Railroad Earth visited some familiar territory last week for a three-show run that started in Lake Tahoe and concluded with a pair of nights at the UC Theater in Berkeley, CA.
While the shows had been confirmed for some time, the last-minute announcement of a trio of guests joining them for the run turned out to be not only a nice surprise but a distinctive difference maker on stage as well.
The talents of Holly Bowling (Ghost Light), Dan “Lebo” Lebowitz (ALO), and Eric Yates (Hot Buttered Rum) not only expanded the jams of the gypsy-roots bluegrass mandolin and fiddle solo’s of John Skehan and Tim Carbone, but added a richness to the overall compositions fronted by Todd Sheaffer.
Bowling’s keyboard work created depth and occasionally slipped into some cosmic jam spaces, while Lebo’s signature solo guitar riffs, were enhanced by lap steel backing on other selections. Yates, as he had done during the first-night kickoff show for RRE at their Hangtown Music Festival in October, contributed his banjo, guitar, and flute talents in the space occupied since Railroad Earth’s inception by the late Andy Goessling.
While the trifecta of guests wasn’t an unfamiliar set of artists to the headliner, it can be a little hit and miss when three artists from other bands join for most of the evenings set. In this case, at least the Saturday show I attended, it was a beautiful pairing of staying true to the sounds of Railroad Earth and adding some new elements to produce one of their best shows, at a terrific and relatively new venue with great sight lines and clean sound.
Set 1:
Bird in a House^%
Happy Song%
Long Walk Home*
Addin’ My Voice>^*%
Morning Flies^*%
Only by the Light>^*%
Head^*%
Cold Water^*%
Set 2:
Black Elk Speaks^%
Monkey*
RV^*%
Any Road^*%
Came Up Smilin’^*%
For Love>^*%
Warhead Boogie>^*%
Black Bear^*%
Encore:
The Old Man and the Land^*%
^Dan Lebowitz on guitar and lap steel
*Holly Bowling on keys
%Erik Yates on banjo, guitar, and flute
Courtesy RRE FB page
