Southpaw Jones

Yes, Bob Dylan rocked on Saturday night. He rocked with those tools that have been working since the birth of rock and roll. You know, those tools that the kids seem to have forgotten. I realize that typing that makes me seem old. Well, Mr. Dylan reminded me that age is a blessing, especially if you stay alert, questioning, seeking. He is not bored, and he is not boring. The dude is still reworking songs that are 40 years old. He can do that; he owns the copyrights. Plus he recognizes what my favorite artists recognize: A song is not frozen at the time of its recording. It is a living thing that expands and evolves as much as its player decides to care for it.

Like Willie and The Boss, Dylan does not perform his songs so much as he plays them. These artists play music with awareness and variety like professional athletes play each game. If ballers play the same game every night, they lose, unless they happen to be the Harlem Globetrotters. If musicians perform the same show every night, well, their audience would be better off getting drunk and listening to their record really loud at home. Save some bones, you know?

Dylan could stand in a room doing nothing, and people would pay to see him. On Saturday night, he put on an energetic show with his tight band in classy suits. He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, starting on guitar then moving over to keyboard. Two hours later, it was over. We scored tickets with God on our side, and I fulfilled my ACL Festival weekend dreams without having to set foot in Zilker Park.

Of course, now its Monday, and I’d much rather be in Zilker Park than this here office.

The only difference between a weed and a flower is a judgment.
Dr. Wayne Dyer

The Napkin Drawings by Marty Coleman




One clue whose answer consists of two rhyming words:

One who selects a bit of furniture made of interlaced willow branches.

Highlight here for answer: [wicker picker]



Thursday, September 20th, 2007
8:00 PM
Bruce Hughes & Southpaw Jones
Flipnotics at the Triangle
4600 Guadalupe
Austin, TX
(512) 380-0097
http://www.flipnotics.com
The New Weekly Show!