Well, I made it back. As usual, it was a great time. But this year, I'd
say it had as much to do with the people as the music. I stayed at the
Austin Motel, which was basically P2 central. It was great meeting
everyone and reconnecting with a few folks (like Neil Weiss, who I met
last year). Big thanks to Laura Fowler for scoring my wristband and mixing
a hell of a margarita. What a great crew of people all these P2ers are.
And so great to finally put faces with names. I'd be more specific here,
but I met so many folks I'm sure I'm gonna miss some. Big props to Meshel
and CK, who drove my sorry ass around to a couple of places. Also thanks
to Wynn for taking me and Steve M back from Laura's. That was very cool.
Sorry I didn't have the stamina to party all night with people on Friday
back at the Motel. I got started a little too early in the day for that.
It's hard to keep it going when you've been drinking since one in the
afternoon (not all of us are blessed with Alex's constitution).
Anyway, on the music front there was some good stuff--although I think I'd
have to agree with those commentators who have said that this year was a
little thinner than years past. Nevertheless I saw some really good stuff.
Peak experience: Dave Schramm (sp?) He only played for twenty minutes at
the Checkered Past bbque, but this was easily the best thing I saw at the
whole conference. I wish he could have played a full set. A couple of his
solos literally brought tears to my eyes. I've been hearing about this guy
for a long time from some of my NYC friends. I'm just a sucker for the
territory he was mining: melodic pop songs and guitar that somehow
combines elements of my favorites (Thompson, Neil, Lloyd, Verlaine, etc.).
What a treat. And the band weren't bad either.
Other cool stuff:
* I also enjoyed the hell out of Drew,the steel dude from the Silos. He
was great in everything I saw him in (Jim Roll, Silos, etc).
* Built to Spill at the Copper Tank. This was a surprise unannounced show.
Really good. Were I 22 instead of 35, this would probably have been a
religous experience for me. As it stands, it was just a hell of a good
show. This band is probably the best thing going in the alternarock arena
right now.
* Paul Burch: This was really good. I liked him last year at the ND party,
and there was more of the same smooth old country at his showcase this
year.
* Meat Purveyors: Saw them at the P2 BBque. They kick it hard. And that
Mando player is a monster. This band just keeps getting better.
*Neko: Really first rate show, especially given that it was like the
fourth show this particular line-up had played together. Really liked the
Mike Ireland dude on guitar.
*Mark Rubin's Klezmer band: First rate
*Wayne Hancock at Under the Sun: great as always.
*Joe Henry: Waterloo Records. Enjoyed this for sure.
There's more I'm sure, but I'm forgetting. I was the Zen Warrior this
year, just sort of going wherever the flow of the day took me. But it was
fun and great to meet everyone. Hope to see you again some time.
Jake
Jake London
