16 tracks, budweiser, & barbeque.

this week wormwood scrubs was hauled off in the studio working on the new album. after a few coolers of domestic beer and several days in blistering heat, things got weird. before i knew it, i was sitting in the dark, crossed-legged on the floor, in the midst of a fife and drum solo while ghost dogs took over the control room. one of which was later captured on film.

today we emerged from seclusion and insantity. nothing cures mental illness better than barbeque. chewy and mutt were charming hosts. and i even captured a pic of the camera shy mutt whilst he was in repose.

ghost dog of the studio.

oh, chewy.

the ever so handsome, mutt.

the second anniversary.

let me start off by saying, "the second anniversary is traditionally cotton. " so naturally, we headed south to mississippi where cotton was born as well as the blues. we stayed in an old share-cropper's cabin outside of clarksdale. we visited the crossroads where robert johnson sold his soul to the devil to play guitar and where abe gave his soul to god to make the world's best barbeque. we visited with "rat", the innkeeper of the legendary riverside hotel which has housed the likes of sonny boy williamson II, ike turner, and john kennedy jr. among so many others (he showed us the guest books). levon helm, i know where you been!

our evenings were spent hanging out on sunflower ave at red's lounge listening to music, warding off brain-eating zombies & east-coast aging hippies, while sipping "mississippi squeezings" (moonshine) with our new best friend, red. we heard some great local blues players and even had the honor of playing a few songs with them.

abe's has the best hot tamales.

our anniversary shack.

riverside "rat"

clarksdale's own, mr tater.

what's going on...

on friday, i ate some crawfish bisque, drank some so-co hurricanes and played a full-tilt show at the broadway oyster bar. then drove to potosi to visit stanley the cow on saturday. the dogs ran in the rain & mud & sand (see choppy's paw for complete details). then completed the weekend with an old fashioned barbeque at sam & kate's on sunday. gizmo the cattle dog was the master of ceremonies & general jerk with no support from the donk.

me after a few hurricanes (photo by dana smith).

dirty chop.

dirty chop paw.

barbeque wormwood scrubs style.

ocd gizmo freaks out.

"gizmo, i'm not a hate donkey. i'm a love donkey."

hey loretta.

jason, amber, and i went down south this weekend to see the first lady of country music, loretta lynn perform at her ranch in hurricane mills, tennnessee. we tried to go last year but she canceled due to illness. it was definitely worth the wait. she was amazing. her shows at the ranch are kind of laid back with many of her children joining her on stage for duets. and it's all by request only. the audience calls out tunes and she and her band play 'em even if they don't remember how they go. i was in awe. even though her body is frail, her voice is as strong as ever. and what really got me was the gospel medly she did. she sang, "everybody wants to go to heaven", "who says god is dead" and "how great thow art". when i was going thru chemo, jason got me a copy of loretta lynn's "hymns" and i listened to it religiously (no pun intended). and to hear it live, well... for not being a religious person, i felt truly blessed.

we also visited the lynn family flea market where loretta's daughters betty sue and sissy were working. betty sue was walking around talking to people and making sure people noticed her new husband (a skeleton in a tuxedo that sits in a rocking chair in the back of the shop). she says, "he's the best husband i've ever had". the lynns are all crazy as loons that's why i like 'em so much. i purchased an antique set of squirrel salt n pepper shakers autographed by loretta. and an antique holly hobby cookie jar. i'd been wanting a cookie jar to keep dog treats in. sissy was working the cash register and talking incessantly, admiriing all my purchases. she gave me some free mango candy on the way out. it was surreal.

after that we drove to memphis for the afternoon. we stood outside graceland, went to the elvis mall. then headed to beale street for some live music and barbeque. we purchased essential oils and candles from tater reds and smelled like hippies all the way home. amber even drove some.