The Lost Vacation

Personal

Eddie-torial Comment: This is an revised version of something I wrote about my trip to San Francisco in April to go to APE. My dad went into the hospital on my last night there, so I never really had a chance to whip this into postable shape. Even though it's been four months, I still wanted to post something about the trip, since I had blogged about it a bit before I left.

As always, I start out with the best intentions and end up going no where. Sigh! I even took a lap top to San Francisco with me so that I could blog on the spot and upload pics and everything.

Then I ended up doing no picture taking to speak of and never seemed to be in the mood to write.

Since my return things have been really chaotic (obviously), but I couldn't let the whole trip go by without a little bit of blogging, late though it may be. Bear with me, okay?

I spent so much time looking things up in books and online before the trip that I was so over-planned with notes and lists of things to do that I almost ruined my trip. I'm still finding myself grousing about what I did not get to do, rather than remembering the cool stuff I did do. Oh well, at least I'm well-prepared for next time! (And I think I have enough raw material for a blog about travel books on San Francisco!)

I was really lonely the whole trip too. It's been a long time since I took an extended, long-distance vacation on my own, without Keith. I found myself calling him several times a day to tell him about stuff I saw or did. Maybe after all these years of feeling the need to carve out some "me space" and "Eddie time" in the midst of our relationship, I'm finally starting to outgrow that. I don't think it will ever go completely away, since it's too ingrained in me to need a bit of solitude now and then. But, maybe, that need is finally starting to lessen somewhat. All I know is, I was really homesick and that has never happened to me before.

But, I had lots of wonderful music to see me through. I listened to Kieran McGee's Anonymous on the flight out and woke up every day to a different CD, thanks to the hotel's clock radio with CD player. I started with Kasey Chambers' Wayward Angel, and then moved to Rosaryville, which is my favorite Kate Campbell CD. After that it was Todd Snider's East Nashville Skyline (my favorite CD from last year), Sam Phillips' Fan Dance (which is too depressing to listen to when you're homesick!), and Anyway, by Amy Farris. I decided that the Kasey CD was a lot better than I originally thought, and the Amy F. CD is so good, I don't know why I don't play it all the time.

I also got to take in some live music while there. I went to the Great American Music Hall to see Shivaree, one of my new favorites, perform with Clem Snide. I really liked the venue a lot. If you took the architecture and atmosphere of the Louisville Palace, the limited seating and musical support ideology of Headliner's, and the lousy service of the Rudyard Kipling and threw them all together in a blender, what would come out would look something like GAMH.

The opening act, Marbles, was a bit too weird for my taste, but I really enjoyed Shivaree. Their modern rock cabaret style music is as much fun live as it is on CD. I was too tired to stay for Clem Snide, unfortunately.

The Drive by Truckers did an in-store at Amoeba Music while I was there. It was the first day of APE, so I had to leave early to get there, but it was worth it. The set was shorter than I'm used to for in stores, but they closed with Carl Perkins' Cadillac, so everything is right with the world. And of course, I cannot go into a used CD store and not buy something. The nice thing about Amoeba, though, is that I spent less than 20 bucks and got a half-dozen CD's, including a Kate Campbell! (I also discovered Streetlight Records on Market Street, which is another great music shop with good prices on used CD's.)

Speaking of shopping, I hit some of my usual spots, like the Magazine, and a few new ones, like Aardvark Books (which has a GREAT selection of used gn's and tpb's). I finally found a vintage leather jacket that fits me in the shoulders. (Vintage tends to run too narrow for me to wear.)

Of course, I did most of my shopping at APE, which was a lot of fun. I knew it would be a small show, but I was surprised at the intimate feel there. Even the "big guns" like Fantagraphics and Top Shelf kept their tables scaled down, rather than overpower everyone else. I ran into Tony, NBM's sales guy (plus sales rep for probably one-third of the folks at APE), whom I had not seen in ages. I worked a couple of San Diego cons for NBM a few years ago, but had not really talked to him since. It was nice to catch up with him.

I also got to catch up with zan from Prism Comics. It's nice to see how well they are doing, and to see them supporting comics about queers actually done by queers. I was kind of afraid I might not be welcome at the Prism Booth, since I kind of faded out on them in the midst of their launch a few years back, but all seemed to be well. zan invited me to write for them, so I might take him up on that.

The biggest kicks for me were getting to talk to Jennifer Camper and Leane Franson, both long time faves of mine. Camper is pushing the concept of marginalized voices with a new anthology, Juicy Mother. There are almost no outlets for this kind of material these days, even in alt-comics, so I hope it does well for her. I started reading Franson back in the days when the only way to get someone's self-published mini was to write a letter and shove a few bucks in an envelope. I discovered her work during the time when I was drifting away from mainstream comics and really needed to find some authentic queer voices in comics. She filled that need perfectly all those years ago and still does. I bought all her latest stuff and we reminisced about the "good old" pre-internet days. Wow! I'm really getting old, huh?

I bought a bunch of other stuff at APE, most of it still sitting in little stacks waiting to be read. I managed to make it to Comix Experience while I was there, but couldn't swing a stop at Isotope. I think their move to a spot closer to the other places I like to visit when I am there will make them a regular stop for me whan we're out there.

I also spent some time exploring Catholic churches in the city. This time I went to St Boniface, located in the Tenderloin area-a sea of desperate poverty. They've actually opened up their sanctuary for the homeless to come in and rest during the day. I went to early morning Mass, and the back half of the place was filled with sleeping homeless people. I couldn't help but think that this is really the way that church ought to be. WWJD, indeed.

Other churches I visited included the Shrine of St Francis of Assisi, Saint Patrick, and Our Lady of Victories. Unfortunately, I couldn't get any pictures in any of them. Something always happened to prevent it. I guess there's always next time.

Speaking of next time, Keith and I had decided to go back to Hardly Strictly Bluegrass in October, but had to spend so much on car repairs related to my father's funeral that it's no longer fiscally feasible. At this point, it looks like it'll be HSB 2006 before we make it out there, unless I can talk Keith into APE 2006....

Pick Up!

Comics

As I'm catching up on regular life again, I've made a couple of really LARGE pick-ups at my local comics shop. Last month, I went in and they ended up having to put everything in a box for me to carry it out. Sadly, that only cleared out about half of my holds folder. This past Friday, I went and got the rest. It was all kind of embarrassing, since, at one point, they had actually called me to remind me I had a bunch of stuff there. Sigh!

My relationship to comics these days is sooooo irregular, by most people's standards. I just don't do it like other folks do. I guess some people would say I don't do it "right." But it works for me.
Since I don't read super-heroes, there are very few monthly titles I get. Last count, I think I was down to one. Most Vertigo titles I'm interested in I follow by the trade, which also keeps the list cut down. Any given month, there will be nothing from DC or Marvel that I'm interested in, and possibly one title from the rest of the "big four." In terms of individual issues, most of what I read comes out quarterly at best, and a whole lot of it comes out when it comes out.

On top of that, I frequently go for several months without placing an order. Some months, I don't have time; others, I just don't care. If I know that I have a bunch of stuff I need to pick up, then I won't order. It doesn't feel right to me.

When I do an order, it's usually for trades from folks like NBM, Fantagraphics, and Drawn and Quarterly. Sometimes, they come out as planned; sometimes, they don't. In other words, it's feast or famine when it comes to my hold file. When it's full, it tends to be very full, usually with several trades. I try to get stuff at least once a month, so it doesn't back up too bad. I like the folks at my shop a lot, and they go out of their way to get stuff for me. A lot of what I order, they have to special order. I don't like for them to have a lot of money tied up in my hold file on stuff that they won't be likely to sell to someone else.

Right before I went on vacation, I did a pick up. This was the end of March. I cleaned out most of my folder then. They're pretty nice about letting folks get as much as they can, and leaving some stuff if needed. I think I left a few issues of The Comics Journal and a trade or two, about 60 bucks worth of stuff. My plan was to get them, plus whatever else came in, right after I got back.

My dad went in the hospital when I got back, so for the next two months, comics kind of fell by the wayside. Since he died, I've been working on house, yard, and work stuff that needed catching up. I guess it was about time to get the comic shop caught up too.

I think I've actually only put in one order this year, but it looked like most of it came in. Last month, I got all the trades and TCJ's. This time I got all the rest.

Here's what I got:

Last month

Ordinary Victories by Manu Larcent
Modern Arf
The last two Little Lulu volumes from Dark Horse
Buddha volume 6
Anywhere But Here by Miki Tori
Golden Plates Vol 2
Several recent issues of TCJ

Last Friday

The Shoujo Issue of TCJ
Stupid Comics #3 (I need to drop this one...)
Banana Sunday #1 (grabbed it off the racks)
Courtney Crumrin Tales
Other World #2-5
Jane's World #19-20
Burglar Bill #3
Stray Bullets #37-38
Age of Bronze #20
Books of Magic: Life During Wartime #10-12
Vimanarama #3
Jack Staff #8
(I also grabbed a couple of back issues and some trades that had been marked down)

Reviews to follow, I hope!

Manic Monday

Personal

Not looking forward to today at all.

In a couple of hours, I'll be leaving town to meet my mom and close out Dad's bank account. We stopped his Social Security and Army retirement right after he died, but have had to wait for the will to get out of Probate Court to take care of the account. In a few hours, one more trace of my dad will be wiped from the face of the Earth. Slowly, but surely, his existence is being relegated to the realm of memories.

The bureaucracy of death is amazing. So many forms to fill out, notarize, sign, and send. Then when I get done, it all goes to my brother for the same process. I've decided that there is more paperwork involved in being dead than there is in being alive. It's just that when you're dead, you leave it for someone else to do.

Somewhere along the line today, I'll have to trot out the death certificate, that wonderfully official piece of paper that coldly sums up the night of June 6--Carl Mitchell is dead--without giving any of the details that are stuck in my mind: his limp hand, that final gasp, that moment of awareness when you know he's gone forever. He's dead. I've got the papers to prove it.

I'm not completely sure how much is in the account. I really hate that my dad has come down to a couple thousand dollars, and a few boxes of photos sitting outside one of my closets. The traces are getting fainter and fewer. I talked with my brother last night about the best way to deal with the money. He and I are the only heirs, but we're trying to make sure that Mom gets something. That's been the really fun part of this, dealing with Mom.

My folks divorced before I turned 16, but by the time I had left seminary at 23, had managed to become friends again. It was an odd relationship to be sure, and it's even odder now. Mom seems to want to mourn, grieve, and be a part of everything, but she doesn't want too much weight attached to any of it. It's like she feels the need to draw a boundary around her sadness, so that no one makes any assumptions abut their relationship. They were married long enough for her to draw Social Security off of Dad's account. In the eyes of the SSA, she's now a "divorced widow." To me, that sums her up perfectly.

Keith just told me it's time to get ready. Guess I gotta go do what I gotta do.

Sensing Happy Thoughts

Other Blogs

Speaking of Chris “Lefty” Brown, his wife is reporting at her blog that she’s still experiencing chronic pain and has yet another surgical procedure scheduled. She’s been enduring this for a long, long time, so consider this post a bundle of happy thoughts and best wishes flung out into the blogsphere for Kelly!

Playlist of Memories

Music

Lefty Brown, Mr. Mixed Bag himself, has started doing a cool thing on his blog. He’s pulling CD’s at random from his music collection and writing about them. Not necessarily reviews, but more like reflections. Chris is tapping into the power that music has to bring back all sorts of memories and sharing stories about his memories connected with the songs and CD’s he picks. It’s a cool take on music, and I’m enjoying reading the posts a great deal. Check them all out.

Sunday Morning Coming Down

Life

It's just about time for the post-payday ritual trip to Half-Price Books, then a stop by Barnes and Noble, so Keith can check out the new photography and computer magazines. We call it "going to the library annexes."

ARRRRRGH!

Life as I Live It

So I'm pouring my typical Sunday morning bowl of cereal, when I open the fridge and realize that there's a reason I've been having creamer in my coffee this weekend. I'm out of freaking milk!

Of course, the deed is done and there's nothing to do now, but throw on some clothes, grab a couple of bucks and trot to the convenience store across the street. (When we looked at our house, the realtor's listing said "convenient to shopping." Which I guess actually realtor-speak for "convenience store across the street.") Of course, I end up buying a pint of milk for the price of a half-gallon at the super-market, but, hey, that cereal was waiting!

Of course, the real victim in this story is our poor kitty, Basil, who always gets the last spoonful of milk out of the bowl. She always comes running when she hears the cereal pouring, and it really threw her for a loop when I started cursing and throwing on clothes. When I left the house, she was sitting in ther kitchen with the most confused look on her face.

Time for Me to Start Mixing It Up

Mixed Bag Reviews

Since Roger Green’s blog kind of inspired me to get rolling with my own reviews of the Mixed Bag CD’s, I’ll let him have the honor of being the first.

The criteria I’m using to look at each Mixed Bag effort involves looking first at the bits and pieces of each CD, and then at the CD as a whole.

Bits and Pieces Questions

How much do I like each song? Why do I feel that way?
Is the song an old favorite or by an old favorite? Is it an unfamiliar work by an old favorite?
Is the song by an artist that’s new to me? If so, does it push me to check out more of their work?

CD as a Whole Questions

How well does the CD work for me as a unit?
Do I like the flow and the mix?
Is this something I’ll play a lot or something I’ll rip a few tracks from and then shelve?

With that in mind, I have to give Roger pretty high marks all the way around. His theme, Travelogue USA #1: New York-Texas, binds the songs together into a listenable unit, without restricting his choices of music styles. On paper, moving from the old timey sound of Fiddlin’ J Carson to Bruce Springsteen to Alison Kraus to Tom Petty doing a rockabilly tune doesn’t seem like it would really work, but it comes off very well. Given that the last 60% or so of the travelogue sweeps through the South and into the Southwest, various strains of country are well represented here, but that leaves plenty of room for a few rock songs, and even some blues from Taj Mahal, plus a jazzy bit from the Mississippi Sheiks. As a unit, this is a great collection and one that I’ll be listening to quite a bit.

In terms of individual songs, only a handful of artists here were new to me, with a lot of old favorites. The opening song—Robbie Robertson’s American Roulette—and the closer—Garth Brooks’ American Honky-Tonk Bar Association were well chosen and bookend the set well. In between is a great batch of artists that I already like—Ryan Adams (with one of his better tunes, New York, New York), The Band, Peter Case, The Boss, Alison K, and Lyle Lovett. Mary Chapin Carpenter and Billy Joel are kind of guilty pleasures of mine, so I can’t help giving bonus points for any collection that includes Down at the Twist and Shout.

Of the stuff I didn’t already know, I like what’s here, but am not really moved to seek out anything else by those artists at this point. But for a mix that I'm enjoying this much, that's really minor.

All in all, it’s a great CD which I am going to enjoy listening to in the future. I hope if there’s ever another Mixed Bag challenge, that we’ll get another section of this travelogue.

Playlist

Music

Here’s what’s been rotating through my CD players recently:

Roger Green’s Mixed Bag CD
Scott Morrison’s Mixed Bag CD
Casey Stratton—Standing Along the Edge
Emmylou Harris—Brand New Dance
Kate Campbell—The Portable Kate Campbell
Hundred Acre Wood—Xylophagous
Zoe Speaks—Pearl
NKOTB—Face the Music*
Mary McCaslin—Broken Promises
Freedy Johnston—This Perfect World
Ten Months Later—Sadie Hawkins Dance

*Don’t laugh! If you found the New Kids on the Block comeback CD from the mid-90’s for only 50 cents, morbid curiosity would compel you to buy it too! Be honest with yourself! Yes, it’s every bit as bad as you would expect a New Kids on the Block comeback CD from the mid-90’s to be. It sounds like nothing more than a desperate attempt to revive a career that died a pretty definitive death several years earlier. If they had only waited another couple of years, they could have hitched onto the N’SYNC/BSB wave and created the 80’s boy band nostalgia revival craze!

Thoughts for a Friday

Musings

The only thing better than a Friday is a pay day Friday. Even better than that is a pay day Friday with extra money on the check.

Most of our benefits at work are calculated on 2 pay periods a month, so for months that have three pay period end dates, the only deductions on the check from the last period are for taxes. Three pay periods ended during July.

In other words, sixty extra bucks! Woo hoo! I’ve already ordered the Lucinda Williams tickets and I’m off to the comic shop this evening.

Operating at a Loss

Personal

Well, it’s as official as our little Weight Watchers certified scale can make it: I’ve lost 23 pounds since the beginning of the year. When I had my physical in January, I tipped the scales at 246 and was on the verge of outgrowing my 38-inch waist pants. Now, while not exactly trim and svelte, I’m weighing in at 223 and my 36’s are starting to fall off me. By the end of next month, I’d like for 34’s to be doing the same thing. Ultimately, I’d like to drop below 200.

A friend at work told me the other day that she wanted to compliment me on my weight loss, but wasn’t sure if she should. She thought it might have been because of the situation with my father. Actually, I’m lucky I didn’t derail everything that was already in place when Dad went in the hospital. My eating and exercise plans went out the window. It is amazing how unhealthily you can eat in a hospital that prides itself on its heart care center. I was having meals of onion rings, fried mushrooms, and ice cream. (When I’m stressed I do not make healthy eating choices at all.)

I’m thinking I’d probably be about ten pounds lighter, if it hadn’t been for that two month period. One of the first things I did the week after the funeral was go back to my aerobics class. It was the first step in getting my life back, I guess.

It’s helped a lot that right around the time that I was starting this, our city started doing this exercise push for all employees. We’re on the third round now, and every time I’ve exceeded my goals. We get points for the exercise we do, the number of fruit and veggie servings we have, and the amount of weight we lose. At the midway point in this last round, I had achieved 242 points of my 175 point goal.

My biggest challenge right now is dealing with plateaus. In the past, 220, 210, and 200 have all been hard numbers to crack, leading to a lot of discouragement and, frequently, giving up. If I can make it past that, then I’ll have to deal with the struggles to maintain. Fortunately, I’ve been able to establish an exercise routine that I find enjoyable and I’ve simply re-oriented my eating habits toward healthy choices, so I’m not starving. I hope that will help.

As I get closer to the number I want, I’m starting to contemplate the shape I want. I’ll need to shift some attention to the spare tire that’s shrinking, but will need some special attention to completely vanish. I know I’ll never be a Joe Six-Pack. That’s just not a reasonable goal for me, and I just don’t want to put the time into maintaining that sort of frame. So, I’m still thinking all that out.

My dad had diabetes, which led to his heart condition, which led to his heart attacks and strokes, which eventually killed him. It turns out that pretty much the same thing that happened to him, also killed all his siblings. That’s a family history I find greatly disturbing and a legacy I don’t wish to continue. My dad was diagnosed with diabetes in later middle age, when he was about ten years older than I am now.

Beyond the other benefits I get from this--my depression is easier to deal with when I’m exercising, for example—I’ve started to think that the best way to honor my dad’s memory is to do my best to beat the things that killed him.

Another friend at work told me that she had found the weight I’d lost. I told her to keep it, because I was through with it. :-)

I go back to the doctor on the 19th for a check up. I’d like to surprise him by being at 220. We’ll see…

On the Road Again

Music

If you haven't figured it out yet, Keith and I are live music junkies. Here'a our tentative concert schedule for the rest of the year. Luckily, most of these shows are here in Louisville.

August 6 (as in tomorrow): Stacey Earle and Mark Stuart

August 12: Kasey Chambers with the Greencards

August 20: Tim Krekel and Marshall Chapman

September 29: Lucinda Williams

October 17: Nanci Griffith (This one's a road trip to Lexington.)

October 28: Greg Brown

December 1: Margot Leverett and the Klezmer Mountain Boys (Klezmer-Blugrass fusion? I am so there!)

It's going to be a busy fall!

Mixing It Up

Mixed Bag

Roger Green is rolling out the Mixed Bag CD reviews right now. He's even neatly annotating them with notes that tell who else has reviewed each mix and where the track list may have been posted. Very librarian, if I do say so myself.

I need to get on with reviewing some of them myself, except that I keep getting hung up on one or two of them and playing them over and over. Then, when I finally do move on, another one hooks me and I play it over and over. Currently, I'm hooked on Fred Hembeck's.

I guess that's a sign that a lot of folks did a good job with their mixes, or something.

Whatever happened to? (Or did I imagine just all this?)

Comics

Some things I remember reading about (or hearing about at a con) a few years ago, but never seeing. Anyone know what happened? Did they happen and I missed them? Did they get cancelled? Did I hallucinate?

Image was going to reprint Eric Shanower’s Oz gn’s in a graphic album format.

Jeff Smith was going to be doing Shazam.

Alan Moore and Melinda Gebbie were finishing Lost Girls and Top Shelf was going to publish it.

Ivan Velez was going to finally finish Tales of the Closet and there was going to be a collection of the whole story. (At least it's still listed as 'coming soon" on Velez' page.)

Leave It to Chance was being reprinted in album format.

My Solemn Vow....

Blogging and such

Lefty Brown really impressed me the other day with a list of upcoming projects—many of them related to his blog. In the meantime, both Dorian Wright and Mike Sterling—my blogging idols—have both managed to keep posting in the middle of moves and periods of uncertain internet access. Both of them have relied on some material they stockpiled to get through. You have to admire dedication like that. (And I’m loving Dorian’s series of oddball Archie covers.)

So I got to pondering an age-old problem: What the hell is wrong with me? I like to write. I spend a lot of time on the computer. And my life, interests, and comic book collection certainly give me more than enough fodder for blogging. So, why don’t I?

Actually, I do, sort of. At least partially. I’m real good at the writing part. I have tons of blogs that I’ve written, but never posted. It seems I run out of steam by the time it comes to proofing, posting, adding links, and all that stuff.

This isn’t the first time I’ve carried on about my laziness and propensity to leave jobs half finished, or worse, not started. I’d really like to do something about that.

Maybe tomorrow…..

Seriously, I am setting a modest goal for myself right, here and now. For the next seven days, I will blog every day.

Yeah, I know it’s only one week, but I know if I start out too grandiose with my plans, I’ll never follow through.

So, for the next seven days, I will put something up here every day, even if it’s only “I stubbed my toe. Ow!”

Hopefully, it will be better than that.

Because, you know, I really do have a lot I want to write about:

The joys of home-grown tomatoes from your own garden
Concerts we’ve seen recently: Hayes Carll, They Might Be Giants, Del McCoury
Upcoming shows we want to attend. (Lucinda Williams is coming to town!)
A pseudo-review of Amy Ray’s Prom
Reflections on an overlooked Emmylou Harris classic
Musing about Days of Our Lives
New music I want
Some comics and books I’ve read
Mixed Bag CD Reviews

And on a more personal note:

Dad’s funeral
Dad’s illness and death nearly two months on
The post I never got to put up about my San Francisco vacation

The troubles and travails of one dizzy little kitty

We’ll Fix It in the Mix

Music

I mailed my Mixed Bag 2 CD’s a little while ago, so I guess I’d better post a little about my mix, just in case anyone wanted to see what I was thinking.

As a newcomer to the mix group and a relative unknown in the comics blog scene*, I wanted to put a solid mix together that would make a strong impression on people, whether good or bad. I also wanted to be entertaining and hopefully provide everybody with at least one artist they didn’t know, but would like enough to search out more of their work. Plus, as the owner of a large collection of pretty diverse CD’s, I wanted to reflect the width (and hopefully) depth of my collection, my regular listening habits, and stuff I’ve been listening to recently. To top it all off, I wanted it all to sound good together, and have a decent flow to it.

I thought I had the mix all worked out and was ready to burn, when I started to get the first CD’s from the other participants. The ones I was getting were about 20 minutes shorter than the ones I was planning to send out!

I had gone really conservative on song lengths, and as a result only had about 60 minutes of music and about 17 songs. Keith told me not to mess with a mix that I was happy with. But I really felt like, if others were sending me twenty-plus songs, then it was only fair that I give them the same. I went back to my list of possibilities for the mix, and pulled five more that I thought would work well with what I had.

I think it all works well together and makes a nice package, but that may just be because I know and really like these songs. I really didn’t intend to, but I ended up putting the songs on in three semi-distinct groups, with a couple of exceptions.

I really got into this, right down to the packaging. I made the cover/insert by photocopying the inside of a CD case a couple of times and pasting the copies together. Then I typed out my title and song list, printed them, tore them off the large sheet of paper, taped them to the photocopy and copied the whole deal. The whole process of making a mix CD is so technological that I wanted to bring a little bit of a “home made” feel to the cover that using a graphics program and clip art just wouldn’t have. I was pleased with the end result, which had a great DIY look and feel, that I thought complemented the mix.

I agonized over actually doing a CD label, due to the expense and large amount of black ink it would require. I looked at several alternatives, but none really worked the way I wanted. After seeing that the bulk of the CD’s I was getting didn’t have labels, I felt okay about giving up the idea and just pulling out the old sharpie.

Anyway, here’s what’s there and why it’s there:

Johnny Rottentail by Amy Ray, from the 2001 Daemon Records CD, Stag

This was one of the later additions to the mix. Amy Ray** is best known as part of the Indigo Girls. Her first solo album, Stag, was Ray’s way of paying homage to her punk roots with a loud, rocking, non-Indigo Girls-like CD. Oddly enough, I think this song, with a solo Ray wailing away and flailing at her mandolin captures that spirit better than any other song on the CD, even though they’re all full of loud, high-speed electric guitars. She manages to draw a connection between the organic, emotionally powerful thrust of traditional mountain music and those same characteristics in punk. And the story she tells, with its elements of good and evil, mercy and redemption, sounds like it stepped off the front porch of someone’s cabin in the Tennessee Mountains. I felt it made a good bookend for the “official” tracks when paired with the Teen Idols cut.

“I loves him but I won’t miss him, as he’s burning and he’s twsting.”***

Every Day I Love You Less and Less by the Kaiser Chiefs, from the 2005 Universal CD, Employment

This is one of the newest CD's I’ve got. I just got it in the last month or so. I really like to go to our independent music shop and listen to the new CD’s each month. Sometimes, I’ll end up buying one even if I don’t know anything else about the artist. This was one of those times. I really like the 80’s pop feel of their sound, which combines with their sarcastic lyrics (a little reminiscent of The Smiths) to make an irresistible combination for me. In the original mix, I felt this one started off things with a kick. In the final version, I liked the shift from the shout that ends “Rottentail” to the synth beats that start this one.

“I can’t believe once you and I did sex.”

Let’s All Live Underground by the Merediths, from the 2005 Debauchery Records CD/EP, A Closed Universe

The Merediths are a Louisville indie pop group. I liked the retro-pop sound of this song. It feels like it ought to be played right after Yellow Submarine. Plus it’s so bittersweet, morbid, and almost frightening that I can’t help but like it. “Let’s all die and get buried together!”

“Now I’m gone and searching for cover.”

New Casablanca by Shivaree, from the 2005 Zoë Records CD, Who’s Got Trouble?

Shivaree is one of my musical discoveries for this year. I read a good review of this CD that convinced me to go out and pick it up. If they still made movies with scenes set in nightclubs, where the action and plot grind completely to a halt while everyone listens to the performers, then the performers would be Shivaree. The only way that I can describe their music is either Rock Cabaret or Postmodern Torch. Either way, I’m really drawn to these songs. Everything about them sounds right, the arrangements, the more modern instruments, and the clever, but not too clever, lyrics. I had a hard time picking just one song off this CD, but eventually decided to go with the shortest one, which I also find myself humming quite a bit. You really can’t go wrong with a song that includes the phrase “Handsome Buckaroo.”

“It won’t be over easy, but it could be over soon.”

Portions for Foxes by Rilo Kiley, from the 2004 Brute/Beaute Records CD, More Adventurous

This is another one I got based on the strength of the reviews. I like the lyrics, the jangly indie power pop stylings, and the structure of their songs. They all tend to run long, so I picked this one at random. It’s another one that I catch myself singing from time to time.

“The talking leads to touching, and the touching leads to sex, soon there is no mystery left.”

Ooh La La by the Ditty Bops, from the 2004 Warner Brothers CD, The Ditty Bops

This is the last song in the “Favorite New Artist” portion of the mix. It’s also another listening station discovery. I really like their modern twist on the old timey sound and their quirky lyrics. This is another one where choosing the song was really hard. I finally went with this one for the chant-like chorus. When I bought this CD (in San Francisco) the clerk in the store and I chatted about it for almost five minutes. Turns out, at least there, that a lot of people are listening to it and buying it on the spur of the moment.

“What they call summer love is happening in Spring.”

Drifting by Sugar Plant, from the 1997 World Domination CD, After After Hours

I have some kind genetic inability to bypass any CD that looks even slightly interesting, which costs a buck or less. Turns out the Great Escape in Nashville has an annex, where they sell stuff at greatly reduced prices—including tons of CD’s for a buck or less. Whenever we’re down there, I tend to go in and drop five or ten bucks on a small stack of stuff and spend the next few weeks listening through it. The miss to hit ratio is pretty high, but at those prices, it’s a bargain if I only find four or five things I really like.

This CD came from our last trip down. It looked interesting, and boy it sure is! I guess I’d call it Japanese emo lounge jazz or something like that. Maybe it’s the music or maybe it’s the bizarre lyrics in such stilted English, but there’s something about this CD that I just love! This song in particular.

“When will an angel come and give me two ears to hear?”

La Vie En Rose by Edith Piaf, from the 1998 Prism Leisure CD, La Vie En Rose

There are some things I like to listen to from time to time when the mood strikes. Edith Piaf is one of them. Sometimes life just needs a few French cabaret songs, you know? La Vie en Rose is probably my favorite Piaf song. I thought the CD needed a song that actually did come from another era, after so many that incorporated sounds and stylings from earlier eras. I also really wanted to have at least one song that wasn’t in English, to represent that part of my music collection.

“Voila le portrait sans retouche de l'homme auquel j'appartiens”

Flying Saucer by Brave Combo, from the 1995 Rounder Records CD, Polkas for a Gloomy World

Do I need to say anything more than “It’s a polka about UFO’s”? This group tends to run the gamut of musical styles that incorporate accordions and do it all fairly well. This is a CD that always puts me in a good mood.

“Something way beyond sex, death, or birth or playing music in this band.”

No Myth by Michael Penn, from the 1989 RCA CD, March

I love the drum programming on this one and the way it interacts with the acoustic guitar. This is the only song Penn’s ever done that approached even minor hit status. It’s a shame really, because he’s a fantastic songwriter. One of my favorite tunes (and albums) from the late 80’s. I had to search all over to find this CD. It was an addition to the original mix.

“She blocked her eyes and drew the curtains with knots I’ve got yet to untie.”

All That Heaven Will Allow by the Mavericks, from the 1994 MCA CD, What a Crying Shame

From here on out, except for the next song, the last “official” one and the “bonuses” this section pretty much represents my main musical interests and most frequent listening habits. This is my favorite CD from the Mavericks, and probably their most well-known. Raul Malo is at his finest here, and the band handles a bunch of different styles. This is a cover of a Springsteen tune that just sounds so perfect in this setting. It’s such a sweet, sweet love song I had to put it on here.

“So come on Mr. Trouble. We’ll make it though you somehow.”

I Spent My Last Ten Dollars on Birth Control and Beer by 2 Nice Girls, from the 1989 Rough Trade CD, 2 Nice Girls

I’m guessing this one will cause the most difficulty for some folks. It was a hard tune to place in the mix, both musically and thematically. No matter when I put it, it seemed to stand out a little more than I thought it should. Still, I really felt I had to include it. It’s an old favorite and it’s part of who I am.

It’s a reminder of those days when Keith and I would go to the lesbian bars to hear the musicians play because we got tired of the dance music at the more male-oriented bars. We started with a local women’s folk-rock group, and from there got turned on to nationally touring groups like 2NG.

Don’t laugh! It’s also how we discovered Michelle Shocked and several other singer-songwriters with guitars. Although for the record, I was an Indigo Girls fan long before I started going to lesbian bars, and even before Keith and I got together. In fact, I introduced him to the Indigos’ music.

Anyway, I’m thinking some of the lyrics here are going to come off as anti-hetero or anti-male, which might cause problems. I’ve always thought the song was a hoot myself, kind of an ironic poke at both some extreme homophobic attitudes (“You just need to find the right man.”) and some of the more extreme lesbian lines of thought (“Men ruin everything in the world.”) It’s way over the top, especially the abortion line, but it’s great, pointed satire. It still makes me smile when I play it.

“I did not drink. I did not smoke. I did not say goddam.”

Birches by Bill Morrissey, from the 1994 Philo CD, Philo So Far

A songwriter, his guitar, and a good story—that’s all you really need, as far as I’m concerned. This one comes off the folk label Philo’s 20th anniversary anthology, and is probably my favorite song on the disc. That’s really saying something when you realize that folks like Nanci Griffith and Tom Russell are also on it. The imagery is so vivid I can see these people and hear their conversation. I can feel the heat from the logs and watch her shadows on the wall. What makes the song so totally engrossing for me is the ending. She doesn’t leave to seek someone who will share her sparks of passion. He doesn’t suddenly change his mind and come dance with her. She thinks about what she’s had and what she’s missing, and still decides that she still got a pretty good deal despite it all. It gives me goosebumps, which is always a sign of a good song.

I’m currently on a quest for out of print Bill Morrissey CD’s, by the way.

“Pour yourself just half a glass, and stay for just a little while.”

Our Lady of the Shooting Stars by Mary Gauthier, from the 1999 Groove House CD, Drag Queens in Limousines

Mary Gauthier is my big musical obsession at the moment, so it was a given she would be here. Which song to choose wasn’t quite as obvious. I love her dark, bleak take on life and society and her growly vocals. No one writes or sings like she does. I decided to pass up the obvious choice, anything from her current CD, Mercy Now, and go for something older. I like Mercy Now, especially the political edge that starts coming out in some of her songs, but the songs on the Drag Queens and Limousines CD have a more personal, intimate feel to them. I finally picked this one because of the strong emotions--yearning for salvation and peace in the arms of an unattainable lover. It’s very powerful.

“I have followed gypsies, girl. I’ve lost my way back home.”

Pony by Kasey Chambers, from the 2004 Warner Brothers CD, Wayward Angel

This was an addition to the original mix. Chambers fits really nicely between Gauthier and Sobule, I think. Some of my favorite chicks with guitars, I guess. The kind of jazzy stroll here is a little different from the more overt folkie/Americana leanings of Chambers’ other stuff, which is one reason I included it here. I also thought that one of Chambers’ own songs of longing for that unattainable love fit well after the Gauthier tune, although Chambers’ tends to be a lot more desperate in her yearnings, more like a needy obsession for a lover that will give her some sense of self-esteem.

“He’s nice but he looks so mean.”

Rainy Day Parade by Jill Sobule from the 2000 Beyond CD, Pink Pearl

I love Jill Sobule for her quirky songwriting. Pink Pearl is her best CD as far as I’m concerned, and this is one of the best songs on it. I love the Petula Clark-ish vibe and the catchy tune. And I love the way that the words all of a sudden hit you after you’ve been humming them out loud for a few minutes. “Did she really just say ‘Back on my medication?’”

“I used to have the stars in my pocket, now I just watch them on TV.”

Comin’ Around by Steve Earle and Emmylou Harris, from the 2004 Artemis CD, The Revolution Starts…NOW

I had to include Emmylou Harris somewhere, as she is the goddess of music. BUt I also had to be careful, because I could very easily crete a CD with nothing but Emmylou on it. I ended up going with this duet from Steve Earle’s last CD because it’s my favorite of all the duets they’ve done over the years. Both of their voices have this world weary kind of rasp that suits the characters in this song perfectly. I also like the song’s sense of latent optimism, especially coming off an album that’s full to the brim with the ills of American society. It flows well from the “getting my life together” vibe of the Sobule song, plus it has that really cool vocal tracking at the end. Steve and Emmy singing with Steve and Emmy!

“My heart’s a little ragged, but it’s all that I’ve got.”

Pretty Dresses by Amy Farris from the 2004 Yep Roc CD Anyway

At this pont I didn't feel like my mix was gay enough, so I dug this song out and added it. :-)

Actually, after skating safely in the Americana rink for several songs, I decided to do a hard turn into heavy alt-country twang. I added this to the mix because I felt it set the stage for the shift to punk-pop to follow. I really like this song for the way it takes all the emotional tricks and clichés of honky tonk music and then turns them on their head with one line: “Or was I just a pretty dress to you?” And the singer starts becoming just a little more than just a pleading, dumped lover trying to get her man back.

“Can silk or satin make love anew?”

Porno Shop by Teen Idols, from the 1997 Honest Don’s Hardly CD, Teen Idols

I wanted to “end” the CD with something completely different from what went before, just to make it memorable. This song fit the bill perfectly. I’ve only got one Teen Idols CD, but I’d like to get some more. They’re not quite as accessible as the slew of radio-ready punk-pop bands out there, but their songs are a lot of fun.

“It may suck now, but he knows somehow he’ll see his face on TV screens.”

A Couple Small Tracks of Silence

I wanted some space after the Teen Idols song before the “bonus” songs and the burning program I was using wouldn’t give me more than two seconds. So I ripped a few seconds of silence from the end of one song and inserted the mini-track here a few times. That’s why your CD player is telling you there are actually five tracks after the “official” last song.

BONUS TRACK 1: I Want to Be a Mysterious Woman by Christine Lavin, from the 1994 Philo CD, Philo So Far

I couldn’t resist including a bonus. This one also comes off the Philo anniversary CD. Christine Lavin is known for her witty and humorous folk songs. Sometimes she stretches her point a bit too much for my tastes, causing her songs become a bit precocious. She treads that line here, but it fits in with my reasons for using it.

I originally gave this mix a deliberate self-mocking ironic kind of title to poke a little fun at myself and at the approach I had intended to take to the CD, which was throwing a whole bunch of stuff that didn’t fit together solely because it was bizarre and obscure. (At least half of the songs I was considering at first were not in English.) I scrapped that approach in favor of creating something people might actually want to listen to, with a few of those original elements sprinkled in, but not dominating the whole mix. That felt like a better way to musically introduce myself. I can go totally gonzo next time.

Anyway, the whole idea of creating a deliberately “mysterious” persona who orders strange drinks and eats obscure food felt like a perfect way to have a little fun at the whole idea. Even after I changed my approach, I couldn’t quite let go of this song. Here it is in tribute to the Eddie-torial Comments mix that could have been.

“Maybe it’ll work a little better, if you pretend I’m not wearing underwear.”

BONUS TRACK 2: Kneelin’ Down Inside the Gate by Stanley Thompson with Clifford Ellis and Group, from the 1996 Rounder Records CD, All Over the Map

And just to drive that point home that I really can do much more off-beat music, in a much more pretentious, "mysterious woman" kind of manner: a Bahamian rhyming song! :-) And it was originally part of some field recordings made in the 60's. I figure it doesn't get much more deliberately obtuse or high-faluting than that, unless your name is Mike or Dorian!

Actually, I do like this song quite a bit. I think the volcals are awesome, and have a rough-hewn, organic soud in them that ties back to the opening song and brings everything to a nice close.

“Lord. Lord.”
--------------------------------------------

*I know. I know. If I would just blog more, it would help. Oh well,,,

**By happy coincidence, I am typing this while listening to her new solo CD, Prom, which is awesome on so many levels I don’t have room to describe them here. Sadly, it doesn’t look like she’s doing any touring to support it. At least, the only dates I can find any info for are Indigos dates.

***I’ve lifted the idea of including a quote from each song from Greg Burgas, who did it in the excellent liner notes to his own CD.

No time to write much, more later, but this is time limited!

Music

It’s Tasty Tuesday at Not Lame Records, which means they’ve got a song from an upcoming release available for free download! This week, it’s The Toms’ Something Happened Overnight. Not Lame specializes in guitar-driven, indie power-pop. The download is only available today, so check it out!

Father's Day

Personal

My house and yard look great today. I got the bushes trimmed and mulched, my flowerbed mulched, all my laundry done and put way, and all of my dad's stuff boxed up until my brother and I can look at it together.

I've basically tried to stay busy so I wouldn't think about the first Father's Day without Dad. For the most part it worked. It helped that I was getting to some things that had been undone while I was dealing with his illness. It seemed like getting my life back together was an appropriate thing to do on Father's Day. Dad always liked his small garden, so in a way I was paying some homage there.
A woman that I work with was talking to me last week about Father's Day. She lost her dad a couple of months ago, after a long hospital stay--kind of like me. She was telling me that she was having a hard time going into stores and seeing displays of Father's Day gifts. I'll need to be sure and touch base with her tomorrow to see how she's doing.

I suppose the first one is the hardest. A couple of times today, I had some of those odd moments where you stop and all you feel is the loss and the hurt all over again. Everything is going fine and the, all of a sudden it hits you.

I guess it really is a one day at a time process.

Roger Green was kind enough to share some thoughts with me in an email. He also directed me to this recent post in his own blog. He's not the only person who only knows me from the other end of a computer who took a couple of minutes to check in on me today. I appreciated all of them so much. I hope that I can return the favor some day.

What I need now is some supper, some lap cat time, and some time alone with Keith. If it weren't for him, I would not have been able to make it through any of this.

I also need to call my brother and see how he is.

If you haven't done so already, call your father. I know I wish I could.

Save the Music!

Music/Politics

As Congress sets takes aim at PBS funding, looking to wipe it out, the little musical diversity that’s left on the air is in extreme danger. As usual, the Repblicans are using a smokescreen of disinformation, deceit, and out-right falsehoods to cloak their actions, including going so far as to suppress a poll showing 80% of Americans support public broadcasting.

I cannot imagine what the loss of Mountain Stage, Soundstage, and Austin City Limits would be like. They are about the only places left on TV where you can find artists who are not cut from the ClearChannel cookie cutter.

Emmylou Harris
Lucinda Williams
Los Lobos
Nanci Grittith
Patti Griffin
John Prine
Wilco
Bright Eyes

That list only scratches the surface of the huge mountain of names that will virtually disappear from TV without public broadcasting.

Even worse, the only outlet I have for local and regional music on TV is PBS. Shows like Jubilee, Kentucky Life, and Mixed Media regularly support and showcase Kentucky artisits. This is the kind of material that is found only on PBS stations in Kentucky, which brings me to another point.

If PBS goes, all traces of programming by Kentucky, for Kentucky, about Kentucky go with it. Our PBS stations here devote many hours each week to covering various aspects of Kentucky life. This is stuff that is found nowhere else on TV.

Turning to public radio, if it did not exist, then all that remains is a desperate sea of corporate ownership and mass market programming. No radio station in this town plays local artists, except the public radio station. No station plays any of the artists listed above, except the public radio station.

If you care at all about musical diversity*, then you need to stand up and be counted right now. Here are some places to go for more information.

Sign Move On's petition.

Look up your elected officials and contact them.

Read more about the effort to cripple PBS and NPR.

Do it now. This could come to a vote in the coming week.

Get involved now before we face the prospect of nothing but Britney Spears and Toby Keith on the radio.

*There are, of course, many other reasons to support public braodcasting, and other places are making those important arguments. I haven't seen many people speaking out for music though, so I wanted to take that approach here.

Musical Miscellany

Music

(Eddie-torial Note: I Eddie-ted this post and the one that follows on 6/18 and 6/19 to add links and fix some typos.)

When my dad took ill, Keith and I already had tickets to three concerts: two in Nashville and one in Louisville. My brother convinced me to go ahead and go to the concerts, since we had paid for them. We also went to a couple smaller shows here in town, just to take a small break. Music is one of those things that really comforts me, so I’m glad we ended up doing this. It’s one of the few routines that didn’t get disrupted.

Anyway, I haven’t been able to blog much through the whole ordeal, so here are some belated thoughts about these shows, and a whole bunch of other musical stuff. Some of it is a little old, but I still wanted to include it. I’m going to catch up on musical blogging tonight, then tackle comics and other subjects in the next couple of days.

Speaking of comics, from time to time, Warren Ellis creates a podcast of music that he finds on the web—usually from new and unsigned bands. He lets folks on his Bad Signal mailing list know about them after he uploads them. They’re always interesting, and frequently very, very good. I know that many of the songs have intrigued me to find out more about the artists. You can find the archive of past SuperBurst Mixes here.

We saw The Duhks do an in-store at Ear X-tacy in May. They're another one of these young bands with old souls who are taking traditional tunes and older music and newer sounds and melding it all into something new that strikes the same kind of vibe as the older music did (usually dark and almost gothic) and honors the old traditions. Some of the groups are good enough to raise the hairs on the back of my arm-the Duhks are one of them. At the end of their performance, after they had talked to folks and signed stuff, they all went shopping, which I thought was pretty cool. And it was serious shopping too! I love to see folks supporting our independent music store!

You know, I really need to stay away from places where the CD's are a dollar or less.

We also went to Nashville in May to see Patty Griffin at the Ryman. Great show. I did not realize the level of rabid, cult, sing-along fans she has, nor how diverse her audience really is. There were heavy pockets of LGBT folks (that were heavy on the L), along with young female aspiring sensitive singer-songwriter types (who seemed to most like her earliest stuff-which is cut from that mold), their sensitive male boyfriends, and a large contingent of folks who have discovered her through AAA radio (where her last release got a lot of play) or through other artists who support her. It was a broad, eclectic sea of people and it packed the house.

She's gotten to the point now that she has too much material to possibly play everything one would want to hear. So, I didn't get the Rowing Song, or Mother of God, or Mary, but I did get Useless Desires, Making Pies, Icicles, Silver Bell, Top of the World, and more than enough other stuff to make up for their loss. And you just have to adore anyone who starts her show sitting alone at the piano and singing in French!

Her band is truly phenomenal, especially her percussion player, who pulls the most amazing rhythms from all kinds of materials, while never staying in one place too long. He was fascinating to watch. The opening act, Charanga Cakewalk, recruited the band to play a fun set of upbeat latin dance music. It was probably easy, since Michael Ramos, the mind behind Charanga, spent a decade playing for Patty himself. His material takes traditional musical forms, like the cumbia, mixes in enough electronic stuff to perk things up, but not enough to overpower anything and keeps the focus on traditional instruments like the trumpet and the accordion. It's a hard mix to pull off well, but they did it.

The only real glitch in the show was the real disparity between Griffin's music and the opener. I am eclectic enough to appreciate and enjoy both, but so many of Griffin's fans are locked into one style or taste of music that they just couldn't relate. One of my pet peeves is people who sit and talk during the opening act, and there was a lot of that going on. Luckily, since the songs were largely instrumentals, the band was able to overpower them pretty easily. Still, it's kind of funny how everyone managed to pay attention when Griffin joined them for their closing number. The same folks have probably forgotten that she's spent more than her share of nights as the opener trying to deal with people like them.

Has anyone bought to Ryan Adams’ new CD? You can stream the whole thing here. I like most of it a lot, but it feels to me an awful lot like one good solid album’s worth of songs blown up into a double disc set for no good reason.

I’m enjoying the hell out of the Ditty Bops CD. It’s just the right amount of whimsy to be clever and charming but not cloying and the old timey pseudo-vaudeville styling works well for the songs. It’s now part of my short list of best releases of 2005…

…Along with Fair and Square, the first new John Prine CD in ages and ages. It’s full of prime Prine insights on love, life, human relations, along with a kick ass cover the an old Carter Family tune, Bear Creek Blues. Awesome!

Keith and I saw Prine at the Louisville Palace at the end of April and it just amazed me how well the new material fits in with all the Prine standards that one expects to hear him play live. He sprinkled the new stuff throughout the set, doing some solo and some with his band, giving everyone a good taste of the new work, while depriving no one of the classics, some of which never sounded better. They slowed Angel from Montgomery down just enough to let it sink deep down inside every listener. The result was the most powerful and moving version of the song I have ever heard. They took the same approach with Prine’s standard encore, Muhlenberg County, which is typically a raucous affair. A slightly slower tempo and a more low-key approach helped re-focus the song’s energy back to the loss of childhood memories and environmental devastation, which made it much more powerful than I have ever heard it. All in all, it was an evening not to be missed.


We also had the pleasure of attending our first concert at the Belcourt Theatre in Nashville and seeing Guy Clark with Slaid Cleaves. We hadn’t seen Slaid before. In fact, Keith was not that familiar with his music, but that changed really quickly. He did a great set of his hard luck stories and songs and left everyone wanting more.

Guy Clark is an incredible songwriter and a darn good guitar player, but what impresses me most every time I see him is his graciousness and wit. As usual, Verlon Thompson played with Clark, and Shawn Camp was there to add a fiddle to the mix as well. Twice during the evening, Clark ceded the stage to allow each of them to perform, which was a real treat. Thompson is a helluva songwriter in his own right, and watching him and Camp trade licks back and forth on guitar and fiddle was amazing.

Everyone in the audience had the dubious pleasure of being entertained by a drunk in the second row who kept shouting to Clark. (And this guy was totally waster, during the intermission, he stumbled past Keith and I and nearly fell in our laps!) Clark bore the interruptions patiently, using his sly sense of humor as a buffer to both quiet the guy for a bit and calm the audience.

Keith bought the new Robert Earl Keen CD in May and is, of course, in heaven right now. Between a new Prine and a new Keen, he’s a pretty happy camper at the moment.

The Americana Music Award noms are out now. I wouldn't want to be the one to have to make any of these decisions. Someone is going to have to make some tough choices. I mean Steve Earle, Buddy Miller, and Mary Gauthier are all nominated for Album of the Year. I wouldn't be able to decide who to vote for!

Has anyone tried this service? Their selection doesn't seem too deep in the areas I am interested in, but I still think I could create a queue with them that would last me at least a year. I pay six bucks for used CD's all the time, so getting a new one for that price, plus free shipping, doesn't sound bad at all to me. Oh dear! More online shopping!

And, finally, one of the world's coolest music stores shares the way one of its customers celebrates his birthday. I wanna be one of this dude's friends, too!

More Musical Notes

Music

By the way, CMT has a 20 question thing with REK. Some of the questions are really dumb, but it is CMT. He takes it all in stride and manages to get in a great plug for Hardly Strictly Bluegrass.

Speaking of HSB, the expanded performer list is up. Sigh! Doc Watson, Rodney Crowell, Rhonda Vincent, Eliza Gilkyson, Split Lip Rayfield, JD Crowe, Kevin Welch and Kieran Kane, Chip Taylor and Carrie Rodriguez, plus the festival regulars and several good old favorites. And we can't go! This is the sound of my heart breaking.

As far as I am concerned, Kentucky Homefront needs to schedule Dale Ann Bradley to do a show. It's ridiculous that I'll miss seeing her because I cannot get to SF, when she's an hour and half from Louisville.

However, They Might Be Giants is (are?) coming to Louisville! So is David Olney. TMBG conflicts with opening night for Kentucky Music Weekend. Oh dear. What to do? It would help if KMW would post their schedule. We might very well end up at KMW regardless. I can't get TMBG tix until next payday (this coming Friday), but they go on sale tomorrow. Since it's actually a part of Lebowski Fest, they could sell out before our coffers are refilled.

As far as other upcoming shows are concerned, things look pretty good. See what I mean:

6/25 Garrison Starr at Phoenix Hill
7/16 Lyle Lovett at the Ky Center
7/18 Johnny Berry at Headliners
7/24 Tim Krekel at Headliners
8/12 Kasey Chambers at Headliners
10/28 Greg Brown at Headliners

Kasey Chambers and Mary Gauthier in the same year! I can die happy….

I know we can't do all of them. In fact, I'd probably put Garrison, Krekel, and Johnny B. into the "probably not" category. Garrison conflicts with the free Tim O'Brien show, for one thing. (See below.) Kasey's a definite. I'm going to lobby for Brown. I wish I could see Lovett happening, but the tix are outrageous. We're both already pretty bummed that the Bob Dylan/Willie Nelson tour is coming through town (with the Greencards opening!), and the 50 buck ticket price has pretty much knocked it off the list. The Lovett tix are even higher!

Speaking of the Green Cards, they have a new one coming out on the 21st.

The Lonesome Pine Specials are bringing some cool stuff in too, including the Austin Lounge Lizards, Margot Leverett and the Klezmer Mountain Boys, and a Windham Hill deal that sounds interesting.

Now, we just need to get the new Michelle Shocked!! (Due out on the 28th!)

Amazon now has a section featuring music recommendations from a variety of artists, including Lucinda Williams! It's interesting to get an insight into the musical tastes of people whose music I like. The inconsistent formatting is annoying though.

One great source of new music I've been enjoying lately is InRadio. Every other month they send out a mix CD of great, unheralded music from all sorts of genres. A year's subscription (6 discs) is twenty bucks. I enjoy every one of them, and usually find one or two acts that I have to learn more about. The current disc, May-June, is themed "Old Friends." It's devoted to new releases from people they've featured in the past, including Josh Rouse (with a live cut) and Kathleen Edwards.

Rounder Records is creating a new label, Rounder Archives, to showcase titles from their huge back catalogue that have been out print. Anything that brings out more roots music is okay with me.

Billy Joe Shaver was on 60 minutes not long ago.

Here's a fun little web page: Candye Kane CD came out on June 7. I've not budgeted for it, however. What to do? She's another one that NEEDS to do a tour that includes Louisville. I'll have to include her in a future mix, if there are any more past this one. Oddly, Ear X-tacy doesn't have it yet.

Tim Krekel's newest one is out too.

Carrie Newcomer just announced that her newest CD will be out August 9.

And, finally, John Hiatt's latest comes out June 21.

Whew! That's a lot to listen to! And I just got Amy Ray's new solo album, Prom.

Speaking of Amy, there's a message from her on the Indigo Girls site about the Michigan Womyn's Music Festival. I haven't read all the interviews yet, but this is a difficult topic, and I'm glad to see someone like Amy looking at all sides of it.

Oh yeah, and the Indigos' Rarities is due out soon!

Here's a place that will create a tracklist for a mix on any topic you submit. One of my faves is "I lied to a priest yesterday, several times. Make me a mix tape to accompany me during my time in hell." The eternal torment mix is especially well-chosen. I always knew that damn song from Titanic would be playing in hell! They also have a whole lot of music news.

Musical Treats

New video from Chuck Prophet.

E-card for The Bills.

Also, E-cards for Dwight Yoakam and John Hiatt. I have to say that Mr. Yoakam still looks and sounds mighty fine these days. I used to think he was the sexiest thing. And I still do!

If we must have cheesy music, let it be liberal cheesy music! Seriously, I've been absolutely unable to get that chorus out of my head all day. Makes me proud to be a card-carrying bleeding-heart liberal, now that I have a theme song. I must include it on a mix CD some day.

That link comes courtesy of folksinger Christine Lavin's page. It's not regularly updated, but she devotes a lot of space to plugging other musicians and sharing music-related news. Check it out!

On the other hand, not all cheese is created equal. At least the liberal song doesn't have a terrible video to go with it. Link courtesy of Mark Morford at SFGate.com.

The goddess of music speaks out for animal rights.

Links to photos from the shows we've seen this spring

John Prine
Guy Clark
Slaid Cleaves
Mary Gauthier
Kathleen Edwards

Pics courtesy of Keith, of course!

Enjoying the hell out of lately

Bill Morrissey, Inside: There's just something about the way he spins a story. He's my latest quest, in terms of tracking down all his work. He's on my Mixed Bag 2 CD.

Ronnie McCoury, Heartbreak Town: Wow! I guess talent runs in the genes. At least, Del McCoury's son seems to prove it.

Demolition String Band, Pulling Up Atlantis: Anybody that does a twangy alt-country cover of Madonna's Like a Prayer is okay in my book! That song would have been on my Mixed Bag CD, if I had found it earlier.

Otis Taylor, Respect the Dead: It makes the hairs on the back of my arm stand up. Wow!

The weird things you buy when they're a quarter

A Parade of Dusty Hobos: I thought, "Cool. Probably folksy, traditional-style music, just the kind I like." But no! It's weird music from the hearts of space experimental jazz instrumentals!

The Desert Fathers: Really strange spiritual shit. The liner notes are overloaded with all kinds of pseudo-mystical blather. I think this is actually supposed to be some kind of concept CD, but the story is muddled and obtuse. Nevertheless, there are several interesting tracks here.

Mary Gauthier and Kathleen Edwards at Uncle Pleasants

Music

I think we're too old for Uncle P's any more, sad as that is to say. Too crowded, too smoky, and too small for comfort. Still, I'll go anywhere to see Mary Gauthier, who was making her first appearance in Louisville. She seemed to be having a good time, as she told the crowd: "The radio appearance went well. The hotel is nice. And the place is packed. What more can a songwriter ask for in the middle of her life?"

There are not enough words for me to say how awesome I think her latest, Mercy Now, is. She may very well be the best chronicler of the miserable depths of the human condition since Prine and Kristofferson. No Mercy takes you into those dark places where our demons, both personal and societal, dwell. But, she manages, through the prayer-like lyrics of the title tune to leave us with a small ray of hope. Yeah, we all need a little mercy now, but we have somebody like Mary Gauthier on our side calling for us to get it. That’s more than good enough for me.

Gauthier's set was too short for my tastes, but she chose her material well. The songs largely came from Mercy Now, but she threw a couple of surprises in too: Our Lady of the Shooting Stars (from Drag Queens and Limousines) and Christmas in Paradise (from Filth and Fire). I had about a half dozen more that I wanted to hear, but she was only the opener, not the headliner. So, I had to take what I could get.

Nevertheless, she held the crowd spellbound, hanging on to every note and word. There was none of the typical noise and rudeness that opening acts typically have to endure. It was awesome to experience. For a few minutes, a room full of complete strangers let this woman take us all on a ride to some of the darker corners of life. Like I said: Awesome.

She had one guitar player with her and their stripped down playing and singing was all she needed to carry us all along. In the end she got a greater ovation than the headliner would later. Gauthier promised to return to Louisville to headline a show. I intend to hold her to that.

Unfortunately, Kathleen Edwards couldn't build on the energy and enthusiasm Gauthier left her. She's talented. Her band was good. She's written some good songs. But the show was largely average with a few moments of brilliance tossed in.

Part of the problem is Edwards' voice. It's too fragile and hollow to front a band as loud as hers. Until the end of the show, she was completely lost in the mix, the vocals completely muddled and slurred. I don't have her new CD yet, and based on what I heard at the show, I have no clue if there's anything on it that I would like. It's obvious she wants to be a rocker-chick, but she just doesn't have the chops to pull it off.

I think her material has a good edge to it, but she needs to present it in a way that showcases that edge instead of dulling it. The show only came together in the last four or five songs, which included Six o'clock News and One More Song the Radio Won't Like from her first CD. She didn't tamper with them or their arrangements and as a result, everyone could hear and experience with wit and skill of her writing. I just wish the rest of the show had been like that.

To give Edwards credit, she got a good stage presence when she's not striking rocker-chick poses and is at ease with the audience. She's got a quick, dry wit that serves her well when she's chatting in between songs. There's tons of potential there, but she has a lot of work to do on her live performances.

Ditty Bopping

Music

About 40 or so people turned out a while ago to hear the Ditty Bops play. I had a great time and thought it was a good show. Keith was somewhat less enthused, since it was a tad out of his musical comfort zone. Not too far, really, but sometimes the smallest step can seem like a great chasm. Nevertheless, it was a good show. (And he is awfully sweet to indulge me like that...)

The Troubadours of Divine Bliss opened, which made for an excellent fit between the two acts. The Troubs are as eccentric as the Bops are quirky, so they matched up quite well. Aim Me and Renee did a good mixed set of some of their more folky, guitar-driven material and some of the accordion-centered stuff. It worked well and was really enjoyable. They're a fun act to watch, because they can be so versatile. They tend to use that versatility as a strength to give their sets an eclectic, but not schizophrenic, feel. While they did stay pretty close to the Ditties' cartoon cabaret style, they threw in enough other stuff to keep things balanced.

It was good to catch up with Aim Me and Renee, whom we had not seen for a while. We need to catch more of their free shows on Sunday nights. (Consider this full disclosure—we do know the performers personally.)

The Ditty Bops took the stage almost as soon as the Troubs stopped playing, which I appreciated. I hate the lag between acts, as it sometimes gets to be unnecessarily long. Changing out gear is one thing, taking your dear sweet time is something else.

Throw a little bit of vaudeville, a dash of old-timey music, a healthy heaping of Betty Boop cartoons, a pinch of the Carter Family and other early country acts, and just a touch of modern irony and cynical humor and you’ve got the Ditty Bops. It's a concoction that works so well for them, resulting in quirky, catchy little tunes that they perform with enthusiasm and glee. Relationships never seem to go as expected in their tunes, and the worldview can be a little off-kilter, but everything is so fun to listen to and watch!

Their harmonies are impeccable. In fact, I was surprised to see them trading off lead vocal duties. From the CD, I had guessed that one of them did the lead, while the other provided the harmonies. They also have a really tight band, with an upright bass (any group with an upright bass is okay in my book), a drummer, and a guitar/violin/lap steel player. The guitarist/etc. was a little too annoying for me—not his playing, but his personality. Thankfully, He didn't say too much, but what he did say was truly aggravating. I really could have done without the part of the show where he made up a “poem” on the spot. The idea is a nice vaudevillian touch, but he doesn’t have the style or the panache to pull it off. That was the only real flaw in an otherwise fun show. The set was a great mix of stuff from their debut CD and things that aren't on it. I hope they record and release the other material soon!

Homefront June 12, 2005

Music

The last Homefront of the season was last Saturday, and it was stupendous! Irene Kelley set the stage with a great selection of her heart-ache soaked country—including “Bluer Than That.” The woman knows how to wring every drop of honest emotion from her songs without ever tilting over into sentimentality. She also paid homage to Dolly Parton with “Coat of Many Colors.” How can you not love a set like that?

Curtis Burch (formerly of Newgrass Revival) was next up with his wife Ruth, and a couple of friends. They did a great range of bluegrass and other styles of music. Ruth has one of those slightly dusky/smoky voices that I just love, and no one can play dobro like Curtis.

The second show opened with Chip Andrus and his band. They do an interesting take on adult contemporary music, by adding a dash of spirituality to their lyrics. They keep things from being overtly religious and end up being thought-provoking, instead of preachy. Most of their set was stuck in the same tempo, however, which made all the songs sound too similar for my tastes.

Louisville band Fire the Saddle closed the evening with their catchy, spooky blend of folk, rock, and old timey music. They fit nicely into the Gillian-Old Crow-Duhks niche. I'm starting to think a whole generation of musical old souls has burst on to the scene in the last couple of years. Excellent stuff.

It was a great Homefront night and a great way to end the season. The only real kink to the evening was featuring Col. Bob Thompson as the storyteller. He’s mildly annoying, but tolerable, as the host of the storytelling segment, but did nothing for me as the featured storyteller. I know he has a local rep as a storyteller and a passion for preserving the artform, but he tries way too hard to be clever for my tastes. Still, he usually does find interesting folks to come to the show and share stories. Hopefully, next time, we'll hear one of them.

Next weekend, there's a special road trip Homefront, as the show goes to Corydon Indiana to tape the Bluegrass on the Square show, which is totally FREE and features Tim O'Brien. I wanna go!!!!

Mixing and Mingling

Music

I get to be one of the cool mix CD kids!

I’m excited about it because I wasn't sure that I’d get into this round. Seems people who don't update their blogs regularly are questionable characters or something. :-)

Seriously, I've enjoyed reading all about the first Mix CD exchange and various folks' opinions about the music they selected and the CD’s others made. Just from reading their blogs, I've found several artists I want to try. One of my favorite things is finding new music to enjoy, so I'm really glad to be a part of this round.

When organizer Chris Brown emailed me that I might or might not get in, depending on how many slots were taken by the regular-updating bloggers, I started thinking about my own mix anyway. I think I've come up with a fun one, filled with interesting music, that covers the gamut of my own music collection. We'll see. Once I get them sent out, I’ll wait a month or two to my next update and post my list and the thinking behind it. :-)

I am hoping this might give some more exposure to this blog, which will then motivate me to post more. We'll see, I guess.

I was also hoping that the experience would be a nice distraction from the situation with my dad, but it didn't work out that way. In fact, I'm late sending my CD's out because of the funeral. I hope to get that done soon. I'm running late!

A couple of years ago, I created personalized mixes for a bunch of friends and family for Christmas. I also made a mix of a bunch of different instrumentals from different genres for people at work. I got a lot of good comments, but burned out on the idea. It's time to give it a try again! (A couple of years ago, I created personalized mixes for a bunch of friends and family for Christmas. I also made a mix of a bunch of different instrumentals from different genres for people at work. I got a lot of good comments, but burned out on the idea.)

Oh yeah, the CD's I've gotten so far have been pretty cool. More on that later.

Speaking of Chris Brown, his wife had some pretty major surgery recently and is still recovering. Get well soon wishes from Eddie-torial Comments, Kelly!