Patty Griffin talks new DVD, collaborations :: Music News :: Articles

On a chilly New York evening this past February, Patty Griffin premiered songs from her new album, Children Running Through, to an invitation-only crowd. Performed in the intimate confines of the Artists Den, the gig was one of those one-time only events that most Griffin fans only heard about secondhand from raving friends. On Oct. 30, however, ATO Records and Artists Den Entertainment will release a DVD documenting the performance in high definition.

By that point, Griffin and her band had only played a few clubs in other parts of the country, and were still getting their set together. She had performed at the Artists Den before, and picked it as the ideal setting to launch her official tour.

"I felt a bit like a deer in the headlights," Griffin said of the show in a phone interview with Paste yesterday. "It was amazing and daunting at the same time."

The performance included a guest appearance on the keyboard by Ian McLagan (of the Small Faces and, for a brief time, the Rolling Stones), as well as a five-piece string section. In addition to the brand new material, the set also included old Griffin favorites like "You Never Get What You Want" and covers such as blues standard "Get Yourself Another Fool." The DVD features 14 of the songs that Griffin performed that night.

After a grueling year of touring in support of Children, Griffin's been taking a step back from the spotlight, primarily working as a guest vocalist on other people's recording projects - including new albums by McLagan and Richard Buckner.

"Even for me, I've been working my butt off," Griffin said. "I enjoy back-up singing... it allows you to just be a musician."

Still, the road's never far away. In November, Griffin will make her first visit to Australia for a short tour. She'll also be returning to New York City on Oct. 10 to perform in a benefit for the Country Music Hall of Fame alongside Vince Gill, Jewel and Trisha Yearwood.

"I just heard 'Vince Gill' and said 'okay,'" Griffin said with a laugh.

It's another invitation-only event, to be held at Nokia Theatre Times Square. With any luck, someone will have an HD camera crew on hand for that show as well.

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