Big Sky

I’m a little weary tonight, had our last rehearsal for these upcoming shows. Weary in a good way though with the feel of a task completed. There has been a lot of late nights and running lately. Paul Barrere of Little Feat once wrote, “It’s those rock and roll hours, early graves with no flowers, please, please darlin’ put my mind at rest”. The song is called “Skin It Back”, good song. Paul Barrere is an underrated guitar player, he and Lowell George had a unique approach to the two guitar thing, subtle funk. Back in the vinyl days, I had a Paul Barrere solo record, I think it was called “On My Own Two Feet”. Going from memory here, I think there was a song on there called “High Roller” that I liked.

Here is a kind of spooky link to an article about the Unabomber. They have released some case evidence including some detailed pictures of his cabin in Montana. I think it interests me because years ago I played gigs in that area. It is hard country up there.

I remember driving all night from, if my memory serves me well, Council Bluffs, Iowa to a roadhouse in central Montana and having no time to shower, unload the gear and hit the stage. The band that was there before us had been fired for some reason and they were in the parking lot eyeing us the whole time we were loading in.

We were there a couple of weeks and it never seemed like the crowd really liked what we were doing. One night we did an extended, impromptu jam on “Will The Circle Be Unbroken” and “I’ll Fly Away” that had sort of an Allman Brothers vibe. It’s generally unwise to play gospel songs when people are drinking or long southern rock improv when people really would rather hear George Strait songs. I think we all sort of felt like they were tolerating us. Then on our last night, the club owner locked the doors and demanded that we party with the staff before we got paid. There was a lot of whiskey flowing and this guy kept encouraging the waitresses to dance on the bar for our entertainment. A couple of the women did so but seemed reluctant, like they were just trying to appease this guy. It’s pretty awkward watching someone bump and grind under duress.

This band was always ready for a party but that night we felt like we were being held captive. In the end we got the money and headed south with a vengence. All of this pre-dated any knowledge of Ted Kaczynski but we now refer to it as the gig in Unabomber country.