A great experience
by billandbillv on 10/30/09Town Hall - New YorkThese guys are not song writers, they are entertainers. Fun.
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“The road goes on forever ...”
It’s not always easy to sum up a career — let alone a life’s ambition — so succinctly, but those five words from Robert Earl Keen’s calling-card anthem just about do it. You can complete the lyric with the next five words — the ones routinely shouted back at Keen by thousands of fans a night (“and the party never ends!”) — just to punctuate the point with a flourish, but it’s the part about the journey that gets right to the heart of what makes Keen tick. Some people take up a life of playing music with the goal of someday reaching a destination of fame and fortune; but from the get-go, Keen just wanted to write and sing his own songs, and to keep writing and singing them for as long as possible.
Earlier this year, Keen played a handful of sold-out theater dates with Lyle Lovett, just two old friends swapping songs on acoustic guitars like they used to do on Keen’s front porch in College Station. But the lion’s share of his concert schedule still finds him playing full-tilt with his seasoned road and studio band: Brotherton on guitar, Bill Whitbeck on bass, Tom Van Schaik on drums, and Marty Muse on steel guitar. “I’ve been with this band for 20 years now,” Keen says proudly. “I used to think that was just sort of an interesting fact, but now it’s almost a total anomaly — that just doesn’t happen much. I always felt like once you lock into the right bunch of people, you try to do the best by them that you can. So we’ve been able to stay together a long time, and I think one thing that makes it worthwhile for people to come see us as an act is the fact that it’s not like we’re trying to work it all out onstage — we’ve already worked everything out.”
As for what they’ll be working on next, well, Keen’s fans probably won’t have to wait very long. Despite the fact that 2014 will mark the 30th anniversary of his first album, No Kinda Dancer, Keen’s primary focus remains — as ever — more on the road still ahead than the road behind him.
“We take everything one year at a time,” he says, “but I am hell-bent and bound to make a record this year. I really don’t know what I have in mind as far as what it will be, but what will happen is I will go off to my ‘Scriptorium’ for three or four days to write with no distractions, and I’ll have a record by the time I’m finished. I’m locked into this idea, and I know for a fact that I’m going to get a new record out ... unless I get hit by a bus or get run over by my own bus!”
These guys are not song writers, they are entertainers. Fun.
they were fantastic!!!! they were funny, nice and all three of these perfomers were geat-left you happy-well i'm going to see them again on Oct 31-i'' follow them anywhere! well maybe not everywear rbut if your looking to have a great time you have to go see them-seperately or togther you will love them!
very interesting format - really enjoyed hearing each performer individually and then later together. Robert Earl was great as usual - nice change to hear solo. Todd Snider was amazing - such a clever songwriter and performer. Great show.
REK did some classics (Lynnville Train, Feelin Good Again), but he only played about 6-8 of his own songs. I expected quite a bit more than that. I liked that they switched off so we could hear Bruce and Todd, but I would have liked each of them to play more, especially Robert. Todd has an unbelievable rapport with the audience. I'd never heard him play before and he was great.
Great night!!! Each guy came out for about 20 minutes , then all 3 rejoined onstage..Todd was Todd just as I expected. All 3 relaxed and really looked liked they enjoyed being onstage together. Wish I could see the show again!!!
Really awesome concert. Three sly and sensitive (though they might disagree here) guys write and perform interesting drama-filled and often rocking songs - wish they were on longer-
I came to this show expecting to see three individual singers with their bands. Instead I found myself at an acoustic delight. All three performers came out individually and performed a 20 minute set. Then after a very brief intermission, they returned together and sang their hits while accompanying each other. Everyone seemed to have a great time.
This is a powerhouse of the best modern singer/songwriters in an intimate acustic setting. The songs are great and the stories are funny. I would recomend this to anyone. If you're reading this, just go and have fun.
It was an incredible show by 3 outstanding performers at their best.
this was a really great concert. the venue was intimate. There were no bad seats and the food was fantastic. I have been a robert earl keen fan for many years. it was a bonus to have todd snider and bruce robison with him. The individual acts were awesome and when they all got together onstage and traded songs, it was really great. this is a show anyone would enjoy.
This was a great show. We thought that this would be a typical show with the great Robert Earl Keen headlining with a nondescript opening act. Instead, Todd Snider and Bruce Robison had equally billing on the stage. I had never heard of either of them and they were great. What I particularly liked is that there was sufficient contract between Snider and Robison that made the show that much more interesting. Snider was a quasi Robert Earl with not as much polish but with nearly equally appealing lyrics. His range of singing was average at best but his lyrics and playing more than made up for it. Robison was, for me, that perfect combination of country and folk that I particularly like. I loved the "What would Willie do". This was the second time I had seen Robert Earl and he is just so cool. I love his lyrics ---his voice is not perfect but it is original and his playing is great.
What a great performance by three extremely talented men. They worked so well together and brought the crowd to a amazing level of enthusiasm. I really loved that they stayed to meet people afterwards. Plus Todd Snider is so cute!!!
Excellent combination of storytellers and talents. Very funny. Good time had by all.
The concert was ABSOLUTELY amazing....I could have listened to all three of them play all night.
My wife who is NOT an americana fan and doesn't know much about REK and Todd Snider and nothing about Bruce Robison couldn't believe how much fun it was. She wants my I-tunes playlist now. All three are fantastic and anyone who likes root, alternative country, Americana or whatever they call it these days needs to RIGHT NOW get all their music.
Mellow and funny. Robert Keen, Todd Snider and Bruce Robison were in good form, singing many favorites. And they had an easy rapport with the audience, who were quite appreciative of their skills and renderings.
Show was wonderful. music was great and group session was very entertaining.
The familiar and relaxed atmosphere of the show felt like everyone had happened to show up with the three musicians in someone's living room and they just felt like jamming. It was a great evening of good music and friendly riffing. A side of musicians that often gets lost in shows but is what music is really about - making music, not showmanship! Birchmere is the perfect venue for this type of show.
This show was incredible. If you ever have the chance to see Robert Earl Keen and his band in a small, intimate venue, pony up and pay whatever it costs. Trust me, it's worth it. He played a lot of stuff off his new album, which I didn't know, but I loved. He and his band were captivating, and obviously cared about performing well in front of a smaller crowd (about 400 people I'd guess). I saw him the following day at a big festival in San Francisco, and it was still great but not nearly as memorable. A++++
Was so excited to finally get to see REK live and he absolutely delivered. His new record, Rose Hotel, is really great and it was great to hear new songs plus old ones too. I think every Texan in Los Angeles was at the Troubadour that night; it was awesome to hear the whole audience singing in unison with a lot of the songs. REK's songs can be so heartbreaking and beautiful, and also incredibly witty and funny. His band is fantastic too. I wish he would come to LA more often!!!