By 2002, Billy Joe Shaver had been through the wringer. Over the past year and a half he lost his wife, his mother, and his son. Furthermore, he’d suffered a major heart attack as well. So when he accepted an invitation to tour Australia with his good friend Kinky Friedman, he ignored medical advice and went to Australia. The two men would share the stage, swapping stories and lies and pickin’ tunes. Live Down Under is a new collection of live tracks from those dates, and finds both men in fine form. For our money, our favorite is Shaver’s “You Asked Me To,” a lovely and simple love song that he gave to Waylon Jennings for 1973’s breakthrough album Honky Tonk Heroes. Considering Shaver’s recent past, this stripped-down version is made all the more poignant and moving. Live Down Under captures two talents in rare form together, a moment in time sadly never to be repeated.
Purchase Billy Joe Shaver & Kinky Friedman Live Down Under: Omnivore
The Recoup 