I just got back from an extended stay in the northeast with family and some of my oldest, dearest friends. Two weeks in a log cabin nestled in the pines and spruce, boat rides (Damariscove Island, Google it), fishing trips (got a 26” striper) trivia (in the money two weeks in a row, but don’t know shit about state populations), college visits (maybe this time around I’ll join a frat), tons of seafood (Bet’s fish sandwiches, crabmeat rolls in Trevett and I ate the best fried clams I’ve ever tasted) and lots of beach time. There’s nothing quite as refreshing as swimming in the ocean on a hot day. Unless it’s Puget Sound, then you’ll freeze your nards off.
The dog stayed behind as there are deer ticks, tons of skunks and rabies back that-a-way. The place she stays is a great kennel, but I’m sure it was more like a season of Oz for her. Bummer. It took her a few days to get her out of her funk upon our return. Now we’re back in the swing of things; working outside, lots of walks, tennis balls to fetch and belly rubs, not to mention some very tasty rib eye bones.
What I am reading to the dog:
Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin
Two flawed men, whose paths crossed as youth, are reconnected two decades later after a crime occurs in a rural, deep south backwater.
Iron House by John Hart
A former mob hit man reveals his checkered past to his girlfriend to protect her from the people who want them both dead.
Before I Go to Sleep by S. J. Watson
Christine lost her short term memory. She wakes up each morning with no recollection of the past 2 decades. Her therapist calls her each day to tell her where she’s stashed her journal so she can reconnect with the present. She opens it one day to find she’s written, “Don’t trust Ben,” Ben’s her husband.
What the dog and I are watching:
Cedar Rapids
Ed Helms stars as an insurance salesman from Wisconsin who’s selected to attend a conference in Cedar Rapids, the big time! Ed gets a hard look at the seedy underbelly of big city insurance. John C. Reilly supports as the guy Ed’s boss warned him to avoid at all cost.
Potiche
French screwball comedy with Catherine Deneuve, Gérard Depardieu and Fabrice Luchini. Deneuve abandons her role as trophy wife to enter the work force.
What the dog and I are listening to:
The Secret by Vieux Farka Toure
The Bluesy influenced song stylings from Mali are some of my favorite World tunes. Tinariwen, Toumani Diabaté , Ali Farka Toure and his son, musician and songmaster, Vieux Farka Toure offer great selections of the area’s musical choices. All in all, the disc is a solid effort that will receive regular rotation in my latest playlist. Dave Matthews appears on one song. There was a time when I was a huge Dave fan. No doubt he’s a talented artist who supports many causes around the globe. Unfortunately Dave misses the bus when it comes to think globally, act locally. Dave lives in Seattle. Every year he plays three shows at the Gorge in eastern Washington over Labor Day weekend. Labor Day weekend is when Bumbershoot takes place at Seattle Center. It’s an annual, local arts and music festival.
Granted Labor Day weekend at the Gorge is a huge paycheck for DMB, Inc especially since the promoters have recently added a bunch of other bands to appear, creating their own Davefest. Dave can pick any weekend of the year to be at the Gorge (how about the 4th of July), after all he’s Dave Frigging Matthews, but he chooses to compete with a festival that’s nearly 40 years old and features local food vendors, artisans, performers and musicians. I no longer buy any of Dave’s CDs or merchandise. I would encourage all of you to boycott Dave until he begins to act locally.
Fits and D by White Denim
Not to be confused with Liz Taylor’s White Diamonds, Fits from 2009 starts out harder with distortion and near shouting sometimes growling lyrics, only to evolve into some great, melodic Rock’N’Roll. It’s almost like they had two different bands record the CD. The bonus CD is especially pleasing, some reasonably intricate guitar work, nice harmonies and toe-tapping beats. D, from 2011, continues as Fits ends. Some of the guitar work is reminiscent of Prog Rock guitar god, Steve Howe of Yes. This is one of my new favorite groups.
Revelator by The Tedeschi Trucks Band
Susan Tedeschi channels a younger, dare I say sober, Bonnie Raitt while her husband Derek Trucks shows why he’s the Mozart of slide guitar. Not every track is strong, but it’s a more hit than miss disc. Check out Midnight in Harlem.
