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Normally, we probably wouldn’t post this, as its relationship to Austin is somewhat tenuous. Yet the just released video for Gil Scott-Heron’s take on local luminary Bill Callahan’s “I’m New Here” is pretty danged stop-you-in-your-tracks worthy. The song, originally from Callahan’s 2005, new-to-Austin album A River Ain’t Too Much To Love (back when he was still operating under the Smog moniker), serves as the title track for Scott-Heron’s recent comeback venture - the famed Sixties songwriter’s first in 16 years. Safe to say, Scott-Heron thoroughly makes the song his own, and it is both haunting and redemptive, served well by his aged perspective and voice. The essential Smog-iness of the song still lingers, however, so we give it thumbs up all round. We also wonder what Bill Callahan actually thinks of Scott-Heron’s take on it. Maybe we’ll find out one day, despite his typical, soft-spoken reticence. (We’re still not sure what “Sycamore” is based on). In the meantime, we’ll have to make due with Callahan’s new Drag City release of live recordings, Rough Travel for a Rare Thing. Watch Scott-Heron’s video below, as well as a Youtube of Callahan’s original.
