Category: Music

One More for 2017

Goodness! The end of the year is fast approaching and 2018 is just around the corner. For me, among other things, that means my annual payment for this blog’s plan is due soon. For that reason, and no other reason right now, I’m writing and publishing something else before then. I’m not sure what this is going to be about – I might just write a bunch of unrelated ramblings or I might just compose a well thought out essay about people who write bunches of unrelated ramblings. Or I might not.

One thing I’ve noticed as I look back over the years I’ve been writing here is that every year I’ve written a post explaining or trying to justify my failure to write anything on a consistent basis. I can do that again here, but I’m not. It’s been said, over and over, so no point in repeating it.

Despite the fact that I am in my sixties now – my age, not my IQ, for all you comedians out there – I still am interested in a lot of things. For example, I still watch college football every year, almost religiously. It’s been awesome the last few years. See, I am a Clemson Tiger fan. I grew up just a few miles from Clemson, SC so it’s just a natural thing and once again the Tigers are headed to the college football playoffs.

I also like to learn. In fact, I try to make it a point to learn something new every day. It’s not hard to do with the technology we have available to us these days. Although much of what I learn on a daily basis just comes from reading or seeing something new while browsing the internet, I still take time to participate in some formal learning . Much of what I’ve done in the last year has been some online classes at Saylor Academy. In addition to Saylor, I am planning on enrolling in some new courses at Coursera in 2018.

Of course, I still have an undying love and interst in music, and I think that’s what’s going to wrap up this post. While I am interested in all types of music, I love rock and roll and bluegrass. But, there’s something of a caveat here. Rock and roll to me pretty much means what is now considered “Classic Rock.” I suppose that some new music fits the definition of rock and roll, I just don’t think it measures up to the bands that recorded music in the 60”s, 70’s, and 80’s – the exceptions being the artists that started then that are still releasing new music today. The best example I can give is John Mellencamp, who is my favorite musician of all time. So I think that’s what I’m going to end with, a song from Mellencamp. It’s appropriate, given my age and my ailment wracked body. Hope you enjoy it.

Hardcore 1970’s Blues

Album Covers - Wet Willie Band and J. Geils Band
Album Covers – Wet Willie Band and J. Geils Band

I’ve read a few things about distraction free writing. In fact, WordPress offers a toolbar option for distraction free writing, which I am using now to write this. As long as my PC is connected to the internet and my brain is even half-working, I’m going to get distracted. Like yesterday, which led to this post. Here is what happened.

Yesterday morning I decided to listen to Wet Willie and J. Geils as I tried to finish some overdue paperwork. As I listened and worked, I decided to write a post to share a couple of songs from these two bands. As I started writing, I searched Google to verify where Wet Willie hailed from. In doing so, I found out from their web site that they are still together, recording and touring. Wow! Next I checked their touring schedule and saw their next date this year was October 9 at a venue in AR. I mapped the venue location and driving directions from my home; then started scheming how to go see them. That is how I got distracted just within a couple of hours on Wednesday. Here are a couple of cuts; one from each band’s seminal live album.

First up is the Wet Willie Band performing Macon Hambone Blues from their 1973 live album “Drippin’ Wet,” recorded in New Orleans, LA. This is one of the finest live recordings ever produced.

 

Next up is Serves You Right to Suffer, from J. Geils Band’s “Live, Full House.”

 

 

Then, later in the day, I had a major distraction. I blacked out in my garage, fell and hurt a bunch of me. My wife took me to the ER, who in turn admitted me for at least an overnight stay. As I prepare to publish this, that is where I am. Piled up in a hospital bed, waiting to find out what is next.