Wednesday Random Ten

This one's coming off early, because I am going to be on the road tomorrow morning. Vegas beckons and I must obey. I am driving rather than flying because of the number of instruments I am taking. Phoenix to Vegas is actually a pretty scenic drive. For shows where flying is called for I always, I repeat, ALWAYS, send my instruments ahead FedEx. I have had too many instances in my career of the airlines damaging, or just screwing up the routing on the tools of my trade. It has gotten to the point where some airlines, like Delta, won't even pretend to accomodate a musician. The Musician's Union has called for a boycott of Delta because of their refusing to gate check instruments. I have, especially with my harps, bought seats for my instruments. When a flight is not all that crowded they often would give me a half price seat. Which, during my drinking days, allowed me to have some fun skirting the two drink limit on flights. It would go like this:

Flight Attendant: Would you care for a cocktail?

Me: I'll have a double Bourbon, neat, and my friend here will have the same.

Flight Attendant: But, but, but

Me: See? This label here? This fine instrument was crafted in 1878, way over 21.
She does love her bourbon.

Most of the time it worked. It also set up a few instances of in flight recitals that lead to post-flight assignations.

But, I'm digress, again. Let's see where was I? Yeah, boycott Delta. If you really, truly need your stuff to get there undamaged. FedEx my friends. I initially chose them because they were the first ones to offer pressurized cargo handling. Again, the harps are the ones that absolutely require that. Especially the one with the brass strings. The tension on the sound board and the neck is vicious. In an unpressurized or other situation where care is not taken with handling, it could literally disintegrate.

So, here's a sampling of the music line up for the drive...



The Obvious Child - - Paul Simon
Two More Bottles of Wine - - Delbert McClinton (featuring on bottleneck guitar - me)
Easy Evil - - John Kay (live bootleg)
She Belongs To Me - - Bob Dylan (live at the Bitter End '66)
Pencil Thin Mustache - - Jimmy Buffett
Raglan Road - - Van Morrison
Everybody Knows - - Leonard Cohen
Sweet Georgia Brown - - Django Reinhardt
And She Was - - Talking Heads
Inzikomo Zibango - - Mzikayfani Buthelezi

Bonus track

Mathilde - - Jacques Brel

Light to zero posting expected until Monday. Full report will be tendered upon my return. Dream of Peace my friends.