The Perry Bible Fellowship

Nicholas Gurewitch makes The Perry Bible Fellowship. Funny and twisted.

Here are two of my favorites (click to embiggen), but you can see more here.

Tom Waits, Church Pews

I guess it is fitting that the seats at the Ryman are church pews. It is the church of country music (hell, of American music), and my favorite guest pastor was holding forth on the stage. Tom Waits is and always has been one of my favorite artists, but his rare forays onto the concert stage had me thinking that I would never see him live. Needless to say, this night was a dream come true.

Our seats were seven rows back in the balcony on the dead center aisle, so our view of the stage was excellent. The staging was very minimalist, with backlit scrims that subtly changed color adding the only 'show' to the show. Tom was accompanied by his son Casey on drums, a guitarist, keyboardist/percussionist, and the excellent Larry Taylor on bass. The setlist focused on relatively recent releases such as Real Gone and Mule Variations, but Tom did dip into his back catalogue for a lovely rendition of Tom Traubet's Blues and a raucous finale of Heart Attack and Vine. He was manic on stage, often careening around the mic stand or playing his guitar. He only played piano on a couple of numbers, accompanied only by Larry Taylor on the upright. His voice is a thing of wonder. Because of his recent singing style, many think his voice is shot. They couldn't be more wrong. On this night, he showed off all aspects from the hoarse whisper to the shrieky falsetto and all were excellent.

The biggest surprise of the night for me was the fact that he didn't talk a whole lot. He is well known for his lengthy ancedotal song set-ups, and he kept these to a minimum. When he did, he was hilarious. He claimed he hadn't played in Nashville in 17 years because his manager told him not to 'oversaturate the market'.

I'm not sure why he made this short tour (Lousville, Chicago, Ashville, Nashville, Cleveland, Memphis, St. Louis) as he has no new product out. Still, I'm thrilled to be able to say that I've seen him live. An incredible show.

Setlist:
Make It Rain, Hoist That Rag, Shore Leave, God's Away On Business, All The World Is Green, Blue Valentine, Down In The Hole, Cemetery Polka, Tom Traubert's Blues, House Where Nobody Lives, Cause Of It All, 'Til The Money Runs Out, Murder In The Red Barn, Shake It,What's He Building In There, Trampled Rose, Get Behind The Mule, Don't Go Into That Barn, It Rains On Me, Sins Of The Father, Going Out West, Day After Tommorrow, Heartattack And Vine

From youtube, a performance of Tom Traubert's Blues, shot from approximately where were sitting (this was the same basic view I had, except for where you can't see Tom's head!):

http://youtube.com/watch?v=SUJCXMinOII

Titannica

And now, some levity. The first time I saw this, I literally fell off the couch laughing.

The Return Of The Blogger Messiah

Hell, I just figured you guys were sick of hearing me whine about my house(s). Imagine my shock and surprise to learn that you really, really miss my spiritual guidance. Verily I have returned, my brethren, to lead you from the darkness, out of the wilderness and onto the path of an approaching eighteen wheeler.

Nothing against you guys, I've just been down the last few weeks. And nothing kills fun like stress. But I have recently rebounded, so thanks for not letting the blog die.

Speaking of down, getting old blows. I suppose the effects of aging are cumulative (shit, it's all downhill from 18), but boy have they begun to accumulate. I'm not talking about anything as serious as Joe's erectile dysfunction, just little stuff: thinning, graying hair, mysterious aches and pains that come and go, a crown for a tooth that's been filled one time too many, my fucked-up macular degeneration thing.

It's not vanity; it's mortality. C'mon - let's cry like bitches!

Dear Joe

Dear Joe,

Remember when we were all young and energetic when this blog was conceived by Jay? Remember how we conspired to change the world? How we were going to tell the people what was up, and what was real? Remember our optimism and 'can do' attitude? Jay was like Jesus to me. And now?

Joe, I understand your frustration with this 'blog'. Maybe its time to bring in some new blood. Maybe it is time to pitch the whole thing into a big barrel of nuclear sludge and bury it under New Jersey. We need our leader. We need inspiration. We need the return of.......


......... Jay. When Jay is back, things will get much, much better, and we won't be stuck with a picture of Bryan Adams as our last post ever.

With love,
Dave

Groovin' in Vancouvin

This blog is lame. I'm going to Vancouver. Today, I am 38. Ugh. Ya'll should go to Arthur Lee's funeral.