I’ve stumbled into some great tunes and reading material lately. The combination makes those long plane flights infinitely more bearable.
Category: Music Bob
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On the road again …
More travel. Two interesting stops …
New York City, Greenwich Village: We had dinner at Otto Enoteca Pizzaria last week. It’s owned by the Food Network’s Mario Batali. When a friend suggested it, I was worried it might be pretentious or culinary overkill. Nothing could be further from the truth. The food was incredible and the wine list was extensive. Price wasn’t too bad, either. We had several pizzas, all fantastic, and finished the meal with a sampling of gelato. My favorite was, surprisingly, a pumpkin gelato. While in New York, we also stopped by the Chelsea Market. What a great place. Not something you’d expect to encounter in the middle of New York.
Fort Worth, Texas: We went to see Willie Nelson at Billy Bob’s in the Stockyards. I had high hopes but was sorely disappointed. Willie was phoning this one in, and Billy Bob’s was horrible. It claims it’s the world’s largest roadhouse, but it was really a sprawling shopping mall of a place. Terrible venue. Thank god we went to the Loon that afternoon. Now that’s a real bar …
This week, it’s Stuart and Naples in Florida, then on to Memphis. Maybe I’ll get some decent barbecue there. Or at least bump into Elvis …
Now Playing: Restless Wind from the album The Earth Rolls On by Billy Joe Shaver
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My kind of trailer trash
A package from Dave Shaffer showed up in my mailbox recently. Normally, that would terrify me. But I took all the proper precautions and opened it in a well-ventilated area with a first-aid kit nearby.
What popped out is his latest, and to my knowledge only, CD.
The band is Abandoned Trailer. The CD is Under the Giant. It’s freakin’ awesome. He and Fred Reading collaborated on it. Don’t know much about what they’re up to here or if they’re selling copies of it. If they are, I’ll try to track down a place where you can buy it. If they aren’t, I’ll burn you a copy (with their permission). Just send me a note. The coolest thing about it is I really can’t say what “it’s like.” The sound is distinct. The harmonies soar. I particularly liked “The Bellwood Reel/Lilac Wednesday.” But I hate to play favorites.