Autumn Souvenir

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. G...

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...

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