As I write this, we are winding through the hills outside of Raton, NM, heading back to Texas after another great weekend in Colorado. Less than 50 miles to the west, there is inclement weather on the way, which makes passing through here seem pretty cool in a wistful way. There must be some nostalgia or wanderlust, a little sense of bravado even, that this type of landscape conjures up. Perhaps it’s embedded in our DNA. I get the sense that this something longs for the time when we were all a little more connected to the land and were more aware of the delicate balance of nature and more grateful for the basic things needed for survival that are not guaranteed but mysteriously are provided. I guess you could say the wide open spaces in the Southwestern United States have the ability to bring that all to the surface. Sunday is always a good day to reflect.
A week off back in Austin before we head out again to the East Coast. The madness of SXSW is now behind us until next year. The ATX should have a nice mellow vibe, which suits me just fine right now.
I’ve really been enjoying a few new artists recently (new to me at least). Highly recommend you check these records out.
Bahamas, Pink Strat and Bar Chords. Apparently this dude plays guitar for Feist but I have to say I really dig these two solo records. Full of great grooves, killer spacious guitar playing, really great songwriting, the vocals have folk-blues sensibility along the lines of Dan Auerbach. The female background vocals are on the money too. Some of these tunes are really catchy.
Megafaun, Megafaun. These dudes were in a band with Justin Vernon (now Bon Iver). This is their latest and from what little I’ve heard, best record since they went there separate ways in 2006. Some really spacey, almost psychedelic jams. Multiple vocal layers on every tune. It has elements of Wilco, Dawes and Bon Iver. The first track almost sounds like it could have been in the Dead’s repertoire circa ’77-78.
“Overlooking is a manner of graciousness; it is looking and at the same time not looking. It is seeing and not taking notice of what is seen. It is being hurt or harmed or disturbed by something and yet not minding it. It is an attribute of nobleness of nature. It is the sign of souls who are tuned to a higher key. Whenever we see that goodness is lacking, we may add to it from our own heart and so complete the nobility of human nature. This is done by patience, tolerance, kindness, forgiveness. The lover of goodness loves every little sign of goodness. He overlooks the faults and fills up the gaps by pouring out love and supplying that which is lacking. This is real nobility of soul.” -Hazrat Inayat Khan
TN