Southern Rock Opera live thoughts

[211poundsofpork]

A question about Southern Rock Opera just occurred to me. (I'm still new, so I apologize in advance if this was already discussed.) I've heard from Patterson's comments in the past, that he has thought of playing the album live at some point. I was just wondering how they would do songs such as "Wallace", "Moved", or even "Cassie's Brother". Who would sing since Rob Malone is no longer in the fold? I for one am very curious to see how this chunky album would play-out live. Thoughts?

[Smitty]

A question about Southern Rock Opera just occurred to me. (I'm still new, so I apologize in advance if this was already discussed.) I've heard from Patterson's comments in the past, that he has thought of playing the album live at some point. I was just wondering how they would do songs such as "Wallace", "Moved", or even "Cassie's Brother". Who would sing since Rob Malone is no longer in the fold? I for one am very curious to see how this chunky album would play-out live. Thoughts?

I know Hood has took over vocal duties for "Wallace" a few times, and if I ain't mistaken "Moved" was dropped off newer editions of the album. Maybe bring in Kelly Hogan and let Jay cover Rob's parts on "Cassie's Brother"?

[westncdude]

Personally, I hope this never happens. It seems to be a rock band cliche to play albums "in their entirety" these days. They play the best songs off of it on a regular basis anyway. I don't even think it's their best album.

[cortez the killer]

I don't even think it's their best album.

I don't either, but, if any album were to be played in its entirety, SRO immediately comes to mind.

[bovine knievel]

I'd be down with an album-a-night-residency gig; hopefully, at a time and place that I can attend.

[Zip City]

I've seen Patterson sing Wallace before. Patterson wrote that song, he just had Rob sing it. Moved is, IMO, not essential to a live performance, and as others have stated, either Jay or maybe EZB's wife or someone could do Cassie

[cortez the killer]

Moved is, IMO, not essential to a live performance.

So much so that it isn't on the vinyl copy of SRO I own.

[Penny Lane]

This will never happen!



(reverse jinxing)

[Duke Silver]

I actually prefer the Reader's Digest version we get at most rock shows (LTBR, Zip City, Shut Up, Angels, WWW, with the occasional Ronnie and Neil, Road Cases, or 72). Played front to back, there are a couple 3-4 song stretches where I might find myself checking my watch.

[RevMatt]

Last fall was the tenth anniversary of SRO and if they were going to play it in its entirety 2011 was the time to do it.

From the songs I've heard, Patterson's new solo album mines the same territory but is darker and closer to his own story about how he left Alabama for Athens.

[Smitty]

I actually prefer the Reader's Digest version we get at most rock shows (LTBR, Zip City, Shut Up, Angels, WWW, with the occasional Ronnie and Neil, Road Cases, or 72). Played front to back, there are a couple 3-4 song stretches where I might find myself checking my watch.

I'm not that big a fan of knowing what's coming next, although if it meant they'd bring back "Don't Cock Block the Rock" I'd get behind that.

[211poundsofpork]

I actually prefer the Reader's Digest version we get at most rock shows (LTBR, Zip City, Shut Up, Angels, WWW, with the occasional Ronnie and Neil, Road Cases, or 72). Played front to back, there are a couple 3-4 song stretches where I might find myself checking my watch.

I sort of agree where some of you say that "Moved" is not essential, but I know I'd want to hear it there - I'm a gosh darn completist. As for Cassie's Brother, I've always liked that song as part of the second act. It's a good DBT rocker. Speaking of Rob Malone, I've always liked "Ms. Dubose" off of Pizza Deliverance as well as the background dog barking (Pink Floyd - "Seamus"??? ). Any other closet fans of this tune out there?

[Kudzu Guillotine]

Last fall was the tenth anniversary of SRO and if they were going to play it in its entirety 2011 was the time to do it.

I can't remember now what his response was but I'm pretty sure Patterson addressed that in a reply that was posted here.

[Penny Lane]

Last fall was the tenth anniversary of SRO and if they were going to play it in its entirety 2011 was the time to do it.

I can't remember now what his response was but I'm pretty sure Patterson addressed that in a reply that was posted here.

also, when otisthebulldog asked him last year, he kinda laughed and said no...(if i recall)



they SHOULD do a 5 night residency at the Brooklyn Bowl and do it THEN, though..

[mark lynn]

I think it would be awesome. And then no one would ever bring it up again. They could even print it on the ticket: this ticket entitles you to one evening of SRO performed in it's entirety and all memories of said event will be revoked and erased from your consciousness if you ever wonder out loud on a message board if it will happen again or pine for said performance to occur again at some future date,etc....

And if it happened it would be awesome.

[TDB]

I just want to hear them play "Greenville to Baton Rouge".
Hopefully, they would announce it in advance. I'd hate to miss it.

[Gaetzi]

I actually prefer the Reader's Digest version we get at most rock shows (LTBR, Zip City, Shut Up, Angels, WWW, with the occasional Ronnie and Neil, Road Cases, or 72). Played front to back, there are a couple 3-4 song stretches where I might find myself checking my watch.

Totally agree with this. I like Truckers shows just the way they are.

[Kudzu Guillotine]

When Southern Rock Opera was new they played the album all the way through several times. I know they've played some of their other albums in their entirety on other occasions whether it was a release show or an anniversary but I don't think any of them have been played more times than Southern Rock Opera.

[PeterG]

If you check the Archive, there's a two night run from SLC where they were opening for Jerry Joseph and the Jackmormons, where they played act 1 the 1st night and Act2 the 2nd. Solid recordings, a few tunes were left out and One of These Days was inserted in place of Cassies Brother, or something like that.
I've said for a while, that if they were to do it, it should be Opera Like with a stage of simple sets, like the 442 upside down w/ the wheels spinning, maybe some montage style stuff during the 3 Great Alabama Legends.
Bring patterson's visions to life, but who's got the money for that kind of production these days?

In reality i'm happy with the tunes they cull off of it for the most part,
hearing the Southern thing last Friday night was fuckin sweet.
And of course, the get Your Ass on the Plane>Buttholeville>trooper> Angels & Fuselage was ridiculously awesome...

[Kudzu Guillotine]

My memory's a bit foggy on this since it's been so long ago now but I believe at one time they were going to film a full on production of Southern Rock Opera in or around Austin, TX back when it first came out. I'm not sure how far along they got with it or if they ever filmed anything at all but as I recall, it was abandoned shortly after I first read about it many, many moons ago on the DBTs Yahoo Groups list.

It would obviously be a ton of work but someday I would love to see an animated version of it illustrated by none other than Wes Freed. It'll never happen but a fellow can dream.

[hendooman]

I actually prefer the Reader's Digest version we get at most rock shows (LTBR, Zip City, Shut Up, Angels, WWW, with the occasional Ronnie and Neil, Road Cases, or 72). Played front to back, there are a couple 3-4 song stretches where I might find myself checking my watch.

I sort of agree where some of you say that "Moved" is not essential, but I know I'd want to hear it there - I'm a gosh darn completist. As for Cassie's Brother, I've always liked that song as part of the second act. It's a good DBT rocker. Speaking of Rob Malone, I've always liked "Ms. Dubose" off of Pizza Deliverance as well as the background dog barking (Pink Floyd - "Seamus"??? ). Any other closet fans of this tune out there?

More than a closet fan, don't forget Dogs on the ever popular Animals album, my all time fav Floyd album.

[Kevidently]

I actually prefer the Reader's Digest version we get at most rock shows (LTBR, Zip City, Shut Up, Angels, WWW, with the occasional Ronnie and Neil, Road Cases, or 72). Played front to back, there are a couple 3-4 song stretches where I might find myself checking my watch.

Yeah, for all the reviews praising the whole album as the best thing they've done, the ones you list here make for a terrific single album. Though I do like Days of Graduation and The Southern Thing, too.

[westncdude]

I think it would be awesome. And then no one would ever bring it up again. They could even print it on the ticket: this ticket entitles you to one evening of SRO performed in it's entirety and all memories of said event will be revoked and erased from your consciousness if you ever wonder out loud on a message board if it will happen again or pine for said performance to occur again at some future date,etc....

And if it happened it would be awesome.

Whoa dude! What a thought?

Maybe it DID happen, we were ALL there, and then it was totally erased from our consciousness.

[Cole Younger]

I'm glad this question was asked because lately I've been wondering the same thing.

Maybe I dreamed this, but I swear some time back in 2010 Patterson said that they were going to this in the coming year (2011) and it of course never happened. I would swear that I read that because I was keeping an eye out for some kind of an announcement for it. I wanted to see it so I could see some of the songs from that album (albums) that they never play anymore.

As for Rob's songs, I personally never thought they fit and they have always given me a whip lash kind of feeling. The albums are so cohesive until you get to a Rob song. Not that they aren't good. They are. The sound is just so radically different. Rob's stuff was so bluesy. To me it just didn't fit.

[Kudzu Guillotine]

Maybe I dreamed this, but I swear some time back in 2010 Patterson said that they were going to this in the coming year (2011) and it of course never happened. I would swear that I read that because I was keeping an eye out for some kind of an announcement for it. I wanted to see it so I could see some of the songs from that album (albums) that they never play anymore.

You didn't dream it. Those comments were posted on the Southern Rock Opera section of the DBTs website at one time. Turns out, he wasn't serious about it.

[jwolf]

I don't even think it's their best album.

Well, imho, it's easily their best album and I would love to see them play "Cassie's Brother" as it's one of my favorites, and many others from it that don't get played. I wish I was into them when they opened for Jerry Joseph (who is a friend of mine) and played this, but I didn't get to hear them until later, although it was this album that was given to me and that I relate to more than any other, with the possibly exception of GGB. I moved from NY to NC for high school and was way into southern rock and did have a ticket for Skynyrd but never got to see them and tho I didn't rebel against the music in my parking lot, I did rebel against the football team folks and got a guitar. One other thing: I think this is their best album because it holds up well for studio versions of the songs, which I don't feel the others do. Live, well, that's a whole other story. I don't think their studio albums show their greatness, but live, they set things on fire. Just my two cents.

[MSTaper]

I saw them play "SRO" at a CD Release show for the album at a dive bar in Sheffield with Rob. It was loud and if I recall, SRO was sandwiched between some older songs. I could be wrong because that was nearly 11 years ago. It was actually my first DBT show.

MSTaper

[westncdude]

I don't even think it's their best album.

Well, imho, it's easily their best album and I would love to see them play "Cassie's Brother" as it's one of my favorites, and many others from it that don't get played. I wish I was into them when they opened for Jerry Joseph (who is a friend of mine) and played this, but I didn't get to hear them until later, although it was this album that was given to me and that I relate to more than any other, with the possibly exception of GGB. I moved from NY to NC for high school and was way into southern rock and did have a ticket for Skynyrd but never got to see them and tho I didn't rebel against the music in my parking lot, I did rebel against the football team folks and got a guitar. One other thing: I think this is their best album because it holds up well for studio versions of the songs, which I don't feel the others do. Live, well, that's a whole other story. I don't think their studio albums show their greatness, but live, they set things on fire. Just my two cents.

I think dirty south is the best over all. It's the only one with no weak songs. I think SRO is only about half good when you consider the whole discography. Of course, at the time I thought it was mind blowing. It also annoys me a little bit that they got tagged with this whole Skynyrd comparison because of this one album. I usually listen to 12 of the 20 songs.

But again, just my opinion.