Back in April 2020 when we didn’t know when or if we were going to see live music again, Joan Shelley released Live at the Bomhard, the hometown tour finale recorded live in 2019 with the Best Hands Band and a special appearance by Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy. It was both a comfort to all of us stuck at home and a reminder of what we were missing out on.
I have to admit I was only mildly familiar with Joan Shelley before that Bandcamp Friday release, but felt compelled that day to support as many musicians as I could to make sure music would still be there when we returned to normalcy. The added draw of hearing new, live music meant Live at the Bomhard would be in constant rotation ever since. These songs all became familiar in their live and studio arrangements as I added her records to my collection.
This past June, Shelley released her latest album, The Spur, a collection of songs that sound like they are grappling with comfort and safety—songs like “Home,” “Forever Blues,” and “Fawn.” And here I’ve finally gotten to see Joan Shelley live in person. Live music did return after all, though it must be added not without its difficulties.
Whether you’ve heard these songs on Live at the Bomhard, or the studio versions on The Spur, Shelley’s set at The Colony in Woodstock added new textures and arrangements with her current touring band of Nathan Salsburg, Jim Elkington, and Nick Macri, all who played on The Spur and other Joan Shelley albums. Between songs Shelley and her band are affable and engaging with their story telling and the added context for these songs. On a cold night in Woodstock at the beginning of Fall, it sure felt warm inside.
Joan Shelley 2022-09-23 The Colony Woodstock, NY Recorded and produced by Eric PH for nyctaper.com Soundboard + MBHO KA500/603A (DIN) > Naiant PFA >> Sound Devices MixPre-6 > WAV (24/48) > Adobe Audition CC + Izotope Ozone 5 > Audacity 3.0.2 > FLAC Tracks [1:10:45] 01. Stay All Night 02. Forever Blues 03. [Fawn intro] 04. Fawn 05. If the Storms Never Come 06. [Fall in the mountains] 07. Home 08. [Favorite room in the world] 09. The Fading 10. [Storms] 11. Like the Thunder 12. Wild Indifference 13. [The Spur intro] 14. The Spur 15. Completely 16. Stay on My Shore 17. [The last show of all time] 18. Why Not Live Here 19. Coming Down For You 20. [The merch table] 21. When the Light is Dying 22. Not Over by Half The band: Joan Shelley Nathan Salsburg James Elkington Nick Macri
Thanks for sharing this. I’ve been a fan of Joan for some years, but that live album is the pinnacle. One of my favourite ever live albums, equalled only by Bill Callahan’s “Rough Travel for a Rare Thing”. I’m very much looking forward to hearing your new recording. Thanks also for the enduringly wonderful NYC Taper recordings, in general.
Thanks Joe! Enjoy the Joan Shelley! One of my favorite sets of the year for sure.