Faith and begorrah, it’s Saint Patrick’s Day, and the Gazette is assuming a [very temporary] new look. Notice anything different? Actually, my immediate family — which, AFAIK, has no Irish heritage — has sort of a special relationship to SPD. I was born in the little Texas Panhandle town of Shamrock, and my brother was… Continue reading Random Thursday: The SPD Edition
Category: Music
Random Thursday: The 20th Century CCM Edition
Feliz jueves, sports fans, and welcome to another edition of Random Thursday. Today is Weary Willie Day, and it was with a certain amount of trepidation that I clicked on this explanatory link, and was relieved to see that it refers to a clown character introduced and made famous by Emmett Kelly long before any… Continue reading Random Thursday: The 20th Century CCM Edition
A San Antonio Travelogue: Food, Music, More Food, More Music
Last weekend we met friends in San Antonio and spent a few days enjoying some quite varied activities and events in that amazing city. If you haven’t been to SA before, or if your exposure has been limited to the often frantic and always touristy downtown portion of the Riverwalk, the following is a sort… Continue reading A San Antonio Travelogue: Food, Music, More Food, More Music
Random Thursday: The Truly Random Edition
Happy Thursday, y’all! Today is National Chocolate Day. And is it a coincidence that it’s also National Internal Medicine Day, as well as National First Responders Day? I think not; you should take comfort in knowing that if you overindulge in the food of the gods, *someone* has your back. Or insides. Or…whatever. The Horseshoe… Continue reading Random Thursday: The Truly Random Edition
Random Thursday: Word Guacamole
¡Hola, amigos¡ ¿Qué pasa? Hoy es el día nacional de guacamole, y es la hora a celebrar. (It’s also Mexico’s Independence Day. Coincidence? I think not.) We’ve got a lot of territory to cover, so let’s lean into it (as “they” say in H.R.). I’m sure most of you are itching to know what’s going… Continue reading Random Thursday: Word Guacamole
In Praise of the Greatest Swing Song Ever -or- Sing Cubed is Not Square
I’m not a musical historian, but I play one on this blog, and I think the Golden Age of Swing in American music ran from the late 1930s through the end of World War II. A host of incredible musicians wrote and recorded songs that still capture ears and imagination almost a century later. I’d… Continue reading In Praise of the Greatest Swing Song Ever -or- Sing Cubed is Not Square
Beer By The Bay 2021: A Strange Trip
This post is dedicated to mi amigo bueno who, along with his lovely bride, was scheduled to attend this event with Debbie and me. Unfortunately, they both came down with COVID a couple of weeks earlier and thus had to bow out (they’re recovering nicely now; thanks for asking). I promised him a report, and… Continue reading Beer By The Bay 2021: A Strange Trip
Back Row Grace
I’m sure you’re all familiar with the Biblical parable of the back-row concert goers. No? Hmmm…I could’ve sworn strongly posited that was in the Bible. Oh, wait. Maybe I’m thinking of this: Now He began telling a parable to the invited guests when He noticed how they had been picking out the places of honor at… Continue reading Back Row Grace
Music Review: Sturgill Simpson’s “Cuttin’ Grass, vol. 1”
Yeah, two music-related posts in a row. It just sometimes works out that way, but not to worry; we’ll return to our usual mindless drivel pretty soon. If you visit the apparel page on the e-commerce section of Sturgill Simpson’s website and scroll down a ways, you’ll see a t-shirt with the question “Who The… Continue reading Music Review: Sturgill Simpson’s “Cuttin’ Grass, vol. 1”
Music Review: “From Elvis In Nashville” — Too much? It depends…
From Elvis In Nashville (hereafter referred to as FEIN to spare my typing fingers), a compilation of songs by you-know-who that became available last Friday, raises two questions. First, how much Elvis is too much Elvis? Second, assuming your answer to the first question isn’t “any Elvis is too much Elvis,” which Elvis do you prefer?… Continue reading Music Review: “From Elvis In Nashville” — Too much? It depends…