Vic Chesnutt-Artist and Songwriter (of the Day?)

On Christmas Day 2009, Vic Chesnutt passed away in an Athens, Georgia hospital, the result of a deliberate overdose of muscle relaxants a week earlier. Chesnutt was a songwriter of disarming bluntness and sincerity, who had spent his entire life confined to a wheelchair after a car accident. He had recorded over 15 albums and had worked with artists as diverse as Michael Stipe, Bill Frisell and the indie punk band Fugazi. In his 2009 song, "Flirted With You All My Life" he chillingly sang of death and suicide, from the point of view of one who had been driven to attempt suicide several times before. He finally gained his release from chronic pain, depression and debt caused by his medical problems. (Getting up on soapbox-Many artists, musicians, writers, painters etc end up crushed by crippling debt when they encounter even the simplest of medical problems involving treatment by doctors and hospitals. Something that doesn't happen in Canada, the UK, and most of the developed world-getting down off soapbox). 

Digging me some Vic I though I would post up a couple of tunes that I love. Should have done this back around Christmas time on the anniversary of his death. Better late than never. Vic is missed.

Here is the aforementioned song about suicide:

In this musical memory from Conan O'Brien's old show, Vic positively swings as he is backed up by the "alt-country" band Lambchop on "Until The Led."  

I threw up another cool song on Spotify called "2nd Floor" from one of Vic's earlier albums. 

Just sitting at home, working away on the computer on one or another legal case, digging some Vic Chesnutt. Hope you check out his work!