Song Review: Everybody and Double Trouble - “Texas Flood” (Live)
Five minutes.
That’s all “Austin City Limits” allotted to Double Trouble and a slew of guests to pay tribute to Stevie Ray Vaughan with a performance of “Texas Flood” during Vaughan’s induction to the ACL Hall of Fame.
That left time for Buddy Guy, Willie and Lukas Nelson and Lyle Lovett to sing and room for Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Guy and the Nelsons - mostly Lukas, who left Lovett gawking and smiling as he awaited his turn at the mic - to play short solos. Meanwhile, Doyle Bramhall II, Robert Randolph, Mickey Raphael and Eric Zapata were relegated to eye candy when they shoulda been ear candy.
The clip comes from “ACL Hall of Fame: The First Six Years,” which premieres Jan. 2, 2021, on PBS; check local listings.
Don’t get Sound Bites wrong: the performance, what there was of it, was terrific. But there was time only for kindling where there was a tinderbox of musicianship on that stage just waiting to combust into an SRV-worthy storm of fire and aural brimstone.
File under: miss opportunities.
Grade card: Everybody and Double Trouble - “Texas Flood” (Live) - B+
12/30/20
