Goodbye Guitar Town

WOW! What a great night of live music on Friday!

It began sedately enough at 8PM with the emergence of Allison Moorer from the deep shadows stage left. Accompanying herself with just an acoustic guitar, she led us through some career gems like 'Alabama Song' as well as choice cuts from her latest album, Mockingbird. Beautiful. At the end of her set, she said to us, the (mostly) rapt audience, "Steve will be out in just a minute."

Enter: Steve Earle. I've been a fan of this guy for about 20 years now and he left me reeling after a set peppered with a few obligatory reworked hits, a number of songs from his post-rehab albums and nearly the entirety of his latest album, Washington Street Serenade. Through it all, he played a variety of stringed acoustic instruments (6 & 12 string guitars, mandolin, bazuki, and a gleaming National steel) and harmonica while backed by a DJ for cuts from the new album. Yep, a DJ! Give the new album a listen and you'll understand. Ms. Moorer (or should I say Mrs. Earle no. 7) joined him for a few numbers as well. Abso-fkn'-lutely brilliant. Country boy turned southern rocker turned rootsy protest singer got me hook, line and sinker!

When this phenomenal performance was over, I rushed a couple doors down to one of the few small club venues remaining in the City. This show was a bit different from the one I had just seen. The guy I was there to see was one Scott H. Biram, the tour was titled, "The Hillgrass Bluebilly Tour", and was full of sloppy electric blues, howled vocals, and chugging, foot stomped rhythms.


Quite a night!

Alone again

*sigh* I had to drop my daughter off at her mother's again this evening. I miss my little girl again as soon as I walk out the door. The wounds scar over and bleed fresh anew. I hope all of us can be ok.

At least there are some terms on the table and there is some consistency in all our lives. But, I cannot help but want more. In some moments, I wish for what was, yet, cannot reconcile that with what is. So, we all learn to live in new ways.

Rediscovery seems to be a theme. Along those lines, I hope I can push myself into creating art again. Possibly returning to school and finishing a degree. At his point, I'm not even sure what for. Some doors close and others open (again).

Alright, enough feeling sorry for myself! I think I'll go walk for bit . . . It is absolutely gorgeous this evening! G'night.

Remembrance

In reading my friend's post this week about the passing of her husband's grandmother (http://www.northerngirl.org/2008/06/quiet-passion.html), I could not help but be reminded of the passing of my grandfather in January of last year.

I thought I'd share these two tributes to my hero, Henry. Neither of which fails to leave me teary-eyed, nostalgic and, above all, grateful to have known him.

A poem my daughter composed:

Part Animal, Part Machine

Oh, hell yeah! A couple hours on the bike again today! Let's see . . . I went through the spooky tunnel under the Interstate. I crossed the footbridge back over the Interstate and proceeded along the trail to the Big Park where the trail along the River was so beautiful, I rode it twice on this side and once in our Sister City across the way. Okay, better get on with the day!

Amusing aside - the last two songs the old mp3 jukebox shuffle threw at me were the Beasties' "So Whatcha Want?" which was promptly answered by Dee Snider, "I Wanna Rock!" Made me chuckle as I pedaled into the garage.

On the bike

Recently, while visiting family in West Virginia, I rediscovered how much I loved just getting out and wandering. Whether it be on foot or bicycle, the satisfaction is in the movement and in the case of my vacation, exploration of the completely unknown. A good pair of sneakers or boots, a bottle of water and (sometimes) an mp3 player (my GOD, how I love being able to carry thousands of songs in my pocket!!), and I can be completely content - for HOURS!

So, today, even though I woke up with a sore throat, I managed to put nearly 20 miles on my bicycle as I worked through nearly 3 hours of music (no one said it was a race - I'll take as long as I please!) and about a liter of water. I explored mile after mile of bike trail in the City; as much as possible in parks and quiet, tree-lined residential areas. Bliss. I returned home tired, sweaty and completely full of myself! I think I'll do it again tomorrow . . . wish me luck and blue skies.

She used to love me alot

Sorry, this one's not about my soon-to-be ex. It could be. But she still loves me. A little, anyway.

No, the title is a reference to outlaw country legend, David Allan Coe. It's one of his songs I wish he'd played last night! After a great (as usual) set from local boy, Blind Joe (http://blindjoe.com/), ol' DAC kicked into a fast paced set. Maybe a bit too fast, as he played snippets and medleys of a few of his tunes well padded with covers of Cash, Kristofferson, Joplin, Uncle Kracker and Kid Rock. Am I being too harsh? The guy is 68, after all. And I did have a great time! Incidently, the other guitar player in the pic is his son - too damn cool, in my opinion!
'Leave 'em wanting more' or so they say . . .

World of Hurt

These are some of the saddest lyrics I've ever read . . . that give way to a tiny glimmer of hope at the end.

A WORLD OF HURT

Once upon a time, my advice to you would have been go out and find yourself a whore
But I guess I've grown up, because I don't give that kind of advice anymore

Gonna be a world of hurt / Gonna be a world of hurt / Gonna be a world of hurt

I was 27 when I figured out that blowing my brains wasn't the answer
So I decided, maybe I should find a way to make this world work out for me
And my good friend Paul was 83 when he told me; that "To love is to feel pain"
And I thought about that then and I've thought about that again and again

Gonna be a world of hurt / Gonna be a world of hurt / Gonna be a world of hurt

"To love is to feel pain" there ain't no way around it
The very nature of love is to grieve when it is over
The secret to a happy ending is knowing when to roll the credits
Better role them now before something else goes wrong
No, it's a wonderful world, if you can put aside the sadness
And hang on to every ounce of beauty upon you
Better take the time to know it there ain't no way around it
If you feel anything at all

Gonna be a world of hurt / Gonna be a world of hurt / Gonna be a world of hurt

So if what you have is working for you, or you think that it can stand a reasonable chance, and whatever's broken seems fixable and nothing's beyond repair
If you still think about each other and smile before you remember how screwed up it's gotten or maybe dream of a time less rotten
Remember, it ain't too late to take a deep breath and throw yourself into it with everything you got

It's great to be alive

Gonna be a world of hurt / Gonna be a world of hurt / Gonna be a world of hurt

Patterson Hood / Drive-By Truckers (In studio 11PM, June 16, 2005) © Soul Dump Music (BMI)
Pedal Steel Guitar - John Neff / Wurlitzer Electric Piano - Jason Isbell / Lead Guitar - Mike Cooley