It’s a good day. My computer problems are not resolved. I think my computer’s USB hub has died and that is most unfortunate because we’re going to have to finagle something complex to get pictures off my camera.
But it’s a good day.
Last night, after struggling with my laptop and reinstalling Windows and battling with Outlook and donning armour and fiercely approaching Dreamweaver with a huge-ass stick, we went out to play Puckett’s Farm Equipment in Charlotte , NC . Rain that had been threatening all day (Katy, good timing on your part) decided it was time to make good on its promises and aimed itself at guitar cases and the only evidence of my good-hair-day died a swift death under the onslaught.
Our friend Ben packed into the back, me struggling to make sense of my restored and not yet customized laptop and Heather struggling to see through the downpour we made our way out to Puckett’s and found ourselves in a renovated farming equipment store redecorated in stock car parts and beer name neon. Puckett’s was an immediate mix of impressions – a couple of bar regulars who don’t bother looking up at new faces, but a friendly host, an empty space, a huge space, a Confederate flag, an eager little black puppy with sharp, sharp teeth and bright yellow bar bird. Ben and Heather played pool as I sat and thought about our luck. People talk about how the people of Charlotte simply don’t brave the rain, and I’m cursing precipitation as our slot comes around and we go forth to play for an audience of six people or so who haven’t even applauded their own.
Dennis Davis was the name of the electric guitarist who’d sat in with the host, and Dennis stayed on stage with us – which made me nervous through the first 10 seconds of Rob’s Lament, and then filled me with elation as his sound mixed with ours.
I would kill a third-tier friend to have had someone recording the night. Fantastic electric guitar chugging through Rob’s Lament, rocking through Locomotive Breath, screaming through Choke Cherry, harmonizing beautifully with the ebow in Illinois is Overflowing and taking the harmony line for We Can Work It Out. Suddenly the night crystallized around this man and what he was adding to us.
We’ll meet up with him for South by Southwest in Austin , TX . I hope he’ll have a moment free to come play with us on Saint Patrick’s Day. Even the bar bird chirped along.
After us our friend Anthony went up on stage and played a Bruce Cockburnish set of mostly originals. his second song had a chorus about how he makes the most brilliant mistakes, like the one he made with yoooou. gorgeous song and the rain leaking through one part of the ceiling and silent slowly accruing crowd and the crack of the cue ball. I kept stepping out into the rain to maintain that icy feeling on my skin.
What a gorgeous night.
Afterwards we went to a supermarket and improvised the materials for chicken parmisan which I’m not sure I can spell – Ben cooked and it was absolutely mind-staggeringly delicious. We ate, watched Clerks till 3.30am , at which point I declared myself officially disgusted with my computer and wrapped myself in blankets on the floor.
Sure enough I dreamt of my computer and had a nightmare that it was insisting it was December 18th , 2021 and the computer clock totally fucked up ALL my calendar apps, my website AND reset my phone. OH – and it insisted the clocks had already changed.
I woke up and immediately had great sympathy for anyone that I’d ever shared a bed with, realizing I’d migrated caterpillar-like across the entire Living room floor. If I’d had company I’d have either bulldozed them to the far wall or caused an ugly nocturnal confrontation.
But today is a good day.
