I saw David Bromberg for the fourth or was it the fifth time recently. (11/10/12) I've seen him solo, with a quartet (consisting of him, Jay Ungar, Molly Mason, and his longtime bass player Butch Amiot), and with the Angel Band. But this most recent time was the first time with a full band. I can't say which version was better. They were all good, although different, but I have to say that I really enjoyed the full band setting. Maybe it has to do with the horns. I've said before how much I like it when bands use a mix of strings and horns, or electric and acoustic instruments. Bromberg did just that. He had a 7 piece band consisting of; him on acoustic or electric guitar, (mandolin on one song) Butch Amiot on bass, Mark Cosgrove on second guitar(acoustic and electric and mandolin on some songs), Nate Grower on fiddle, Josh Kanusky on drums, John Firmin on sax, and Peter Ecklund on trumpet. Later he had two female backup singers (Nancy Josephson and Kathleen Weber) on some songs. With that many instruments to choose from, he was able to do everything from fiddle tunes to soul style rave-ups. Not only was he able to, he did. The show started off with the classic, Get Up and Go, which ends with a medly of fiddle tunes. Here's a great version from 1986.
Later in the set he started talking about the recent election, and played a song about the development in Colorado and Washington - If You'se a Viper. I can't find a video by Bromberg, but there are a number of versions out there - check out Stuff Smith, Fats Waller and Martin, Bogan & Armstrong.
I'm kicking myself that I didn't have a camera, because I can't find videos of some of the songs he played that were just killer. A great version of Blind Willie Johnson's Nobody's Fault but Mine, and a killer version of Testify.
One of the things I love about Bromberg is how much fun he has on stage. Not only when he's playing, but when the other guys take a solo, he has this huge grin on his face. When they play a good solo, he yells, "Play it again!" or "Another!" He seems to get as much enjoyment out of the music as the people in the audience. So here's some David Bromberg to enjoy.
Sloppy Drunk from 2009
Summer Wages from 1991-ish ( He did a great version of this at the show)
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