What are you listening to right now?

at the intersection of great songwriting and sublime geetarin', you'll find James McMurtry. Saw him years ago opening for Isbell at Meijer Gardens. So good.

if you're unfamiliar, check him out.

Uncle Slaton's got his Texan pride
Back in the thickets with his Asian bride

He's got an airstream trailer and a Holstein cow
Still makes whiskey, 'cause he still knows how

He plays that Choctaw Bingo every Friday night
You know he had to leave Texas but he won't say why

He owns a quarter section up by Lake Eufaula
Caught a great big ol' Bluecat on a driftin' jugline

Sells his hardwood timber to the chippin' mill
Cooks that crystal meth because his shine don't sell

He cooks that crystal meth because his 'shine don't sell
You know he likes that money, he don't mind the smell

and check out some his pickin' at around 3:10.

My Morning Jacket - one of the better American rock bands in the last quarter century.

AvgMSUJoe wrote:I dont know how many Blues wunderkinds I've lived through... Remember the kid without shoes... Uh... Johnny Lang? Kenny Wayne Shepherd? I guess many are still going like Marcus King, Kingfish, Gary Clark Jr... They all were the next Stevie Ray.

In the mid '90s, l lived near a club that had an unending stream of Stevie Ray disciples taking the stage. I think he's one of the most influential guitarists in rock history, up there with Hendrix, Van Halen, Chuck Berry and Randy Rhoads - guys who were often imitated but never duplicated.

Watched this documentary over the weekend. Had to get a copy from library because I couldn't find the whole thing on the web without having to pay. It was well done. I didn't really know much about The Band except for a couple of songs growing up. Some good comments from Springsteen on the DVD, Bob.

AvgMSUJoe wrote:

The Menzingers, Lucero, The Dirty Nil in LANSING!

we have ourselves a rock show tomorrow night.

Paging poster AvgMSUJoe: I'll be the dude in jeans, boots, a trucker hat, and a pearl snap shirt..  with tattoos and a scruffy beard (if you've ever been to a Lucero show, you'll get the reference)... that knows all of the Lucero songs, about 70% of The Menzingers tunes and none of the songs from The Dirty Nil (thought I listened to them the other day and they have a good sound).

AvgMSUJoe wrote:Btw, officially sold out so no need to worry about Greenway or other lansing area dudes showing up.

Damnit!

AvgMSUJoe wrote:Your going to sweat your junk off. Ill be the old guy in the blue shorts and grey t. Will have the wife and son with his clan.

Oh, definitely, but looking cool > dehydration.

Y'all have fun.

Just met Joe! He didn't even seem overly terrified.

Nice dude. tSwill is good people.

AvgMSUJoe wrote:It was a banger. Good show.

It was.

The Dirty Nil was a lot of fun. I enjoyed their lead singer's semi-theatrical presence while also rockin' the hell out. Lucero - probably one of my top 5 favorite bands of all time - brought it. I got the sense that the crowd wasn't overly familiar with them, but by the time they got to "I Can Get Out of Here Tonight" and "Tears Don't Matter Much", man, it seemed like everyone was into it.

And The Menzingers were as good as ever. Tight, conversational. They know how to bring it.

Venue was pretty cool - first time I've been. Staff was very friendly, from the door guys to the bartenders. It was nice to have a 10 minute drive home, too.

Thanks for saying 'hello', man - I must've done a good job at describing myself, as you just walked up and tapped me on my shoulder.

hard to get too much of Nathaniel Rateliff

this one from my old pal Matthew Ryan popped up on my play list.

so good - and if you're not familiar with Matthew, check him out. He's managed to fly under the radar for a couple of decades now but definitely deserves to be more famous than he is (though I know that he's okay with exactly where he is).

this particular tune is from, maybe, 7-8 years ago? The record, I believe, was produced by Brian Fallon of The Gaslight Anthem fame.

Rhiannon Giddens.. it should be illegal to have the level of talent this lady has.

she's also from the Great State of North Carolina.

Robert J Sakimano wrote:Rhiannon Giddens.. it should be illegal to have the level of talent this lady has.

she's also from the Great State of North Carolina.

Yeah she's just awesome. She was a highlight on the Ken Burns Country Music documentary as I recall. Maybe I have the doc wrong but I definitely don't have her wrong.

Rick Saunders wrote:

Robert J Sakimano wrote:Rhiannon Giddens.. it should be illegal to have the level of talent this lady has.

she's also from the Great State of North Carolina.

Yeah she's just awesome.  She was a highlight on the Ken Burns Country Music documentary as I recall.  Maybe I have the doc wrong but I definitely don't have her wrong.

no, you're right. Great documentary, too.

They (the documentary) had folks from the doc play a show at The Ryman to celebrate the release. Kind of one of those "star studded" event type things.  Rhiannan Giddens had a couple of numbers, one was doing this same tune with Ketch from Old Crow - brought the roof off the place.

Robert J Sakimano wrote:Rhiannon Giddens.. it should be illegal to have the level of talent this lady has.

she's also from the Great State of North Carolina.

At the :50 mark: directed by Quentin Tarantino.

Pervis Muldoon wrote:

Robert J Sakimano wrote:Rhiannon Giddens.. it should be illegal to have the level of talent this lady has.

she's also from the Great State of North Carolina.

At the :50 mark: directed by Quentin Tarantino.

Pervis Muldoon wrote:

Robert J Sakimano wrote:Rhiannon Giddens.. it should be illegal to have the level of talent this lady has.

she's also from the Great State of North Carolina.

At the :50 mark: directed by Quentin Tarantino.

Does Q have a foot fetish? I did not know that.

the Sister (and Mother, King and Queen) is sounding pretty good this morning with an extra cup of coffee.

some toe-tappin' goodness from Truckstop Honeymoon this afternoon.

do yourself a favor and give it a listen.

Aw hell, one more.

if you're a fan of The Cure and haven't listened to their new record, it's pretty great.

as with a lot of aging artists, bands, it leans a lot more into life experiences, love and loss. Has the more 80's ethereal vibe of "Disintegration", which is a very good thing. The soundscape is vintage Cure.

"Gracless" by The National just popped up... great tune, great band and one of the more fun videos around.

Bob will know this one.