Autumn Souvenir

It's been a pretty unreal year. I can't recall reflecting on a year and having such a long list of enriching experiences, some of which I never imagined possible. Here are a few of the highlights of the year 2013: Solid Sound Music Festival Three beautiful days in the quiet and rustic town of North Adams, MA. The selection of artists couldn't have been better: Wilco (x2), Low, Neko Case, Dream Syndicate, White Denim and many more. Wilco opened their "covers" set with a blistering take on Thin Lizzy's "The Boys are Back in Town" followed by Pavement's "Cut Your Hair." Probably the biggest surge of energy I've felt since Clarence joined Bruce onstage many years back in New Jersey. I've been to some great music festivals, but SS is far-and-away the best. From the music to the staff to the food to the pace, this is the perfect music festival. Friends and Family Spent a lot of time with friends near and far. The Rep

1 Jason Isbell / Northeastern 2 Josh Ritter / The Beast In Its Tracks 3 Low / The Invisible Way 4 Neko Case / The Worse Things Get, the Harder I Fight... 5 Bruce Robison & Kelly Willis / Cheater's Game 6 Okkervil River / The Silver Gynmasium 7 Arcade Fire / Reflektor 8 Son Volt / Honky Tonk 9 Foxygen / We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic 10 Mavis Staples / One True Vine

In early 2012, former Replacements guitarist Slim Dunlap suffered a massive stroke. This tragic turn resulted in one of the most heartfelt and collective reactions the music industry has seen in some time. Musicians ranging from Jakob Dylan, Steve Earle, Jeff Tweedy, Lucero, Joe Henry, Deer Tick and Patterson Hood, recorded some of  Slim's tracks, while former Replacements manager Peter Jesperson gathered all the material, placed the recordings on 7" singles and put them up for auction. The proceeds helped offset Slim's building medical expenses and may have played a role in Paul and Tommy getting The Replacements back for a few of their first shows in over two decades. Peter and a host of musicians came to the aid of one of their own. Beautifully done. We all wish Slim the best.  Songs for Slim

Despite having eight SXSW's under my belt, this weekend in the Berkshires is likely the best music event I've ever been to. Fantastic bands and exhibits, beautiful setting, wonderful staff, perfectly paced. And Wilco, my favorite band going on 20 years, played a full covers set that had me trembling, screaming and dancing for 2+ hours.

Clarence White : Low San Francisco : Foxygen Here Comes the Night : Arcade Fire Down Down the Deep River : Okkervil River I'm Not Sayin' : The Replacements Flying Over Water : Jason Isbell Cheater's Game : Bruce Robison & Kelly Willis So Sad : Bonnie "Prince" Billy & Dawn McCarthy Evil Eye : Josh Ritter Follow You Down : The New Mendicants One True Vine : Mavis Staples How Am I Ever Gonna Be Me : Scott Miller On a Balcony : Okkervil River Surrounded : Richard Buckner Cover Me Up : Jason Isbell Plastic Cup : Low City Swan : Neko Case Livin' On : Son Volt A Certain Light : Josh Ritter I'll Be Around : Yo La Tengo Get Lucky : Daft Punk New South Wales : Jason Isbell No Destruction : Foxygen Portrait : Richard Buckner The Ballad of the Opening Band : Jeff Tweedy

I've never been one for birthdays, or even holidays, for that matter. I've always found both to be a bit silly. Every day should hold its own set of experiences, regardless of some arbitrary label. Okay, birthdays aren't really arbitrary, but hopefully you get the point. 40 seems different. 40. Wow. When I was in my teens I couldn't even fathom 30, let alone 40. And my teens seem like just a few years ago, notwithstanding the Def Leppard phase. I'm now left with one full day in my 30s. I've spent the morning tending to a work matter, but I'm planning on going for a run, listening to some music and then taking Bennett on a hike. And likely doing a little reflecting. Man, 40. When I look back on my life, I'm almost baffled by the amazing experiences I've had. I've seen Bruce Springsteen well north of 50 times. Same goes for Wilco. I've seen more incredible rock n' roll, country, soul, singer/songwriter, hip hop, etc. music that I never

With the possible demise of The Gourds, this got me thinking: Who are the greatest American bands of all-time? With little thought, here's a short list (sort of in order): Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band Creedence Clearwater Revival REM The Byrds The Beach Boys The Velvet Underground The Replacements The Ramones Big Star The Doors Nirvana Wilco Uncle Tupelo Guns n' Roses Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers The Grateful Dead Public Enemy Buffalo Springfield Cheap Trick

It's funny how I mark my age not by my children (which granted, I don't have) or family members  aging, but by the longevity or demise of some of my favorite bands. To  hear that The Gourds have been together for 19 years is mind boggling.  I remember RIGHT when they started, listening to "Dems Good Beeble"  over and over and over. I saw an interview with Joe Pernice recently  where he said that music literally kept him alive in his teens and  20s. I know it sounds over-the-top but I feel, well, the same way. I  have no idea what I would've latched onto if not for discovering  Wilco, Uncle Tupelo, Son Volt, Jayhawks, Gourds, Blue Mountain, The Pernice Brothers, etc. Whenever one of these bands  calls it quits, a little part of me seems to close up. I have so, so many great memories of The Gourds. From listening to their records, seeing them live and even hanging out with them, they've been a part of my life consistently for 20 years. Gourds co-frontman Kevin

At this moment: 1 Wilco 2 Bruce Springsteen 3 Townes Van Zandt 4 Uncle Tupelo 5 Bob Dylan 6 Big Star 7 Nick Drake 8 The Beatles 9 Neil Young 10 Son Volt Ten more: Slobberbone, Josh Ritter, The Replacements, Sam Cooke, The Rolling Stones, The Gourds, The Jayhawks, Richard Buckner, REM, Beck

Perhaps the greatest show I've ever seen. Wilco Friday, June 21, 2012 Solid Sound Festival MASS MoCA – Jone’s Field North Adams, MA Set: The Boys are Back in Town (Thin Lizzy) Cut Your Hair (Pavement) In The Street (Big Star) New Madrid (Uncle Tupelo) Dead Flowers (The Rolling Stones) Simple Twist of Fate (Bob Dylan) Ripple (The Grateful Dead) Who Loves the Sun (The Velvet Underground) And Your Bird Can Sing (The Beatles) Psychotic Reaction (Count Five) Tom Courtenay (Yo La Tengo) w/ Yo La Tengo James Alley Blues (Richard Rabbit Brown) Waterloo Sunset (The Kinks) w/ Lucius Waterloo (ABBA) Sung by Lucius Peace Love and Understanding (Nick Lowe) Marquee Moon (Television) (Don’t Fear) the Reaper (Blue Oyster Cult) Cinnamon Girl (Neil Young) Get Lucky (Daft Punk) Surrender (Cheap Trick) Color Me Impressed (The Replacements) w/ Tommy Stinson on bass Kingpin (Wilco) Thank You Friends (Big Star) Encore: The Weight (The Band) Dedicated to Levon Helm Roadru

I will be doing the social media stuff at the following: Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ccsbandwagon/ Twitter: @autumnsouvenir Instagram: @autumnsouvenir

It's wonderful to be here.

1 Son Volt : Honky Tonk 2 Jason Isbell : Southeastern 3 Josh Ritter : The Beast In Its Track 4 Kelly Willis & Bruce Robison : Cheater's Game 5 Low : The Invisible Way

A heartbreakingly, beautiful record. I'll be surprised if I hear a better full-length this year.

Beautiful work by my friend, Will Abramson of YoursTruly.