John Hiatt
Live From Austin Texas
New West records – DVD and CD
available on amazon
This is from an Austin City Limits show recorded on December 14, 1993, and is Hiatt in top form playing with the Guilty Dogs. This TV show somehow seems to bring out the best in performers, both as musicians, and in how they relate to the audience. They seem to give such tremendous amounts of themselves in these shows. John Hiatt has that rare ability not to balance his shows, enough new material to peak interest, yet he draws strongly on his entire catalogue. He mixes old and new in a good proportion so that you get a good dose of the material that made you buy a ticket to the show, and also a good look at the newest body of work he is on the road supporting. He also knows there are certain songs that have to be included in any show such as, “Have A Little Faith In Me,” which is done here with just him on piano. His scratched and strained voice being perfect for wrenching all the emotion that song carries for so
many people. The Guilty Dogs are there beside him in full force with the thumping bass, and fuzzy guitar, and the solid drumming, yet they never override him. The DVD and the CD are the same song list, the advantage of the DVD is that you get the between song patter, the introductions and stories behind the songs, which are most times a real bonus. The sound quality on both is excellent, and either or both are recommended, it depends on where you are listening. We do discourage watching DVDs while driving.