Vacation, all I ever wanted

Hey, all! I'm in Austin, and having a blast, despite the non-stop gloom and frequent rain. At least we're not getting the flooding that so many areas of Texas are experiencing. And actually, the cloud cover cuts back on this time of year's usual heat and accompanying humidity, so that's just fine with me.

Yesterday was glorious. The first Lone Star beer was cracked open at 8 AM, followed by shots of Jack Daniels. Well, how better to celebrate our country's birth? The alcohol flowed freely, and in many different locales. We had chili dogs and Fritos at the Texas Chili Parlor, which was a featured location in Grindhouse. Yummy! I also played Guitar Hero for the first time ever. It's frickin' FUN!! And I played in a mini-tournament of poker, and won first place, and thirty bucks, which was nice. And then we set off a metric ton of fireworks in the street. I'm really, really digging this city.

Here's your video for today, a tune from Blue Rodeo, a Canadian band I'd describe as alt-country before there really was an "alt-country" category. I first heard of them when I saw them open for Edie Brickell & New Bohemians, back in '89 or '90. (Yes, I'm old.) I was more impressed by the opening act than the headliner that night (even though Edie was pretty damn good -- and I sure did have a crush on her back then, I admit it), and the next day I went out and bought their incredible album, Casino.

My copy of that CD long ago vanished. But due to a passel of free downloads at eMusic, I recently rediscovered the greatness of that album, and pass along to you the video for one of its songs, "Til I Am Myself Again." I haven't kept up with Blue Rodeo much since then; I think now I should go check out some of their albums I've missed.


"I want to know where my confidence went; one day it all disappeared."