Last night, I wandered into 3rd & Lindsley to watch Bobby Long perform…once again. The wunderkind from England. The British folk/indie star who is taking the world by storm. It was just me and my dreams on a cold, bright starry night. We walked in together and sat down at a corner table, waiting. Just me and my dreams. I take my dreams with me wherever I go.
I had a talk with Dreams and said: “You will love Bobby Long’s music.”
Dreams said: “I know already because I gave him music. I gave him story. I gave him song.”
I asked:“Where did you get them? Did you go to the moon? Did you go to hell where there’s pain and despair? Love and heartache? Where did you get them?”
Dreams said: “I opened a sliver in his trapdoor and I trickled in the light and he stepped into the extraordinariness of timeless talent, timeless art, timeless soul.”
I nodded. I understood. Timeless soul. One thing that makes Bobby Long stand out from all the rest of the indie/folk singers “out there” today is his songwriting and storytelling abilities that reflect a world-worn, timeless soul. This guy can write. And being a writer myself, I highly respect this. The next thing that makes him stand out is he’s British, but that probably doesn’t count since there are many great British musicians taking over the music scene these days. (Marcus Foster, Lee MacDougall, Sam Bradley, Mumford & Sons, etc.) But I digress. Another thing that makes Bobby stand out from all the rest is his funny, sweet, dry sardonic personality. He’s funny. I’m not sure if everyone knows this, but he has a wicked sense of humor and when he’s in rare form, you get a glimpse of it during his live performances. He was in rare form at 3rd & Lindsely on Thursday evening, November 17th. Between his songs, he told stories of wandering into Tootsie’s downtown and having some beers. Of wandering into another bar and hearing a wonderful voice from this dude who looked like he could be an opera singer or country music singer – the two about as far apart as Venus and Mars. And then wandering into 3rd & Lindsley, which has been recently renovated and not knowing where he was. And he talked about drinking all the whiskies that someone kept sending him backstage. And he teased about one of his dear fans, who wanted him to play “Dancers,” but he said, “Not today. Not today.” Then he went on to say that, “If I play it, it’s like giving up part of my soul.” One can only imagine what he meant by that. Surrender? To whom? Love? Passion? Is it something he holds close and dear to his heart? He actually did end up playing about 15-20 seconds of the song, and it was great. It’s actually one of my favorites, too.
Dancers dance into the night, So fair across the street, Their feet don’t gather dust, They’re bringing the light. This place leaves the sirens on, It takes off all its clothes, It’s foaming from the mouth, I wish you would come….
Most of us having been listening to Bobby Long’s music for 2 years ever since he graced American stages in 2009. We know about the talent. His timelessness. We first picked up his “Dirty Pond Songs,” which he recorded in his bedroom in London. From there, Bobby’s career has literally skyrocketed. Once a little bit shy, Bobby now thrives on stage and gives the audience a soulful, belting-out with soul, heart-bleeding performance. A beautiful tenor, his voice is stronger, raspier, edgier. People say he’s the new Bob Dylan. But I say he’s way more than Bob Dylan and I predict that he will be even bigger. I believe that in 3-4 years he will be playing at sold-out venues like Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. Bobby’s music is influenced by new and artists of old alike. Think Van Morrison, Rufus Wainwright, Leonard Cohen, Nat King Cole, Woodie Guthrie, Iron and Wine and more. Everyone influences him. All the greats.
Signed to ATO Records, 2011 has been a big year for Bobby. He debuted his new album “A Winter Tale” in 2011 and appeared on The Jay Leno show on NBC television with his band. Bobby told us that Jeff Bridges (who was also on Jay’s show) got to hang out with him and Bobby told him a few things he should do (for his career), and later, Jeff starred in True Grit. (See what I mean about Bobby being in rare form?)
To further highlight Bobby’s meteoric rise in 2011, he performed at the world famous Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, a 4-day, multi-stage camping festival on a 700-acre farm in Manchester, Tennessee in June. And recently, he just released a brand new EP, “The Backing Singer,” which you can download on iTunes or purchase at his live shows. This EP is special. It was recorded in an old New York City church with producer Jesse Lauter (Low Anthem) and features guest vocals by The Secret Sisters, Cat Pierce (The Pierces) and singer/songwriter Dawn Landes. Bobby said they did this for free and he was very appreciative of their contribution to his EP. The songs are all first or second takes. This EP is wonderful!
Featured on his EP, She Wears Green was one of the new songs he performed last night and it is beautiful. With Bobby’s unique style of finger-picking on his beautiful acoustic guitar, he belted out the lyrics with pain and warmth. Soothed us like a gentle hot toddy of whiskey and honey. He sang Who Have You Been Loving and dedicated it to his tour manager, Eric. (Eric kind of grimaced! He’s clearly not going to tell!) And Bobby sang, The Bounty of Mary Jane, In the Frost, Penance Fire Blues, (which he sang onThe Jay Leno Show and is another one of my favorites), Dead and Done and more.
So, it was a reunion – a celebration of sorts for Bobby and fans at 3rd & Lindsley last night. A way to wrap up 2011 and share it with the folks in Nashville who were part of his “beginning” when he first played at 3rd & Lindsley in April 2009. When many people didn’t know who he was. And there is nothing like seeing Bobby perform live. Nothing!
When the night was over, fully appreciative of the outstanding performance of Bobby Long, Dreams and I walked out into the night and went home, warm with tender memories. Moon followed us home and as Dreams and I longingly gazed into the infinity of the chilled November sky, we remembered that there is still more to come with Bobby Long. Much more.
Dreams reminded me: “Bobby has stepped into the extraordinariness of timeless talent, timeless art, timeless soul and there will be plenty more.”
I nodded. I know. And I can hardly wait.
Bobby performs tonight at The Square Room in Knoxville, TN and tomorrow night, November 19th at the Bottletree Café in Birmingham, AL. He’s also going to be performing on the Cayamo Cruise February 5-12, 2012. Visit his site at BobbyLonginfo.com or MusicBobbyLong.com for more info.
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