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Concert Review: RayLand Baxter
Mar. 19th, 2019 11:49 amTrying to not be the old fogey I am, I am trying to be open to discovering new music, so RayLand Baxter was a recommendation from someone who saw him open for Jason Isbell.
Hearing the name "Baxter", for a moment, wondered if he might be the son of Jeff "Skunk" Baxter. He is not, but he is the son of a great musician, Bucky Baxter. Baxter played steel guitar on many records including Steve Earle's first four records, REM's Green and Dyan's Time Out of Mind. I could be stranded on a desert island with those six discs, and I would be more than fine.
A quick look at RayLand's reviews compare him quite a bit to Justin Townes Earle, which is interesting given the lineage. Still, another comparison that comes up is Harry Nillsson, and to me, that is a pretty close comparison (as well as the 70's Beatles work that Harry is associated with).
RayLand is a great performer. He fits well into the current brand of popular folk-based rock, some of which he has opened for. Bands like the Revivalists, Avett Brothers, The Head and the Heart and looking longer back, artists like Todd Snider, John Hiatt and John Prine, with a touch of the Ryan Adams and Drive By Truckers influences. Sort of the not-jam rock, but country folk with a cloud of smoke over it. Which means, he is not quite exactly my favorite type of music, but he is somebody that i can find room to appreciate.
Pushed further, the songs from his latest album, Wide Awake were some of the best of the night. He also veered between Simon and Garfunkel- quiet folk to the Pixies influenced "Freakin me out" which could be a cousin to "Where's My Mind?"
I was quite impressed with opener Barney Cortez who had a song called "Patti Smith", if that tells you something. He sounded like a million "new Dylans" with a little bit of Dr Dog style eccentricity, but has the talent to really be noticed, and he joined Baxter's band for his compete set.
Baxter played close to two hours by sort of approximate calculation. Great show and would recommend to anyone to check out his music.
Here is a incomplete playlist
Hearing the name "Baxter", for a moment, wondered if he might be the son of Jeff "Skunk" Baxter. He is not, but he is the son of a great musician, Bucky Baxter. Baxter played steel guitar on many records including Steve Earle's first four records, REM's Green and Dyan's Time Out of Mind. I could be stranded on a desert island with those six discs, and I would be more than fine.
A quick look at RayLand's reviews compare him quite a bit to Justin Townes Earle, which is interesting given the lineage. Still, another comparison that comes up is Harry Nillsson, and to me, that is a pretty close comparison (as well as the 70's Beatles work that Harry is associated with).
RayLand is a great performer. He fits well into the current brand of popular folk-based rock, some of which he has opened for. Bands like the Revivalists, Avett Brothers, The Head and the Heart and looking longer back, artists like Todd Snider, John Hiatt and John Prine, with a touch of the Ryan Adams and Drive By Truckers influences. Sort of the not-jam rock, but country folk with a cloud of smoke over it. Which means, he is not quite exactly my favorite type of music, but he is somebody that i can find room to appreciate.
Pushed further, the songs from his latest album, Wide Awake were some of the best of the night. He also veered between Simon and Garfunkel- quiet folk to the Pixies influenced "Freakin me out" which could be a cousin to "Where's My Mind?"
I was quite impressed with opener Barney Cortez who had a song called "Patti Smith", if that tells you something. He sounded like a million "new Dylans" with a little bit of Dr Dog style eccentricity, but has the talent to really be noticed, and he joined Baxter's band for his compete set.
Baxter played close to two hours by sort of approximate calculation. Great show and would recommend to anyone to check out his music.
Here is a incomplete playlist
Sandra Monica
Every thing to me
Strange American Dream
Angeline
Casanova
Mr Rodriguez
Young man
79 shiny revolver
Olivia
Your love
Bad things
Freakin me out
