Southpaw Jones

Is This Interesting?
Thoughts/feelings that just might not matter:

It’s the last day of February, and so 2007 is 1/6th complete. Can you believe it?

It’s warm in Austin. I was driving around with my windows down yesterday in the sunshine of an 80 degree day. As you may or may not know, I do not have air-conditioning in my car. A Whole Foods commercial came on the radio urging listeners to “fight the cold with soup.” More like “fight the warm with oops!”

Burn.

Well, I’m looking forward to the heat, even though I’ll find myself despising it from time to time. I’ve got to start shopping for the perfect float for Barton Springs. And the perfect one-piece.

You can check out the perfect two-piece tonight at Café Mundi, as Matt the Electrician and I continue to celebrate our new record, Playing: Live at Café Mundi. It’s a gem without which one’s CD collection seems weak and corrupt. At this point, it’s only available at performances, so come by tonight to score one.

Also, tomorrow, I’ll join old friends Johann Wagner and Raina Rose at Flipnotics. I know both songwriters from hanging out at the Kerrville Folk Festival. I’ve played a show with Johann in Denton, Texas, and I joined Raina for a mega-fun mini-tour of the Northwest last year.

See the details right here.

Speaking of fun, I caught Jonathan Richman live at the Cactus Café last night, and as always, I’m so glad I did. I took my girlfriend Maggie, who was completely uninitiated. I was so glad to be able to share it with her and jealous that she was about to see the show for the very first time.

I was in college when my friend and bass player Scotty-Scott convinced me to go with him to a Jonathan Richman show at the Bluebird Café in Nashville. We had already played a show that night, and I wasn’t exactly enthusiastic about seeing someone else play. But of course, my life and my music were forever changed by this man-child, this spectacle, this road warrior, this Modern Lover.

I’m struggling this morning to describe what a Jonathan Richman show is like. Objectively, it’s one man with a classical guitar and mainstay Tommy Larkins on drums. Doesn’t sound that fun, does it? But Mr. Richman personifies the difference between playing music and performing music. He “plays” life on stage and off. He is alert, open, and free, and intentionally or not, he makes you feel guilty for all the times you sleep-walk through life and music.

His words and music are brilliantly simple:
“He gave us the wine to taste, not to discuss.”
“My baby loves, loves, loves me now, even more than I pray for.”
“When it’s Springtime in New York.”
“Is it her you want to give attention to, or is it you?”

I find it rebellious in this day and age to so plainly tell it like it is without preach or pretense. In that respect, Richman is a no-nonsense punk musician who happens to enjoy doo-wop, calypso, Spanish guitar, Leonard Cohen, and The Velvet Underground.

He sings in English, French, Italian, and Spanish. Whatever he feels like. He creates the feel of street performance on stage. No guitar cord. No guitar strap. Just microphones capturing two people playing music. He dances when he feels like it. He explains lyrics when he feels like it. He does not take requests. He tries to avoid excessive encores. He makes intense eye contact with audience members. His mouth hangs agape when he isn’t singing. His songs are great, but his recordings will never live up to the live experience.

I could type all day about this man. I feel guilty that I did not tell ALL of my friends to go with us. Next time you have an opportunity, do not miss this show. Go with an open heart, and stretch your smile muscles before and after or you will be sore in the face. It was good to see Spike and Henry there. Good to see Graham and Randy. And good to see Mike and Julian, who saved us some kick ass seats. Thanks, blokes!

Quotopia
Freshly-picked quotes from the ol’ reference collection:

I don’t do any songs that I’m sick of now – sometimes even songs that I request. If I’m sick of ‘em I don’t do ‘em even for myself.
Jonathan Richman

Online Museum of the Week
etchasketchist.blogspot.com/” target=new>The Etch-A-Sketchist :

Janet & Justin

Poetry that Rhymes
And flows. And builds a bridge. And inspires:

Flange for the tamlers
Folly of the toth
Flingy and cringy and doodly-bo.

I went to the doctor and guess what he saw?
A man who was needlessly flapping his jaw.

I went to the shrink, too, and guess what she heard?
Many a sound, but rarely a word!

Quothy and oathy
Crimny and flork
Help me! I’m losing control of my nork.

My nork is for thinking.
My nork is for speech.
My nork, it is broken,
So splinge halmny fleech.

Plumb, Plumber, Plumbest
Signs o’ the times from Austin’s singing Jewish plumber, Herman Bennett:

Thank you, come again!
southpawjones.com
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myspace.com/southpawjones
E-mail southpaw@southpawjones.com
©2007 Southpaw Jones. All rights reserved.

Paw Prints
Pics of Southpaw, his environ, and his interweb:

Thanks to Maggie for this pic from Friday afternoon. We were quite close, no?

Is This Interesting?
Thoughts/feelings that just might not matter:

Yes, Mr. Obama made his impressive visit to Austin, and I’m glad I took a half-day off to be there. I could spill compliments left and right, but I think I’d be repeating the sentiments of so many other folks. The thing that struck me as most significant is this: After seeing Barack Obama speak live in person, names like Clinton, Giuliani, McCain, and even Gore sound and feel positively ancient. As ancient as Strom Thurmond. As ancient as the war in Iraq. Obama is fresh, strong, and seemingly ready. It’s gonna be fun to watch.

My friend Michelle volunteered that day, and here’s what she has to say:
I wanted to share with you that I was part of an historic moment this past Friday, February 23, 2007, where I was one of the volunteers on Team Obama to bring Barack Obama to Austin’s Auditorium Shores. The event was originally scheduled to take place in a building at the University of Texas — that was when they thought at least 5,000 people wanted to see him. Through online registration for the event, the University Democrats Club and Texans for Obama (my club) realized that many, many more people wanted to see this new, visionary leader. So the event was moved to the outside venue of Auditorium Shores. As the week went on more and more people registered for the event — until we anticipated 16,000 people that morning! Would you believe the final count was 21,841? Wow! And do you know who came? Everybody! Young, old, black, white, asian, hispanic, democrats, republicans, libertarians, high school kids, college kids, foreign exchange students, white collar and blue collar, retirees, and more. We were all there…and we were just the ones who could get off work!

To make this even more impressive, this event was pulled together by the grassroots club “Texans for Obama” started by three 30 something year old guys who were inspired to create a club and invite others to join. Obama inspires people. He inspires people to think of the possibilities ahead. He unites people. He understands the other. He believes in diplomacy and has the ability to communicate with people. He believes in universal health care, money for schools and children (and schools with measurements they can meet), diplomacy over war, equal rights for all, truth and integrity.

Here’s a quote: After all, “We want universal healthcare for all Americans. Yes we can! We want educational opportunities for all Americans. We’re gonna bend in the direction of justice. We want an end to this war. And we want diplomacy and alliances and peace. Yes we can! If all of us put our hand on that arc and bend it in the direction of justice then I am absolutely confident that we can create the kind of America that our children, our grandchildren, our great-grand children deserve. Let’s go Austin. Let’s get busy! Let’s get to work!”

As some of you may know, I went to an anti-war rally last month. That’s where I got a little flyer about the Obama group. The war rally had lots of negative energy, the Obama group is positive and looking toward the future. That’s the key. We must look toward the future to become who we really are.

I invite you to learn more at:

www.barackobama.com
www.texansforobama.com

Change is coming and it’s going to be great!

And Another Thing…
More verbosity with velocity and viscosity:

Ok, I promise this is not going to become an Obama ‘08 blog. Or any kind of political blog. So let’s get back to the business of exercise bragging. I have 24 miles to add to the Southpaw Jones Virtual Excursion des Pieds! 4 miles thanks to walking to and from the Obama rally. 24 miles brings me closer to the border of Texas, further east towards parts unknown, almost 200 miles from home. Let’s check it out:

Week 1: 30 miles to Taylor, Texas
Week 2: 27 miles to Rockdale, Texas
Week 3: 20.7 miles to Caldwell, Texas
Week 4: 22.3 miles to Bryan/College Station, Texas
Week 5: 21 miles through Gibbons Creek Lake
Week 6: 24.4 miles to Hunstville, Texas
Week 7: 22 miles to Trinity, Texas
Week 8: 24 miles to…

CROCKETT, TEXAS!

That’s right, the county seat of Houston County, the first county in the Republic, deep in the heart of the Davy Crockett National Forest. Yee-haw! Population 7,065. It’s a “Paradise in the Pines,” “where the South meets the West and Texas began.”

Sounds like a great place to hunker down for another virtual week. My knees feel better, and all my blisters are popped and ready to blossom into calluses.

Online Museum of the Week
etchasketchist.blogspot.com/” target=new>The Etch-A-Sketchist :

Barack Obama

Quotopia
Freshly-picked quotes from the ol’ reference collection:

What good are fans? You can’t eat applause for breakfast. You can’t sleep with it.
Bob Dylan

Thank you, come again!
southpawjones.com
southpawjones.com
myspace.com/southpawjones
E-mail southpaw@southpawjones.com
©2007 Southpaw Jones. All rights reserved.

5 Facts, 1 TX Town, a Springsteen Lyric, and a famous Jew
In no particular order:

1. Exposure to higher rates of testosterone before birth can lead to a left-handed child.
2. Belcherville, Texas
3. Ciotóg is an Irish word used to describe left-handed people, which also means ’strange person’.
4. Aaron Spelling
5. “Ambidexterity” means “skillful on both sides.”
6. “Ambisinistrous,” means “clumsy on both sides.”
7. Crazy Janey and her mission man were back in the alley tradin’ hands.
8. The QWERTY keyboard layout actually favors left-handers.

Rhyme Time!
One clue whose answer consists of two rhyming words:

A VERY slow application of cosmetic creams to the countenance.
Highlight here for answer: [glacial facial]

Online Museum of the Week
etchasketchist.blogspot.com/” target=new>The Etch-A-Sketchist :

Alf

Quotopia
Freshly-picked quotes from the ol’ reference collection:

Some stories are true that never happened.
Elie Wiesel

She Sez
One woman’s womanly perspective:
Ode to Reception
by Maggie Wilhite

tick
…..tock
………..tick
……………tock
riiiing
transfer
riiiing
transfer
point
click
update call log
and don’t forget to SMILE.
in the deafening silence of this boredom
i can actually hear my ass growing.
eyes glazed, back throbbing,
i reach the End of the Internet.
there is no more
to be discovered.
i have lost my will to live and learn.
i resign to the numbness,
coasting in a state of zen.
this desk is a time warp.
in this chair i am the captain
of a big wooden spaceship
that takes me away
to an alternate universe
where i have no legs,
no bladder,
no brain,
and no rights.

Thank you, come again!
southpawjones.com
southpawjones.com
myspace.com/southpawjones
E-mail southpaw@southpawjones.com
©2007 Southpaw Jones. All rights reserved.

Is This Interesting?
Thoughts/feelings that just might not matter:

Good morning, friends, and happy Friday! Did you know it means a lot to me that you stop by to peruse the Gazette? It does.

Today, I sit smack dab in the middle of my own personal Great Speakers Series of 2007. Last night, I got to see Jim Gaffigan live, and today, I’ll head to a rally for Barack Obama.

They are very different men.

One is famously pale. The other is famously not.
One has far-reaching political aspirations. The other likes to lie around and eat food.

But they both come from the Midwest.
And, you may not know this: Barack had a secretary named Gaffigan, while Jim had a secretary named Obama!
Fancy that!

Seriously, seeing Jim Gaffigan live at the Paramount Theatre was a mega-treat and worth every penny. He’s just a master of straight-ahead, somewhat old-school stand-up comedy. I laughed and laughed and laughed. He has this whole new bit about bacon. A bacon bit, if you will, and I think you should. Twenty minutes on how great and magical bacon is. Made me want some bacon.

I admire anyone who can excel in that art form. Just a bare stage, a microphone, and a stool. Hundreds of people paying 45 bucks to be there. He just comes out, makes everyone laugh for an hour and a half with words and expressions. It’s classic, classy, simple, and human. Yay for Mr. Gaffigan! Check him out on Letterman tonight.

So today, I’ll take a half-day off work and join thousands of Austinites to see Presidential candidate Barack Obama. He hopes to break up the twenty-year orgy of Bushes and Clintons in the White House. Oh, and the two-hundred-plus year orgy of white men in the White House. I wish him luck.

But in my heart of hearts, I can’t get too excited. The 2004 Election broke my heart for politics. Maybe permanently. I want to be there today for historical reasons. Academic reasons. I want to be there because Obama is an amazing orator. Sure, I’d vote for the guy. But will he be able to instill the audacity of real hope in a dark, broken, almost apolitical heart like mine?

I kind of hope so, actually.

Fool Around Friday
Silly games for silly times:

Online Museum of the Week
Shaven Cats:

Sorry, no longer available.

Quotopia
Freshly-picked quotes from the ol’ reference collection:

We need to internalize this idea of excellence. Not many folks spend a lot of time trying to be excellent.
Barack Obama

Be excellent to each other. And… PARTY ON, DUDES!
Abraham Lincoln

If I Had a Million Dollars
Unnecessary products that inexplicably tempt me:

CHICKEN SCENTED BUBBLE MACHINE
£14.95

Features:
**Safe, effective fun for Dogs of all age and sizes.
**Can be used as a means of exercise.
**Blows thousands of bubbles in 1 minute.
**Suitable for indoor and outdoor use.
**Requires 6 x AA batteries (not included)
**Includes 4 oz. of scented Gazillion bubble solution.

Thank you, come again!
southpawjones.com
southpawjones.com
myspace.com/southpawjones
E-mail southpaw@southpawjones.com
©2007 Southpaw Jones. All rights reserved.

Is This Interesting?
Thoughts/feelings that just might not matter:

Say what you will. I believe that hairlessness is the future of our species. Britney, don’t listen to the haters. They would much rather be swinging through trees and eating bananas than standing upright and dancing in clubs. Show them how free we can be! Britney hates hair, and so should you!

Share the truth with the world! “Britney hates hair!” in several languages.

Dutch – De haathaar van Britney.
French – Britney déteste des cheveux.
Greek – ????? ????? Britney.
Italian – Britney odia i capelli.
Paul Mitchell – Britney hates wha?!? Oh, this is war.
Japanese – Britney ??????
Portuguese – Britney odeia o cabelo.
Baby Talk – Britnoo gaa gaa.
Spanish – Britney odia el pelo.
Polite Southern Preacher – Brethren, Britney delights in the flesh. Judge not.

Rhyme Time!
One clue whose answer consists of two rhyming words:

Bursts of light from a collision.
Highlight here for answer: [crash's flashes]

Online Museum of the Week
Shaven Cats:

Sorry, no longer available.

Quotopia
Freshly-picked quotes from the ol’ reference collection:

Thanks, Maggie!

The proper study of mankind is woman.
Henry B. Adams

Plumb, Plumber, Plumbest
Signs o’ the times from Austin’s singing Jewish plumber, Herman Bennett:

Thank you, come again!
southpawjones.com
southpawjones.com
myspace.com/southpawjones
E-mail southpaw@southpawjones.com
©2007 Southpaw Jones. All rights reserved.