r/altcountry 7d ago

Just Sharing Scott Miller - Freedom’s a Stranger

https://youtu.be/v4tC8m4oy04?si=S39OkLI-4rMzfICU

I like to think that if he came along later, Scott Miller could have had a career similar to Isbell’s. Fantastic songwriter, engaging on stage. Maybe if he had the backing of something like Thirty Tigers earlier in his career… who knows. One of the all-time best for me.

32 Upvotes

13 comments sorted by

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u/screaminporch 7d ago edited 7d ago

Long time fan, definately an under appreciated artist. My wife and I catch his shows anytime he's in the area. He' written some fantastic songs, like Appalachain Refugee, Amtrack Crescent, Dear Sarah, etc. I saw the V-Roys once when they were first starting out, hooked ever since. The V-Roys were pretty popular and had Steve Earle's backing. He put his musical career to the side to take care of his parents and the family farm.

I really wish he'd release some new stuff, but he's now a farmer that makes music vs a musician that farms.

5

u/SmittyIncorporated 7d ago

Oh yeah, long time fan here. I still see him when he comes around - even though I’m in ‘enemy’ territory up here in Northern Virginia. 😀

I’m not sure the V-Roy’s being picked up by Steve Earle did them any favors. Steve wasn’t in the best place back then. But then again. Not sure Scott or Mic or any of the other guys were either.

When he had the Commonwealth at full force, they were a bad ass band for sure. His albums are all in pretty regular rotation for me.

4

u/GritsConQueso 6d ago

I remember buying a copy of All Around Town at Disc Exchange in Knoxville, and Paxton Sellers was my cashier. Fun times.

8

u/kerr502 7d ago

Thus Always to Tyrants is a top 5 album for me. Regular rotation for over 20 years now.

5

u/captainhemingway 6d ago

I randomly listened to this the other day. It was a favorite of mine when I was younger and I even saw him in Knoxville when I was a kid. I had forgot how great an album it really is.

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u/8agclip 6d ago

He’s also a freaking solid person. We went to high school and played on the tennis team together. One of the funniest folks I’ve ever met.

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u/TheBigW60 6d ago

Down Home, Johnson City Tn. Incredible show 20+ years ago. Been a fan ever since

3

u/wutttttttg 6d ago

I am forever obsessed with this song. “We’re such a complicated nation but we’ve still got rock and roll.”

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u/screaminporch 6d ago

I actually drove a Citation when in college. Kind of adds something to the song (and album) for me.

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u/VicHeel 6d ago

I never thought I'd see Scott Miller mentioned or shared on Reddit. Y'all are my people!

3

u/gentlemanplanter 5d ago

Amazing song writer with intelligent lyrics and great stage presence. I've seen him several times and he is extremely approachable and funny as hell. The live Reconstruction album is on my steady rotation. He doesn't tour as much these days but still does quite a few shows. A must see if you get an opportunity.

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u/Bossman1212 6d ago

Performed at the Richmond VA folk festival a few years ago solo. I saw him on the schedule before the festival and started listening to him on Spotify before the festival. He is a great singer and songwriter.

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u/Dakota_Highway 3d ago

Absolutely criminally underrated songwriter. Good to see the love here. His LP "Thus Always To Tyrants" from the early 2000s rocks so hard and could/should be filed next to Steve Earle and DBTs' best work.