brownie

All is good and dry at my house here in NJ. Never lost power (so far). But I am fortunate to live on a mountain. Surrounding highways were closed last night due to flooding. News reports are horrific. I am very, very fortunate to live in the exact spot where I live.

“Heaven has a paywall” That was Jeff’s message to free subscribers today. Sorry Jeff, you’ve been way too prolific (every day!), saying not very much of interest. The story about the red crystal heart was very moving, I will admit, but this list has mostly been clutter in my inbox. Is it just me?

In a heat wave! On a day with an excessive heat warning! Take care of yourself. And have fun.

I watched the live stream of this show as well. It was well worth $20. And at this point in my life, I am no longer willing to pay beaucoups of bucks in advance for any outdoor show (Queens, NY, in my case), because I can no longer physically withstand heat or rain. My takeaway from last night’s Red Rocks show is that Nels Cline is one amazing musician and I’m not sure what Wilco would be without him.

It’s only another nail in the heart if everyone decides to leave here and pay Jeff $60/year instead. I signed up for the freebie option too. Life is becoming an endless series of subscriptions and I have enough of them already. As for F U N E X, my uncle used to tell this joke endlessly when I was growing up (1960’s-1970’s). He was born and raised in the U.S. in the early 20th century, so there must be a U.S. source of this joke as well. I have never heard the name Ronnie Barker before, but looking at wikipedia, it appears he was not known in the U.S., and my uncle would have h

Richard Thompson, for free, at a high school! First live show for me since 12/29/2019. Thanks to @remphish1for telling me about this.

It’s nice they’re giving most of the money to the artist, but that doesn’t increase my concert budget. $83 for Guided By Voices? I laughed out loud at that one. I doubt I’ll go there, although it does seem reasonably accessible for a place in Brooklyn. I do like Richard Thompson. I’m guessing that show is outside? We’ll see what the weather brings. How did Woodbridge High School snag Richard Thompson??

Thanks, I will! Lindsey is a life long fave of mine. I worry this may be the last time he goes out. Many of these artists are really getting up there in age now.

I have nothing else other than rescheduled shows from 2020 that aren’t until Oct (Robyn Hitchcock in Montclair), Nov (Luna in Jersey City) and May (Hoodoo Gurus at Webster Hall). These shows have all been rescheduled several times now! I still have a couple that have been neither rescheduled nor cancelled! The prices at the new venue in Brooklyn (where Jeff is playing) are absolutely insane.

Heh. I feel the same after scoring a $75 ticket (total) for Lindsey Buckingham today, Infinitely preferable to me than Springsteen! YMMV. Hope things are well with you, Craig!

Ticket prices at that venue are insane.

Hoodoo Gurus at Webster Hall Robyn Hitchcock at Outpost in the Burbs Luna at White Eagle Hall edit: Actually, they’re not as close together as I thought. The first two are a week apart, but Luna is a month later. I never heard of Waxahatchee....

I have three rescheduled shows from 2020 all happening within a 3 week period in late October/early November. With my work schedule (teaching), I don’t know I could pull that off, even if it happens - 2 of the 3 are standing shows in clubs, one is a show in a church, with GA seating in pews. We’ll see what happens, but I am not optimistic about attending all of them. edit: none are for Wilco

Teachers are not yet eligible in NJ, and even when they are, it’s next to impossible to get a vaccine appointment here. I have been teaching inside a school building, with students, for about half of the current school year. No vaccine.

I am appalled. But sadly , I am not at all surprised. I saw a report from ITV where several of the insurrectionists were interviewed briefly on camera and these people really do believe all this crap. I am confused and don’t understand how so many people have become brainwashed and really believe that the government is out to get them. Or something. I’m not sure exactly what it is they are so angry about. I hope this is a turning point. It feels like it is. But then again, I’ve thought that before and was wrong.

My holiday music is the new Calexico album, Seasonal Shift. It has perked up my spirits tremendously. Overall, it’s a weird and lonely Christmas. I took advantage of a warm day last weekend to visit my best friend and exchange Christmas presents from 10 feet away from each other on her patio. (I am a teacher who stills sees students on the occasional days when our school is not closed due to Covid, so no one I care about is willing to get near me.). What do I want for Christmas? I want my life back. My tree is possibly slightly embarrassing, but as it is just me here and I nee

I think I have just fully exhaled for the first time in four years. I finally feel like there is some hope for the future.

I was a regular customer there for many years and contributed a small amount to the Kickstarter campaign to get the film made. I am truly not am obscure music snob, and I never felt intimidated there. I saw a great live set by Calexico there years ago. I miss that place a lot.

I just heard this on the news and literally gasped out loud.

I think this is a very low point for our country, and I unfortunately do not hold out much hope. I will vote, but that’s really all I have the time to do right now, as I am teaching in a high school using hybrid learning and the stress and increased workload is killing me a little more every day. I would resign tomorrow if I could afford (and count on the continued availability of) health care. I believe the new justice will be appointed, but I don’t think that will be the biggest problem. I sadly believe that Trump will be reelected. And that is the biggest problem.

The Carpenters, early 1970’s, Garden State Arts Center (now PNC Arts Center) in Holmdel, NJ. Yes, it was my choice. I honestly don’t remember the year, but with Google as my guide, I’m guessing it was 1973. I was 12. I really did love the Carpenters then!

I am in a similar position, and I have almost 10 years on you. I am still not sure what I’m going to do, but going back and hoping I get only a mild case is not one of the options I am considering. Hang in there.

Musicians have to make money. Not many people buy their recordings any more, and now they can’t play shows. It has to be really tough when there is no real end date to this in sight. I say if a company wants to pay them for music to use in an ad, go for it. We all have bills to pay.

Great stream last night by Dean & Britta from their L.A. home. Nowhere near the same experience I was looking forward to live in Jersey City four weeks from now, but the best that can be done under the circumstances. They charged $10 and it was well worth it. I worry about how artists at this level are going to support themselves.

Loved it. Very touching sentiment for the current times. I have no idea when I’ll see any friends again.