Townes Van Zandt tribute (from No Depression)

Last week, Kevin Norton wrote a tribute on the No Depression website to the great Texas singer-songwriter, Townes Van Zandt, who died New Year’s Day, sixteen years ago. This sentence captured some of the flavour of his talent, his music, and his demons: If there was ever a musician that fit the mold of Robert Johnson’s blues man making a demonic bargain at a crossroads at midnight for his talent and then looking over his shoulder, terrified, as he fled for the rest of his life from some hell hound only he could see, it was Townes. Read the article … Continue reading

Townes Van Zandt: new book, old interview

Sometimes I don’t know where This dirty road is taking me Sometimes I can’t even see the reason why I guess I keep a-gamblin’ Lots of booze and lots of ramblin’ It’s easier than just waitin’ around to die —from “Waitin’ Round to Die”, Townes Van Zandt One of the greatest Americana singer-songwriters, Townes Van Zandt died 15 years ago this past New Year’s Day, and a new book, A Deeper Blue: The Life and Music of Townes Van Zandt, written by Robert Earl Hardy has just been published. Townes was never famous, and never had a hit. He’s most … Continue reading