Adios to Joe Ely

[tiger roach]

I don't think he was widely known outside of the region, but Joe Ely was huge in Texas. First-class singer/songwriter/bandleader. He was country, tending towards country-rock. He was a powerful performer.

I saw him a couple times in the late '80s, when he was at the peak of his rocking phase. Wish I had seen him again more recently; he was getting back to his country songwriter roots from what I gather.

Thanks for all the music Joe!

 

[dmn23]

I saw him twice as part of a shared bill with Guy Clark, Lyle Lovett, and John Hiatt.

In my head he's in the same zip code as Alejandro Escovedo or Dave Alvin — a rocker/punk guy who evolved into a really sophisticated, serious writer. He was the real thing.

 

[Dogsinplastic]

Great writer with a great ear for talent. He provided David Grissom with his first big time gig.

 

[Motorik]

I saw him twice as part of a shared bill with Guy Clark, Lyle Lovett, and John Hiatt.

In my head he's in the same zip code as Alejandro Escovedo or Dave Alvin — a rocker/punk guy who evolved into a really sophisticated, serious writer. He was the real thing.

I think of him that way too, Dwight Yoakam's also in that wheelhouse. Equally at home hanging out with Joe Strummer or Willie Nelson.

RIP.

 

[Chicken Man]

He was always the guy I didn't recognize when ACL would do songwriter rounds, but he always had cool stuff.

 

[shoeless]

This is sad news, I hadn't heard this, RIP Joe. I never got to see him live, but wish I had. Thanks for all the great music!



...and I'll never see Dallas from a DC9 at night, because nobody flies them anymore.

 

[rhino]

Got to do an opening set for the Flatlanders once a little after they released the Odessa Tapes. It was a good hang and they were all pretty cool.

 

[jrockbridge]

R.I.P.

 

[mnewb1]

R.I.P to a great one!

 

[Modern Saint]

RIP