Few contemporary country artists deliver a live performance distinctively unique from the formulaic recordings processed by Music Row; one artist who does this is
Radney Foster.
Are You Ready for the Big Show? released on Dualtone Music Group, takes various live performances from September 21st and 22nd, 2000, at the Continental Club in Austin, TX, of Fosters' new material as well as his standards. The album captures the basic artistry of Radney Fosters' songwriting repertoire as well as a back-porch jam session featuring mandolin protégé
Chris Thile (
Nickel Creek), and Nashville's best kept secret, guitarist
Mike McAdam (Steve Earle,
Mary Chapin Carpenter,
Jack Ingram). For fans of Fosters' earlier solo work,
Are You Ready for the Big Show? includes a Cajun rearrangement of "Just Call Me Lonesome" (
Del Rio, Texas, 1959) and a slimmed-down acoustic version of "Nobody Wins" (
Del Rio, Texas, 1959). The album's single is the unearthed
Foster and Lloyd classic "Texas in 1880," unlisted as hidden track 16. On
Are You Ready for the Big Show? Radney Foster returns full circle to his neo-traditionalist roots, which separated him from the droves of aspiring Nashville singer/songwriters early in his career. ~ Matt Reasor