Live in Illinois 1978 (Hotspur Records HSCD1022, released 2015) captures New Grass Revival at a concert recorded February 18, 1978, at the Amazing Grace Coffee House in Evanston, Illinois. Sam Bush plays mandolin, fiddle, and guitar and sings lead; Courtney Johnson plays banjo and sings; Curtis Burch plays guitar and dobro and sings; John Cowan commands the bass and delivers the band's extraordinary tenor lead. The recording documents a pivotal period in progressive bluegrass — New Grass Revival in full flight, blending traditional bluegrass structures with rock and jazz influences in real time before a small-venue audience. The concert captures the ensemble's tight instrumental interplay and Cowan's wide vocal range, years before their later commercial work brought the band broader mainstream recognition.
Tracklist
- 1 White Freight Liner Blues 3:11
- 2 Good Woman's Love 4:28
- 3 One More Love Song 3:40
- 4 Walk In Jerusalem 3:09
- 5 Watermelon Man 5:43
- 6 Reach 4:55
- 7 Sapporo 18:50
- 8 Norwegian Wood alt version 5:43
