Wow. Beautiful songwriting here, only upstaged by Sean's powerful vocal performance on this song. I love the ebb and flow of the dynamics---really takes you for a ride.
We all knew that we had recorded something special once Sean McConnell's three-song session was complete. There was down time between the next artist, so we invited him to stay behind for a bowl of chile verde and tortillas, which had been simmering all morning. It was this session that spurred the now infamous "Verde & Videos" day at the Music Fog condo in Steamboat, as each following artist grabbed a bowl and a Shiner. It's hard to beat the combination of good food, trusted friends, and tasty music!
This was one of those sessions that was just loose. Ray Wylie Hubbard had just finished his set at the condo in Steamboat, and a few of the Braun Brothers were in the house tasting the goodies in the kitchen and testing the Tito's with the Fog crew.
Rosin Cody Braun opened the fiddle case to expose the instrument to the elements. I noticed that it looked like a white spray paint can had hit it right in the middle and commented as such. Cody looked at me and said, "That ain't spray paint my friend," and proceeded to run the instrument under his nose while remarking, "F*#K Amy Winehouse! She's got nothin' on me." We all had a good laugh after I had realized that it was rosin from the bow. The whole conversation with the brothers was like that. Really a fun bunch of guys. And Micky didn't care that he was sitting on a chair for this set, instead of a stool, even though Aaron was concerned that it might look weird.
I think this song, from Micky & the Motorcars'Careless CD, is based on real life experience. Even though I haven't driven the 260 miles between Rock Springs and Cheyenne, WY, I imagine that it could get just miserable in the winter. I looked it up in my trusty RoadMaster Road Atlas and discovered all kinds of notations about winter closings, and 11 to 12,000 foot elevations. The Old Frontier Prison museum is out there, too. This is the only place in the US where you can get yourself locked into a real gas chamber or experience a shower Shivving. The gift shop features shot glasses and t-shirts. A real pick-me-up for the next family vacation!
It is good to know that we live in a culture that celebrates acts of bravery, of undaunted souls and unexpected heroes. We just observed Martin Luther King, Jr. day, and as I have been driving around Nashville, I reflected on bus etiquette forever being changed when I turned onto Rosa Parks Blvd yesterday. Another age old tradition is that of the bard. The teller of tales, be they tall or small, which serves to solidify and amplify the deed. Whether of Paul Bunyan or Joe Hill, or Casey Jones, or Casey at the bat.
Then along comes Todd Snider. A dyed in the wool folkie if ever there was one, down to his barefoot performances. With an ironically twisted tale of heroism, that of Dock Ellis of the Pittsburgh Pirates, who supposedly threw a perfect game on LSD! America's Favorite Pastime, indeed!
Wow. Beautiful songwriting here, only upstaged by Sean's powerful vocal performance on this song. I love the ebb and flow of the dynamics---really takes you for a ride.
