Just in Case You Missed It

A lot has been said, and gets repeated, about the classic ABB tunes, even regarding the more recent performances. Dreams, Whippin' Post, Statesboro Blues, Elizabeth Reed...the list is long, and the songs are all worthwhile.But The High Cost of Low Living is easy to pass over. The composition is mundane, and the lyrics are almost cheesy ("The high cost of low living, 'bound to put you six feet in the ground"). There's little about the song itself that sets it apart from much else.However, in the hands of this band, they turn it into something that is most definitely not mundane, though the fireworks don't really start until about half-way through the song. At that point, there's a lot to notice.First, the solos are outstanding, particularly Trucks' solo following the bridge. The video has the added bonus of providing some close-up looks at Derek's deft interweaving of slide and fretted play that's very reminiscent of Sonny Landreth's style.Second, the musical conversation between Trucks and Warren Haynes following Trucks' solo borders on the sublime. This is an excellent example of the musician's craft. To pull this kind of thing off, you have to listen to one another while trying to articulate an idea. The intuitive interplay is just a joy to listen to.And, third, the band as a whole is as tight as one can imagine. The crescendo during Trucks' solo is built in such unison that you can't tell who's leading and who's following. The way Oteil Burbridge and even Gregg Allman provide subtle contributions to the conversation between Trucks and Haynes rounds out the performance, and there is an almost oxymoronic building of drama as the dynamics of the song wind down toward the end to a final release.If you're a musician, this performance is worthy of study, for there are a number of lessons here in how to construct a performance as a group.