Ray Wylie Hubbard's Wisdom -Slaid Cleaves

Slaid Cleaves tells the story of how Woody Guthrie and Jimmie LaFave lead to his friendship with Ray Wylie Hubbard.
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Slaid Cleaves
Ray Wylie Hubbard
Jimmie LaFave
Woody Guthrie

[@otisgibbs]

Here's a fun video I made with Slaid Cleaves back before I got the channel up and running. kzbin.info/www/bejne/kJm6nqiOe62mnrc

[@eolle43]

This is an amazing interview! There is so much information and history. Ray Willie Hubbard is an amazing artist. You can hear how much love Slaid has for him. I can't believe that the Guthrie Archives initially was resistant to adding music to lyrics. I try to imagine if this policy didn't change....Wilco and Billy Bragg's hit "California Stars" would have been lost to a administrative decision. This song helped rekindled America's love for Guthrie's truths.

[@oldnrone]

Great! Nice guitar.

[@thomasjones3239]

A humble American songwriter talking about a grateful American songwriter. My favorite RWH quote: “Every day I keep my expectations low and my gratefulness high. I have a lot of good days” (Or something like that) BRAVO Otis. Thank you!

[@JSCB-365]

So so true

[@DismasM]

"The days I keep my gratitude higher than my expectations, well, I have really good days." Ray Wylie Hubbard.

[@jodyvance4114]

God Bless Ray Wiley Hubbard!!!

[@stevewuertz3598]

Great to see Mr Cleaves. It's been a long while since I last saw him at the Cactus. Ray W Hubbard-many of us first learned the name from Jerry Jeff Walkers's intro to London Homesick Blues on the Luchenbach album in 73. Both those guys are national treasures and I'm glad I have CDs of theirs-only wish I had more. There were periods of my life when money was tight and some of those records are out of print now and $$ if you can find them. Both gents are among my favorite singer writers. I appreciated the part about Jimmy LaFave-miss him. Super nice guy the one time I spoke with him at SXSW. I wish the Austin live music was as vibrant as it was pre pandemic

[@life_of_riley88]

Slaid is one of my favorite people. Only get to see him every few years, but every time its an awesome show, and he's always a wonderful gentleman to chat with afterwards.

[@blomsomers]

Thanks Otis for this interview. Slaid’s song Rust Belt Fields will always be a favorite of mine; “no one remembers your name, just for working hard.”

[@geoffcline9593]

Ray Wylie Hubbard IS a wonderful person, great song writer and performer, He is authentic, curious and a keen observer. I'm glad our paths crossed more than a few times while I was living in Central TX.

[@scottchenoweth4937]

Slaid Cleaves deserves all of the love he can get. As does Ray Wylie. Austin was such a great place to live for so many years. I have been to the Horseshoe Lounge many a time. The best time was always outback and just watching the goings on.

[@jamesblair5971]

Slaid is so talented as a writer and so good live. “Drinking Days” is such a good tune of his among so many. Back in 2007 in another life promoting shows in San Antonio at the old Leon Springs Dancehall which has since been torn down. The first show we ever booked was Ray Wylie Hubbard. He was the nicest person as was his band. Judy was firm but not at all hard to do business with. Just such a class bunch of good folks to work with. Needless to say the show was classic RWH and wonderful. Love your videos thanks for doing them.

[@johnglenn30csardas]

Otis, I just absolutely love the motel chic of your videos. And of course the stories and the way you get these people to deliver them. Thank you.

[@jackamason4683]

Thanks,Slaid is a great songwriter,and Ray is my all-time favorite,the King of the Grizzled,I learned about Slaid through Ray,watching the Hippie Jack's show,and been listening to Slaid ever since,being sober 13 years,One good year,and of course,my drinking days being over,Drinking days,is one of my personal favorites.Whenever,Im going through a bad spell,that song reminds me,where I been,and where,I dont want to revisit,Thank you Slaid!

[@songsmithy07]

Otis... I really dig these working musician road warrior stories you share with us all. Your interviews with gigging musicians who have spent years on the road, not only brushing shoulders with luminaries, but their own experiences as working musicians are fascinating, and you find folks who know how to tell a good story.. Thank you so much for doing what you do, and your music too.

[@kengrimsley4172]

Slaid used to come play my open mic nights in Portland, Maine back in the late 80's. Esp a joint called 'Angie's' on the working waterfront. He always reminded me of a young Hank Sr or Woody. I always knew he would be famous. He and his gf, Karen, were the nicest, sweetest kids you would ever care to meet. If you still see Slaid, tell him Kenny Grimsley says hello! Happy Holidays, Otis, love your channel, brother!

[@GIBKEL]

‘Breakfast in Hell’ is a modern day classic, the root of folk. Love Slaid Cleaves. Great story…..it’s been a lot of feathers these days.

[@darrellblanchard2362]

Breakfast in hell was the song that got me started in the endeavor of learning whole songs in 2000. Slaid Cleves is right up there with Willie Nelson in my book as a song writer.

[@jmheffren]

After I started watching your videos , then discovered your music; I thought many times I would so love to see a double bill of you and my old friend Slaid. Then today the algorithm tells me the two of you already know each other, and it seems like an even better idea.

[@edenarnold5629]

Hey Otis, I've been watching your videos for a couple months now and just heard your music for my first time a few minutes ago. you have a really great singing voice! cheers

[@SeeCSeesCC]

Otis is awesome, his channel so very very good

[@TheZeekgeek1]

I love Slaid Cleaves! I remember reading Dylan’s Chronicles where he talked about visiting Woody Guthrie in his old age and failing health, and receiving reams of unfinished songs. Wilco and Billy Bragg did such great work with that material

[@rockyxxxyyy]

Well, you got both of my favorite artists in one sentence for your title sir! I've watched all your videos but I'm so happy to see slaid cleaves on here.

[@bigtruckbrad]

Slaid and Ray both are very humble and genuine people. So much talent and generous with their time.

[@tejasmusiclover]

Saw Slaid the first time at the Kerrville folk festival in the early 2000s. Enjoyed this!! Thanks!!

[@northernwolfhound7096]

Never caught him live yet , but I love his music . Great video Otis 😁👍

[@vinsanitynelson4943]

I met Slaid at the Woody Guthrie Festival in Okemah, OK. Two weeks later I saw again at a Unitarian Church in Fort Worth. He jokingly asked me if I was stalking him. During the show a huge Thunderstorm rolled in and knocked out the power at the church. It was such a cool intimate show after that.

[@mojo6778]

Great stories, I know that Jimmy LaFave was heavily involved with the Woodie Guthrie festivals, so cool to see how he assisted Slaid Cleaves. Love the music of Jimmy LaFave, Slaid Cleaves, Ray Wylie Hubbard and of course Otis Gibbs!

[@joemckibben7757]

I saw Slaid Cleves open for Ray in the upstairs of an Irish pub on Covington KY.

[@Frostheimer]

This is so touching. Love both of them. Well done, Otis.

[@otisgibbs]

What's your favorite Ray Wylie Hubbard song and while we're at it, what's your favorite Slaid Cleaves song?

[@brianmobley1720]

Snake farm and Skunk Juice ✌️😎

[@LazyIRanch]

​@@brianmobley1720 I live on a mountain in S. California on 20 acres of desert land a mile from the nearest neighbor. We always have lots of rattlesnakes in Summer, but this year has been ridiculous. It's so hot, they come out at night now. I walked outside to get something out of my car, but heard loud buzzing coming from under the porch steps. I decided I'd wait for daylight and went back inside. I asked my 30 year old son, "Did you hear that??" He responded with: "Snake Farm! Just sounds nasty! Snake Farm! It pretty much is..." 😳

[@Frostheimer]

“Freeway Church of Christ” for Ray and “Take Home Pay” for Slaid.

[@LazyIRanch]

"Quick as Dreams" by Slaid Cleaves gives me a lump in the throat every time. The man can really tell a story, reminds me a lot of Guy Clark in that respect. "Conversation With The Devil" by Ray is a classic that never gets old, and everyone I've shared that song with loves it.

[@johnbinando2752]

I really enjoy Ray’s “Drink til I see double” and “mother’s blues”

[@Jack-iy6ic]

The show at the Southgate house the other night was incredible! I was gonna say hi to you but didn't get the chance. Slaid has a great voice and Scrappy Jud was excellent on the guitar. Slaid signed my pick!

[@JSCB-365]

Well Ray has an awesome song about a Gold Plated Gibson.

[@owendavidfountain1100]

Absolutely LOVE your channel!!! Thank you so very much for keeping these memories alive

[@RollCageMary]

His camp was kind enough to let me open for him in Fort Smith AR this year. He was amazing and it’s been the highlight of all my time playing music… might be hard to top that experience. Thank You for the all the awesome interview Otis! You’re the best!

[@scapegoat762]

Every time I hear Slaid on the radio I have to ask myself what makes a world so wrong that it won't let Slaid Cleaves be a huge star.

[@telebender]

Love Slaid's song "Breakfast in Hell", as it talks about Ontario's (Canada) Georgian Bay area, where my family is from. The song is particularly meaningful for me, since my grandfather worked as a logger/teamster in the very early 1900's along the Musquash River and Go Home Bay areas and eventually further north in the Sudbury area, starting when he was 12 years old, as a stable boy/groom. My cousin still has a hunt camp up along the Musquash River. Epic song and an even more epic, gorgeous area of natural beauty. Also, imho Ray Wylie is a national treasure...

[@awolf.8557]

That is one of my favorite songs.

[@rodneysmith8735]

Awesome Awesome Awesome, I was introduced to Slaid's music in the mid 80s by a very talented friend of mine who recently passed away, at the time Slaid was busking in Cork City, Ireland, it was another years before I saw him again in Austin. What a wonderful talent, Brokedown or Wisbone do it for me, as for Ray Wylie, South of the River covers it all.

[@joekellysux]

Just saw Slaid in KC on Sunday. He is a must see for anyone who is a fan of this channel. Thank you for the video.

[@richardroadman2036]

A beautiful interview. Bless your hearts.

[@dougthompson9596]

Great interview…thanks again,Otis!

[@danielcolehour6454]

Love seeing this. Great to hear Slaid again. Thanks Otis.

[@jameshaller6290]

This was great! Thanks for what you do Otis, you do it well

[@Mike583]

I love your interviews with these great people! You learn so much about folks that you'd never know otherwise! ❤👍

[@donscott763]

I second that emotion!

[@dougthompson9596]

Enjoyed the interview!

[@chazbike9708]

In the early 2000's I was fortunate enough to see Slaid, RWH and Hayes Carle at a show in Cleveland. Great show!

[@birdman1174]

I heard Ray Wylie Hubbard do a song about living in a small town, can't find it anywhere. Thanks Otis and Slaid. Love these informative talks. It's a small town.

[@Claytone-Records]

Ahhh, those funky nights at little old Chicago House. Loved the old Jimmy LaFave Night Tribe shows at La Zona Rosa. Ray Wylie Hubbard would show up for the sitting and singing for supper at Threadgills along with so many others. Austin still jumps, but I was able to jump higher back then.

[@andrewgriffin4979]

Beautiful interview.

[@t.t.kelsey7132]

Soo really right on brotherman...such a gr8 memory of mine of the day.....God bless..👍

[@marknemetz5020]

That's some beautiful stuff. Thanks fellas!!

[@donscott763]

The Hotel Room Interviews. What a great a great choice for chatting with traveling troubadours like Mr. Cleaves and Mr. Vaughn.

[@brianmungermusic1744]

I met Slaid in Maine in the 90’s at a gig. Great musician but also a really down to earth guy. Hope to see hm again.

[@robertrohrs9195]

Ray, Guy, Otis and Slaid are on the top of my list of favourites.

[@ericcrawford3453]

Love this channel its solid meat&potatoes inside info and it really is educational in its content but mainly its cool. That don't mess with the Lewis's was awesome! Thanks Otis good stuff.

[@oldnrone]

I started listening to Slaid because of Ray. Very interesting to hear Slaids side of the story. Thanks!

[@travissmith9451]

I'm Wylie Llama is a true original and what you see is what you get - that speaks volumes to me. Speaking of Willis Alan Ramsey, stories about him would be great to hear. I wish there was more recorded material of his available. Keep up the good work!

[@davidstirba6382]

It’s hard to say which is my favorite Ry Cooder song. Maybe, “Chloe”, maybe “Yellow Roses”, maybe “Hey Porter”. There are a lot of good ones. As an aside, I went to see Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band at the Main Point in Philadelphia in, I think December, 1971. The opening act was Ry Cooder. I was wowed and have followed him ever since. The new record, with Taj Mahal is real good.

[@whitepinewoods9029]

We caught Rays show at Kerrville this year…what a great showman

[@CornboneStudios]

I got my coffee. Enjoyed this very much. Thank You.

[@dougthompson9596]

The “curly n lil” business model! ( thanks jerry Jeff )

[@alleyoop9099]

Ray is very friendly. He typically will chat with anyone who says hello.

[@darrylgoodwin7947]

Ray Wylie Hubbard is one of those guys who got better with age and sobriety. Doesn't always work that way.

[@geoffatwood7624]

Slaid, years from now youngin's will be say like things about You!

[@daviswall3319]

Great story

[@derrikferguson3219]

Cool stories. I like this.

[@occasionsphoto]

I can't express how much seeing this means to me. In 1997 I attended a memorial show for Townes Van Sandt at Rice University. It was very unorganized and free form just like Townes. After a while I got frustrated and decided to leave after Eric Taylor played. Upon completion, Taylor joined the audience sitting a few seats away from me with a friend of his, who said to him, "let's go". Eric responded that he wanted to see the next performer, a young guy from Austin, who said that he was surprised that no one previous had played Tecumseh Valley, which he did with great reverence. It was Slaid. In 2000, after 9 yrs of bangning around the south through my 30s and feeling the need to open my mind, I decided to try for a change of luck going west. A few days before departing I was in Birmingham and saw that Slaid was in town, " Wow, "I thought, "the guy's going for it." It was a modest but heart felt show supporting the release of Broke Down. Heading west I caught him again at Robert Earl Keen's pig roast in Watsonville,CA and a few days later when he opened for Jack Ingram in San Francisco. I ended up in Seattle later that summer where I saw him at the Tractor Tavern, where I have seen him numerous times over the past 22 yrs and everything he said about Ray, I saw in his shows. The reason that this is so emotional for me was "One Good Year", which I realized was what was brought me back time and time again because that was me in that song.

[@pierheadjump]

⚓️ Thanks Slaid Otis 😎

[@randallissimo]

Slaid is from my home town in Maine.

[@9ramthebuffs9]

Imagine being mad that somebody put music to Woody's words. I'm not sure if Woody ever used original music in his songs.

[@kevindonohue8918]

This channel is great

[@richardfairclough3863]

So good

[@mikeperry7678]

I bought Slaids first album Broke Down when it came out in the UK, and I still play the title track and horseshoe Lounge at open mics sometimes, and only recently got into Ray, I love his back story and the tunes he's writing these days too. Thanks for the interview, its rounded a circle for me!

[@michaelgranka7904]

Hello Otis., an hour ago I crossed the Musquash River heading to Nashville. I said hello to Sandy for ya. Think of Slaid every time . I'm gonna steal that sign for him one of these days. Gonna catch Guthrie Trapp on Monday night. Fiddlers Inn is still $ 100 a night. Lol

[@rickthompson6720]

love.that.jazz ..

[@palidiciovermingagurainia1760]

great fuckin interview

[@vinsanitynelson4943]

Jimmy Lafave passed away on my birthday.

[@hazegreen1896]

Ray is the best. as was Jimmy LaFave. Well that sure worked out a few years later with the Wilco/Billy Brag album. And Im thinking that liquor was prob needed when the returns came in that night in 88.

[@BST501]

❤

[@papawrichard3553]

I love Slaid Cleeves

[@alleyoop9099]

Ray is as nice a man as you'll meet in the music business.

[@jamesgibson5876]

Chicken today..feathers tomorrow...

[@thedave5748]

I cover Broke Down by Slaid. Thanks...

[@JSCB-365]

What's the magic numbers 10,000 hours or is it 100,000

[@Larry-Art179]

🙂

[@brucegwynn8509]

For some reason, and I don't mean this disrespectful at all but this guy make me feel sad, I feel like he's sad for some reason

[@marksimon6275]

Too many arists and bands don't pace their sets

[@clayton5584]

V

[@msalty2823]

My wife and I love Slaid and his music. Can you ask folks to post some links to their favorite Ray Wylie songs so they can be accessed easily? Here is the link for Breakfast in Hell. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qZ3Uh4hrqcullcU

[@johnrosier1686]

Ray is definitely a character. I am glad that he got straightened out and was able to release a lot more music. He said at one point he had to make the decision if he was going to be a drunken novelty act or was he going to continue to grow as a singer/songwriter/musician.

[@JSCB-365]

Some nights is chickens and some nights it feathers