Late 60's/early 70's : The Band :: 2000's : The Sadies

And The Sadies' new live double album, In Concert, Vol. 1, bears striking resemblance to The Band's 1978 farewell concert, The Last Waltz. Start-studded guest appearances (or as star-studded as the Toronto Americana scene gets) including Neko Case (the same one that released one of the best records this year, Fox Confessor Brings The Flood), Garth Hudson of The Band (see, I'm not insane), Gary Louis of The Jayhawks and Jon Langford of The Mekons. The Sadies have been providing the perfectly orchestrated background for Case's records for a couple years now, and their cross-genre musical talent is even more obvious on In Concert, Vol. 1. Americana is really just where it starts - there's the occasional instrumental surf tune, Neil Young rock out and post-punky guitar lick in there too. These guys are pretty much guaranteed a spot on my upcoming "Fuck you, Tody Keith (So You Think You Hate Country Music)" mix, which is still in the theoretical stages.

The Sadies- Lonely Guy from In Concert: Vol. 1

The Sadies (w/Neko Case)- Evangeline from In Concert: Vol. 1

The Sadies- Memphis, Egypt from In Concert: Vol. 1