i am weary let me rest.
just like them ol' bluegrass boys say.
if anyone reads this. or happens upon it, i am playing a show on feb. 16th with the girl in the photo to the left. full band this time. we sound like waylon and jessi. it's good.
starts at 8

my ongoing waylon jennings fascination has developed into full blown fixation. i did however get a few or his records from the '80's the other day. not so good. but his records from the '90's are more like his one's from the '70's. and if anyone is gonna be around chicago in the next few months, come out to one of my shows and i'm sure you'll hear a few waylon songs.
and i am gonna be in nashville jan. 2-9th. can't fuckin' wait. possibly a show or two while i am there.

just some quick thoughts on performing and singing songs. i am playing solo acoustic shows these days and i will tell you it's hardest thing i have ever done. to keep a group of people interested for a half hour forty minutes with just a guitar and your voice IS like brain surgery. and it is fantastic. strip away everything, the effects, the pagentry, the clothes, the players, everything! get right down to it. to the lyrics, the songs, what they mean to you, how can you sing them to people so that they understand what you mean. the delivery! everyone EVERYONE who is a musician should do it at least once in their life. it makes you 1. a better musician 2. appreciate THE SONG more. buddy holly said one only needs three chords and the truth and hank williams sr. said a song ain't nothing but a story with a bit of music added and they are both correct. a good example is johnny cash's record "american recordings" a voice and a guitar. nothing more, no solos, no reverb units, no echo chambers. just songs and a fantastic singer to boot. i have been doing this lucinda williams song "pineola" recently and for the first time the other night when i played it i believe i finally understood it. it's about a friend of her's that committed suicide and it's chilling. fantastic lyrics. there is no chorus just verses and the last one is my favorite:

born and raised in pineola
his mama believed in the pentecost
she got the preacher to say some words
so his soul wouldn't be lost.

anyway, read letter is playing on september 3rd at navy pier for all you in chicago. starts at 3:30 ends at 7:30 p.m.
we will be doing "pineola" if you want to hear it or even better just go listen to the lucinda williams version. it's on her record "sweet old world"
out!

why why must musicians be morons? why is it that when you have a show that pays well and has a shit ton of exposure you can't get anyone to cover the bass player slot? who knows? and why the fuck is everyone in 5 bands? stick with one. damn. i am gonna quit read letter and focus strictly on my solo country act. tim and semi-wrecker. any interested parties please apply, girls only. already got a drummer, if she can find time between the other four bands she's in.

so the fall tour is gonna happen. fuckin' sweet. so if you know anyone in texas, florida, louisiana, georgia, tennessee. let them know. i'll post the dates as they come it
nov. 10th austin, texas@elysium w/exit and pat ogle.

dating sucks, and so do pretend rockstars

the 80's need to go, now! it's not reality just someone else's sentinmentality, just like mike watt said about the 70's. it wasnt' all that cool the first time around and now we are expected to buy it again at a higher price. bullshit.
do something original, there is a reason why hairmetal, and one hit wonder synthpop didn't last, it was terrible the first time around.
just a thought.