Refreshed

After nearly a year's absence, I return refreshed. Listening to some vinyl on a beautiful near-spring day. The patio door open letting in the fresh air. Listening to Loose Fur currently, a trippy 70's soaked vibe from Jeff Tweedy, Glen Kotche, and Jay O'Rourke. Prior to that was the sunny-goodnes of The Rutles. Dirk, Ron, Stig & Barry. The Beatles spoof/tribute is fabulously written and played. A precursor to the much more successful Spinal Tap. A definite must have for any collection.

What have I been digging lately? Well here are few:

Justin Townes Earle - Midnight at the Movies

Santogold

Robert Pollard - the Crawling Distance

Boston Spaceships - The Planets are Blasted

Elvis Costello - Momofuku

Jay Reteard - the Matador Singles

Hayes Carll - Little Rock

Felice Brothers - Tonight at the Arizona

Speaking of the Felice Bros, going to see them Monday night at Radio Radio. Can't wait. Hope to drag some people out to introduce them to this great band.

Speaking of great bands, I saw bro Brett's band Phyllis last week. It had been quite a while and the whole set list was new except for a couple of standards. It was great to see them rock out to the great new songs.

We also went to see the Born Again Floozies last friday downtown at a tent party for the Big 10 basketball tournament. The 3 hour set flew by and the just rocked. Joe's got a great thing going and the sound and lyrics are great. Check'm out on youtube.

I'm ahead of my goal for reading 3 books a month this year. Here's a sample:

When I Grow Up by Juliana Hatfield
A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest Gaines
The World Without Us
Tipping Point
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
Ohlman's Guide to Outsmarting Wine by Mark Ohlman
A Guitar and a Pen by Various Country Music Songwriters (Including Robbie Fulks)
Dateable - a book to give Katie since she has her first boyfriend

Currently reading Good to Great and Ordinary Wolves, a novel I bought on my trip to Alaska last year.

I'll try to keep up with this. But for now, I'm getting ready to cook a pot of Portugese Kale Stew for Brett and Joel. Yummy.