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10/25/2005: "OCTOBER 22 2005"

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OCTOBER 22 TUCSON/ATLANTA

It is my birthday today.
I have decided to celebrate my 50th, instead of my 49th.
It’s an experiment.
Get the 50th out of the way.
Its already funny to see who gets infuriated by this idea and who likes the notion.

It does not matter much either way.
I will be getting on a plane and heading east to play a festival in georgia tomorrow, which means with the time change, 3 hours will get shaved off my day today and I will spend most of the rest just in the air, like most of my thoughts.

Last year we played our final giant sand show of the tour in London on the 21st. so at midnight we all started to celebrate my 48th. Then the next morning I was on a plane back to Tucson and landed in time to continue the party with my family and such. That was a very long birthday.

This year it ducked out from underneath.
Which is pretty good too.
And luckily, sofie is coming with me for this Georgia show.

So I don my akubra hat from Australia, and my new thrift store wool sport coat she just found me the day before. And some dark grey chinos from zara in spain.
The man is looking sharp for 50.

We have checked into the airport. It is way too nice for us. Then we muster up the gusto and head off to find food. It is about 1 or 2 in the morning. There is a place about 300 yards away called “spondivits” that our driver suggested. We are off to get there. we walk. As we approach down the darkened street, I notice there are a couple fellows up ahead in front of the restaurant with very similar silhouettes as my own dress code. Sure enough, when we get there a big righteous brother in the very same garb mentions something about how fine my lid is and how he should have it. cracks me up. Then the next feller settin there in front of the joint has to mention that my hat is fine, wearing a similar one himself. Ok then. Inside the place a picture perfect rendition of ‘purple rain’ is being performed by a skinny white college rocker. We negotiate a bucket of steamed sea creatures. Then back to our new home.

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OCTOBER 23 ATLANTA

I run into the band LOW at the hotel, me getting off the elevator, them about to get in. we talk and trade off music and some shirts. Sweet folks. Great band. Good omen.

I get on stage by 5 ….off by 5:45…and lucky enough to have victoria show up in time to manage a wobbled “wonder”…me adding the wobble. The set was fun and fine, but funny for me to witness all my usual gizmos not participating due to extent of travel bonk on them.

After which I catch a great buddy miller set. And then participate in some of the Victoria Williams and mark olson set too. some fun.

A fellow named denison is there having played also. Good to see him again. I met him when Richard buckner and me and he were the only American singer songwriters on a rolling festival of Swedish performers last summer.

In the end the fire alarm gets sounded and something burning. we waltz on out of there whilst the fire trucks roll in. a good night after all. I love Georgia. These paste people are sheer delight.

We all head back over to spondivits to feast. A drunk fellow at the bar likes my hat and grabs it. what is with this place and their love for fine headwear ? I yank it back. I am a yank, but Georgia still feels so good on. A beautiful autumnal day will land here tomorrow on our way out. Crisp and cool and sunny and with the tail wind from a distant hurricane, flying golden leaves.




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