49 Tons - Fred Eaglesmith (featuring Willie P. Bennett)

Feb. 25, 2006, J's Place, Brantford Ontario, Canada. Fred and Willie played the song they closed with almost every time I saw them play...and this night we were lucky enough to get an extended jam mainly between Fred and Willie. This was 2 years before Willie's untimely and heartbreaking demise this past February. My wife Donna and I had dinner with a bunch of friends and fellow Fredheads from the surrounding area and some northern states and saw many familiar faces that night: Pokey, Brenda, The Pursers, the Mandics, the Sutherlands, John B., Greg Lyons, Worm and Mark from Pt. Dover and newly imported temporary Ontarians (but permanent FredHeads), Jason and Shea Hammond, also made the trip courtesy the generous ride with the Pursers.
...it was a fun night close to Fred's home which had just burnt down the previous week! I think the digital still camera was perched on top of a beer can with a napkin under it to get the angle and a bunch of us (including Pokey in a leg cast) were dancing off to the side of the stage.
Ray Materick opened.

[@rivett310]

Still so amazing

[@williammitchell2302]

I've been of fan for a few years now, and would love to see them live some time.

[@knucklhed]

RIP Willie ❤

[@stacispence6444]

incredible

[@geekay1349]

Willie P. RULES!

[@fredheadpokey]

I had a broken leg at the time, and this got me up dancing!

[@elchoroad]

God bless you, Willie. What a great performer. These guys are faaaaantastic!

[@lobothedog2002]

I'm entirely new to these guys,and very impressed. I've been listening to lots of different types of music for over 50 years, and have always been very fond of mandolin, even got one a few years ago to play with. I am reasonably well acquainted with mando players, but not with Willie P. Bennett. I've never heard a mandolin played that way, and I'm very intrigued. I do not have the dexterity to play like Bush or Grisman, but maybe I could at least emulate his style. It's too bad he's passed.

[@hemidart4705]

this music's awesome gonna get me a bunch

[@chris2words]

Amen ....Willie was a huge part of fred's show and will be so missed

[@roofpirates]

Love it. Amen Willie. Way to go Fred.
from a Fredhead in eastern Ontario

[@dwryman]

wish we could have him back, even just for 7:53 minutes more...

[@emmetgirl]

thanks for the sweet footage and the excellent story to go along with it.

[@tracylannum8099]

oh.goddam son!!!!