Friday, April 22, 2011

The King of Rock-N-Roll

It almost came to fisticuffs the other night down at the local hamburger joint.  I overheard these two 'Jack Wagons' talking about how Elvis Presley changed the World of music and how Elvis did this and Elvis did that and how Elvis was the best thing since shirt pockets.  I'll give Elvis his due but I'm no huge fan.  I sat quietly examining how perfectly the salt and the ketchup was clinging to my crinkle cut fries, when I heard the phrase that always sends me over the edge, "Yep, Elvis Presley, The King of Rock-n-Roll".


That was it, I could stand no more of it.  I loudly stated in manner sure to be heard, "The only reason he's considered the King is because Buddy Holly died first".  The cafe went silent, all you could hear was me slurping Coca-Cola through my straw and the crackling of the near perfect combo of shaved and flaked ice in my cup.


"What did you say boy?" asked a fellow that by his looks, probably makes at least two Elvis Conventions a year.  "I said if Buddy Holly wouldn't have died he would have been the King of Rock-N-Roll."  The old fellows started grumbling and I could tell it was probably time to split.  I paid my tab and listened as they worked up a plan to jump me.  I won't go through the list of names I overheard them call me.  All I'll say is thanks Buddy, I'll always stick up for you.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Chris Whitley

There was an album released in 1991 that was like nothing I'd ever heard.  Chris Whitley's "Living with the Law" album blew my teenage mind.  The imagery that flooded my brain was partly religious and partly sexual as he sang about dark rooms, poison girls, carrion crows, piss ant desert towns, addiction and Jesus.  The sound that Whitley made come out of that national resonator guitar simply mesmerized me.  And his voice....I just knew this was a dude that had lived what he was singing about.  Whitley was a Houston native and lived for a while in New York City and a while in Belgium.  For the sake of my own self I know he always considered Texas home.  Chris Whitley died November 11, 2005 at the age of 45 in Houston Texas from lung cancer.  His impact and influence on my musical interests I can assure you will last forever.  I still listen to that album and it still fills me with images of dark rooms, poison girls, carrion crows, piss ant desert towns, addiction and Jesus.  Matter of fact I think I'm going to give it a listen tonight.  Thanks Chris Whitley!

Chris Whitley Living with the Law

Friday, April 1, 2011