We already posted Elvis Costello and his famous friends’ version of the Band’s “The Weight” on the first of the year, but I’d be remiss in not pointing to this performance from that same episode of Spectacle. “Henry Nearly Killed Me (It’s a Shame)” was already my favorite song off Ray LaMontagne’s latest album, Gossip in the Grain, but this version with Costello just slays me.
There’s no question that LaMontagne is a shy guy (it’s part of his appeal, IMO), but to think that this guy can’t rock out like the best of them would be a huge mistake. All he needs is someone to push him bit, and that’s exactly what Costello does with his über-muddy, distorted electric guitar drone and pulsating tremolo tricks.
The best part, however, is when LaMontagne starts belting out the jam into his harmonica microphone. It’s a seemingly-improvised moment that carries them to a coda in which all three performers are either not sure how to end the song or are just having too much fun to quit.
Okay, enough “dancing about architecture” (Costello’s quote?), watch it below: