Jim Lauderdale has just wrapped up shooting and editing his new music video for This Is The Last Time I’m Ever Gonna’ Hurt, from his current Yep Roc Records release, The Bluegrass Diaries.

Shooting took place in the Fanny Mae Dees park in the Hillsboro Village neighborhood of Nashville – where Jim does Tai Chi every morning. Director Harold Jarboe developed a concept based on the notion that the only way to avoid getting hurt is to cut yourself off from all human – and even animal – contact.

After being painfully and publicly dumped on a park bench, Jim calls in a bevy of bodyguards to protect him from the possibility of future hurt. They are dressed and behave like Secret Service agents, played by various musicians who tracked with Jim on The Bluegrass Diaries (Jay Weaver, Randy Kohrs, Richard Bailey, Aaron Till) as well as Darren Shoemaker (Ronnie Bowman band) and Ollie O’Shea (Lauderdale touring band).

Ashley Brown of Randy Kohrs & The Lites was involved in the shoot, and passed along some inside details.

“To incorporate some of Jim’s true character, he dressed up in a Manuel suit with Yin-Yang symbols all over it and we shot him doing Tai Chi in the park, surrounded by the “secret-service bodyguards.” Needless to say, we got some pretty odd looks from onlookers!

Much of the video was shot in Randy’s “award-winning” Slack Key Studio diner. I have a scene, where I play a stereotypical hard-edged waitress, that was filmed in our kitchen. The bodyguards taste-test his food for him, and the disgusted look on Jim’s face is priceless!”

Jarboe also tried a concept which he felt had not been used in a music video before, having each of the musicians play their instruments, but never together as a band. The result is random shots of the bodyguards playing instruments, but never more than one at a time.

“In true secret service fashion, we had to have someone take a ‘bullet’ for Jim, and we picked Ollie to do it. The bullet comes in the form of a newspaper as the paperboy tosses it in the yard and tries to hit Jim with it. Ollie actually did hurt himself diving in front of it and had left early, limping away.”

Ashley didn’t want to give any more of the video away, but did volunteer that it has a happy ending.

Last night John and I purposed to visit several of the after-hours showcases and I found myself at the Jim Lauderdale show. Regular readers of The Bluegrass Blog will recognize that I’m a fan of Jim, and his latest CD The Bluegrass Diaries. Jim did not disappoint last night.

As much as I do like that record, it seemed as if the live show was even better than the CD. Lauderdale is a consummate performer who was witty and funny while maintaining a high level of professionalism throughout. The music was great, and Jim provided a few laughs in-between songs.

The material last night was not constrained to Jim’s latest CD. He reached way back into the catalog and brought out a few songs he recorded last year on his Bluegrass album. He even went all the way back to a track from 2004 at one point. It was a running joke that played well to an audience that was, I’m sure, familiar with Jim’s well established songwriting career.

Jim had in tow an all star line up for his backing band. Randy Kohrs was his right hand man on dobro and vocals. Randy produced this new CD and Jim obviously holds him in high regard. Other band members included Richard Bailey on banjo, Aaron Till on fiddle, Ashley Brown on fiddle, Jesse Cobb on mandolin, Bryn Davies on bass, and Clay Hess on guitar.

The only downside about this show was that it set the bar so high for the rest of the week!

Brance posted last month with information about Jim Lauderdale’s latest release, The Bluegrass Diaries, due for a September 18 release on Yep Roc Records

On Wednesday (9/05), Jim will join XM Satellite Radio’s Kyle Cantrell on Bluegrass Junction for the World Premiere of the new CD. They will play each track, and discuss the songs, the recording – or whatever else may pop into Jim’s head in the studio.

The debut airing is tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. (ET), with rebroadcasts over the next two weeks leading up to the release date. Bluegrass Junction can be found at Channel 14 on the XM radio dial.

• Saturday, September 8: 4:00 p.m.
• Wednesday, September 12: 9:00 p.m.
• Sunday, September 16: 12:00 Noon
• Tuesday, September 18: 3:00 p.m.

All times are eastern. You can find out more about the CD in Brance’s earlier post.

Bluegrass troubadour Jim Lauderdale will be releasing his new CD of bluegrass originals next month. The street date for The Bluegrass Diaries is September 18, 2007. The Bluegrass Diaries is a follow up to the highly acclaimed Bluegrass which he released almost exactly one year earlier.

I was a fan of Jim’s Bluegrass album, and I’m equally enthralled with The Bluegrass Diaries. Produced by dobro master Randy Kohrs, The Bluegrass Diaries is a collection of tunes showcasing Lauderdale’s originality, diversity, and authenticity. Accordingly, the song writing demonstrates Lauderdale’s breadth as an artist. All the songs were either written or co-written by Lauderdale himself, and they’re all good.

The opening tune, This Is The Last Time (I’m Ever Gonna Hurt), begins the CD energetically with a great bluegrass theme. Other tracks on the CD increase the pace. One Blue Mule (track 7) is a classic fast bluegrass song with the requisit blazing solos from both Randy Kohrs and Clay Hess. The CD finishes in the same manner with Ain’t No Way To Run, another barn burner featuring smoking solos from all the musicians, including Randy Kohrs, Jesse Cobb, Cody Kilby, Richard Bailey, and Aaron Till.

Can We Find Forgiveness (track 5) is an example of all that I love about Lauderdale’s songwriting, singing, and arranging. Great lyrics, an interesting melody, and a great arrangement are all to be found in this one tune. My Somewhere Just Got Here is another tune that introduces an unexpected twist in the melody on the chorus.

Chances (tracks 6) is slated as the first single from the album and is already available for purchase as a download.

The pace changes with a couple of classic country ballad type songs like I Wanted To Believe (track 3), which features some great harmonies from Randy Kohrs and Cia Cherryholmes, and Are You Having Second Thoughts.

The CD is, without a doubt, bluegrass in it’s very essence. But it does give you a taste of the diversity you’ll find in Lauderdale’s songwriting. Jim commented on that aspect of his career.

I recognize that my diversity can create a challenge for those that need to categorize me. Where even though I might have Ralph Stanley singing with me, there’s also some singer/songwriter stuff and some country stuff — so which bin does it belong in at the record store? That’s just not for me to decide. That kind of question has nothing to do with making music.

This is a great CD that I highly recommend. If you liked Bluegrass, you’ll love The Bluegrass Diaries. Jim’s label, Yep Roc Records, is offering the CD for pre-order now, and the first 100 people who order will recieve their copy autographed.