Leon Redbone

Just returned from an enjoyable evening with Suzanne at a concert by Leon Redbone at the Bing Crosby Theater in Spokane. The Bing is a fairly intimate setting for a solo artist...as good as it gets for this concert. It's been some time since I listened to Leon's music, but I must say that he sounds and looks exactly the same as he did 35 years ago. Those of you who have seen him know that his concerts are slow-moving, laid back affairs and this one was no exception. It brought back a lot of old memories.

I remember seeing him somewhat regularly on SNL and The Carson show back when I stayed up late for such things. Does he still where that Panama style hat on stage?

I saw him with Tom Waits in a small venue in the late 70's. It was
great and, as you say, slow moving and laid back. I remember that they
had an old streetlamp on the stage with smoke or fog (or maybe that was
me, I don't know). I have Leon's Christmas album and play it often
every year but would love to see him in person again.

Thanks for the update.

WileE

Tom, he still wears the hat. And, instead of the street lamp that WileE mentioned, he had a pedestal lamp like one you would have beside your favorite chair. Same old schtick.

Funny timing Blase. I am decorating the music room in the new place with some things, and just took this picture to show a friend.

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It is an autographed concert poster (signed Hello from LR 2010) that I'm trying to decide how to frame. He signed too close to the edge to mat it, so we'll see what I come up with.

The style he plays is deceptively simple sounding. He has great technique, and is very difficult to emulate. I've always liked him, and actually did a similar type show in the late 80's locally. Same kind of dress and such, similar music and I billed myself as "Fishbone".

Nice poster, Tele! Not being much of a fingerstyle player, I never really figured out what he was doing. I thought his style was completely appropriate for the music and it seemed relaxed and effortless. I'm trying to capture the essence of that sound now.

I think I remember that his main guitar stylistic influence was Blind Blake, but I could be wrong; point is, he is really a master guitar fingerstylist.