George Jones: This Possum's Gone To Heaven

Coming back from a show in Saskatoon a few months back - and prior to handheld devices taking complete control of the tunes in the band van - I got up some nerve to throw on a George Jones cd, hoping that my enthusiasm/drunkenness would allow the rest of the band to not completely dismiss him or me outright.  A couple of us already were pretty big fans, and enjoyed hearing the corny but rockin' early tunes along with the waaay too syrupy strings that added gravitas and melodrama to George's incredibly heart-rending takes on classic songs like "He Stopped Loving Her Today" and "The Grand Tour".  Others, if I recall correctly, were not completely stirred from their hungover dreams.

After the roadtrip, it was my pleasure then to lend Sleights my boxed set of the man.  Although I do know that in our band's early days Marsh would sing a version of "Just One More", it had been a spell since George made an appearance in what we regularly do.  I should also mention that Dev had included "Tennessee Whiskey" as well for a while, so the man really, as I think, and type, and realize with less guessing and more clarity, did have a bit of a place in what we do/did live as a band.

Still, at a time when I was bugging people to learn some Dwight Yoakam (hey, it could've helped in Bladworth....um, ok, maybe not), it was a great kick to find myself and the band digging into "White Lightning" and seeing it never leave the setlist so far this year.  It became even more apparent how Mr. Jones had affected my bandmates as Piper and the Gates of Dawn, of which Marsh and Sleights are part of, just recently included a version of "Why Baby Why" (I think that was the song....I was a little bit tipsy by then) in amongst their usual noisier rock and roll.

Anyways, he's dead, and that sucks.  But for The Lonesome Weekends, we'd be a way more sober band with way fewer awesome songs about drinking if it weren't for George Jones.  I know there are plenty of places one can find tributes to the man now that he's gone, but I recommend you check out the link below, from a site that typically steers clear of anything stereotypically Nashvillian.  It has an interesting angle on how he managed to mess up publicly with dignity, and if that ain't appealing and/or meaningful to you in some way, well, then you just might've stumbled onto the wrong blog.  http://dustedmagazine.com/features/1076


Hat

Getting to Know The Band, Part One

Who doesn't love a good list that divulges everything you've ever wanted to know about the dreamboats in the band, um, of your dreams?  Tiger Beat, 16, Mojo, and Rolling Stone all understand the value of digging deeper into the wonderful, life-affirming qualities of the stars that make our world go round.  Even the most jaded music fan will admit to being safer, warmer, and perhaps even happier basking in the knowledge that Jim James, for example, spoils himself by bathing in caramel (that explains the awesome hair!) and that butterscotch encourages him to get intimate.  I know I'm a much better person going out in the world today with that under my belt - thanks Exclaim!http://exclaim.ca/Features/Questionnaire/my_morning_jackets_jim_james

With that said, here's the beginning of a semi-regular feature that enables you, the curious and devoted fan, to be the first on your block to dish the dirt share the joy of the inner workings of the boys in the band, and to see that we are always, unbelievably, on the same page.


Thoughts on Tusk by Fleetwood Mac

Sleights: Overrated.
Hat:  Life w/out Tusk is like an egg without salt, or a kiss without a beard!
Prpich: In the Top 50 albums of all time, mutha#&$%*!
Dev: Never heard it.
Marsh: Not sure what it is...
Ty: Booooo Tusk!


Desert Island Disc

Sleights:  Lee Hazlewood The Very Special World of Lee Hazlewood, Bob Dylan Blonde on Blonde, The Band The Band, Neil Young and Crazy Horse Zuma (4-way tie, check back another time for 4 more methinks!)
Prpich:  The Beatles White Album
Dev:  Ratatat Classics
Marsh:  Bob Dylan Time Out Of Mind
Hat:  Meat Puppets Up On The Sun, The Upsetters Super Ape (tie)
Ty:  I'll take an LP. Any LP actually, with the record pulled out. Inside I would have as much string as would fit with a knife and flint strike. In the mean time while you are all blissed out to your music starving to death, I will be slow roasting whatever exotic animal I have hunted over my nice toasty fire. And no, I will not share my food or fire with any of you no matter how much Lee Hazlewood or Bob Dylan you offer in exchange. This is a survival situation not a vacation!


On Spoiling Oneself

Sleights:  Buying records.
Hat:  Wake up, inhale, exhale, smile, repeat.  Add whiskey on occasion.  And pancakes.
Prpich:  Make more music, watch old '30s movies, Extra Old Stock.
Dev:  Salvation Army.
Marsh:  Chips n' beer.
Ty:  Premium dark roast coffee beans.


And don't forget that next week is Juno Fest, and we're on at The Artful Dodger Saturday night.  To plan other activities for the low, low price of $30 over two days, check out this handy grid for your perusal: http://junoawards.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/JFGrid-April4.pdf


Hat