Appendix A-1

http://www.starpulse.com/Music/Carbon_Leaf/Discography/album/P482491/R850600/

Ryan Adams is a rock God.

I know I've used this post title before in reference to another rocker, Mr. Jeff Tweedy. However, I have decided that Mr. Adams can join this pantheon of alternative-country, experimental rock Gods therefore creating a polytheistic faith that I invite all of my dear readers to join. Alas, I was unable to post the day after this awesome show, so some of the memories of exact tunes and words of wisdom from Ryan have faded, but let me offer this synopsis of the best twenty bucks I ever spent*. The Ryan Adams rocking style is that his band of ugly over-the-hillers and a hot bass chick takes center stage. Ryan stands far to the side in a sort of stage no man's land. The reason for this becomes clear quickly. He proceeds to thrash his sloppy self anywhere in a ten foot radius from his starting position. During the first 90 minutes of the show there was approximately 89 minutes of music and perhaps 1 minute of the band changing instruments or discussing the next tune. Some idiot in the crowd yelled for the shy singer/songwriter to speak, but I immediately realized that Ryan was intent on giving the crowd what it paid to hear: him rock out with some amazing musicians at his side. Finally, nearly 2 hours into the program when I imagined the band would disappear before an encore performance, Ryan's gentle voice spoke from under a mop of coal black hair, "Thanks for listening to our first set, we'll be back in 10 minutes." Indeed, this was merely the first half of the rockfest that the two thousand hippies, yuppies, emo kids, and frat boys had paid to enjoy. The second set was far more sonic than the first with the band playing three new tunes they had written on what Ryan joked was a new subject for him: failed relationships. "Super Well Adjusted Ex-Girlfriend #6" was a humorous standout track from the stock of new tunes. Luckily for me in my weakened position the show ended around 1 a.m. but had been well worth the pain and trouble of making it our to the NorVa. For all of those concerned, you may have figured out by now that the recovery from my recent operation is going well and hopefully this will be my last time under the knife for years to come.




*The best twenty bucks I ever spent undoubtedly actually occurred when I spent twenty dollars on booze, but this concert is a tight second to those innumerable ties at number one.

Sing. Sad. Song. Repeat.

Information regarding the forthcoming sophomore major label effort by my favorite band, Carbon Leaf, has recently been revealed. The title of this September 12th release is "Love. Loss. Hope. Repeat." This emo-sounding title reminds me of what I would have thought up if I were naming an album when I was 14 years old and my girlfriend had just dumped me. Needless to say, I am not impressed. This seems like a continuation of a downward spiral the band has taken towards heartwrenching ballads that are composed as studio songs and not road tested. They admit this in an interview on the band's website www.carbonleaf.com. I find this to be an absolute travesty. The tunes are still musically and technically well done, but they are missing an air of the unexpected and the zaniness (for lack of a better word) that made them quasi-famous in the first place. Gone is the day of the penny whistle and the mandolin, not to even mention the long ago death of the bagpipe. The originality of the award-winning tune "The Boxer" has nearly completely faded into their past. I do enjoy some of these ballads that made Indian Summer a fine album that was enjoyable in a certain mood or setting. The versatility of the music seems to be fading and the decline continues on L.L.H.R. Don't get me wrong, I still have a sick obsession with the band and will certainly purchase a couple of copies of the new album. However, the passion I had when I would follow them across statelines, sell their merchandise, burn CDs and drag friends to shows is leaving. I will be proud to announce that when Carbon Leaf is huge on Adult Contemporary radio that I once worked and drank beer with those five guys, but the fanaticism might indeed come to end and the story of my finding a new love will be written "Find. Love. Sellout. Repeat."
In other more gruesome news, I had my second operation on the posterior of my body this morning. This procedure was considerably less invasive than the last. Recovery will hopefully be quick and I can finally put this two year nightmare behind me. I will finally have the opportunity to see one of my rock and roll idols Saturday night when Ryan Adams visits the Norva. I am pumped about this show as long as my ailing body can stand a few hours of easy rocking out. The drugs are taking their toll and it is time to turn it in. Good night.

"The best activities for your health are pumping and humping." -Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger

The Dirty Dirty

Today's post comes to you from my transitory home in Jonesboro, Georgia, just a few miles south of the ATL. If you have blinked in the past six weeks you might have missed me, so here is your extremely abbreviated account of those days. Graduation was the first event of note. I left Furman with degree in hand and a lifetime of memories and good friends. This leads to my extended vacations with an array of friends on the beaches of Nags Head, North Carolina and San Destin, Florida. I made trips home to visit the old folks and to attend the wedding of my old friend Alice Cross and most importantly to reunite with several friends that I had missd in my six months away from home.