Track 67: "The Wino and I Know" by Jimmy Buffet

And the wino and I know/the joy of the ocean/like the boy knows the joy/of his milkshake in motion

Add Mr. Jimmy Buffet to the list (along with Track 66’s Jackopierce) of bands/musicians I listened to in high school that didn’t really carry over into adulthood—or my apparent lack thereof.

But say what you want about Jimmy Buffet—sure his stuff is a tad corny and nearly every song he has ever written involves getting drunk at the beach—but the dude is more or less a living a legend. Despite a lack of any mega-commercial hit albums, Buffet has been around for nearly 40 years and his tours sell-out in nano-seconds. His legion of fans—Parrotheads (sort of like Deadheads with jobs and access to bathing facilities)--are amongst the most devoted music fans on the planet. And outside of his career, Buffet’s empire has expanded to include restaurants, retail stores, his own brand of tequila, books and likely much more than I just skimmed over on Wikipedia.

Though I’m hardly a devoted Parrothead and rarely listen to Buffet anymore, there’s just something about Jimmy Buffet and summertime. When 99.9% of your songs involve getting drunk on a beach, I suppose it’s hard not to be associated with summertime. But regardless of your opinions on Jimmy Buffet, the guy’s a fantastic songwriter and storyteller.

“The Wino and I Know” is a lesser known of Buffet’s songs, but easily my favorite. And I have my friend Chris Vaught to thank for drilling this song into my head during our high school years. (He also introduced me to Jackopierce). Chris was the first guy I knew that owned the Buffet box set “Boats Beaches Bars and Ballads” and was a cohort on my first (and only thus far) Jimmy Buffet concert—which was a drunken good time for all involved…from what I barely remember at least.



--Music is good.

Track 66: "Mexican Tune" by Jackopierce

And in the morning time I find myself hiking with long boots and a cane, with a small rucksack on my back, along the banks of the Powder River...where Crazy Horse kicked Custer's ass sideways

Not all of my favorite bands from high school have made the transition into adulthood (or my apparent lack thereof). And Jackopierce is one of those bands.

The acoustic, folk-pop duo of Jack O'Neil and Cary Pierce (see how they came to their band name?) was a definite favorite of mine in my high school years. And I'll still say that their album "Bringing on the Weather" is quite solid--and there are several great songs on their other records as well. But I pretty much called it quits with Jackopierce once I saw them perform while I was in college.

A few friends and I made the road trip from Clemson to Greenville (about 25 miles) to see Jackopierce. And while they didn't sound bad at all, their douchey stage presence and looks (they were both in uber-tight shirts and lots of bullshit rock posturing which doesn't work well when all you have is an acoustic guitar). Maybe I was just too cool. Who knows. But it wasn't my favorite concert of all time. (And currently Counting Crows holds the low-esteemed position of worst concert I've ever seen).

So while I may not be a Jackopierce fan per se anymore, their music is still on my iPod and yesterday the shuffle function reintroduced me to my favorite Jackopierce song--"Mexican Tune." The spoken word, improvisational, stream of consciousness lyrics sort of retell the story of the Battle of Little Bighorn, and I have to say it's pretty awesome--even if it's something I'm not really into anymore.



--Music is good.

Track 65: "Box of Rain" by The Grateful Dead

Maybe you'll find direction around some corner where it's been waiting to meet you

I re-discovered the Grateful Dead's masterpiece 1970 album "American Beauty" over the weekend. And just like the Beach Boy's "Pet Sounds" a week before, I fell in love with this record all over again.

I have no idea when or where I heard this album for the first time, but I'm sure I was mind-blown. For a band most known for extended psychedelic improvisational jams, "American Beauty" almost came as a shock to me when I first heard it. It's roosty, folky-Americana at its best and literally every song on the album is perfect in it's own way. I remember playing this album at a family beach trip in Charleston some time during the late 1990s, and even my parents enjoyed it!

It's also pretty cool that four different Dead members sing on the album--something you definitely don't see these days. Ron 'Pig Pen' McKernan's "Operator" is a great little ditty, of course Jerry Garcia's voice shines on tunes like "Ripple," "Friend of the Devil" and the gorgeous "Brokedown Palace." Bob Weir (the one Dead member I got to interview back in my music journalist days) contributes the classics "Truckin" and "Sugar Magnolia." But it's bassist Phil Lesh (who only does lead vocals on a just a few tunes in the Dead's vast catalog) who sings my favorite song on the album--and one of my favorites of all time. (And as a side note, David Grisman, who has popped up on the Playlist a couple of times now)

Longtime Dead lyricist Robert Hunter wrote some incredible lyrics to this album, and the band does some really beautiful harmonies throughout. Something about "Box of Rain"just instantly makes me happy--and if you ask any devoted Deadhead what the draw of the band was--and still is for that matter--I'm sure that phrase is likely to pop up.

It just makes me happy.



--Music is good

Track 64: "Whipping Post" Bonerama covering the Allman Brothers Band

And I don't know why I let that mean woman make me out a fool

The 2005 New Orleans Jazz Fest was one of the best times I can barely remember. I am sure that the few days I spent in the Big Easy easily took a few years off of my life span, but it was an incredible time in an awesome city.

It was my first visit to New Orleans and I cannot say enough good things about my experiences. The musical highlights are almost too many to list but a brief run-down would include: Elvis Costello, Old Crow Medicine Show, Charlie Hunter at Preservation Hall, the Trey Anastasio Super Jam, and Mike Gordon with the Benevento/Russo Duo. It was a great time--we ate like kings, drank like gutter-winos, and crammed a ton of music into a few days.

But my favorite surprise act of my Jazz Fest experience was undoubtedly Bonerama. My group ended up wanting to see the quintessential New Orleans funk band The Funky Meters and Tipitina's--only we didn't have tickets to the sold out show. We milled about outside the venue for about an hour scoring tickets, and the whole time this energetic swampy funk was spilling out of the venue.

As we walked in the opening band announced it would be their last song and they ripped into this jazz-funk cover of the Allman Brothers' "Whipping Post" and it totally fucking ruled. I've always loved the wail of the trombone--so what could be better than a New Orleans-bred jazz-funk band fronted by five trombone players, and backed by a guitar, drums and a sousaphone instead of a bassist? And is there a better name on the planet for such a band than Bonerama? Say it with me one time and you'll agree...BONERAMA!!!

My love affair with "Whipping Post" began in college when I discovered the 20-plus minute version on the stellar Allman Brothers live record "Live at Filmore East." And my favorite college bar (Backstreet's in Clemson, SC) always served $1 PBR bottles and had the "Filmore East" album on it's juke box. So for $5, I could enjoy a few beers and play "Whipping Post" and "Mountain Jam" on the jukebox and those two songs would supply at least an hour of music!

And though I have a feeling I may be wrong--this may be my first summer since college that regrettably will not include an Allman Brothers Band concert. As I came to grips with that sad fact, I remembered stumbling in on my favorite 2005 Jazz Fest experience--and that was seeing Bonerama play the ever-loving shit out of "Whipping Post."

Say it one more time with me...BONERAMA!

Track 63: "Wouldn't It Be Nice" by The Beach Boys

And it wouldn't it be nice to live together in the kind of world where we belong

After seeing a really great show by She and Him in Atlanta Friday night, I left knowing two concrete facts of life: 1. Zooey Deschanel playing a ukulele is the cutest thing ever. 2. The Beach Boys' "Wouldn't it be Nice" is the greatest summer song of all time.

M. Ward and Zooey's take on "Wouldn't it be nice" for the encore could not have been better and it inspired me to revisit "Pet Sounds." I came to this American masterpiece a little late in life; yet another musical cornerstone I owe to my buddy Patrick Hill.

I am currently on my third listening of "Pet Sounds" of the weekend and have fallen in love with this record all over again. There's not much point in espousing what a glorious album it is, but I will say it sounds like the soundtrack to some fantastic lush summer dream--where everything is bright and shiny, the pretty girls smile at you, and the sun is wearing sunglasses like he just came off the Raisin Bran box.

And it all starts with "Wouldn't it be Nice."



And here's a bit of She and Him's encore from Friday night. There was a strict no camera/smart phone policy, so thanks to the ninja who shot this! Even Zooey's flubs are adorable.

Track 62: "Don't Look Back" by She and Him

Don't look back all you'll ever get is the dust from the steps before/I don't have to you see every day, but I just want to know you're there

Dear blog enthusiast (yes, you),

My sincere apologies for no posts in a total of (gasp) five entire days. I can only hope you didn't find another self-important music blog to waste otherwise valuable time with during my brief hiatus.

But back to our regular scheduled program and another fantastic collaboration/side project: She and Him.

Even though I was already a fan of M. Ward, and despite already owning both of the She and Him albums (conveniently titled "Volume 1" and "Volume 2) I truly and deeply owe more than my life to one of my favorite new friends, Julie Benz-Pottie, for introducing me to this wonderful act.

Despite really liking (did I mention owning?) both of the She and Him albums, and even knowing words to several of their songs AND my non-gay man crush on M. Ward, I don't even possess the required vocabulary to properly thank her for bestowing on me the gift (in form of suggestion) of She and Him.

So as a hackneyed form of thanks, I will pimp her blog in mine. Surely, her fantastic blog (Julie Vs. Vegetables) chronicling her triumphant battle against everyone's least favorite food group will experience the "Pantsari Bump" of at least .25 readers after Track 62 goes live on the Interweb.

I liked She and Him the instant I heard it. M. Ward's knack for catchy low-fi arrangements really give the true star of the band, Zooey Deschanel, a chance to shine. Yes, in case you didn't see the movie "Elf", Zooey Deschanel is not only a ridiculously cute actress, she is also a great singer.

And both She and Him albums are chock full of wonderful (this is the only band I have ever used the word "wonderful" to describe) pop songs. There's a definite throw-back vibe going on as well. A bit of a doo-wop, early 60's, vaguely-Motownish sort of sound in the music and lyrics. And both records are packed with catchy, fun, simple tunes that just ooze bubblegum goodness.

On another positive note, I'll be seeing She and Him with none other than the author of Julie Vs. Vegetables this Friday night in Atlanta with a few other folks lucky enough to know her. Not only was she kind enough to share this band with me, but she's also been so generous as to float me the cost of the ticket until I get paid next Tuesday and shit.



Although I featured "Don't Look Back" for Track 62, I'm going to be as utterly selfless as Julie and share some more She and Him with you as well. "Gonna Get Along with You Now" (this is actually a song written my Milton Kellem in 1951).



"Black Hole" is off the Volume 1 record and the line "I'm alone on a bicycle for two" gets me every time.

Track 61: "Down with Disease" by Phish

Waiting for the time when I can finally say/this has all been wonderful, but now I'm on my way

I'll be seeing Phish here in Atlanta for the 3rd and 4th of July, so Track 61 is serving a purpose of getting me fired up on the half-day Friday before the holiday weekend.

It will be the first time I've seen Phish perform since 2004--what was then the band's 'farewell' festival called Coventry in Vermont. The festival was basically a cluster-fuck. Torrential down pours the days before the event turned the festival grounds into a mud pit. It backed up traffic--my group spent a good 30 hours waiting to get in--to the point where a lot of people abandoned their cars on the interstate and walked to the festival.

And granted I am sure the band was going through a lot of emotions with it being their final show, but the music really wasn't good at Coventry--especially coming from such an amazingly gifted and tight band.

My interest in Phish has waned over the last few years--chalk it up to changing tastes and the fact that the band wasn't around to put out new music. But for a few years of my life Phish was my favorite band. Their 1999 New Year's festival in the Florida Everglades--Big Cypress--will always be one of the best times I've ever had in my life.

So when Phish got back together last year it really created a lot of excitement amongst my friends--who are avid Phish fans. But for whatever reason, I didn't really care. I rarely listen to them anymore, but really am looking forward to the two shows this weekend. If nothing else but for the chance to see some old pals, but I am sure the shows will be incredible. Maybe I'll become a 'phan' once again.

"Down with Disease" is one of the many quintessential Phish songs. I love the funky bass intro, Trey Anastasio's guitar licks are absolutely smoldering, and it's nearly impossible not join in with the sing-a-long chorus. And this live version really captures the energy and visual stimuli of a Phish show. Arguably one of the best light shows out there (and this video is from 1995). At times it looks like the Mothership is landing!

But hearing and watching this made me get pumped up to see Phish again!

Happy 4th of July weekend!



--Music is good.