instrumentalist Jim
Hoke is not a permanent member of the band, he might as well be. Guest
musicians and vocalists with the band over the years have included Joey
Molland, Marshall Crenshaw, Al Kooper, Webb Wilder, Chuck Mead, Hans Rotenberry,
Suzy Boggus, Alison Moorer, Ashley Cleveland, Mike Farris, Beth Neilson
Chapman, Danny Flowers, Gary Burr, Brendan Benson, Mike Grimes, Dan
Baird, Tom Petersson (from Cheap Trick), Adrian Belew, Bobby Keyes, Dez
Dickerson, Will Kimbrough, Jimmy Hall, Radney Foster, Matthew Ryan, Kim
Richey, Joy Lynn White, Siobhan Kennedy, Maura O’Connell and many more.
The group has presented albums from every one from the Beatles to the
Clash (with stops along the way for Dylan, the Stones, the Who, Tom
Petty, even the Cars). There is a strict aesthetic to the performance
which requires the presentation of the entire album and no greatest hits
compilations allowed, although generally all of a band's hits are
performed during the second set.
What
shines through each individual performance is a coming together of
people from all segments of the music industry and performers at the top
of their game performing for a sheer love of the music that has
inspired all of us in some way. The other night I heard the Long Players
perform “Abbey Road”
and I was really transfixed by hearing this well known familiar music
performed raw and live (something the Beatles never got around to
doing). It made me feel very positive about life here in Music City.
