Tony Rice Unit Live, Berkshire Mtn NY 1985

Guitar- Tony Rice
Guitar- Wyatt Rice
Mandolin- Jimmy Gaudreau
Bass- Mark Shatz
Fiddle- Vassar Clements

the eighties, Tony singing and playing, the best time of bluegrass guitar

[@user-wv7mp2ch7h]

Unreal! Thanks for this post. Tony Rice was the BEST bluegrass flat picker that has ever lived. Yes, I said it.

[@larryhatfield7372]

So you've never listened to Clearance White

[@randyjones7818]

Young 1985 Tony rice is a great singer..miss his music..always the greatest and the 35.d28. And Vassar to great fiddle

[@randyjones7818]

Love to watch Vassar play the fiddle..so much control on the fiddle..Vassar the greatest fiddle.

[@ifolkinrock]

Vasser is that guy you call at the last minute who only knows half your tunes, but you’d never know which half 😂

[@gordonbrackett7220]

Mark Schatz lays it down on the bass!!

[@macallisterarmstrong]

epic clements breaks in gold rush 🤤

[@Sluggo01]

Tony…..Always been a favorite

[@buckodonnghaile4309]

The algorithm is throwing me gems. Thanks for posting this. Cheers

[@michaelmullins1290]

Prime Tony Rice. I'm sure he had several performances in doors in a controlled setting that was better. I heard him at the Paramount in Bristol. It was mind blowing. Thanks for posting a classic video.

[@ClintonCaraway-CNC]

I was 14-19yrs old when The Unit was in it's prime, NewGrass was in it's last year's as a band. Jason Burleson(BlueHighway banjo player) youngest brother is my best friend. We went to so many awesome shows all over western North Carolina and east Tennessee. It influenced my entire life's musical taste. While most kids were seeing rock bands in stadiums... I was seeing the Unit and NGR at places like the Down Home in Johnson City Tenn and The Merle Watson Memorial Festival aka... Merle Fest #1. We were at Merle Fest the first 5yrs in a row.

[@andrewlineberger7544]

Tony was the Best!!

[@ulrichfriehe3459]

In good health, back in the day.

[@Harv4282]

Wonderful: pro shot, multi camera, full color of a seriously talented line up. Duenesburg, New York was the site I believe. Thanks

[@KesslerWatsonMusic]

Superb pickin

[@_alexsams]

Thank you for uploading!

[@DanAshby]

I love the song ‘never meant to be’, all except for the line about ‘you turned your back away (from me)’ - you turn your back on someone, not away from them - that’s how you face them ha ha!

[@buckodonnghaile4309]

You turned your back, away from me. If you add the comma it sort of makes sense.

[@64bluegrass]

Yes, thanks for this! Super cool.

[@alfredscoggins3206]

Great quality recording, thanks.

[@CatAdvocate1]

I was there! Cover story for the Boston Phoenix.

[@tommyers2166]

Where was it?

[@CatAdvocate1]

@@tommyers2166 Upstate New York. I think it was technically in the town of Duanesburg.

[@docwill184]

Seems usually the bass is buried in the mix. Tony Rice et al. amazing....

[@Emmetgriffin9]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@Lucas-tq3hu]

6:25 - 6:35🔥

[@tommyers2166]

Where was the Berkshire Mtn Bluegrass Festival? Anyone know? A precursor to Winterhawk and Grey Fox?

[@arox4251]

..sure this is the same gig he does Lightfoots Home from the Forest or is that a different gig?

[@ulrichfriehe3459]

Different gig, with Vassar on the fiddle.

[@mikebastiat]

Needs more banjo

[@mrsockmonkey1969]

I know it’s probably not a popular opinion but I find Vassars fiddle playing abrasive to say the least. Both in tone and phrasing. He plays all over the song never pulling back. It’s like one long continuous solo. His playing does nothing but distract from Tony’s singing and the rest of the band. I could go on but I think I’ve made my point.

[@Mandoslicer]

Vasser was a master. So much so that folks asked him to play in situations where he didn’t know the material. He was that good. Some nights, especially when a soft Gordon lightfoot song started the set you might get a bit of feeling around. Then, “YEAH CLAMP.” The Gold Rush fiddle tune shows what’s up. I played with Vasser and was around him a lot in his latter years. Not a more masterful person or fiddler ever was built.

[@oaruizlopez]

Great ear for shredding bluegrass, but yeah I agree he is playing all over the songs and taking away from the performance when he does that. If I were producing it, I’d just turn his mic down during the verses then turn him up for solos

[@willardjohnston2133]

Vassar was unique, masterful, and probably the most recognizable fiddle guy around. Listen to him on Old & In the Way's "Wild Horses" as an example of his playing weaving in and out of the song, but not quite so much on top. When he's playing in that manner, none better. He brings a deep and melodic quality to much he plays on.

[@guitarwithtom6041]

I completely agree with you.

[@joseph2832]

I disagree! Vassar is a true master, always inspired me!

[@Kenny-xh7ms]

You might want to get your hearing tested ?? Darol Anger, Vassar and O'Connor Peter Green and last but not least and Jean Luc Ponty were also a STELLAR line -up you could also find inferior traits in as well!! Stop being such a hyper critique...and just enjoy the show, screw up's are part of the show!° ...thanks, Kenny.

[@mrsockmonkey1969]

Vassar Clements was not a good fiddle player. Yeah I said it. If you know anything about playing you know his style was self indulgent and obnoxious and it did nothing to serve the songs. Sorry not sorry.