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No Depression Fest Video Sessions with Alejandro Escovedo and Chuck Prophet

The No Depression Festival took place at Marymoor Park which hosts one of the Seattle areas best outdoor concert venues. The property is home to the Clise Mansion, which doubles as hospitality for artists during the festival. The mansion was built in the early 1900's and the grounds were designed by the Olmsted Brothers, who also designed Central Park in New York City.

One of my many highlights from this years festival was watching the acoustic video sessions that were shot in the dark wood paneled library of the mansion. The acoustics were incredible and the performances inspired.

It was by design that Chuck Prophet and Alejandro Escovedo were both on the bill this year. They have collaborated on Alejandro's last couple records and it was my hope that we could carve out an opportunity for them to perform together.

Thanks to KEXP's Jim Beckmann and his camera crew, Shelly Corbett and Luke Knecht, for spending the day capturing these great performances.

I hope you enjoy these videos of Chuck and Alejandro. Stay tuned as we'll be posting sessions from Sera Cahoone, Jason Dodson, The Cave Singers and Glen Hansard in the coming days. (These videos have now been posted and can be found here.)

Alejandro Escovedo & Chuck Prophet - Always a Friend

Alejandro Escovedo - Anchor

Alejandro Escovedo - Sister Lost Soul

Chuck Prophet - Let Freedom Ring

Comment by Bob Goldstein on August 27, 2010 at 3:52pm: Bravo!
Thanks Kyla!

Comment by Mike Buchman on August 27, 2010 at 3:57pm: Sweet! thanks for the effort to record and post these gems!

Comment by chris sweeney on August 27, 2010 at 8:14pm: These are great videos. Having Chuck and Al on the same bill was a great plan. Throw in David Pulkingham and it's more like genius.
I've seen and heard many in the music community express their feelings about losing Stephen Bruton, but it is obvious how close he and Al were.

Shelly and Luke - nice shoe shots!

Comment by Daniel T on August 27, 2010 at 10:32pm: These are extraordinary. Excellent work all around. Thanks.

Comment by steviedal on August 28, 2010 at 1:26am: Get Olson and Louris on the phone - quick !

Comment by Gray Dunlap on August 28, 2010 at 8:14am: Marvelous! Thanks!

Comment by Paul Boudreau on August 28, 2010 at 8:27am: I love "Sister Lost Soul" at this tempo. Saw AE and the boys in Northampton, MA do it this way - an absolutely beautiful version and a great tribute to Stephen Bruton. Thanks for posting.

Comment by RP N10 on August 28, 2010 at 9:10am: Top stuff. A perfect use of 20 mins or so. Quite a contrast with the full electric band versions they were touring early summer. Big thanks from over here.

Comment by Steve Miller on August 28, 2010 at 10:15am: Very well done videos and recording. Felt like they were in my living room. Alejandro is a nation treasure in my book.

Comment by Kenny C on August 30, 2010 at 9:22pm: Thanks for sharing! Great videos.. Just saw Chuck's solo act a month ago.. and Alejandro playing DC in 3 weeks.. BTW.. nice digs..