Steve Earle Performs For KEXP

Earlier in the year, Steve Earle released a new album, GUY, as a tribute to late American folk singer Guy Clark. After the record’s release at the end of the March, Earle stopped by Seattle-based independent radio station KEXP for a live session.

Hosted by Don Slack, the 31-minute performance was recorded on April 1, 2019. During the set, Earle works through four covers that appear on GUY, including “Dublin Blues,” “Desperados Waiting For A Train,” “L.A. Freeway” and “The Last Gunfighter Ballad.”

Earle’s performances are relatively straightforward, highlighting Clark’s reflective lyrics and powerful songwriting. However, the majority of the session features the alt-country star discussing the creation of the album, Clark’s influence and each song’s personal and broader history.

Following “Desperados Waiting For A Train,” Earle references his 2009 tribute to Townes Van Zandt, Townes, and Clark’s death in 2016 as a source of inspiration for his latest collection. He explained, “I knew that when Guy passed away that I would have to make this record. I think I thought about it even before that. Basically, I do not want to run into Guy on the other side having made the Townes record and not made his.”

Watch Steve Earle perform for KEXP below: