13 April 2012 - Lyle Lovett - Friend of The Devil

I was never a big fan of the Grateful Dead.  I don't know why - I just wasn't.  The album of covers of songs originally performed by the Dead - Deadicated - changed that for me in a small way.  I could learn to appreciate them lyrically, through the mouths and music of other artists.

By far, my favorite cover from the album is Lyle Lovett's cool version of Friend of the Devil.  The original is an upbeat tune - this one is more somber and dark, which I think meets the gravity of the song so much better.  This performance, a live one for a TV special honoring the Grateful Dead, is even a touch more somber than the one previously recorded.

A few months after that album was released, he became Mr. Julia Roberts.  Coincidence?