Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Insiders who complain to politico: please report to the white house office of shut the fuck up.

Boeing: repeatedly making the case for high speed rail.

The republican speaker is a slippery little devil.

Every reporter and pundit should have to declare if they ever vacationed with a billionaire.

A democracy can’t function when people can’t distinguish facts from lies.

Republicans don’t lie to be believed, they lie to be repeated.

Nancy smash is sick of your bullshit.

Fuck that bum, let’s go Joe!

I like you, you’re my kind of trouble.

If you’re pissed about Biden’s speech, he was talking about you.

Israel is using food as a weapon of war. Unforgivable.

You are so fucked. Still, I wish you the best of luck.

Historically it was a little unusual for the president to be an incoherent babbling moron.

T R E 4 5 O N

When you’re in more danger from the IDF than from Russian shelling, that’s really bad.

Republicans can’t even be trusted with their own money.

You don’t get to peddle hatred on saturday and offer condolences on sunday.

Red lights blinking on democracy’s dashboard

Peak wingnut was a lie.

There is no right way to do the wrong thing.

The Supreme Court is corrupt. Democrats must win in November and force court reform.

When I decide to be condescending, you won’t have to dream up a fantasy about it.

I wonder if trump will be tried as an adult.

There is no compromise when it comes to body autonomy. You either have it or you don’t.

You are here: Home / Music / Readership Capture Open Thread — Music Edition

Readership Capture Open Thread — Music Edition

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I bought my first music t-shirt at a Bonnie Raitt tour!

Pretty wide range of venues nationwide, running from late April through late June… and a Scalper Prevention Strategies page, too.


From GQ, “Jason Isbell is Keeping His Night Job”:

We find a corner table and order lunch. He came to Los Angeles to play at a Robbie Robertson tribute concert, and now he’s got a day off and time to kill while he waits for a flight out of here. Sporting a sharp denim jacket and brand new teeth, 44-year-old Jason Isbell looks Hollywood enough for where we are—the restaurant at the Chateau Marmont—but he doesn’t really act like he belongs here. He speaks low and chooses his words carefully, almost like he’s in church. He’s transparent: “I’ll talk about absolutely anything.” My pastor called it being “the same on both sides of the fence.” This makes it seem obnoxious, even grotesque, that a guy at the next table is hollering about being friends with Elon Musk and going skydiving with Richard Branson…

Weathervanes, Isbell’s ninth and most recent album with his band The 400 Unit, is one of his best: unflinching, emotive, literary work by a songwriter still looking for, and finding, new mountains to climb. Hell of an accomplishment for a dude who writes music like he’s been doing this for, conservatively, 50 years longer than he has. (Two of the songs he wrote when he was with the Drive-By Truckers in the early aughts, “The Day John Henry Died” and “Goddamn Lonely Love,” sound like the work of an old folk master, or at least a soulful middle-aged troubadour with an expansive and magnanimous view of human foibles. He was 25.)

This new one is a remarkable piece of work, a collection of snapshots and meditations on opioid addiction, being a parent in a country where people shoot up schools all the time for no reason, loneliness, alienation, religion, tradition, southern domesticity, and the blinding terror of being alive at all. It’s a miracle it exists because it’s a miracle he’s sitting next to me. This is a version of Jason Isbell who didn’t die in 2012, the version of Jason Isbell who won the war against the alcoholism that very nearly killed him, the one who made it to the other side…

Weathervanes dropped this past June and propelled him into what’s become his biggest year yet. He’s up for three Grammys next month. He got those new teeth (more on that later, and it’s a bigger deal than you’d think). He was the subject of the HBO documentary Running With Our Eyes Closed, an unflinching, sometimes uncomfortable close-up on his work-life balance with his wife, musician Amanda Shires.

“The documentary was a pain in the ass for me. I’ll never go back and watch it again,” he says, flat and careful. “But we told people the truth, and it was good they saw that, because that’s the job.”

Let’s be real, though—most of these achievements are logical next steps, if you’re in Isbell’s position and the stars align. Actually acting in a movie, a Martin Scorsese movie, is like going from a trampoline to skydiving. And it’s not just any Martin Scorsese movie, it’s Killers of the Flower Moon, a late-career masterpiece from a great auteur and arguably the best movie of 2023. (As of today, it’s now streaming on Apple TV+, which means you can pause it, so you’re out of excuses not to see it.)…

Reader Interactions

58Comments

  2. 2.

    Jerry

    A friend of mine has been on a helluva Sloan kick lately and while I remembered them back in the ’90s I didn’t really pay attention to them so I checked them out. OK, crap, they are excellent Canadian power pop. Man, this is really good! Here’s their album “one chord to another“

  3. 3.

    FastEdD

    On the subject of music, here’s a video of a song I worked on with 100 other ukulele players and other musicians. It’s quite beautiful! Give it a listen.  We used it to raise money for the good people of Maui who were displaced by the fires. The song was co-written by Grace Slick.

    https://youtu.be/6cb-Gi9H8Wg?feature=shared

  4. 4.

    Trivia Man

    Had a call tonight from my brother, he’s convinced he saw an Eric Clapton concert advertised for NJ in June. Now he cant find it again – is it possible EC had a stealth show advertised and took it down when it sold out? My guess was some scammer looking to get some credit card numbers.

    i saw EC  in the 80’s, the show was just OK

  5. 5.

    Chetan Murthy

    @Alison Rose: Oh, I’d love to see Bonnie Raitt live.  Oooh, oooh ooooooh.  I should ask my sibs if they’d like to go.

    ETA: Oh, man.  No CA dates.

  8. 8.

    Chetan Murthy

    Does anybody here have any expertise buying things on etsy?  I’ve been watching the Jeremy Brett Sherlock Holmes series, and …. my velour nightrobe is gettin’ kinda tatty anyway.  Gosh, I’d like to get a nice silk one like Brett sports in the series.  This one looks nice ( https://www.etsy.com/listing/983826160/victorian-sherlock-holmes-style-paisley ) but I’ve literally never bought anything on Etsy, and …. aside from a suit once decades ago, nothing this pricey.

    Anybody got any advice?

  9. 9.

    Dangerman

    Presently in Loma Linda, CA (wonderful community, better Hospital).

    Let me tell you what being a few miles (6 per Google Maps) from the epicenter of a 4.4 feels like.

    E ticket ride.

    Youngins, ask your Folks

    ETA: Do we have any Youngins?

  10. 10.

    TBone

    I was lucky to see the Bonnie Raitt and Lyle Lovett tour way back in 2002, so much fun 😊 with fabulous backup singers.  Hard to believe it was that long ago.

  11. 11.

    Alison Rose

    @Chetan Murthy: I’ve bought lots of things on Etsy. Since it’s all different sellers, basically you just want to look at their reviews and see what people say, not unlike on eBay. And Etsy has a purchase protection program, so if you get an item that is not as advertised or damaged or whatnot, you can usually get a refund. I’ve never had to do that myself, as I’ve always had good experiences.

  13. 13.

    Yarrow

    @Chetan Murthy:  I’ve bought a few things on Etsy over the years. They’ve been fine. But I’ve read recently that drop shippers have invaded it so it’s less reliably small crafters than it was before.

  14. 14.

    Dangerman

    @TBone: All OK. I’d pour something appropriate but MD would be displeased. Never piss off Doctors or Dentists. I saw Marathon Man.

    Epicenter was basically at the Metrolink Station. Guess where I’m going to be tomorrow.

    ETA: When I need to be here, it’s train these days; I’m done dealing with LA driving.

  15. 15.

    TBone

    @Trivia Man: I saw EC with Roger Waters in 1984 at the Spectrum in Philly.  Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking. It was startling and spectacular.  Earth shaking for me at the time.  I wouldn’t spend a penny to see either one now though.

  18. 18.

    mvr

    I recently had an old friend take a drug cocktail to end his life given virulent cancer. I first knew him when I was 13 but he was too cool for me at a wise 15 years old or so. Later when we were both older I hitched out to KCMO where he lived and stayed in his apartment. He had a bulletin board full of his own photos of Bonnie Raitt – black and white and they were really good.  When he moved to Portland he stayed with us while he found a place.  Only found out he died or was even sick after he did the deed. I wonder what has happened with those photos and the story behind them. I kind of can’t help but think of my friend whenever I think of her.

    Did get to see Bonnie Raitt this past summer at the Pinewood Bowl (an outdoor venue in LIncoln) last summer and a couple of years before as well when she was there with Richard Thompson.  Both shows were great, but the one with RT was special.

    Also saw Jason Isbell this past May or June in Omaha and have tickets again for this coming Spring.  A really good show, both due to him and due to his whole band.  If you don’t know who he is listen to Vampires which is just a brilliant song. Also an attractive personality.

  19. 19.

    TBone

    @Dangerman: not at the train station when your ship comes in, I hope!  Glad you’re ok!  MDs being pissed off seems to be a knack I have, it’s never a good idea so be patient while they practice.

  20. 20.

    frosty

    @Alison Rose: ​
     Lucky indeed! I saw her at the Santa Monica Civic, with Tom Waits as the opening act. That was the one where Joni Mitchell came onstage to sing the encore with her.

  21. 21.

    Chetan Murthy

    @mvr:

    an old friend

    I’m sorry to hear your friend passed, but hope that he was able to do it at a time and in a manner that he could control, and with least pain and unhappiness for him and his loved ones.  I’m 59, so (maybe) not old enough to worry about that, but I do think about it every now and then: that I want to control my end, and not have it be some sort of incremental degradation of quality of life, where by the end I can’t actually effect my own wishes.  I don’t know how you feel about his passing, but I hope that the fact that he was able to control it, gives you some peace about it all.

  22. 22.

    mvr

    @Chetan Murthy: Yes, I think he went out as he wanted to. I would have known he was sick but I stopped using Facebook when I realized that site made me unhappy.  He did it with a bunch of close friends around him and he did it consciously as far as I can tell. I’m happy he was able to do things on his own terms.

    But I do associate him with Bonnie Raitt and this happened just a few months ago. So this thread made me think of him.

  23. 23.

    Chetan Murthy

    @mvr:

    he did it consciously

    Somebody once said “at our age, we’re all used goods”.  We all have bits that are failing, falling apart.  I sure hope that when the time comes, I can do as he did.  I had a grandmother who wanted to die, but, well, she couldn’t do it, and she just suffered as her bones slowly dissolved.  She was in a lot of pain by the end.

  24. 24.

    mvr

    @Chetan Murthy: I’m sorry about your grandmother. That must have been hard to see.

    But yeah, I’m old and so far things are still mostly working but I have been getting lots of things checked out lately.

  25. 25.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @TBone: ​I saw EC with Roger Waters in 1984 at the Spectrum in Philly.

    When I saw EC in your comment, I thought to myself Costello has done some unusual collaborations but doing one with Roger Waters seems a bit too out there.

  27. 27.

    Yarrow

    Seems like this will be bad for Twitter.

    Nonconsensual sexually explicit Taylor Swift deepfake on Twitter with 27 million views, 173k likes. 9 hours. No takedown.

    Link to Bsky post above. Don’t know if you can see it without an account.

  29. 29.

    Chetan Murthy

    @Yarrow: I know of The BeyHive.  Is Taylor’s equivalent The Swifties ?  The Swifties should take Kums (a)Lone down, but hard.  If they all moved to some other social media, it’d be catastrophic for Kums.

  30. 30.

    Yarrow

    @Chetan Murthy: Taylor Swift doesn’t need her fans to destroy Twitter. She is not shy about standing up for herself. Well known case where she counter sued a guy for $1.

    The Taylor Swift sexual assault trial was a legal case held in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado. The trial involved David Mueller, a former DJ, filing for defamation against singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. He alleged that she had him wrongfully terminated following an incident at a 2013 meet-and-greet.[1] Swift then counter-sued Mueller for battery and sexual assault, seeking a symbolic $1 in damages.

    Link.

  32. 32.

    Elizabelle

    LOL.  Funny blurb near top of WaPost website at this hour, on story about US professor who has suggested adding salt to tea.  Good on the US Embassy.

    Tea-loving Brits were distressed by the notion of adding warm milk and salt to the drink. The U.S. Embassy in London weighed in, saying that its staff would “continue to make tea in the proper way — by microwaving it.”

  33. 33.

    laura

    I called Roadie Brother the Younger and he’s in Austin and scampered over to see Willie Nelson and Asleep at the Wheel with Billy Bob. He and Ray Benson took to each other like a couple of deep voiced guys. He was giddy and I was so happy to be regaled with tales of…well, not ribaldry, because everybody’s an old. But tales of like for sure.

  46. 46.

    eversor

    Ran head into a major ethical issue at work and walked away from work.  I guess this is why they hate those of us that make just enough we can just “yeah, lol no, and fuck you” and walk off and get a new job.  Everyone should be able to do this.

  47. 47.

    Anne Laurie

    @Librarian: Damn the cold equations.  I’m probably the only one here who’ll admit this, but Candles in the Rain was one of the songs I loved best in high school.  She’ll be mourned by at least one jackal!

  49. 49.

    Geminid

    In other concert news, British singer/songwriter Richard Thompson will play 16 concerts March and April, starting in Massapequa, New York. They’re mostly in the Northeast but he’ll play one at Annapolis and two in Virginia.

  53. 53.

    JML

    @Trivia Man: I saw Clapton in ’92 with a big group of friends and he was awesome. It sucks that old man Clapton has been such a jackass since COVID, it’s honestly tainted his music for me.

    Would love to see Bonnie Raitt, she’s awesome. But I haven’t been to a concert since the pandemic kicked off.

  54. 54.

    Jerry

    @JML: I saw Clapton in ’92 with a big group of friends and he was awesome. It sucks that old man Clapton has been such a jackass since COVID, it’s honestly tainted his music for me.

    He was such a racist and xenophobic pig back in the 1970s that a whole Rock Against Racism movement was created. And what a movement it was, too.

    It’s a bit of an overstatement to say that Clapton’s diatribe on stage that one night was 100% the reason why the movement got started, but I think it was the straw that broke the came’s back. The National Front was getting bigger and it was starting to go mainstream then Clapton gets wasted before a concert and goes on a rant in the middle of it, blaming all of England’s ills on immigrants and black people.

  55. 55.

    Bg

    @mvr: sorry about your old friend but it sounds like you have good memories

    good to see a fellow Jason Isbell fan here. Vampires helped me through the worst time of my life. I saw him at a lawn concert in Auburn Alabama last year. Quite a broad variety of fans

  56. 56.

    Shana

    @Chetan Murthy: I have bought a few things and been given a few things over the years from Etsy and found the quality to be good. One was a ceramic spoon rest that I love and another was a linen tablecloth from a Ukrainian seller to fit our oval dining room table (hard to find the shape and size I needed in readymade). Check the reviews and ask questions of the seller.

  57. 57.

    Paul in KY

    Saw Jason Isbell and 400 Unit at Forecasle several years ago. Was a fine dusk set. Hope to see him again sometime.

  58. 58.

    StringOnAStick

    @FastEdD: Nice job Fast One!  Our town’s ukulele group is smaller but we’ve been fund raising since the fire too.  My husband and I were just on Maui last month and the drive past Lahaina is heartbreaking; fire destroys so much and some people are getting screwed by their insurance companies because of “oh, just toxic waste from fire, you’re not covered for toxic and hazardous waste removal”, which of course is required before rebuilding can happen and is damned expensive.  Lahaina is a town with lots of regular working people and there was already a housing shortage before the fire.

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