The Drive-By Truckers

The Return of Gravity

/ Deb / 1 Comment

Isn’t it nice to give up control and just go along for the ride? I finally got to see The Drive-By Truckers last night, and it was everything I wanted it to be. Having not seen the Truckers before, I had no strong opinions on the setlist, so I could just people-watch and see everyone get their Concert Moment. Truth be told, I was already a little emotional about being back inside The Showbox again for the first time post-pandemic. The evening was perfect, the band was having fun, and I’ll go see them again anytime.

And did they ultimately play my Fall of 2021 theme song? They did! I’m taking it as a sign, of course. Because that’s what I do. If there’s even a chance that this was the universe’s way of telling me that I’m on the right path, I’ll take it. It’s been a music-filled week, and that makes me feel energized and grounded.

Some editing of old blog posts reminded me to get out of the house last week to see my friend’s band, The Wayside, at the Tractor Tavern. And of course it was great, and another full-circle moment, as The Wayside was the last live show that I saw before everything went dark in the spring of 2020.

And the cherry on top of my show-filled week: a few days ago, in a conversation with a long-distance colleague, we realized that we had some musical tastes in common. Turns out he had two extra tickets to tonight’s The War on Drugs show at the Paramount. I was supposed to see them a few years ago, but had a conflict and had to sell the tickets. I’ve never seen them live, but my colleague assured me that they put on a great show, and given that he was planning to attend two nights in a row, I’m sure he’s right. Long story short, I now have tickets to tonight’s show and am looking forward to the ride.

So….can I make it a trifecta tonight, with three shows in one week? I’ve realized that the key to making it out the door to a weeknight show is to not sit down after 5pm, lest the rainy weather and the pull of blankets, Netflix, and a couch will prevail. I’ll let you know, but so far I’m liking my chances!

The Pandemic Stole the Gravity

/ Deb / 3 Comments

(“I’ve been falling so long it’s like gravity is gone, and I’m just floating”……)

While I don’t know that I’d use the term ‘falling’, 2021 has definitely been an unraveling of sorts. I’m still curious to see which knots will hold.

In the fall of 2019, I went to a Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears show at the Tractor Tavern with my sister. I was already standing on the river bank , and in looking up at those old beams and exposed brick, had one of those rare moments when my path seemed clear: What do I love more than old buildings and live music? What’s stopping me from opening my own venue?

At a party not too long after that (remember when we had parties?), I mentioned my idea to an old friend, who noted that my face lit up when I talked about it. I am sure that was true. Sometimes those around us can see things more clearly than we can. Anyway, the rest of 2019 wore on like any other year, and I was so excited about my barely-formed idea that I couldn’t stop talking about it, even convincing another friend to come on board despite the lack of any real plan. Of course, then 2020 hit, and I was suddenly very glad that I did not own a small live music venue.

At any rate, two years hence, “Gravity’s Gone” by Drive-By Truckers has been a bit of a theme song for me in the fall of 2021. Is it because:

  1. It makes me feel like I’m two stepping in the aforementioned Tractor Tavern, which is one of my favorite venues;
  2. The song makes reference to “champagne hand jobs”, which always makes me giggle. I’m still not really sure what this means (OK, maybe I have an idea). Anyway it’s a great phrase, one that I’ve yet to be able to work into casual conversation; or
  3. Another line in the song, which reminds me of my Grandma: “If you’re supposed to watch your mouth all the time I doubt your eyes would be above it”. (Such a great line; I mean really, can we all now just speak our truth like old women do?)

For those playing along, the official answer is #1. But of course it’s really all of the above.