Lodestar

Couldn't agree more. One of my fave records of the year.

Anyone looking for a ticket to Ryan's show at the Chicago Theatre in October? I have an extra in Section 3, Row J. It's an aisle seat. (PS: Apologies if this is the wrong place to post this. I figured HTFL is just for Wilco tix.)

I'm visiting Chicago for the first time this October, and it just so happens that DRA is playing the Chicago Theatre at the same time. I'm currently trying to buy a ticket (they went on sale 10 minutes ago) but Ticketmaster isn't letting me in! Edit: never mind! I got one!

I signed in at 10:01 PT for the Seattle presale and they're all sold out.

Agreed. It's my favourite. I also really like Let Me Go, Let Me Go, Let Me Go, released as simply Jason Molina.

July 23rd in Brooklyn, just a few blocks from my apartment. Will be show #6 for me, I think.

Grr. Missed the presale for Brooklyn.

Woo, Brooklyn! Anyone have any insight as to how the presales work? Also a shot in the dark: If, for budget reasons, you had the pick only ONE show out of a back to back, which would you go with?

Agreed. It's my favourite of 2011.

I'll be there!

I second this.

Agreed. I haven't been moved this much by a song in a long time.

I moved to the city from Canada about three weeks ago to begin an MFA at The New School, and unfortunately buying tickets was not high enough on my to-do list before I left. If anyone has a ticket or two to spare for either Thursday or Friday's shows, I would be so grateful! I live in Park Slope, but can meet anywhere to make the exchange. Thanks! Hal

I just listened to it the first time on NPR and... well, I wasn't really feeling it. Then again, it took me a long time to get into Iron and Wine in the first place, and I actually AM a fan of The Shepherd's Dog (though I prefer The Creek Drank the Cradle)... anyway, may report back later, hopefully with a changed mind.

Castaways and Cutouts is one of my all-time fave albums, so I'd start there.

You know, I've been pretty skeptical of this "rootsy Decemberists album" all along -- on the surface, it seemed like a kind of forced U-turn based on criticism of their recent proggy stuff -- but after listening five or six times, I'm ready to say The King is Dead is my favourite thing they've done since Castaways. I'm still not familiar enough with it to have favourite songs or particular highlights, but the album as a whole plays really, really well, and Gillian's vocals complement Meloy's surprisingly well.

You can stream it right now on NPR: http://www.npr.org/2011/01/03/132436422/first-listen-the-decemberists-the-king-is-dead

I went last year and it was such an amazing day all-around. I was sad to miss it this year, but I'm happy to hear it went well, and I sure hope it continues happening in the future.

Agreed. I was there and Wilco were good, but hearing "Wake Up" at the Gorge was seriously life-changing.

Loved this.

Through 8 of 10 stories in... ... and am completely, utterly moved and blown away.

GNR? Bob Dylan - Shelter From the Storm Jason Molina - Don't it Look Like Rain Ryan Adams - City Rain, City Streets Ryan Adams - Damn Sam, I Love a Woman That Rains Willie Nelson - Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain

So is that a do or don't? Nobody seems to look at me here in Paris, and I find that weird as hell.

They signed him to a big extension this season, so he's a Canuck for a good long while. As hard as that series was to watch, and as bad as I think they need toughness up front and more discipline on the back end, I do really like the nucleus Mike Gillis has secured in Vancouver. The Sedins, Kesler, Burrows and Samuelsson are all signed with good cap hits for the next several years; Raymond, Hodgson, Grabner and Schroeder provide more young scoring talent than Vancouver has had in a long time; Edler and Ehrhoff are a pair of defensemen I really like; and as disappointing as Luongo has been al

Cool, thanks for the tips and good vibes. I'm pretty excited to get there and to start school again... and two years in New York City! I would never have imagined that.