Search - Billy Joe Shaver :: Unshaven: Live

Live Texas Roadhouse Honky Tonk At It's Absolute Finest

Jeff J | Dripping Springs, TX United States | 12/24/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Shaver's fantastic "Unshaven" definitely tops the pile of my desert island discs. This cd jumped out of the speakers and grabbed me when I first heard it almost 9 years ago. From the first cut, the listener is transported to a dark & smokey honky tonk where Texas's greatest singer-songwriter and his incendiary band hit the stage and don't let up until the last notes fade.
For over 20 years, Billy Joe Shaver had been lauded by both the critics and his contemporaries yet criminally ignored for by the music buying public. However in the mid 1990's, Shaver jumpstarted his career with a fierce new sound, a new band that featured his guitar-prodigy son, the late, great, Eddy and an outstanding new album "Tramp On Your Street". "Unshaven" was released hot on the heels of this amazing and featured many of his best loved songs, including "Georgia On A Fast Train", "Hottest Thing In Town", "Honky Tonk Heroes" and "Live Forever".
As a veteran of many Shaver's live shows, I can attest this as fine of a snapshot of their live show that you'll ever find. For me their live shows often approached the level of a religious experience. Man...I miss those days and that music!"

The real deal

John Hodge | Atlanta, GA | 05/08/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD puts you at an up-close table and you can practically smell the cigarette smoke and dried beer on the carpet. Billy Joe is backed by a 3-piece rock trio (not to be confused with a country band) led by the late Eddy Shaver on guitar. Besides the tremendous songwriting, it's Eddy's guitar work that super charged the band's live performances during this era. His homegrown creativity of blending styles and tones is powerfully evident throughout this live CD. Billy Joe's resume is packed with songwriting credits affiliated with many Nashville artists, although his own presentation style of these songs is far removed from Nashville and sits right in the heart of a Texas honky tonk. If you can't stand the way Nashville does it, boy have I got the CD for you!"

Live, loud, and essential!

Travis B. Hill | Little Rock AR | 01/10/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is THE live album that captures the searing guitar work of Eddy and the soaring lyrics of Billy Joe Shaver. This is on my list of "desert island" discs and a MUST for Shaver fans. Billy Joe Shaver is one of the greatest songwriters alive today and his songs shine in this setting. You can almost taste the beer and feel the amps scream! Eddy was one of the best guitar players around, hands down and this is full testament to his power. This show was filmed for a planned concert release but the project was unfortunately later shelved. A shame we'll never get to see it but at least the magic can be heard again and again..."