Talking Old Trees, Squeezed Juice & Willie Nelson: Thoughts on Willie's London Gig from June 11th, 2010

                   
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If you chop down an old tree at it's base and have a good look at the stump, you should see many rings on it. The more rings a tree has, the older, the stronger and sturdy the tree is/was. Some trees live for hundreds of years; the strongest living for centuries. These trees weather storms. These trees comfort those who sit in it's shade. These trees are landmarks or touchstones that communities rally 'round. These tree's roots run deep...very deep. 

Willie Nelson...is one of these trees.

Them old trees and Willie Nelson...they are a lot alike.  Willie must have many rings on his innards. Not that we want to go chopping Willie in two pieces, but you can imagine that all the miles he's logged and roads he's traveled have left impressive marks. Willie's latest road he's a travelin' came through London the other night.
 
Grown men don't cry...unless they go to a Willie Nelson concert. I saw Willie Nelson at the Hammersmith a few nights ago and for the first dozen songs he and his Family Band played, I fought back tears. I see a lot of shows, but I was not prepared for the impact Willie would have on me. 
 
I know the man's work and I understand his deep contribution to music...not just country music. What I didn't know, or expect, was effect that the combined weight of the two has when you see and hear him in the live setting.  If you read this blog and know me, you'll know that when music matters most to me, I tend to dig deeper than surface level.  So...take this post with a grain of salt because, I'm about to go half-way to China.
 
Way, way back when (late 1,800's/early1900's)...a musician played his songs in one spot; the piano was the instrument of the day. When the musician got the urge to roam, carrying a piano from town to town was not an option; hence, the emergence of the guitar. The guitar was portable...easy to carry and carry a tune with. (One of my fave authors, Peter Gurlanick, calls this urge, "the lure of going around". I just got the chicken-skin...)
 
Have guitar, will travel.
 
Songwriters don't write for themselves, they write to share. To share, you must take your songs to the people. The image is indelible: he is walking down an old dirt road, guitar slung across his back. He strides into town and finds a busy, hectic street corner. He takes of his hat and lays it at his feet and he begins to play. He plays his songs for the people. He looks for their reaction; he feeds off of it. People clap, drop a few coins in appreciation and they move along. So does the musician. He moves along...this is the life of the traveling singer-song writer. Few, if any, have done it better than Willie Nelson.
 
Last Friday, Willie played out this image for a sold-out London crowd. Seventy-six years old and he is still walking that road and playing his songs...and, oh MAN, does he have songs. 
 
That is what really hit me. Willie has not just written songs, he's written SONGS. Many of his songs run the gambit of genre, experience and time(lessness). Maybe Willie's songs are his "tree rings"? Maybe his songs are what makes him so accountable and lasting? Either way, his songs are what blew me away the other night. 
 
Thirty-one songs in ninety minutes. Eeeeeh, doogeee! That is insane. I guess the old quality / quantity argument rears it's head here. Fair enough. Yes, he did blaze through most of them. Yes, I would have liked a few of them stretched out a bit more in places. What I can't argue with was the chance to hear all of these classics. The mind's eye...or in this case, ear...does not have perfect recall. I (we) tend to remember snippets of what we see and hear, wrap that up in the emotions we felt and then call that our "memory". So whether I heard three or thirty-one songs, I wasn't going to remember every bit and nuance of what I heard.
 
The 31 song set Willie played was like one big ninety-minute medley; which is just how I remember it. Chunks of this medley I remember better than others. The three song mini-medley of "Crazy>Time>Nightlife" had me shielding my face which was revealing that I was getting seriously choked up. These are three tall and towering songs in music. They have been and will be covered by many artists. Willie wrote them. When I heard Willie play them, it knocked me back. 
 
There was Willie, 76 years old and still playing these songs for the people. We have all heard them by many an artists...but this was Willie singing them. He may have played shorten versions of them, but he didn't mail them in.  In my view, he consolidated them down their pulp. He squeezed their juice and we still got a full glass. To hear these three played back-to-back-to-back was a treat. 
 
What else was a treat was Willie's fine form. He was the only performer with a guitar and the only performer to give voice all night. No back-up singers to handle notes he can't reach and no second guitar player standing in the shadows playing fills and leads that Willie's fingers can't pick. Nope...Willie pulled his own weight. At seventy-six, you can't expect a performer to give it like he did when he was twenty-six. Did Willie? I don't know, but what I do know is that he showed us that he is still the fucking boss.  
 
His guitar picking is so damn clean. It is a big stew of equal parts BB King, Django Reinhardt, Chuck Berry (think, stops & starts) and Bob Wills. It is what he doesn't play that makes what he does play, resonate. You would also expect his vocals to be strained from age, wear and tear and his longstanding membership in the 4:20 club.  At times they may have been, but most all of the night his voice was strong and clear and hit bone in all the right places. 
 
All up, at the end of the show...I was a happy Willie fan. I was even happier as a music fan. I have been asking myself, "who has taken it farther and cut deeper, wider swath than Willie...in American music or music in general?". I'm not sure of the answer. Can you tell me someone else who has? There are many examples of moments in time where history freezes high-water marks (Hank Williams, Otis Redding, Jimi Hendrix, etc.), but who has walked this road as long, and as well, as Willie has? 
 
As soon as I walked out of the theatre and reflected on what I just experienced, I thought of those trees and their rings. Those trees are symbols of survival, examples of the extreme and powerful portrayals of persistence. Just like Willie.
_____

Here is the set list from the show. Yeah...31 songs in a blaze of glory: one big Willie medley. My highlights are in bold. 

  1. Whiskey River
  2. Still Is Still Moving To Me
  3. Beer For My Horses
  4. Shoeshine Man
  5. Funny How Time Slips Away
  6. Crazy
  7. Nightlife
  8. Me And Paul
  9. If You've Got The Money I've Got The Time
  10. Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain
  11. Mama Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys
  12. Angel Flying Too Close To The Ground (this one had the water-works starting, too)
  13. On The Road Again
  14. Always On My Mind
  15. Man With The Blues
  16. Nobody's Fault But Mine
  17. Milk Cow Blues
  18. Good Hearted Woman
  19. Georgia On My Mind
  20. Jambalaya on the Bayou (this Hank WIlliams three song medley was treat)
  21. Hey, Good Lookin'
  22. Move It On Over
  23. Instrumental
  24. Sad Songs And Waltzes (is anyone writing songs like this one anymore?!)
  25. Healing Hands Of Time
  26. Pretend I Never Happened
  27. Pick Up The Tempo
  28. City Of New Orleans
  29. To All The Girls I've Loved Before
  30. I'll Fly Away
  31. The Party's Over (Fitting, right? Good thing Willie's party ain't over yet)
Also noted: 

Willie's sister Bobbi plays a MEAN piano. Shit, she pounded those horse teeth like it was forty years ago. Great to see/hear Paul English play drums and percussion, too. His younger brother did the heavy lifting, but it ain't a Willie show with out (he and) Paul. Mickey Raphael's harp playing was expert. He never got to too loud or played too much...all the solos and fills were spot on. 

The only hokey part of the night was when Willie pulled of his black Stetson and donned some pre-tied red bandannas. he had a half a dozen of these suckers ready to wear and toss into the crowd. 

I attached some less than stellar pics from my iphone. Here is a link to another attendees snaps. He took some real-deal shots. 

 

Tagged Live London Music Pics RIngs Traveling Trees Troubadours Willie Nelson

It's not what you play, it's how you play it: live music puts a tiger in my tank

"Music has always been a matter of Energy to me, a question of Fuel. Sentimental people call it Inspiration, but what they really mean is Fuel. I have always needed Fuel. I am a serious consumer. On some nights I still believe that a car with the gas needle on empty can run about fifty more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio." 

That is a quote by one of my heroes: Hunter S. Thompson. Hunter...I miss your honesty, your true grit and your wisdom. Oh, your wisdom; the wisdom found in this statement prances and preens like one of your precious proud peacocks. I can't agree more with what Hunter is saying here: Music = Fuel.

I want to take that one step further.  If music is indeed fuel, then live music is super-unleaded; high-test; moonshine.

I've been heavily into the live portion of my collection as of late. Great live albums/songs are touchstones to me. If I need a pick me up, if I need to be jolted or if I just need a cheap thrill...I can always turn to some fave live music. 

Case in point...I am trolling the back catalog lately in anticipation for three purchases that will happen in the next two weeks: all of them live. 

I love this time of the year. Record labels are putting out lush box sets hoping to hook holiday gift buyers and solo splurgers. I am a record company's chum; sharks sniff me out and attack and rip me...and my wallet...to shreds. Bring it on. These sets tend to be grandiose with a price tag to match.  It is not that I have money to burn...if I did I would be an arsonist...but I know what I like and what I gots-ta have.

The three sets I am pacing the floor for are:

The Rolling Stones: Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out [40th Anniversary Deluxe Version]. This is the proud black panther crawlin' up and down my hall. As far as live music goes, this may be the best show of 'em all: a flat-out, hands-down, sure-bet live masterpiece. This set has the whole kit and caboodle: Three LPs, three CDs, one DVD, books, posters and a lock of Mick's pubic hair. Go HERE to check out this magnificent booty.

This album may contain my fave live tune EVER: "Little Queenie". This song has it all: Mick teases the home crowd with a shout out ("You talk a lot New York City...."), it is a cover tune and it takes that cover tune and turns it into a stone cold monster...a raunchy, only when the moon is full, full-tilt, evil-twin version. It also has multiple guitar solos in it. "Little Queenie" sets the standard for what live rock and roll can be. All this and it has Keef Richards playing some of the his best riffs ever. Dirty.

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers: quot; target="_blank">The Live Anthology. Four CDs of live TP & The HBs from way back to right now. Everything I hear about this positions it as bow-down material. I think I have to go BluRay version for this.

Tom Waits: Glitter and Doom - Live. I'm going for vinyl on this one. When ever I get done with a Tom Waits listening session I am unsure whether or not red means stop and green means go. Tom Waits swims against the current.

Live music...it is going to be my fuel for the holidays. I want to share a few fave live tunes with you. There is NO WAY I could begin to put together a  list of ALL of my faves...not possible. What I have for you here are ten front-burner faves that I always can turn to when my gage reads "E".  

Normally I like to embed a playlist here in this post; I couldn't find all the songs I wanted to share. Instead, I am gifting them to you in a download.  Tis the season, eh?  Here is what you will find in the playlist, including a bit of twitter'esque commentary on each:
  • Everyday I have the Blues (BB King - "Live at the Regal"): this is the first song on the album. The crowd is in BBs hand before Lucille's second solo rings out.
  • Live Wire (AC/DC - "Bonfire"): This takes place in a radio studio with a small live crowd. How do they strike sparks this fast?!  Combustible music.
  • Mean Woman Blues (Jerry Lee Lewis - "Live at the Star Club, Hamburg Germany"): Pure, unadulterated raw power. The Killer is on fucking fire here.
  • Walk It Talk It (Lou Reed - "American Poet"): Again this one is recorded live in a radio studio. Lou Reed is a rock and roller on this one...it has a definite Chuck Berry sound. 
  • Cowgirl in the Sand (Neil Young - "Live at the Fillmore"): Neil covers the spectrum of his guitar playing abilities on this: intense. Listen to Jack Nitschze's haunting piano: creepy.
  • Little Queenie (Rolling Stones - "Ya-Ya's"): Like I said, this is unmatched R&R.
  • Don't Think Twice Its Alright (Eric Clapton - "Bob Dylan 30th Anniversary Special"): "Bobfest", as dubbed by Neil. This might be Clapton's last great performance. The second guitar solo makes your head shake involuntarily. Whew. And...its a cover song.
  • Emotionally Yours (The O'Jays - "Bob Dylan 30th Anniversary Special"): Wow...this song has that rising power that takes you soaring with it. Emotional, indeed...
  • Caravan (Van Morrison - "Last Waltz") - Another qualifier of live greatness: the all-star jam. Van takes this one over the top with a handful of crescendos...and with a crazy purple spandex outfit [yikes!]
  • You Don't Know Like I Know: (Sam & Dave - "The Complete Stax Singles, Disk 4"): Arguably two of the greatest live performers ever. Listen to the fun and excitement in this one. You can't help but move to it. 
Download the "Live Moonshine" playlist HERE.
Tagged AC/DC BB King Bow-Down Post Box Sets Downloads Eric Clapton Hunter S. Thompson Jerry Lee Lewis Live Lou Reed Moonshine Music neil young playlist riffs Rolling Stones Sam & Dave The O'Jays Tom Petty Tom Waits Van Morrison

The Lure Of Going Around is strong in Honeyboy Edwards: A front-row review from when he brought the Mississippi Delta to London last weekend.

(Me & Honeyboy)

Either prior to or while reading my Honeyboy Edwards experience, you may want to play this bit of audio from the show. I was close enough (front row) to capture near the last 25 minutes on my iPhone. If you want to wait until after, fine.  I'm sure you will be playing it more than once. 

Oh yeah...those two instances where you jerk your head upwards and say in amazement..."HOT DAMN"!...after you hear what you hear, are at 7:35 and 15:23 in the recording. Enjoy.

(download)

I am standing four feet from David "Honeyboy" Edwards and my needle is in the red. I am rooted hard where I stand, up against the front of the stage...but I feel like vapour. I feel like I am a massive exhale exhorted out in to the atmosphere, swirling around to make sure everyone understands the significance of what is about to happen next.

At any moment, the Blues is about to emerge from a hole in wall and walk right up on the stage, sit a spell and play awhile. Yes, The Blues. The Blues will be here tonight. Not in black and white; not in folk or lore; not in contemporary mimicry. The Blues will be here, live and in the flesh, and it is going to show us just how blue you can get.
_____

I am in a small London bar cum music venue cum makeshift Mississippi-backroad juke joint. The stage is a rag-tag collection of folding chairs, assorted bits of rug, wires, microphone, amps and opened guitar cases. The stage is flooded in a velvety red glow from the dim white lights bouncing off the old ragged red curtain that is draped behind on the wall.

The house is three-quarters full and the opening act has just finished his set. People are rushing around to refresh their drinks. Some are grabbing two or three beers at a time to last them for the entire next set. Some are knocking back ceremonial shots of whiskey to prep themselves for what they are about to experience. For some, moving nary an inch from where they stand is not an option.

For these people...the non-movers...us...nothing could be more important right now than the anticipation of what is about to happen. One of the last two, and the only touring, living legends of the Delta Blues is about to play. David "Honeyboy" Edwards is 94 years old.  He has played the blues from the Mississippi's Delta on up to Chicago and all the broken down juke joints in between. The list of the blues legends he has played with can drop jaws: Tommy Johnson, Son House, Charley Patton, Robert Johnson, Sonny Boy Williamson, Lightnin' Hopkins...utterly staggering. He has played with them all at one point and tonight he channels them for us. 

Ninety-four years old. This ain't no oldies act. This man knows what he is doing. He knows who he is and what he represents. He knows why he is here and what he must do. Ninety-four. If it is true that age brings wisdom, then Honeyboy Edwards must be one of the smartest motherfuckers on the planet. 
_____

If you have been reading along on this blog you know I am a fan of the blues...to say the least. This gig was a bow-down event for me. One week after I move to London I visited Rough Trade records in Notting Hill. I am in the store and I see a concert bill for a Honeyboy Edwards show. There are a lot of old posters and playbills on the wall in Rough Trade and I assumed this one was an oldie and goodie. Not so.

I was in disbelief and disoriented at the thought of actually being able to attend this gig. I rushed home to get tickets online. I couldn't miss this show for anything. I had to be a part of this.  I had to be one in the crowd, clapping for and cajoling Honeyboy to play those country blues. 
_____

We got to the gig early I cemented myself in the front row to what would be Honeyboy's left. The first act, Les Copeland, proclaimed Honeyboy to be his hero. He played his set and played in a respectful manner that greased the skids for Honeyboy. I'm sure Les could have played with a bit more glint and flash; his subdued set was more than enough to let us know he has chops. 

Near the end of Les' set, Michael Frank came out to play an accompanying blues harmonica. Michael Frank is Honeboy's manager.  he is also an eccentric, a music producer and owner of Earwig Music. Honeyboy and Les are Earwig artists. Michael played one song and then went out back to get Honeyboy. 

Oh shit: Here come The Blues. Steady, Judd...steady. 

Honeyboy came out dressed in trademark shirt, vest and flat-rimmed "Chicago" baseball cap. Ninety-four years old. I wasn't sure what to expect. I anticipated feeling sympathy for the old buck. Surely the show was going to be more a figment of the blues than a fertile reading of it.  Oh, how wrong I was. 

Honeyboy Edwards played like a man possessed. Not possessed by the devil nor any other fabled figure...but with the spirit of youth.  I can only surmise that it is the passion he has for what he is doing and what he represents that allows him to play with such vigour and showmanship as he did last Friday night. 

He played smooth and he played dirty and he did each with a knowing confidence. He was engaged with his music and engaged the audience with kicks and gestures that were both a play to crowd and a natural reaction. He played for 1hr and 45min without a break.  He played lead guitar (with Les playing rhythm far in the background), he played slide guitar and he played dobro. He played it all with a gusto and sincerity that only a man who has played as long as he has, could. 

I was completely blown away by his slide work...especially when he brought the dobro out. It was a slashing and stinging sound that called for attention. In the audio clip I have provided for you, be sure to have your ears open for the 15:23 mark. Honey tears of a slide riff that give you the chicken skin (that is me with my knee-jerk "Whhooaa!" when the Honey takes off).

Yes, there were some bum notes, but no one cared. Honeyboy Edwards was serving some authentic Delta Blues and the crowd was lapping it up (just listen to us!). 
_____

I didn't move the whole night...literally transfixed with a huge, shit eating grin plastered on my face. Honey was looking at me a few times during the show. I was hopeful that my expression was egging him on, letting him know that he was nailing it and to keep stoking it. He must have thought I was some crazed lunatic. I could stop grinning. 

Why should I have?  This was the living Blues. A seminal figure who has toted the Blues Legacy around with him for many a year. I am so thankful for the opportunity to see Honeyboy live. He has a presence and I was in it. He is Honeyboy Edwards, but he is also the Mississippi Delta, West Side Chicago, South Side Chicago, Junior Wells, B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, The Allman Brothers, Stevie Ray and Keith Richards and so many, many more. 

He knows his past and he knows his future is a day-by-day uncertainty. Friday night he played like neither mattered. He was in the moment playing his blues, the real Delta Blues, for the people...as he has for the last ninety-four years.

Thanks, Honeyboy. 

Honeyboy's website
Earwig Music's website
_____

Seeing as I was so close I was able to capture some sights and sounds of the show.  In addition to the audio above, I have some snaps and some short clips of video (no disrespect to Honeyboy and his management intended...I just want to share).  

The Goods

Honeyboy Gig Photos: Here are some snaps from the Honeyboy show.  I only had my iPhone 3GS with me, so the pictures are not of the highest quality:

A short video clip of Honeyboy taking the stage and warming up:

Two quick clips of Honeyboy: Honeyboy giving his manager the business & a short clip of Honeyboy in action.

(download)

(download)

Tagged Audio blues Bow-Down Post Delta Blues Honeyboy Edwards legends live London pics riffs The Lure of Going Around video

My First Gig at the Royal Albert Hall since moving to London: Ray Lamontagne

Bow-down songs: Jolene, Trouble, Shelter.
Tagged Gigs Live London Riffs Stubs

Buddy Guy: "Get it like you was gettin' it when you first started..."

A couple Saturdays ago I was at Mojo Music hanging out for about four hours with the owner, Nev (I call him 'The Kingfish").  We were checking out a slew of rare and familiar footage on DVD.  We threw on this one DVD called, "Messin' with the Blues".  

It is a DVD of Muddy Waters at the Montreux Jazz Fest in 1974.  Buddy Guy and Junior wells opened for him and then backed him up during his set. We were watching Buddy & Junior heat up the crowd when after the fifth song, Buddy stepped up to the mic and said this:

"Yeah, I don't know why I got those type a blues tonight..."

When I saw Buddy Guy talk those words into the microphone, I could see that he was serious.  He meant it.  He was feeling it that night. There was something in the mix of crowd, mood and music that made him feel this way.  Now, I am not sure whether or not this was canned banter that Buddy would run through at gigs. When it comes to playing the guitar I think Buddy is a man of his word. As far as I am concerned, he was stone cold true that night when he spoke these words:

"Yeah, I don't know why I got those type a blues tonight, but uh 
Something, it's alright, something told me tonight to, uh 
Get it like I was gettin' it when I first started 

And it's such a great pleasure to be on this show tonight Ladies and Gentleman 
Tell uh, it's given me a thrill inside, you know, and I wish that 
You may think I'm puttin' you on, but uh please believe me 
For somehow or another,I hate to say this, but uh, 
We get a better thrill out of playing over here then we do at home 

So uh, haha, but uh, I must, thank you, I must say this that uh 
Regardless to how an entertainer feel it are always the people that makes him feel okay 
So that's why we always get the question asked us, during the course of a tour 
Do you ever get lonesome by it for not beeing at home, you know 
People can make you feel at home 

And when I, thank you very much 
And when I get that feeling like that I go be that and 
Play a tune that goes something like this..."

(click here to hear Buddy's Banter)
_____

Just watching him say this hit me hard in the breadbasket.  

He was talking to the crowd and saying, "hey, thanks for letting me spill my guts for you. Playing the blues live is a two-way street. You, the audience, is inspiring me to reach down deep and pull out some licks that I only bring out on special occassions...like this one. I'm inside out and going to play some real-deal blues for you". 

I am not the biggest Buddy Guy fan. I really like his earliest work (think more blues than showy-stuff) & stuff with Junior (Hoodoo Man Blues is a mofo and on Delmark Records to boot).  But...I think he gives it everything he's got when he plays. I wrote about another Buddy performance before where I was knocked out by the authenticity and the passion of his playing. Have a read of it...there is also a great video of there of Buddy bringing it. It is a killer performance from two Buddys, actually.  Buddy Miles is smashing things up in the background. 

You can buy the Buddy & Junior set as a single album, too (I'm playing it loud and proud right now). 

Here is a vid of the tune Buddy & Junior played straight after his words (I couldn't find a clip of the intro): 

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Tagged blues Bow-Down Post live Mojo passion riffs

Concerts I have been to (at least the ones I can remember)

Someone tagged me in a note on Facebook they created about the different concerts that they went to.  They put down the first 50 that came to mind. I played along and submitted my list. My concert stub collection that is sitting in my parents basement back home in the States would have been a good memory jogger...instead I had to go with what I could recall straight away. This is a fraction of what I have seen. What shows have you been to?

Here is my list...in no particular order:

1.Neil Young (5x)
2.Van Morrison 
3.Stones (28x)
4.Keef & The Xpensive Winos 
5.Allmans (22x)
6.John Lee Hooker
7.RL Burnside
8.Dead (21x)
9.Govt'Mule
10.Ozzy (Zack Wylde)
11.Chuck Berry
12.Aretha Franklin
13.Bo Diddley (2x)
14.Little Richard
15.Mavis Staples
16.Drive-By Truckers
17.Booker T. 
18.The MG's
19.Al Kooper
20.Pink Floyd
21.Tom Petty (met my wife at this concert) 
22.CSN
23.Aerosmith (kid rock opened up)
24.Andrew Bird
25.BB King
26.Ben Harper
27.Willie Nelson
28.Black Crowes
29.Billy Joel/Elton John
30.Toots & The Maytals
31.Iron & Wine
32.Bruuuuuuce! (3rd date with wife)
33.My Morning Jacket
34.Buddy Guy
35.Warren Haynes (solo)
36.John Fogerty
37.U2
38.Clapton
39.Peter Parcek
40.James Cotton
41.Jimmy Cliff (2x...great showman)
42.Kings of Leon
43.Taj Mahal
44.Lenny Kravitz
45.Lucinda Williams
46.North Mississippi Allstars
47.The Who (before The OX died)
48.Ray Lamontagne
49.Ryan Adams
50.Quarter Moon (8th grade talent show, KJHS...that was for you pete)
51.Susan Tedeschi
52.Joni Mitchell
53.Peter Wolf
54.Kiss (first concert ever)

Here is the opening number to the Keith Richards & The X-Pensive Winos show I saw in '93 (it's an Eddie Cochran tune).  This was the second of two shows. I was supposed to got to the first too, but we got in a car accident on the way to the show.  It was a wild snow storm and the car got ruined.  We made our way to Boston the next night and did two shows worth of partying in one night.  Lucky for us, the show was taped by a Japanese TV station and then widely bootlegged. I have the DVD & audio.  Lots of great memories from that show and the DVD fills in the blanks. 

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Tagged live riffs

Leaving Trunk: Where I've been and where I'm going...

Time to leave another place of residency. Cue the music!  

Taj Mahal - "Leaving Trunk"

I went upstairs to pack my leavin' trunk 
I ain't see no blues, whiskey made me sloppy drunk 
I ain't never seen no whiskey, the blues made me sloppy drunk 
I'm going back to Memphis babe, where I'll have much better luck
_____

Thinking about our move to London and the place that I lived. Lots of time spent on the East Coast of the States (New England & Florida). Going to have to start packing again before we split. The key to packing and picking your life up and toting it around from country to country...downsize! Keep jettisoning the stuff you absolutely do not need.

The stuff you do need and the stuff you are tied to with emotional heartstrings are what you bring along. It gets hard to decipher the stuff need versus the stuff you are tied to. For instance, I have a massive music collection. No chance this doesn't come with me. I also have a very sizable collection of books relating mostly to music, but also to other major interests of mine (Hunter S. Thompson, the U.S. Civil War, business and philosophy books, etc.).

I keep hauling these around with me, because some day I am going to have an office/study (or "The Vault") where I can put these in. Some of these books I may not look through for years, but when I need a fact or to verify some obscure story behind a song...I can run to it.

Here are all of my books: Judd's Library

Chances are I am not getting rid of these books. But, there are many things I will get rid of. For instance, I have the six month and one year rule on clothes. If I haven't worn it those time frames, it could be on the trash heap. Of course there are some items you just don't wear a lot. If it is something I don't wear a lot, but want to have...it stays (I've got this cool embroidered flower shirt I love. Doesn't get a lot of wears, but it is a keeper).


(Me in my cool flower shirt...works best with beer in hand. Venice circa 2002)

Anyhow, I start the keep/don't keep process in two weeks. I am going to be ruthless on the "absolutely do not need" and brutal on the stuff that could fall into that category. I'm going to document that process, too. As always, I make sure to give all of the left over clothes and such to the Salvation Army or some other cause.
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Like I said, I am starting to rack up the global miles on where I have lived. Here is a map with all my old haunts. If you zoom in close enough you may be able to spot all my old Skeletons luring in dark places.

(click on the pins for details)

 

Tagged Books live maps move

The Meview - Less than 100 words & Subjective as all Hell: Otis Rush - "All Your Love I Miss Loving: Live"

Instead of an album review, I give you the Meview. As always, I give it to you in less than one hundred words and subjective as all hell.

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Otis Rush - "All Your Love I Miss Loving: Live at the Wise Fool's Pub Chicago" (recorded in 1976)

This is gritty, raw, cocksure, relentless, stone-cold killer live blues.  If integrity was something you could touch, it would feel like the sounds that Otis is squeezing from the neck of his guitar.  These notes feel bulbous and alive. No gratuitous, showy solo work here.  They are pure Otis: vibrato-laden, yearning, tortured and thick with tension. The excellent sound quality allows you to get feel of the room as if you were right there.  This band is tighter than skin on bone, too.  They cajole and guide Otis through the song and give his solos room to ring out.

Bow-Down Tracks:

  • Please Love me
  • Mean Old World
  • Gambler's Blues
Other albums for your front burner:
If you want to know a bit more about Otis (and I damn well suggest you should), start with the Allmusic Otis page: Otis @ Allmusic.

Otis is an extremely important figure in Blues history. His career is not as heralded as say Muddy Waters or the Wolf, but you could easily argue that he was just as vital to the cause as they were. He typified the West Coast Blues sound and was a HUGE influence on guitar slingers like Clapton and Stevie Ray.  Shit there may never have been an SRV if it weren't for Otis.

p.s. this is my favourite live album of all time. It's that damn good.
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The 6149's Link Love