An American Treasure
Simply stated, Darrell Scott's voice, writing skill, and guitar work constitute one of America's greatest unsung treasures, and is no where better displayed than on this live album, recorded at two cozy venues in North Carolina.

A NC resident, I could kick myself for having let these appearances get past me - I'd have been there had I only known. Sample the songs, see for yourself. His treatment of You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive is absolutely haunting, taking you right into an eastern Kentucky holler: "where the sun comes up about ten in the morning and the sun goes down about three every day, and you fill your cup with whatever bitter brew you're drinkin' and you spend your life diggin' coal from the bottom of your grave.". I cannot get the tune out of my mind now, in fact, I recorded it on 4 track cassette (for ease of stopping and starting it), scratched out the lyrics and chord progressions in my little song book, and learned it pronto on both guitar and mandoin. I'm no Darrell Scott, but no song I cover at parties and family gatherings is more often requested than You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive.

Buy the CD. Now.

out-freaking-standing
I was not a Darrell Scott fan until I picked up "theatre of the unheard" about a month ago. It is a pretty good album and I would recommend it to any one. However, "live in NC" is amazing. Musically and lyrically it is perfect I cant get enough of it, and have bought it as a gift for three people just so they can experience this incredibly great album. Once again I cannot give it enough praise. best live album I have ever heard!!

+1/2 -- Country-folk-blues power trio turns in stellar live performances
Though best known as a songwriter, having penned tunes recorded by Sara Evans ("Born to Fly"), The Dixie Chicks ("Longtime Gone"), Patty Loveless ("You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive") and many others, Scott's day job pays the bills for his own recordings and tours. On this live offering, captured at a pair of clubs in North Carolina (Ziggy's and Cat's Cradle), he teams with legendary drummer Kenny Malone and bassist Danny Thompson for a soulful country-blues jam.

The trio stretches out instrumentally on five originals, a pair of Johnny Cash covers, the traditional "Wayfaring Pilgrim," and Scott's father's "It's the Whiskey That Eases the Pain." The latter is played as a mournful blues, contrasting with the more strident country-folk version on the elder Scott's recent CD debut "This Weary Way." The younger Scott's "You'll Never Leave Harlan Alive" adds a progressive British folk edge to its mountain roots, and a slow, acoustic take of Cash's "I Still Miss Someone" resonates heartbreakingly with the song's longing and pain.

Two tracks stretch out to ten minutes, including a medley of Cash's "Folsom Prison Blues" and Townes Van Zandt's "White Freightliner Blues" that features fluid electric picking from Scott and tremendous rhythm drumming from Malone. Throughout the album the players show themselves to be uncommon masters of their instruments, with jazz-like interplay that marks the trio as something much more than a singer and backing band. Top-notch songs, players, and performances are captured in a finely-detailed live recording that will sound great on your stereo. 4-1/2 stars, if allowed fractional ratings. [©2005 redtunictroll at hotmail dot com]

All the skill, none of the over-production
Darrell Scott has been around for years, writing songs (many of them charted) and playing with the like of Guy Clark. His skill with a range of instruments is phenomenal and his voice (control, range, and interpretive skills) is a match or better for anyone who has taken Scott's songs into the country charts. This album suffers from none of the overproduction that marred "Theatre of the Unheard," his last album. (Just my opinion of course.) It's a terrific recording of a live session in North Carolina, with backing from musicians as skilled as he is. These cuts allow Scott's playing and great voice and delivery to stand out the way they should. This is a fine album!