This week. last weekend, back in Athens, some other stuff, too? Maybe?

Damn, yall-Just wanted to thank everyone for coming out this weekend-
Saw some familiar faces at Burn's Alley-made it nice for Donnie and me...

And then Saturday night-I couldn't have asked for a better night-
It was a great turn out-Yall came even though it was raining off and on and watched me outside-
I was a little nervous at first, because I didn't get the memo that the bands on the deck were supposed to be acoustic. and I brought drums, electric guitars-So I thought I might accidently shut the whole thing down, but that wasn't the case-and we had a blast out in the drizzle-

I brought in a new friend, Mr. Charlie Thompson, who played pedal and lap steel, and absolutely ripped the roof off the place-even though there was no roof, which is really hard to do-
And, he was wearing a killer top hat-
He really added something to my normal set of horsing around-
I'm playing with him at the Mill on Saturday night, too-
Really looking foward to it-
Great line up-Cary Ann Hearst, the Defilers, going to be a fine time-
But, back to Saturday-
Great show, great bands, great crowd, a great time across the board...
Thanks to Lindsay and Jamie and the Pour House for a wonderful evening...

This week I'm in Greenville on Tuesday, playing at the Bohemian with my friend Mark Dye-trying to do some extra promotion for the Thanksgiving Eve show at the Handlebar-
So, if you feel like it, come on out and have a beer with me...

Thursday, I'll be in Athens, in a really cool room called the Flicker Theatre, I'll be accompanied by my friend Rivers and we are sharing the bill with Nate Nelson-
I don't really know anyone in Athens, so if you do and feel like spreading the word, I won't stop you...

Saturday-I'll be at the Mill in North Charleston, as previously mentioned-
Here's a link to the festival details:
http://www.myspace.com/themilllounge 
That is going to be a great night-
All I can say is "Chicken Shit Bingo" whatever that means, I am not exactly sure-
So come on out to the Mill, drink some Old Millwalkee, and let's throw down-
Hope to see everyone out there-
Cheers
Best
Mac

Holy City Cold Heart Revival...

Howdy Kids-
Its been a while, indeed-a few months, actually-
But now I'm back on the wagon, or I'm back off the wagon, however you want to look at it-
So, Saturday is the 3rd annual Holy City Cold Heart Revival, and I am fortunate and excited to be a part of it this year...
You can see the full line up and details here:
www. myspace. com/charlestonaltcountryfestival
CHARLESTON CITY PAPER
http://www. charlestoncitypaper. com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A54888

CHARLESTON PREVIEW
http://www. charleston. net/news/2008/nov/13/hollar61422/
&
http://www. charleston. net/news/2008/nov/13/singer_wins_battle_over_demons_carves_ow61403/

So come on out, bring the young uns if you got em, knock back a few Co-Colas with the boys and girls in the band-
Going to be damn fine time-
I promise, and I ain't no liar-just ask my mama...
Cheers, yall-
Mac

Avett Brethren...

A band that so far, I haven't gotten into. That is not to say I don't like them, just didn't send me reeling. I heard a song here and there, as they have tons of followers who push the gospel of Avett, and I thought it was fine. Didn't make me want to buy the record, though.
I do, however, really like what they are doing. They are energetic, and put a cool twist on everyday americana.
So, I bought the new record. I've been listening to it often. Its strange because I still haven't formed an opinion of it. Usually, upon purchase of a new record, I give it a spin, check out a little bit of each song, and can usually say "I like this, or I don't" farily quicky. Sometimes, my opinion changes, whereas a recording can really grow on me, or something that I thought I really liked after listening a few times I kind of go"Wait a minute, this actually isn't very good at all."
But with the new Avett Brothers EP-I can't say yes or no. I definitely don't disike it, but I can't say that I really like it either.
I can say, that I have been listening to it a lot. Its great music for my drive home from gigs. And by gigs, I mean these little Charleston bars that I play. Its been raing a lot down here, the streets are wet, and after midnight, farily empty-the stop lights flash, and I've got this new record going, it really works. For me anyway.
Nevertheless, I still can't say whether I like it or not. In the way I truly like something, not just something that's suits my pensive mood as I drive over the crosstown into West Ashley.
But I think I'm leaning toward liking the record. (Likeing? Liking? ) I think I may even like it like it. Kevin Arnold/Winnie Cooper.
Whatever the case my be, I think the Avett Brothers have potential to be great. RIck Rubin is on board for the next album, and I am very anxious to hear that finished product.

eye in the sky...

Driving back from Greenville the other day-going up and down the XM dial-Caught the end of "Eye In the Sky" by the Alan Parsons Project.
Nice melody. Cool Atmospheric stuff going on. Very soft rock, but it sounded good, you know. As well it should, AP was behind the board for "Dark Side Of The Moon."
Anyway-
Went home-and pulled it up on itunes-just typed in "Eye In the Sky" to see what would come up-
I had a sneaking suspicion there would be tons of versions-and I was right-
The best version is still the good ol APP-but also I really cool electronic version by a female singer going by "Babyleg." Which I believe is a phalic reference.
Johnatha Brooke also has a good version, well its okay-but it reminds me too much of Alanis Morrissette on a stool with just a guitar player singing "Ironic" on some VH1 special.
The point of this pointless entry, is that I have honestly been listening to the song(primarily the APP and the Babyleg version) for almost a week now. In my car, in my room, etc.
And the thing is-Its not affecting me anymore-but I'm not tired of it-I'm listening to it without paying any attention at all. It is effortless listening.
I really think there is something subliminal going on in the song. Something fishy. Something scary. It has a strange hold on me. I may never be the same.
Behold, the subtle power of the APP.

Another for the all time favorite..

So-one more all time favorite song-
Flying Burrito Brothers-Hot Burrito # 1-Man, thats a purdy song-
I find it somewhat amusing that I keep posting these songs-
Like anyone actually cares...classic.

Another for the all time favorite..

Doesn't Suck at all Hall of Fame...

First indcutee-Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.
Is there anyone out there who doesn't like Tom Petty?
Probably, but they probably don't have many friends. And even if they do have friends, their friends probably don't like them very much. Dude probably walks in the room, thinking about how cool he is, and his "friends" are probably like, "Oh man, here comes that douche again.
Anyway, Tom Petty-case and point: "Here Comes My Girl." Who else but Tommy could make that song not suck? If anyone else sings it, it blows. Completely. He makes it not only not suck, but also makes it awsome.
Congratulations, Tom. You are the first inductee into a completely pointless, utterly trivial, arbitrary hall of fame.
I can offer you nothing but big ups. Cheers, Tommy and the rest of the boys. You don't suck at all. Cheers.
But, cover band in the corner playing "Mary Janes Last Dance," you do.
Oh, don't take it so hard. I'm guilty of the same crime.

Actual All time Faves...

More songs to add to the all time favorite song list:
Townes Van Zandt-Pancho and Lefty (even though, truth be told, I prefer the Wille/Merle Version-even with the bad intro)
Rolling Stones-Dead Flowers
Warren Zevon-Werewolves of London(can't believe I didn't have this one in earlier-probably my all time favorite song. "I saw a werewolf drinking a pina colada at Trader Vics-And his hair was perfect...Nup." It doesn't get any better than that. Oh, you could try, but you would fail. Thanks for playing, though.)

More faves...

So-these aren't all time faves-but thinking back, they make me laugh-
When I was five(or somewhere around 5) these were my favorite songs:

-Human League: Don't You Want Me
-Unknown(currently-it wouldn't be hard to find, though)-Theme from "The Greatest American Hero" (I had the ssoundtrack, or maybe just the 45-left it on a dashboard-totally melted-I was devestated)
-Men at Work-Its a Mistake
-Apollo 100-Jesu, Joy of Man's Desire, or simply "Joy"( this was a gem I discovered from some hand me downs I got from some older cousins-a rock and roll version-with a killer guitar solo a la George Harrison-of course, at the time-I didn't know anything about a la anything-I just knew I liked it-and played that record over and over again-
I forgot about the song-and then it showed up on the Soundtrack to "Boogie Nights"
great placement by a cool director)

If you're curious...

Just to let you know...
I don't think I have great taste in music. I like what I like. I'll reiterate something from another post: I like talking shit. Its fun-keeps me out of the boredom department.
In case anyone is interested-and maybe just to add fuel to the fire-here's a list of some of my favorites:
Albums:
(Top 10-in no particular order-and its really tricky to come up with ALL TIME FAVORITES-but these are tapes, CD"s, records what have you that at some point in my life I wore out)

Derek and the Dominoes-Live At the Filmore
Willie Nelson-Willie and Family Live
The Replacements-Hootenanny
Elliott Smith-Either Or
Randy Travis-Storms of Life
The Black Crowes-The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion
Randy Newman-Good Ol Boys
Dr. Dre-The Chronic
Cracker-Cracker
John Prine-John Prine

Songs:
Another tricky one-not sure if I can even do a top 10-and again-no particular order

Ooh La La-The Faces
Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock and Roll)-AC/DC
Baba O'Reily-The Who
If Hollywood Don't Need You-Don Williams

Damn- there are so many-I can't think right now-mayber I'll add to it

Least favorite album(or at least the most dissapointed I've ever been after a purchase-I quit trusting good reviews after this one-I believe David Fricke gave it five stars-which is considered "Classic")

Neil Young and Crazy Horse-Sleeps with Angels

Least Favorite Band-
(again-so many to choose from-I really hate Styx-but that is kind of pointless to bring that up-its like when I used to see bumper stickers that read "Boy Bands Suck"-why don't you just make one that says "Hitler was Evil"...so after a lot of thought-I have to go with:
The Sex Pistols-
I can't stand them. Sorry.

Whoops...

That would be EMINEM. Shows how much I know.

Bring down the fire...

Man, bands suck. Have bands always sucked? Yes. Do all bands suck? No. But most popular bands do theses days. In truth, theres always been bad bands out there. You had to listen to Frankie Valley and the Four Seasons while you were waiting on "Satisfaction" to come on. Well, I didn't. My dad, maybe. But I did have to brave a lot of garbage on the dial if I wanted to hear some Guns N Roses when I was a kid. But, eventually, I did get to hear Guns n Roses. That's the point. There really doesn't seem to be any good bands on the radio these days. Coldplay? Nah. They aren't terrible or anything. I wouldn't go as far as to say they suck, but, its just kind of like "Hey-its Coldplay, alright."

There are some good bands out there. Radiohead-they are creative, cool sounding, experimental-but the thing is, they're not a whole lot of fun. Same with Wilco. Both good bands, though. I'm trying to figure out what is bringing this out of me. Boredom, maybe. I did go home last week, and my mother asked me to get a bunch of things out of my old room. I had boxes of Rolling Stone Magazines. And going through them, I guess I could only see Emeneim and Justin Timberlake on the cover so many times before I just dumped them all in the trash. All of them. This week, the Jonas Brothers are on the cover. Granted, David Cassidy has been on the cover, RS has always put teen tigerbeat kids on the cover. But damn, the Jonas Brothers? I didn't think they were real. Its one step away from putting Jem and the Holograms front and center. Oh well, nothing like a good rant. I like to talk shit. That's what all of this is about.