Lou Reed in Concert from NPR

I've recently discovered NPR's music podcasts, often featuring whole concerts -- and some of my favorite performers. A couple of weeks ago it was Lou Reed, live at Paramount Theatre in Asbury Park, NJ on April 24, recorded by his engineer, Chris Bailey. Great show.

Lou Reed in Concert

Hear the Legendary Rock Artist Recorded Live at the Paramount Theatre

By Bob Boilen

Lou Reed in Concert

add to playlist

NPR.org, May 6, 2008 - If we asked all the musicians featured on All Songs Considered to name their biggest influence, I bet the most popular answer would be Lou Reed. His songwriting in the Velvet Underground, and 40 years of songwriting since, is filled with street-life poetry and train-throbbing rhythms absent from rock and roll in the mid 1960s.

So when we saw that Lou Reed was touring this spring, we just had to record one of his shows for our live online concert series. It looked like the best chance was his April 22 set at Washington, D.C.'s 9:30 Club.

Lou Reed is 66 now but gave a remarkable performance. There was music from The Velvet Underground, including "Sweet Jane" and "I'm Set Free" and "I'm Sticking with You."

There was music from this decade, including a stunning version of "Ecstasy," with Lou Reed's voice in fine form, and "Guardian Angel" from The Raven, his exploration into the poetry of Edgar Allen Poe. Reed also performed a new song called "Power of the Heart."

All the musicians in his band were craftsmen, including long time guitarists Steve Hunter (remember the opening guitar riffs on the Rock and Roll Animal album?) along with guitarist Michael Rathke, bassist Rob Wasserman, drummer Tony "Thunder" Smith, electronics by Sarth Calhoun and keyboards, accordion and mandolin by Kevin Hearn.

We did record Reed's entire performance at the 9:30 Club and planned to post it here. But in the end, he decided to share a different show with us and the All Songs Considered concert series. The performance featured here was recorded at the Paramount Theatre in Asbury Park, NJ on April 24 by his engineer, Chris Bailey.

Our photographs from Joel Didriksen are from the 9:30 club performance.

Playlist:
Mad
Sweet Jane
I'm Set Free
Ecstasy
I'm Sticking With You
Power of the Heart
I Wanna Know
Halloween Parade
Video Violence
Guardian Angel
Magic and Loss

Encore
Pale Blue Eyes

Tags: Lou Reed, live, Concert, NPR, music, Asbury Park, Paramount Theatre, Velvet Underground, Sweet Jane, Magic and Loss, Ecstasy, I'm Sticking With You