By 'Rebel' Rod Ames
I was rushing around the house today, very much like the proverbial headless chicken, trying to get my show put together, locate and wash my son's baseball uniform, shave and shower myself, and get to Tom Moore Field, before the first pitch at 10 AM.
I made it there at 1015, only to realize that the game had been cancelled, and our 2 PM game had moved to 12 noon! I sarcastically thanked my son and several of the other players who have my cell number, sat down and consumed my cold picadillo, egg, and cheese burrito from Rio Rancho in Hunt.
The day began deceivingly harmless with a cool breeze and overcast skies. In fact, the clouds looked as if they could possibly even grace us with a little moisture. I've done my parts to try to bring rain to this dried up piece of land that used to be emerald green just a few months ago. My ringtone is even Richard Betts' "Rain" from his "Hand Picked" album that featured Vassar Clements recorded back in 1973. "RAIN-RAIN-RAIN" it goes every time I get a call, but the ringtone appears to be falling on the deaf ears of the Rain Gods.
By noon, the clouds almost instantaneously disappeared, leaving me vulnerable to the poisonous ultraviolet rays bombarding my embarrassingly white skin. It rapidly went from that pinkish flesh-tone to and almost scarlet red.
Since the double header had been cancelled, the high sheriffs that govern all things in select baseball, decided we would play one, full 9-inning baseball game. To you non-baseball folks that translates into about 3 hours of direct ultraviolet bombardment from the solar pain in my ass, the sun!
The good news is our guys, The Warriors, won an offensive extravaganza, 16 - 10. Therefore, the pain I'm in now is of course worth it. I think. You should buy some stock in aloe though. I'm quite certain I bought up everything in town that contains it.
Tonight's show is going to be a dandy. I've been tossing around the use of the word dandy to describe my show tonight all day long, and finally decided that I'm comfortable enough in my masculinity to use words like 'dandy' or phrases like 'bye-bye'. No one save for one soul, and you know who you are, has ever said anything to me about the use of these less masculine type words and phrases, but I digress. If you tune in tonight, I'm not sure you will use the word dandy but you will certainly be using synonyms of the word.
I'll be playing Mary Gauthier's tune "I Drink". I had the pleasure to interview Ms. Gauthier at the 40th Kerrville Folk Festival this year and what a delight she is. After my interview, Mary blew everyone away with her show. It was an amazing night and you can read all about it here if you search through last month’s blogs.
Eric Hisaw has a new record coming out next month and he has graciously provided me with three tunes from that record, two of which I'll play tonight. The record releases on CD Baby on July 21st and everywhere else on August 3rd. I believe this body of work may just be his best yet, and I've only heard three tracks. He's going to come on the show, hopefully on July 23rd and we'll talk about his new record and he'll hopefully play a couple tunes for us as well.
David Bromberg has a new one "Use Me", coming on July 12th. His publicist has given me permission to play a cut from that one as well. I will be playing "Old Neighborhood" that he recorded with one of my favorite bands, Widespread Panic. I'll be playing one or two older Bromberg tunes as well.
In addition, you'll hear Gillian Welch, Morphine, Steve Earl, Ray Manzarek, Roy Rogers, Warren Haynes, The Real Nasty, The North Mississippi All-Stars, Wanda Jackson, The Road Kings, Dinosaur Jr., Piñata Protest, The Trishas, Slithering Beast, Spoon, The Sir Douglas Quintet, Wilco, and o'death.
Tune in tonight on KOOK 93.5 in Junction or KERV 1230 AM in Kerrville. If you're not in the area, then simply click on the button near the top of this page that says KOOK 93.5 in Junction. It will take you to the stream.
See you tonight on 'Rebel' Rod's From Under the Basement.
