THRICE TOLD TALES

GETTING A BIT LIKE A WELL OILED, WELL RUNNING, CO-ORDINATED MACHINE NOW…I THINK THAT WAS #13…SO HERE IT IS FIVE A.M. AND NOW WE’RE IN SASKATOON. TONIGHT IS TWO OF THREE IN A ROW…AND I’M STILL UP…GOOD GOD, I NEED THOSE HOURS OF SLEEP. BUT AS RICHARD STARKEY ONCE SANG “YOU KNOW IT DON’T COME EASY”…
VALIUM DOESN’T REALLY DO IT ANYMORE…AHH, THAT’S A KINDA STUPID DRUG ANYWAY…IT MELLOWS YOU OUT, BUT YOU’RE NEVER QUITE READY TO PLAY CHESS WITH STEPHEN HAWKING, IF YOU GET MY DRIFT…BODY DRUGS ARE ALL VERY SIMILAR IN THAT CAPACITY. GOES RIGHT BACK AGAIN TO THE HIPPIE DAYS AND THE STONERS VS. THE BEER TRIPPERS. THERE WERE SOME FOLKS BACK THEN THAT DID A LOTTA DRUGS, BUT THEY WERE ALWAYS BODY DRUGS….DUMB, NON-THOUGHT PROVOKING, BODY BUZZ SHIT…YIKES…I DID MY SHARE OF THAT CRAP TOO, BUT NEVER GOT ONE GODDAMNED THING ACCOMPLISHED ON ANY OF IT. HAVE TO ADMIT, THE WHITE LADY HAD A LOT OF “INVOLVEMENT” IN THE WRITING AND MAKING OF #10… BUT AN AWFUL LOT OF THE CREATIVITY WAS FUELED BY PARANOIA…YOU CAN HEAR IT IN THE LYRICS…”SURE LIKE TO BOOGIE AFTER DEATH COMES CALLIN’ “…AND “HAVE A DISEASE FREE SUMMER IN ASIA…” THESE ARE NOT PRETTY LITTLE BOY/GIRL SONGS…JACK RICHARDSON, BLESS HIS HEART, WAS NEVER CRAZY ABOUT #10 I DON’T THINK…HE NEVER SAID SO, BUT I THINK HE WAS WANTIN’ MORE SYRUPY LOVE SONGS CAUSE THEY DID SO WELL ON THE RADIO…AND WE’RE ALL SINGIN’ “WHO MAKES THE MUSIC WHEN YOU DIE…?????”
OH BROTHER.
NOTHER NIGHT, NOTHER SUNRISE, NOTHER SHOW…NOTHER, NOTHER, NOTHER. I’M TOTALLY CONVINCED THAT MOST OF YOU READING THIS NOW COULD NEVER DO WHAT WE’RE DOING IN A MILLION YEARS. I’M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE MUSICAL PART…I’M TALKING ABOUT THE TOURING PART. ROBBIE ROBERTSON CALLED THE ROAD “A GODDAMNED IMPOSSIBLE WAY OF LIFE…” I GUESS IT CAN BE. IT HAS BEEN FOR ME AT TIMES. AROUND 1973, AFTER #10, I HAD TO SHUT IT DOWN FOR A WHILE…JUST TOO TIRED…”LIE DOWN…LIE DOWN….” IT WAS EVEN DOMINATING MY LYRICS…SURE, I’M TIRED THESE DAYS, BUT I’M NOT DOING ANYTHING TO PUT MY BODY THROUGH THE RINGER. HELL, IF I COULD LIE DOWN LIKE NICKY OR AL OR LIL OR MICK OR JONESY AND JUST SLIP OFF TO SLEEP, I’D BE DOIN’ TEN NIGHTS IN A ROW. TROUBLE IS, I HAVE TO EITHER PILE DRIVE OR TRICK MYSELF TO SLEEP EVERY SINGLE NIGHT. THANK GOD THIS IS THE LAST THREE IN A ROW, CAUSE SLEEP IS STARTING TO SLIP AWAY NOW…INSOMNIA REARS ITS UGLY HEAD, AND I’M IN TROUBLE.
CAN’T HIT THOSE NOTES RIGHT WHEN I DON’T SLEEP. BUT I THINK REGINA WAS ONE OF THE BEST 3 OR 4 YET…NIGHT OFF BEFORE, BIG SLEEP, HOT WATER AND HONEY, RELAXATION, NICE WALK AROUND REGINA RELIVING THAT FIRST MAGICAL SUMMER FOR ME ON THE ROAD, ALL OF THAT…IT MADE FOR SOME GOOD VOCAL NOTES IN THAT BEAUTIFUL BUILDING…I SAID I’D RECALL SOME GREAT MULTI ACT SHOWS FROM THE PAST…HERE’S ONE THAT STICKS OUT IN MY MEMORY AS QUITE A MAGICAL NIGHT…AT LEAST FOR ME…
I WAS STILL 21. RANDY WAS STILL WITH US, SO IT WAS LATE 69 I THINK, NOT SURE. IT WAS ATLANTA AS I RECALL…5 ACTS, THE HEADLINERS AND THE ONES REALLY DRAWING MOST OF THE PEOPLE WERE PAUL REVERE AND THE RAIDERS. NEXT DOWN ON THE BILL WAS KENNY ROGERS…NEXT DOWN ON THE BILL WERE THE GRASS ROOTS…NEXT DOWN ON THE BILL WAS OUR BAND, THE GUESS WHO…AND OPENING THE SHOW WAS TONY JOE WHITE…HE CAME ON FIRST, IN FRONT OF ALL THESE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THERE TO SEE THE RAIDERS AND KENNY AND THE GRASS ROOTS…JUST TONY JOE AND HIS DRUMMER. THE DRUM SET LOOKED LIKE A LITTLE KIT YOU’D GET FOR A KID TO FOOL AROUND ON. TONY CARRIED HIS OWN AMP, GUITAR SLUNG AROUND HIS NECK, AND A HARMONICA ON ONE OF THEM DYLAN HARP NECK GADGETS…DRUMMER SETS HIS BASS DRUM, SNARE AND HIGH HAT DOWN, TONY SETS HIS AMP DOWN, PLUGS IN AND OFF THEY GO…TWO GUYS…MAYBE 15 THOUSAND PEOPLE AT LEAST IN THIS HUGE ARENA…AND IT WAS ONE OF THE BEST 25 MINUTES OF LIVE MUSIC I’VE EVER SEEN TO THIS DAY. AND I HOPE TO MEET TONY JOE WHITE SOMEDAY AND TELL HIM JUST HOW MAGNIFICENT IT REALLY WAS THAT NIGHT. I’VE NOW GOT ALL HIS RECORDINGS, INCLUDING 2 VERSIONS OF “STUD SPIDER” ONE OF MY ALL TIME FAVOURITE SWAMP SONGS…GOD, HE WAS JUST MAGNIFICENT THAT NIGHT…TWO GUYS…A TINY AMP…DRUMS, GUITAR, HARP, VOICE…I’VE NEVER FORGOTTEN THAT. IT WAS A LESSON FOR ME ABOUT WHAT TO STRIVE FOR…HE CONNECTED WITH ME THAT NIGHT…CONNECTED WITH MY “SOUL” WHATEVER THAT IS…AND I’VE NEVER FORGOTTEN HOW SPECIAL IT WAS ON SO MANY LEVELS. FIRSTLY, EVEN WHEN THE RAIDERS FINALLY CAME ON WITH THEIR SOLDIER OUTFITS AND GREAT GUITARS AND LIGHTS AND FLASH AND HARMONIES (Good God, they were almost as famous, something like an American Beatles…Mark was on the cover of everything…moreso than Justin B. is today…) I WAS STILL THINKING ABOUT TONY JOE AND THAT DRUMMER…IT TAUGHT ME THE GREATEST LESSON I THINK YOU CAN LEARN ABOUT SHOW BUSINESS….IT’S ABOUT THAT CONNECTION. I’M NOT SAYING TO GO OUT AND “GO TO ANY LENGTHS” TO CONNECT…JESUS, I’VE SEEN SOME EXTREMES…SID VICIOUS USED TO CUT HIMSELF A LOT…THAT GOT SOME PEOPLE’S ATTENTION…WENDY WILLIAMS USED TO SHOVE THE MIKE UP INSIDE HERSELF ON STAGE…THAT TURNED SOME HEADS. BUT I SAW “CONNECTIONS” GALORE IN THE GOLDEN DAYS…THE LAST THROES OF THE HIPPIES…I PLAYED AT SOME SPECTACULAR POP FESTIVALS, SOME OF THE LAST GREAT ONES…SEATTLE WAS ONE OF THOSE…AND NOBODY FILMED IT…SO WHAT…MY HEAD FILMED IT…I CAN LIVE IT AGAIN ANYTIME I CHOOSE, AND BELIEVE ME, I THINK ABOUT THAT ONE A LOT…BUT THAT TONY JOE THING WAS HEAVY, AND SO WAS THE NIGHT WE OPENED FOR THE AIRPLANE IN THE OLD WINNIPEG ARENA. IT WAS 68, SO YOU CAN IMAGINE THE AURA AROUND THE AIRPLANE THAT NIGHT…JESUS…THEY WERE THERE IN WNNIPEG…THE AIRPLANE…I COULDN’T BELIEVE I ACTUALLY TALKED TO JORMA AND GRACIE THAT NIGHT…ABOUT FOUR WORDS TOTAL, BUT IT HAPPENED…AND SO, ON WE GO, THE GUESS WHO, WE’RE SO TIGHT AND POLISHED WE’RE GONNA BLOW THEM RIGHT OFF THE FUCKIN’ STAGE…BOY OH BOY, WE’RE LOADED FOR BEAR…HERE’S OUR CHANCE TO SHOW UP THE BIG GROUP…AND FROM BEING BACKSTAGE ALL TOGETHER BEWEEN SETS FOR A FEW MINUTES, I HAD A CHANCE TO SEE THE PUPILS OF SEVERAL OF THE CAST OF CHARACTERS’ EYES…SO I THINK THERE WAS SOME ALTERATION GOING ON. ANYWAY, ON WE GO, THE GUESS WHO…AND WE’RE REALLY GREAT. WE SING GREAT, WE PLAY GREAT, I’M SWITCHIN’ AROUND FROM KEYS TO FLUTE TO HARMONICA TO GUITAR AND SINGIN’ PRETTY GOOD, AND THE FOUR OF US ARE PRETTY WELL ON OUR GAME…WE COME OFF STAGE PRETTY SMUG INSIDE…
FEW MINUTES LATER OUT GO THE AIRPLANE…THEIR SET STARTS WITH A HIPPIE TYPE JAM WITH JORMA AND JACK JUST SAILING AND SOARING TOGETHER…SPENCER WAS LUCKY TO BE WITH THOSE TWO…AND PAUL’S HAMMERING ON HIS RICK, I THINK IT WAS A RICK…AND THIS GREAT JAM SNEAKS SEAMLESSLY INTO
“ONE PILL MAKES YOU LARGER, AND ONE PILL MAKES YOU SMALL…”
GRACIE SANG THOSE ELEVEN WORDS AND AT THAT MOMENT NOT ONE PERSON IN THAT ARENA HAD ANY MEMORY OF THE GUESS WHO’S PERFORMANCE WHATSOEVER…THE POWER OF THE HIT RECORD, OR THE “RECOGNIZABLE TUNE” HIT ME LIKE A HAMMER IN THE TEMPLE THAT NIGHT. OUR BAND HAD BEEN EXCEPTIONAL…BUT IT DIDN’T MEAN A HILL OF STALE BEANS ONCE THEY LAUNCHED INTO WHITE RABBIT…
I LOVE MY JOB…BUT IT’S NOT EASY. I’M 63 AND I STILL WORK REALLY REALLY HARD AT MAINTAINING A CERTAIN LEVEL OF PRIDE IN WHAT MAKES UP WHAT WE CALL MY “CAREER”. I HAVE MANY FAULTS, BUT ONE OF THEM IS NOT LAZINESS WHEN IT COMES TO THE MUSIC. I IF WERE LAZY I WOULDN’T HAVE A WORLD CLASS COLLECTION OF ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF MANKIND’S MUSIC…
AND IF I WERE LAZY I WOULDN’T HAVE TYPED ALL THIS AT SIX IN THE MORNING WHEN I’M IN THE MIDDLE OF THREE IN A ROW…GOOD LORD…GUESS IT’S TRANQUIL SLEEPS TONIGHT…
THE FROGS ARE GREAT…REALLY GREAT. THEY TRY HARD. NOT ALL BANDS DO, YOU KNOW…THE FROGS TRY HARD…AND ALL SIX OF US BENEFIT, BECAUSE AT THAT POINT IT BECOMES SOMETHING SPECIAL. THESE SHOWS WILL SURVIVE ON VIDEO FOREVER…THAT’S ENORMOUS PRESSURE ON THE SIX OF US EVERY NIGHT, KNOWING OF THAT VIRTUAL IMMORTALITY. JIM MORRISON ONCE SAID “WHEN YOU DIE, WOULD YOUR LIFE BE INTERESTING ENOUGH TO MAKE A MOVIE ABOUT ?”
THE SIX OF US ARE DOING SOMETHING ALMOST EVERY NIGHT THAT HAS BEEN DEEMED BY MANY, SPECIAL ENOUGH TO FREEZE FOREVER.

“THIS IS THE DAWNING OF THE AGE OF GREGARIOUS…”

PEACE INSIDE…BLC

BEEN A WHILE…SET A SPELL…READ SOME…

NOT SO EASY TO TYPE ON THE BUS…NIGHT TIME IN THE PRAIRIES….ROAD POINT OF VIEW…LIKE CATCHING LIGHTING IN A BOTTLE…WILL O’ THE WISP…I’M UP FRONT FOR A CHANGE, WHERE THE TABLES ARE TO SIT AND TYPE. IN THE BG, THOSE BOYS STILL UP ARE WATCHING THE PAWN GUYS AND THE PICKERS AND THE COLLECTORS…THERE’S A WHOLE NEW PORTION OF HUMANITY THAT HAS BECOME “STAR MATERIAL”. IN MANY WAYS, HOLLYWOOD COULD NEVER HAVE EXISTED IN AN ERA SUCH AS THIS WHEN IT WAS IN ITS FLEDGLING STAGES. ANYTHING NOW IS A SERIES. KNOW WHAT MAKES ME PROUD ? I’VE GOT A “SERIES” OF LIVE PERFORMANCES OF MY OWN SONGS ON U TUBE WITH THE VIEWS IN CELESTIAL NUMBERS.THAT’S MY “SERIES”. CLEARLY, IT’S NOT THAT EASY TO TYPE ON A BUS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT…EVEN THE PRARIES, AS FLAT AS MOST OF THE PRAIRIES ARE, HAVE BUMPS AND CURVES IN THE ROAD, SO YOU HAVE TO BECOME ADEPT AT “BUS SURFING”. IT’S ALL RELATIVE. SO MANY FOLLOWERS OF THE MUSIC AND THE VIDEO PERFORMANCES STILL SEE WHAT I DO AS “GLAMOUROUS”…YEAH BUT, IT’S “GLAMOUROUS” FOR SO FEW SECONDS IN MY LIFE, YOU’D PROBABLY BE SURPRISED…YES, ENCORES ARE SOMEWHAT “GLAMOUROUS”…STANDING OVATIONS SURELY, VERY HIGH ON THE LIST…THAT FIRST BURST OF APPLAUSE WHEN YOU WALK OUT ON THE STAGE AND THE CROWD IS PUMPED AND IT’S ALL ABOUT TO START…THAT’S WHAT YOU COULD CALL “GLAMOUROUS” I GUESS…AND, MOST SUCCESSFUL ACTS LEAVE THE STAGE AT A CERTAIN POINT AT THE END OF THE NIGHT, AND JUST WAIT BACKSTAGE, WITH THE LIGHTS DOWN, “WISHIN’ AND HOPIN’” THAT THE ROAR OF THE APPLAUSE GOES ON LONG ENOUGH TO WARRANT THEIR TROTTING BACK OUT THERE FOR “ONE MORE”…IT’S ALL THOUGHT OUT…IT’S ALL PLANNED…GOD FORBID, THERE’S NEVER ENOUGH APPLAUSE OR ROAR TO WARRANT GOING BACK OUT, THEN YOU HIGH TAIL IT TO YOUR DRESSING ROOM IN SHAME AND DEJECTION, FEELING A BIT OF FAILURE, NO MATTER HOW THE WHOLE NIGHT WENT…IT’S JUST NATURAL AFTER BEING AT IT FOR DECADES… IT’S ALL FAIRLY CRUCIAL AT THE END OF A LIVE SHOW. I REITERATE THAT THIS IS ONLY MY POINT OF VIEW. WE ALL SEE THE WORLD DIFFERENTLY, AND CONSQUENTLY OUR OWN INDIVIDUAL PLACE IN IT. SOME SHINE, SOME DO NOT…WE’RE ALL DEALT CARDS. HOW YOU PLAY YOUR HAND OF LIFE REALLY DETERMINES WHAT YOU BECOME.I BELIEVE THIS TO BE FAR MORE IMPORTANT THAN WHATEVER “GENES” OR “TRAITS” PREVAIL AT BIRTH. I THINK THERE’S BEEN ENOUGH MODERN RESEARCH TO SHOW THAT ACTION AND PERSEVERENCE FAR OUTWEIGH NATURALLY INHERITED TRAITS…PROCLIVITIES SHOULD BE NURTURED…MINE CERTAINLY WERE…I THINK MY MOTHER SAW MY FASCINATION WITH THE 78′S FAR BEFORE SHE MADE ME TAKE LESSONS. AND I QUIT FOR A WHOLE YEAR. NEVER TOUCHED THE PIANO, WELL, HARDLY. SHE FORCED ME TO GO BACK TO THE LESSONS.SHE KNEW WHAT SHE WAS DOING I THINK. CAUSE SHE’D SEEN MY ABSOLUTE FASCINATION WITH RECORDS LONG BEFORE I EVER WENT TO KINDERGARTEN. SHE ALSO HAD TAUGHT ME TO READ LONG BEFORE KINDERGARTEN, SO I WAS ABLE TO FUMBLE THROUGH THE 78′S AND KNOW WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR. AND FINALLY, AND PROBABLY MOST HEAVILY, WHEN I WALKED OUT OF ST. JOHN’S THAT MORNING IN AUTUMN ’65, SHE DIDN’T GO BALLISTIC. I HONESTLY THOUGHT SHE’D HAVE A BIRD. THERE WAS ALWAYS FAR TOO MUCH OF THAT UNNECESSARY FEMALE DRAMA IN OUR HOUSEHOLD ANYHOW, SO I THOUGHT WHEN SHE HEARD THAT I’D JUST QUIT, SHE’D SOAR INTO SPACE…BUT SHE DIDN’T…FUNNY…I WAS FLASHING ON THE CBC YEARS TONIGHT ON THE BUS FOR A WHILE (I’M IN REGINA NOW, IN THE VERY HOTEL WHERE BACHMAN HAD HIS FIRST WEDDING RECEPTION IN 1966 AND IT WAS ALL MORMON AND STUFF AND ALL THERE WAS TO DRINK WAS FRUIT PUNCH. KALE AND I WERE MIFFED…SO WERE A LOT OF OTHERS, BUT WE’D DRIVEN ALL THE WAY TO REGINA FROM WINNIPEG AND ALL WE GOT WAS A BARBERSHOP QUARTET IN KINDA BAD JACKETS AND SOME FRUIT PUNCH…WHAT A GYP !
MAN, THE GHOSTS HERE FOR ME…CAN’T EVEN BEGIN TO COUNT THEM. JUST DOWN THE STREET FROM WHERE I’M TYPING RIGHT NOW IS THE HOTEL WHERE 7 OF US SHARED 2 ROOMS FOR AN ENTIRE SUMMER. IT WAS THEN CALLED THE WESTWARD INN. AND BRUCE DECKER WAS IN THE GW THAT SUMMER.1966.WE’D GONE BACK TO WINNIPEG AND SCOOPED HIM FROM THE DEVERONS TO PLAY RHYTHYM AND SING HARMONIES….MY GOD…THAT’S AN ALMOST OVERLOOKED LITTLE PERIOD…WHEN TWO OF FIVE DEVERONS WERE ACTUALLY IN THE GUESS WHO. IT SEEMS LIKE A CENTURY AGO.POOR BRUCE WAS MERCILESSLY FIRED AT THE END OF THE SUMMER OF 66 AND WE BECAME A FOUR PIECE. AND RANDY INSISTED I LEARN TO PLAY GUITAR. WHICH I DID, AT LEAST ENOUGH TO STRUM A BIT OF RHYTHM ON STAGE. SO IF I COULD SWITCH AROUND FOR GUITAR SONGS, AND THEN GO PLAY KEYS FOR OTHER DIFFERENT THINGS, WE COULD DO MORE WITH ONLY FOUR GUYS TO “SUPPORT”. I PRETTY MUCH BELIEVE TO THIS DAY THAT MONEY WAS AT THE VERY BASE OF ALL THAT…POOR BRUCE. HE NEVER REALLY WAS THE SAME AFTER HIS STINT WAS OVER. THIS IS BACK AND FORTH NOW…I’M IN THE OLD REGINA HOTEL, WHICH THEY NOW CALL THE RADISSON…BUT THE GHOSTS OF THE RAILROAD STILL LIVE HERE QUITE HAPPILY.
AND THE AIR IS AS CLEAN AS EVER. REGINA IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. NO BETTER BREATHING AIR IN THE WORLD EXCEPT PLACES LIKE TAHITI AND SUCH…I AM ALWAYS HUMBLED AND SMITTEN WHEN I COME HERE. SO VERY, VERY MUCH ABSOLUTELY STARTED FROM THE BEGINNING FOR ME RIGHT HERE…I’M LEAVING NOW TO WALK AND BREATHE…CONTINUE ON…IF YOU’RE INTERESTED. THIS IS NOW BUS TO ROOM TO BUS TO ROOM….WHO KNOWS…IT’S ALL ONE NIGHT THOUGH…

SO NOW WE’VE 12 GIGS UNDER OUR BELTS. IT SMACKS BACK TO THE 60′S, STRONGLY 67, THE YEAR WE GW BOYS GOT OUR VERY OWN BUS AND PAINTED OUR NAME ON THE SIDE AND DROVE AROUND CANADA THINKIN’ WE WERE GONNA BE BIG STUFF. ONE TIME WE WERE OUT IN VANCOUVER AND WE WERE INTERVIEWED FOR WEEKEND MAGAZINE WHICH WAS A SATURDAY COLOUR INSERT IN EVERY PAPER ACROSS CANADA AT THE TIME…I WAS 19 I GUESS, STARTIN’ TO “STAY UP PRETTY LATE” REGULARLY.
I SAW THIS ARTICLE ONCE LATELY AND I WAS AMAZED AND EMBARRASSED SIMULTANEOUSLY. THEY WANTED QUOTES FROM ALL FOUR OF US. I SAID THINGS THAT WERE RIDICULOUS. NOT THAT I WAS TRYING TO BE ANYTHING PARTICULAR…IT WAS JUST THAT THE WRITER FOCUSSED ON SUCH STRANGE DOINGS…WE WERE USING A FOG MACHINE AT THE TIME AND A HUGE DEAL WAS MADE OF IT…THEY MADE ME SOUND A BIT DENSE, AND I NEVER THOUGHT I DESERVED IT… . I HONESTLY CURRENTLY FORGET WHAT THE OTHER THREE GUYS’ QUOTES WERE, BUT IT SEEMS THEY COULD’VE DONE A BIT BETTER WITH HOW THEY REPRESENTED ME. SO VERY, VERY LONG AGO…
AND YET, TONIGHT, AT THIS LITTLE TYPING TABLE ALCOVE ON THIS HUGE BUS IN THE MIDDLE OF THOUSANDS OF ACRES OF WHEAT, IT MIGHT JUST AS WELL HAVE BEEN LAST WEEK. IN 67 WE TRIED…WE DID OUR BEST WITH NO MONEY. OUR BUS DIDN’T HAVE MULTIPLE FRIDGES, MULTIPLE SATELLITE TV’S, DVD PLAYERS, MICROWAVE OVENS, ICE COOLERS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR LIQUIDS…COMFORTABLE BUNKS LOCATED SO AS TO OFFER ULTIMATE COMFORT AND PRIVACY…BUT ONCE YOU’RE IN YOUR BUNK, IT’S THE SAME AS 67, AT LEAST FOR ME. GOTTA BE TOUGH TO SING THE WHOLE TWO HOURS THESE NIGHTS. NO MATTER WHAT, IT’S ALL BEEN CAPTURED. I’M INDEED IMMORTALIZED NOW IN THE VIRTUAL, TECHNO SENSE, SO EVERYTHING, EVERY DAY, EVERY NEW GREAT SHOW, EVERY PERPETUATION OF WHAT’S BEEN GOOD BY ME SO FAR IS MORE SPECIAL THAN THE LAST. THERE’S A DIFFERENT VIBE THIS YEAR AT THE SHOWS. WE’VE DONE A DOZEN NOW, SO I’VE HAD TIME TO INGEST IT. THESE LAST FIVE OR SIX NIGHTS HAVE BEEN SLICK, LOOSE WITHIN TIGHT…YOU ONLY GET THERE WITH REPETITION. THE TRAVEL AND REPETITION GRINDS THE SHOW INTO SHAPE. THE TIMING IS SHARPER THESE NIGHTS. I HAVE TO SAY SOMETHING WHILE THE GUYS CHANGE INTO THEIR CASSOCKS FOR “ROLLAWAY” SO I HAVE TO DO SCHTICK…SHWARZENNEGER JOKES, RIVERDANCE JOKES, PLAY A LITTLE RACHMANINOV, BANTER ON ABOUT NOTHING, EVEN (and I did it the other night) DASH OFF A CHORUS OR TWO OF NASHVILLE SNEAKERS…I THINK LIL CAUGHT ABOUT EIGHT BARS OF IT, NOT SURE YET. LIL HAD A GREAT VERSION OF “TIMELESS LOVE” FINISHED AND READY TO PUT UP….AS I TYPE RIGHT NOW, ALL ARE IN BUNKS EXCEPT SAM AND YOURS TRULY. SO I’VE LOST INTERNET FOR NOW…JUST ONE OF THOSE AREAS…AHHH WELL….SO WHINE SOME MORE ABOUT YOUR TOUGH EXISTENCE, BURT…CARRYING FOUR I PODS THIS TRIP. DON’T LISTEN AS MUCH WHEN I DON’T FLY…TEND TO WATCH MOVIES MORE…THREE IN A ROW STARTS TONIGHT IN REGINA…25TH SASKATOON…26TH EDMONTON…..I’M GONNA BE 64 THIS YEAR AND I’M VERY PLEASED TO BE KEEPING THIS PACE. ENERGY…STAMINA…MENTAL TOUGHNESS…ABSTINENCE…DISCIPLINE…GENES…ALL THESE THINGS FACTOR INTO PULLING THIS OFF. IT’S TO THE POINT WHERE YOU SPEND SEVERAL HOURS IN A HOTEL ROOM, NOT REALLY ENOUGH TIME TO UNPACK OR “SETTLE IN”….JUST STOPOFF POINTS. SHOWER, PERHAPS SHAVE, EGGS, TOAST,COFFEE AND GO…IT’S ALL OKAY REALLY. SOMETIMES WE FLY PRIVATE JETS, NOT ALWAYS…NOT MANY ACTS DO…UPPER ECHELON. WE DON’T HAVE THE TYPE OF SCREENS THE STONES AND U2 AND GAGA HAVE, BUT WE HAVE SOMETHING I ADMIRED YEARS AND YEARS AGO, IN THE SIXTIES…WE HAVE THAT VIBE THAT GROUPS LIKE THE AIRPLANE HAD…SOMETIMES QUICKSILVER…EVEN SOME OF THAT GUESS WHO VIBE FROM THE ERA WHEN KURT WAS THERE..(4 or 5 or 6 people out there groovin’ along, sweat on the floor, and an audience being taken somewhere…that’s the deal, isn’t it, really ? )THERE WERE A FEW NIGHTS WHEN KURT WAS IN THE BAND WHEN THE JAMS JUST SAILED…JUST SAILED TO SOMEWHERE ELSE….I’M ALREADY INTO VALIUM LAND AND I’M WIDE AWAKE. DON’T EVEN START WITH THE MEDITATION AND YOGA AND ALL…WIRED IS WIRED IS WIRED IS WIRED IS WIRED…I’D TRY HEAVY HYPNOSIS IF THE CHANCE PRESENTED ITSELF, BUT TIME WILL TELL…
THOUGHT I’D DRAG OUT ONE OF MY FAVES FROM THE UPCOMING POETRY BOOK…SOME OF YOU THOUGHT THE CARDS WOULD NEVER HAPPEN, BUT HERE THEY ARE, CATCHING ON…THE POETRY BOOK IS VERY MUCH IN THE WORKS…I WANT TO GO TOP QUALITY….I’M NOT PUTTING OUT A CHEESY PACKAGE FOR MY WORDS. MY WORDS ARE PRECIOUS, AND AS I RE READ MY POEMS, I CAN SEE WITH MY OWN LITTLE EYE THAT I’VE GOTTEN BETTER IN THE LAST THREE YEARS…
HERE’S ONE I THINK IS WORTHY OF A RE-BROADCAST…

REAPER DEAL

TO A FOOL IN A FIELD ON A DAY OF ALL JOY
CAME THE SCENT OF A SCOUNDREL OR KNAVE…
AND A VISAGE SO PALE AS WOULD CHALLENGE THE SNOW
FOR THE HAND OF THE LIFE IT WOULD CRAVE.

THE CLOSENESS OF SPIRIT WITH TIPPING ITS HAT
WOULD ANNOUNCE THAT ITS BEARING WAS NEAR
AND WHEN ONLY THE PROPER CONCESSIONS WERE FOUND
THEN IT ALL BE EXCEEDINGLY CLEAR.

FOR THE WAYS OF A WORLD THAT WOULD LIE JUST BENEATH
COULD BE SEAMY AND MIRED IN SIN…
AND THE COURIER SENT WITH THE GIFT OF SURPRISE
WOULD BE CLEVER IN LURING HIM IN…

AND LURING AND TEMPTING AND LYING IN COIL
WITH A PENCHANT FOR WATCHING A FALL
WITH ANCIENT AWARENESS AND INFINITE GUILE
THE BENEATH ONE HAD SENT OUT ITS CALL.

AND OH TO RESIST FROM THE GENTLEST OF HAND
AND A FINGER THAT POINTED THE END
A BEGINNING SO HIDDEN FROM INNOCENT VIEW
AS TO SHUFFLE FROM FOE TO THE FRIEND…

AFTER SOUND TO THE LEFT AND A THOUGHT TO THE RIGHT
OUR BEDAZZLED STOOD UP TO ABIDE
WITH A FEAR OF THE LIKE HE HAD NEVER RECEIVED
HE WAS RAVAGED AND HARRIED INSIDE

HE HAD HEARD OF THE TELLING OF PASSING OF TORCH
HE HAD LISTENED AND HEEDED SO WELL
BUT NOW IN THE MOMENT SO CLEARLY RECALLED
HE WOULD SCRAMBLE HIS SOUL FOR TO SELL

HE WOULD STRIKE UP A BARGAIN, A DEAL COULD BE MADE
THE PROLONGING OF STATE AS IT IS…
BUT THE STAKES OF TRANSACTION WERE HIGHER THAN TRUE
FOR THE SOUL IN THE DEAL WOULD BE HIS…

FOR A BARTER OF TIME AND A BARTER OF TRUTH
AND A SHIVER OF KNOWING THE REAL
CAME A PRICE TO BE PAID THAT ENCOMPASSES ALL
WITH FINALITY PART OF THE DEAL…

TO CONTINUE THE BREATH OF THE DAY AND THE SUN
HE WOULD PAY WITH A PRICE FROM WITHIN
AND A NAME WOULD BE ENTERED IN GREAT BOOK OF DARK
AS THE COURIER STARTED TO GRIN…

AND THERE IN A MOMENT IN FIELD FULL OF SUN
WAS CONCLUDED A BARGAIN SO SAD
THAT FOR LIMITED DAYS IN A LIMITED FRAME
HE HAD GIVEN UP ALL THAT HE HAD…

BUT A DEAL IS A DEAL AND THE BOOK IS THE BOOK
AND A RECORD IS KEPT IN THE MANSE
FOR THE DAYS MAY BE SPLENDID, BUT AFTER THE SUN,
THEY SHALL POINT TO THE END OF THE DANCE…

AND WHEN SPIRIT HAS RUN AND THE PORTAL IS CROSSED
WITH A SECRET OR TWO IN THE YIELD…
THEN THE LESSER OF EVILS WILL HEAD FOR THE HILLS
AS THE RAGE OF THE FLAME IS REVEALED…

B.C. MAY 14 / 09

THAT’S ENOUGH FOR ONE BUS RIDE…GEEEEEEZZZZZ….LOTTA TYPING…
SEE YA WHEN I CAN SIT IN ONE PLACE FOR A WHILE…

YEAH, WELL I’VE JUST SAT IN ONE PLACE FOR A WHILE, AND I’VE STILL HAD ENOUGH OF YA…
SEE…TOLD YA IT WAS BOUNCIN’ AROUND BETWEEN TWO TYPELOCATIONS…………
OH BROTHER…THREE IN A ROW…WHAT THE HELL AM I DOIN’ UP ?????????

BURTON LORNE CUMMINGS ORDER OF CANADA / SONG AND DANCE MAN

(p.s. that’s not a typo…that’s my word…”typelocations”…wot a winner…wot a beauty…)