Bootleg Bonanza: Mark Knopfler - 7/23/08
Knopfler is a guy who I find more and more interesting as I keep listening to him. He’s a guitar hero who doesn’t have to show off. A great songwriter who isn’t afraid of subtlety. I’ve never had the pleasure of seeing him live myself, but I have a couple of bootlegs which prove to me that if he ever comes close, I have to be there.
This is the better sounding show that I own from his last tour. Enjoy!
Introduction
Cannibals
Why Aye Man
What It Is
Sailing to Philadelphia
True Love Will Never Fade
Fish and the Bird
Hill Farmer’s Blues
Romeo and Juliet
Sultans of Swing
Song for Sonny Liston
Introductions
Marbeltown
Speedway at Nazareth
Telegraph Road
Brothers In Arms
So Far Away
Going Away
November 17th, 2008 at 10:11 pm
You know, now that you mention it, I’ve never heard a Mark Knopfler song I didn’t like. I adored that All the Roadrunning album he did with Emmylou (so much more than the Robert Plant /Alison Kraus album, despite my general love of Alison Kraus). His Local Hero soundtrack was one of the best things written for film in years. A friend sent me a Dire Straits compilation CD that had way too many long-winded live performances on it, but he’s definitely on that short list of artists I mean to check out more sometime soon. He strikes me as someone I’d love to hang out with, too.
I love your line about him not showing off his guitar virtuosity, though those live performances make me suspect otherwise. But I’m willing to forgive him!
November 18th, 2008 at 1:32 am
I’m not very familiar with his work in Dire Straights so anything I say must be taken towards his solo work. And even that I’m not an expert on.
He’s definitely a great guitar player, but he isn’t showy about it. He proves his musicianship not by shoving as many chords as he can into a song, but by laying low, playing into the music. Or something.
I so agree about All the Roadrunning being better than the Plant/Krauss album. Most of my friends absolutely love that one, but it just doesn’t do a lot for me. I like it alright and I definitely hear some good things, but it doesn’t really wow me. But the Emmylou/Knopfler one is just stunning.
Knopfler did a duet album with Chet Atkins many years ago which is well worth checking out too. Its very low-key and lots of fun - just two guys playing for kicks and not being very serious about it.