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The opening track to Songs of Townes Van Zandt Vol
II, a solo rendition of “To Live Is To Fly” performed by Mike Scheidt
is the latest audio insight into this new release. Scheidt, whose main
act, YOB, recently signed to Neurot Recordings (releasing Songs
Of Townes Van Zandt Vol II in the US), recalls where he first learned
of Townes Van Zandt and became part of the man’s obsessive fanbase...
"I worked in a fantastic guitar shop called Mckenzie
River Music in Eugene Oregon from 1996-2003,” Scheidt begins. “This
dusty, cluttered guitar shop was no ordinary shop. We had the best of the best.
Pre-World War II Martin and Gibson acoustic and electric guitars, vintage
50s/60s Fender guitars and amps, the most valuable and collectable gear you
could buy, along with player's priced quality gear. It was Dick Gunn, the
shop's senior salesman and RIPPING country picker, who first turned me on to
Townes. It was a gift for Christmas, a CD with both High Low And In Between,
and The Late Great Townes Van Zandt. Upon first listen, I knew I was listening to
something that wasn't just great. It smacked of Truth, capital T. Whether that
truth be tender and lighthearted, or take you to places so low that you could
hardly pick yourself back up, it was so heavy. The way he combined language and
guitar chords is one of a kind. Untouchable. Dick Gunn passed away in 2007, and
I have yet to still reconcile his loss inside of myself. He taught me so much,
gave me everything he had to teach as a player and a human. Listening to Townes
functions on multiple levels for me. One of the most treasured experiences of
listening to Townes is remembering my friend Dick Gunn, how we picked together,
how we talked about Townes and knew that we knew that we knew he was THE BEST.
Through and through."
Source : Rarely Unable
