Doyle Bramhall II
Essentials
1999 - 2002

Austin City Limits - 30 Sept 99
(Cable TV>VHS SP Mode>CoolEdit Pro>Wav>Flac)
1. Shape I'm In
2. I'm Leavin'
3. Snakecharmer
4. Chariot
5. Interview

Mountain Stage - 3 Oct 99
(FM Broadcast>Wav>CDR>Wav>Flac)
6. Close To Heaven
7. Snakecharmer
8. I'm Leavin'

Antone's, Austin, TX  15 July 02
(SBD>DAT>Wav>CDR>Wav>Flac)

  1. Introduction
  2. Soul Shaker
  3. Problem Child
  4. Helpless Man
  5. Should've been #1
  6. Day Come Down
  7. Tuning
  8. Send Some Love
  9. Cosmic Blues
10. Smokestack
11. Green Light Girl
12. Encore Call Back
13. Carry Me On

Doyle Bramhall II - Guitar and Vocals
J.J. Johnson - Drums
Wendy Melvoin - Bass (1-5)
Chris Bruce - Bass (6-8)
Lisa Coleman - Keyboards
Susannah Melvoin - Backing Vocals

Doyle Bramhall II - Guitar and Vocals
J.J. Johnson - Drums
Chris Bruce - Bass
Mike Rowe - Keyboards

 
If you've followed Eric Clapton's tours during 2004-7, you know that he relied on a couple of supporting guitarists - Derek Trucks and Doyle Bramhall II. Trucks is very well known as the best Allman Brothers Band slide guitarist (since Duane) but Doyle II may be less well known to you.  Doyle II is the son of a famous Austin musician who in addition to playing as Lightnin' Hopkins drummer, had an impressive influence on the style of Stevie Ray Vaughn. (If you doubt me, check out father Doyle's 93-95 period). Anyway, back to Doyle II,  here's a nice summary from the  2001 Austin Chronicle.

This Essentials compilation is perhaps the best of all of Doyle II's live stuff so it's a great place to get acquainted.

It starts out with his Austin City Limits performance in the fall of 1999, right after his tour with Roger Waters completed. Doyle II is backed by his wife Susannah Melvoin and the team of Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman. (That's right, it's that Wendy and Lisa of Prince fame). Both played a major role in the recording of Doyle II's self-titled debut. This '99 performance was in support of his then upcoming second release, Jellycream.
The first song from this show, Shape I'm In, co-written with Doyle's father, was one of the singles from his band Arc Angels, which Doyle II was a part of in the early 90's along with Charlie Sexton and Stevie Ray Vaughan's famous rhythm section, Double Trouble.  (Again, there's another connection to SRV - told you so!)

Up next is a rare recording of Doyle II and his band performing Jellycream material only a few days later for the radio program, "Mountain Stage." This is a unique performance for its all-acoustic nature.

The 2nd disc has a great performance from Doyle II and the new band he formed in 2001 for the Welcome album. The new material was recorded live in the studio and features a renewed focus on guitar for Doyle, something he'd gotten away from to some extent with his first two releases.  Some have complained it's nothing new and pretty much the same graveling blues-rock stuff that we've heard done a 1000 different ways. It's a fair point - Bramhall doesn't break any new ground with this album or these songs, but he sure takes care of the existing groud. This particular performance takes place as part of the 25th anniversary celebrations for the popular Austin music venue, Antone's.

Remember, this is the stuff that caught the ear of Eric Clapton, why not let it catch yours and you can see first hand what all the fuss is about?

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