ACL Festival, Music, Reviews

ACL Reviews, Photos: Daniel Lanois’ Black Dub, Saturday,

September 18, 2011 1:45 pm by: Angela Maldonado

Daniel Lanois, best known as a masterful producer for the likes of Bob Dylan, U2 and Neil Young, brought the dark, moody sounds of his latest project, Black Dub, to the light of day in Zilker Park. The modest, intermittent rain seemed the ideal ambiance to accompany the brooding, bottom-heavy rumble that was the signature of last year’s eponymous debut. Although they certainly owe a debt to the dub reggae that inspired their name, this is more of a roots rock/Americana trio with funk and soul overtones. Propelled with grace, finesse and a sublime sense of time is jazz drummer extraordinary Brian Blade who’s worked with everyone from Wayne Shorter to Bill Frisell. A New Orleans native, Blade can get plenty funky but with a flair that’s uncanny. And when the band needs a good kick in the ass, he’s there to give it. His rhythm-mate on the album was Rolling Stones/Neville Bros. bassist Daryl Johnson but on this day the more than capable Jim Wilson locked the bottom end down...
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