You're new site really does a great job in reflecting
the totally cool viable business you have created -
Loose & fun and, yet, tight & highly professional - Like
a finely tuned machine made for the road - w/ a mission
to edify, enlighten, elate and elevate the heart, mind,
soul & spirit through words & music from city to city,
town to town, toll after toll.
Well, especially, since seeing the Moist Boyz the other
night on 9/11 and a couple of us going out and
hanging w/ Mickey - drinking some beers, shootin' the
shit and just having some really cool conversation on
Pittsburgh's South Side, I just had to email you and
tell you how I've enjoyed a few of your acts which I
consider cream of your crop.
It was awesome to listen to Jay Farrar backstage sing
Uncle Tupelo's John Hardy off No Depression and hang out
after the show and listen to him bang sweetly on the so
out-of-tune piano in one of Small's living areas.
Farrar's show was like an interesting wine from Sonoma,
CA - earthy, mellow textures w/ an intense flavorful
vibrations like an aromatic dream - At times during the
show I shut my eyes, laid my head back and just enjoyed
being subtly and non-non-chalantly blown away by sound
and the power of unleashed words.
For Ryan Adams, I noted the admiration and respect from
Liz Berlin (who happened to be at this show) and very
much enjoyed listening from her vantage point on the
balcony - watching with enthusiasm - listening to one of
the best and brightest of our generation. So inspired
was I from Mr. Ryan's show that I included these lines
in a piece called Psycho Insurgency written for my ninth
book called Everyday Media made up of poems and emails
sent into major news programs, in which, on occasion, I
was even rewarded with by responses from anchors -
"She
was as exciting
as her
shoes and had a
great
smile. I liked the way
she
shook hands and said,
"I'm
Emily." I felt as if
I was
meeting Emily Dickinson.
Dripping wet w/ rock-n-roll from
the
night before - high w/ the
vibrations and light above
the
balcony of the renovated
church
now Mr. Small's Theatre
manifesting love – his songs
lingering in front of stain glass
walls
- glimpses of lightening
from
the storm outside & together
- We,
caught in collective
consciousness, sending it
all on
its way to you - for you -
for
ourselves. Dripping wet
like
the dollar bill I found this morn
in a
puddle of fresh rain water
while
one of the local heiresses
drove
bye & witnessed my memories"
Ryan
is something else. It's almost one of those things hard
to explain like ADC (after-death-communication, pure
energy, telepathy, radio waves from earthly bodies made
of stardust)... Let's just say I think he is a wonderful
writer and musician and I am still overwhelmed by his
performance at Mr. Small's Theatre in Pittsburgh, PA.
The
Moist Boyz just rocked the shit out of me! Mickey is one
of the best guitarists I have ever seen and makes me
laugh at the antics Eddie Van Halen tries to pan-off on
people - (which so many suckers bought). When I listen
to Dean Ween and watch him go off and also have an
appreciation for his attitude toward the cheesy facade
of rock stardom and then recall Eddie Van Halen, the
meaning behind Tweedy's Uncle Tupelo song off Anodyne
"We've Been Had" rings so so true and clear.
Not to
mention how cool this band is from its musicians, to
techs, to roadies, sound, and management - They let me
take "archival" footage (which I have been taking for
Liz & Mike of Mr. Small's Funhouse, Liz's solo band and
Rusted Root since 2001). It amazes and inspires me that
someone can push the envelope that fucking far and yet
be so somehow together, disciplined and motivated as
Mickey. He is one of the finest of guitar players and
rockers.
There
you have it. Ode to High Road Touring by a hard working
man who has allot to be grateful for - And I do - And I
am grateful - everyday.
In
conclusion, Good will triumph over evil - I know, I
know. Light is of an ancient existence that vibrates w/
the purest of energies and evil is just a notion, an
emotion in the hearts and minds of men and women.
One
last thing, we'd love, love, love to see Jeff Tweedy at
Mr. Small's Theatre!!!!!!!!!!!!
Best
intent,
John
http://www.mystrawhat.com
P.S.
The pic is in Chicago over the 2002 holidays on tour w/
Rusted Root.
