the show

My Wife and I have been married almost ten years this month. We agree on most things, and disagree on others, as couples always do. It is a rare occasion that we both like the same music, as she is slanted towards 80's alternative and I towards guitar noodling.

We both love the Minneapolis-based Jayhawks, pioneers of alt-country. They have few albums, but the ones they released made a huge mark on the lives of so many songwriters of the 1990's and 2000's. We both love the Jayhawks to the core, and have never had the chance to see them, as the band has gone through breakups, reunions, permutations and a general lapse of 'being around.'
 
There also a newish band that we both love dearly, Band of Horses. Southern-rooted rockers with a beautifully written catalog of songs that will make you both dance and reflect. They are my new musical heroes, and they refresh my belief in the power of rock and roll with each release.

So, both bands are our favorites. Our best-est favorites. If you asked what concert we would love to see, it would probably be these two bands in any order.

I cannot adequately describe the way the planets aligned last Saturday night in our own respective worlds of music. The Jayhawks opened for BoH at a venue not 20 minutes from our home. Both acts brought their absolute A game, and the somewhat smallish crowd was engulfed in a wave of musical beauty and power I will probably never experience again. I was with my best friend at the best show on a beautiful night in our town.

Thanks for saying Yes, babe.

Beautiful Sounds

Once in a while I will get the chance to play guitar with friends, and it is always time well spent. Last weekend several families went with ours to the southern Blue Ridge mts for a bit of a getaway. The acoustic guitars came out on Saturday night as we all sat (kids fast asleep) picking and singing on the back porch of a cabin, overlooking the Toccoa river. It was very close to what I would describe as the ideal evening.

This song came to mind, as it always takes me to a far away place. I love Mark Knofler's sound, even more now than in his heyday with Dire Straits.

If you have a moment to listen to the track, it's worth the time.

Naima

Today is the late, great John Coltrane's birthday. Sit back and listen to one of the smoothest jams ever, and try to remember the first time you heard it.

The Last Best Place

Here is a 3,000 word essay on how our recent Montana trip went. If it were not for the 6 feet of snow that they sometimes get in the winter, one could lull me into living there.

There's a first time for everything...

and this time, it was Cash's first fish! I have been fighting off the urge to drag this kid to the river for about a year now. So glad we waited until he was a little more ready. Cash reeled in this little guy last Saturday afternoon at Lake Murray in SC. He screamed that he wanted to catch "this many more" while holding up all ten fingers. Pride. Elation. Awe. I fantasize about being the crusty dad with the "old guy hat" rowing in the middle of the boat with two sons fishing in the bow and stern. Weird fantasy... I know.

Way to go buddy!

P.S. He named this fish 'Nemo', patted it on the head and then we let it go. (Thanks to Disney all of them were named Nemo or Dory)

File Photo

Sometime circa 2004 Scotty and I went to Medieval Times to see if Cable Guy was completely accurate. It was. They also take your photo on the way into the place, and the results were too funny not to purchase. Found this photo while were were cleaning out a closet this past weekend.

Cash

Forever, the P51 Mustang has been my favorite aircraft. No idea why. The look of the plane just screams victory, and it does it in style. Cash and I went with his buddy down the street (also named Cash, random) to our first air show last month. It was way better than I expected. There were WWII and Korean Conflict era planes all over the PDK tarmac. Stunt plane displays punctuated the day's events, and Cash was impressed by the upside-down flying skills demonstrated by the daredevil pilots.

Somehow I think Cash's favorite plane will also be the Mustang.