Verlon Thompson & Sue Cunningham at the Boumel house ( unedited version ) 1-15-11 - Entire Show

This was a wonderful evening of music, laughs and Verlon's storytelling in the perfect setting at Arlene Boumel's. This is the full, unedited version that captures all of that.
I have also posted the edited version of the full 2 sets of music which, by editing out all the storytelling and song introductions, runs approx 40 minutes shorter. Both are excellent for viewing (HD) and listening.
However, may I suggest that if you have never had a chance to catch Verlon " au natural" it is well worth, for at least your first experience, playing the full unedited version, sitting back and relaxing and enjoying the whole of it as we all did that night.......

Note : The video & audio of the first song were somewhat challenged due to Verlon's style of walking out into the audience to see what he's working with and, as he says, " Cuz it throws the camera guys off "
:-)

Bio :

Verlon Thompson spins stories with a novelist's eye ("Caddo County") and a poet's ingenuity ("The Get to You Waltz"). Thirty years on, the celebrated songwriter's Works spotlights a troubadour in peak form Thompson's seamless collection delivers Technicolor dreamscapes as wildly cinematic ("The Guitar") as they are sharply crafted. Dress William Faulkner with faded jeans and a pawnshop six-string and the idea takes shape ("Oklahomagain," "The Ballad of Stringbean and Estelle"). "Verlon sparkles as a songwriter," says legendary tunesmith Guy Clark. "He's inspiring." Not to mention singular.
Thompson's lyrics strike pages with thunderclap potency. Few frame heartache as vividly. Fewer still follow with such wholly satisfying resolution ("Mike and Betty's Daughter").
Interpret the title Works as you wish. Contents suggest the literate implications. "Even the love songs are story-oriented," Thompson explains. "I've found that I've started leaning more that way in my live show, which I've heard people refer to as a travelogue. I start with the 'The Show We Call the Business,' which is about coming to Nashville, and then I take them back to Oklahoma where it all started with 'Oklahomagain' & 'Caddo County' and bring them back to the present day with these other songs. It's my experiences. They're not all personal experiences, but mostly."
Thompson's back story already has achieved significant heights. Consider the staggering number of bold names who have covered his material: Randy Travis ("Don't Take Your Love Away from Me"), Kenny Rogers ("If I Were You"), Barbara Mandrell ("You Know What I'm Not Talking About"), The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band ("Dancing to the Beat of a Broken Heart"), Sam Bush ("The Ballad of Stringbean and Estelle") and Trisha Yearwood ("You Say You Will") begin the list. Add Jimmy Buffett and Alan Jackson ("Boats to Build"), Suzy Bogguss ("Cross My Broken Heart"), Anne Murray ("I Know Too Much"), the Del McCoury Band ("Backslidin' Blues") and Keith Whitley ("Lucky Dog") and we still barely scratch the surface.
Notably, country superstars Dierks Bentley, Jamey Johnson and Miranda Lambert's trio version of Thompson's "Bad Angel" earned a Grammy nomination last year (Best Country Collaboration with Vocals). "It's such a fun track," Bentley says.
A humble craftsman at core, the simple hat tip fulfills Thompson's creative aim. "Having a song covered is what I live for, but it doesn't have to be a star," he says. It just flatters me to no end. I think about when I first started out and the songs that I chose and why I chose them. I think, man, these guys are putting me on that level. They're spending time dissecting chords and learning lyrics. It's the ultimate compliment."
By the way, Guy Clark's important here: More than two decades ago, the Dean of Texas songwriting enlisted Thompson as his touring partner (as well as frequent co-writer). Eyes immediately opened. "Guy changed my musical life," Thompson says. "I'd been struggling with my Capitol Records deal, and it was such a letdown. Guy said, 'Man, come out on the road with me and I'll show you. You don't need a band and a big bus and payroll. All you need is some great songs. You go out there with great songs, there are people who will gather in these little rooms all over the world, and they'll keep you going."

Setlist:

Set 1:
1. The Show We Call The Business
2. Everywhere ... Yet
3. Sweet Dreams
4. Intro to Darwettia's Mandolin
5. Lucky Dog
6. Darwettia's Mandolin
7. Caddo County
8. Oklahomagain
9. One Of The Things About You
10. Tootsie Roll

Set 2:
1. Hillbilly Hand Me Down
2. The Louisiana Side
3. Tess LaDonna LaFitte
4. Mexico's Daughter
5. Like There's No Tomorrow
6. Mike and Betty's Daughter
7. The Get To You Waltz
8. Joe Walker's Mare
9. The Ballad of Stringbean and Estelle
10. Bad Angel
11. Backup and Turnaround
12. The Guitar

[DrStich]

What a fantastic musician and performer. This was a very special night.

[josephelder]

verlon is SO good. that's the best sounding guitar ive ever heard.  what kind is it