Last Train Home's Homecoming

I’m just back from Washington, D.C. where on Friday and Saturday night, our friends in the wonderful band Last Train Home put on a couple of intense and happy shows for their most loyal fans at Iota in Arlington, VA. I worked with a group of excellent camera guys to capture the sets for a live DVD release later this year by LTH on its new Red Beet Records label. The shows loosely marked the band’s tenth anniversary, and while the core of the group moved to Nashville a couple years ago, they’ll always be part of the Washington Americana scene, a lineage that includes the Seldom Scene, Emmylou Harris, Bill Kirchen and Danny Gatton. Fronted by singer/songwriter/journalist Eric Brace, LTH has grown far beyond its origins as an alt-country band into a sophisticated pop/rock outfit with rootsy leanings. During the shows I grew to really love some of the material on their newest album Last Good Kiss, especially a song called Flood that roils with a slow Neil Young groove and flowers into a big, triumphant chorus. It would sound good on the main stage at Bonnaroo, and maybe with this release, somebody will see fit to invite them to play the big festivals. Watch here for updates on the DVD. In the meantime, go buy Last Good Kiss. It’ll make you want to kiss someone.