3/1/07
Had a great time tonight watching the Carolina game... wait, strike that. Had a terrible time watching the Carolina game, had a great time seeing a bunch of my oldest friends at various spots on a rainswept Franklin Street. For those of you in blogland, we got to hang with Neva at the Wine Bar, someone I last saw at a Johnny Quest show in 1990. As a doctor, she has helped me through my innumerable whines over email, and she is just as awesome in person.
Together with Annie and Tessa, we watched Greg Humphreys play an acoustic set at the front of the bar, and he even threw in two songs for me: "You Just Haven't Earned It Yet, Baby" by the Smiths, and "Lisa Marie" from his Outside In album. "LM" is probably my favorite song of Greg's, part of the seemingly unlimited gems he's able to pull out of what a rock critic once called "Humphreys' cosmic jukebox".
Outside In, released in 1993, is a lost classic from the last decade, and deserves another go-round on your iPod for those of you lucky enough to own it. "Collapsis" made the hard-hearted Julianna Hatfield cry, and "Black-Eyed Susan" is perfect rock confectionery. When Greg first played it for me in my car a few days after we won the '93 National Championship, I was sure they'd join the ranks of Dave Matthews and bust open a huge hit, but such is the cruel randomness of the music industry.
While recovering from that debacle otherwise known as UNC vs. Ga. Tech, Greg and Ann and I sat at Millhouse in Carrboro long after our waitress stopped working and began drinking at the bar. In an era of quick fixes and miracle cures, there's still no substitute for shared history, the kind of pleasure you find in people you've known across the decades.
Pounding rain on a chilly night in Chapel Hill, alone in the living room in a house on Purefoy Street, I'm reminded of the many intense dreams we had while we were here, and as amazing as we all turned out, there's always a little sadness about coming back to a place where so many schemes were hatched. Listening to the water cascade over the gutters, I think about the lyrics of "Lisa Marie" and fight off an old melancholy:
She looked at me and smiled
For a moment I thought I... had a chance
Stop and say hello
For a moment I thought I... had it easy
For a moment, I...
I...
agreed on DF...they really were that great, and Outside In really is a classic.
One of the greatest things about this blog, and you, is that you've kept your dreams alive. It's a good reminder to all of us.
Thank you Ian. You are too kind. It was great to hang out with all of you in your non-virtual reality. It was a really special treat to hear Greg live with an acoustic set. I thought the lovely mellow sound was fitting in that I feel like life in my 30s (almost 40!) is softer, quieter and, if not easier, at least more appreciated. Like you, Ian, I feel some nostalgia for the old times but I wouldn't go back there again (except maybe to go to another JQ show!).
Lisa Marie is such a amazing song. In these days of Fergalicious selling millions I can honestly say I just don't understand the music business at all if Greg's beautiful songs aren't known by all.
On a different note, ironically, after helping you with your maladies up till now I may well be the source of some since I came home to a vomiting child last night. Looks like the GI bug has found one victim here and I'm sure the rest of us are next. I hope I wasn't too generous with the germs.
I've been up all night with her and had to cancel my clinic today. If I'd known how crappy I'd feel today I would've drunk a little more and stayed out longer last night!
Ian, you, Tessa, Greg and Annie were gracious and lovely and I enjoyed my evening truly "talking" (instead of typing) to you. Stay well.
In agreement about the scary state of UNC hoops. Of course, it didn't help that Tech went 18 for 19 at once stretch!
I would have loved to have caught Greg's solo set with you guys. My Hawaiian band(www.dahowlies.com) got to open for Hobex a couple of weeks back down here in Wilmington and it was a treat and an honor. When you've gone on road trips, made out with pretty girls and gotten absolutely obliterated to someone's music for...geeez...20 years (?!), it's really cool to share the stage with them. Greg, you're the best and thanks for having us open!
Hope your time in Chapel Hill is going well guys. Dagmar and Beck are coming up to visit Lee and Suzanne this weekend while I toil away at the salt mines here in Wilma. Hope you cross paths. Beck and Lucy could be the couple of the new millennium!
Go Heels! Screw Duke!
This basketball season is starting to depress me. As overwhelming and unexpected as last year was, this year is soooo UNDERwhelming and yet unexpected at the same time. It's like a 1000 piece puzzle of the a most beautiful scene but we just can't get the pieces to fit. Argh. Beating dook on Sunday will only be a bandaid for this gaping wound.
The time to rename Henderson street has arrived. I propose that it be known as Hansbrough street from this date forward.