I don’t know about you but EVERY TIME I hear Ray LaMontagne sing a note live, I just get shivers down my spine. Shivers and goosebumps. WOW. I’ve seen Ray perform live a number of times now (mostly recently co-headlining with David Gray) and each time is it’s own experience. Sure, he sings some of the same songs over and over again but each time he tweaks it different, whether it’s the arrangement of a different key…it’s always a unique and completely original performance.
On December 15th VEVO premiered a new live video of LaMontagne as part of the new season of Live from The Artist Den. Ray and his Pariah Dogs turned out two riveting performances live from a small ranch in Boerne, Texas. The video features a brief but intimate little chat with LaMontagne who talks about his love of rural America and performing in such a beautiful space. Ray starts the set out with “Beg, Steal or Borrow,” the lead single and Grammy nominee for Song Of The Year, off his 4th studio album, God Willin’ and the Creek Don’t Rise. Next up – “Henry Nearly Killed Me (It’s A Shame),” off his third album Gossip In The Grain. Ray starts out with a MEAN harmonica solo and it just gets better from there. In watching this video I realize quickly that this is the closest I’ve ever gotten to seeing Ray LaMontagne. Tickets sell out so fast that I’m lucky to get a seat at all and it’s usually pretty far back. He’s a really handsome guy! Rugged and mountain-man-ish but in a good way! I love his soft-spoken, humble way of speaking and how all of that goes out the window when he starts to sing. This video is a treat for any fan of Ray LaMontagne.
While a visual is always great you can’t really take it with you on your iPod. No problem! Enter Live – Fall 2010, a new digital EP, released December 21st exclusively through iTunes. Featuring 5 tracks, including 3 from the new album, it’s a must download for me. Get your copy HERE. God Willin’ and The Creek Don’t Rise earned 3 Grammy nominations this year including Song of the Year (“Beg, Steal or Borrow”), Best Contemporary Folk Album and Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical. What a way to end 2010! Check out Ray LaMontagne and The Pariah Dogs on Live from The Artist Den below.