Reviews & Remarks

 

Bob took the stage and began with his classic ‘Original Spirit’ to get the evening started. You know, it’s one thing to listen to a CD or go to a live concert with thousands of people in attendance but it’s quite another to sit in the comfort of a house with foldin’ chairs in the kitchen and livin’ room with ’high ceilings’ and the ‘ethereal light’ from the stained glass dinin’ room fixture much like this one as Bob pointed out, to bring folks together as a family, as one collective mind, listenin’ to the beat of good song and dancin’ music. His story tellin’ in between songs brought a whole new understanding of the history of the world to me. For Bob, I got the feelin’ that his understandin’ all began in Lubbock, Texas, in Miss Honey’s classroom during high school while lookin’ for gum under the desk and pickin’ up the vibes of Buddy Holly who had also sat in that very seat some years earlier.

 

He took us from the Big Bang of the ‘young beat’ to ancient man makin’ sounds with sticks and rocks through the prehistoric days of dinosaurs to the middle ages of drinkin’ mead and askin’ for forgiveness to a boardwalk in Wyoming where Buffalo Bill discovered a sheet of music during a time continuum. Turns out that the music on that sheet was made famous when the Queen of England stood and saluted the American Flag while the Star Spangled Banner was played at his Wild West Show. It’s also where Sitting Bull, who was one of the stars of the show, most likely met Mahatma Gandhi, who was a guest of the Queen. It’s possible they talked about country western/eastern music and how the ‘beat’ brings us all together. Bob just might be the ultimate Cosmic Cowboy but his history lesson captured my full undivided attention and was surely better than any historically inaccurate tall tale some of my teachers taught while I was in school. And there was something about his condensed version of the Canterbury Tales sung as a rap song in its own words. Truth is, it didn’t shed any additional light or understanding of those Tales for me but I dang sure enjoyed it.

-- Stony Burk (concert review)

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Up The Flatland Stairs - Released January 2018 

 

NO DEPRESSION MAGAZINE: “This Southwestern bard has sung his way around the world and back again. Many times over, truth be told. And he's lived to enjoy the journey and savor the joy, which he generously shares with us all on this latest album.” https://bit.ly/2N0aqfW

 

COWBOYS & INDIANS MAGAZINE: “As with its predecessor Gypsy Alibi — which was named Album of the Year by the Texas Music Awards in 2011, each facet of Up the Flatland Stairs glimmers as an authentic dimension of Livingston’s singular aesthetic. He’s cerebral and a little bit feral, evoking the kind of characters you’d spot shuffling through the Louvre in snakeskin boots or reciting lines from Kafka to a redbone coonhound.” https://bit.ly/2CZKBMl

 

ELIZA GILKYSON: I have this Bob Livingston recording on constant play in my car. I “can’t get enough of it.” Super musical production from this guy who keeps evolving and never looses touch with his roots or the joy of making music.”

 

AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN: “…the real story here is Livingston’s own material, 13 tracks (plus “Public Domain,” a co-write with Gary P. Nunn) that affirm his talent extends well beyond the supporting roles for which he’s long been known. Of particular note is “That’s the Way Things Go” (written with Laurie Turner), an instantly memorable country-folk-pop number that features backing vocals by Eliza Gilkyson.” https://atxne.ws/2lFHIoJ

 

AUSTIN CHRONICLE:  “Bob Livingston helped define Austin's progressive country sound in the Seventies, but the Lost Gonzo Band co-founder has done his best work this century. The 17 tracks stomping Up the Flatland Stairs offer an impressive collection of covers, co-writes, and originals. Livingston's song instincts remain impeccable no matter the style.”  https://bit.ly/2KtJSCO

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                Gypsy Alibi, winner "Album of the Year" at the Texas Music Awards 2011

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Co-produced by Livingston and Lloyd Maines (with most of the usual suspect Austin session pros associated with both men present and accounted for), Gypsy Alibi covers as much stylistic ground both its title and Bob’s freewheeling background would suggest.

--Richard Skanse, Lone Star Music Magazine, 3/1/11

 

From “Ruby’s Shoes” to the infectious Rockabilly Groove of “Middle Ages Rockabilly Blues” to the title track “Gypsy Alibi” - there ain’t a runt in the litter. Some artists transcend the mundane with pure Genius – Bob Livingston is one of those artists.

-- Chris Harkness, No Depression 2/4/11

 

Anchored by his warmly supple and durable voice, Livingston’s performances are almost universally melodic and appealing, ranging as they do from Western swing to atmospheric, Norah Jones-style balladry to singalong pop to a gently swinging folk laments & yodeling cowboy music.

-- John T. Davis, Austin American Statesman 1/27/11

 

Gypsy Alibi wanders the realms and far-flung generas of Texas music with disarming ease and whimsy, navigated by his beautifully crafted, world music-inspired songwriting. Even the gypsy cabaret of the title track is rife with a cast of characters who might otherwise Tom Waits or Randy Newman’s tunes but have their fortunes told Livingston-style.

-- Margaret Moser, Austin Chronicle 2/17/11"

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