“It’s a big beautiful day....” Bob Schneider   

Settling in, well sort of, can’t seem to master the concept of Central Time. Brian Williams (NBC) at 5:30? That is just wrong for someone who is coming from our Nation’s Capital, where Brian airs at 7 pm!

I bailed on three 2 nights ago: Charlie Robison, who has a brilliant new CD out, Ramsay Midwood and Friends, and James McMurtry at midnight at the Continental Club, his last Wednesday evening before his international tour. I know, poor me....only going out for the next four nights in a row.

Then there was the surprise call from Miss Shilah on Monday asking if I wanted to attend the Elvis Costello taping of Austin City Limits. I know a lot of people who dish on Nashville, but EC’s band The Sugarcanes was everything that is RIGHT with Nashville, Jim Lauderdale, Jerry Douglas, Stuart Duncan, Mike Compton, Jeff Taylor, and Dennis Crouch....and then Patty Griffin got on stage for a few. A joy to hear Elvis’s classics “Every Day I Write The Book,” “Red Shoes,” and “Peace Love And Understanding” rendered by this finest of fine string bands, but also great to hear songs from the new album Secret, Profane and Sugarcane, - then we were graced by two BRAND new songs, one of which had been written only three days before. It was a “center of the universe” moment.

Later that evening, caught Jeff Plankenhorn and then George DeVore and Matt Powell (AKA The Twalls) at the Saxon, and then shot over to The Continental for Dale Watson, always a joy. Mike McClure next. I WILL report back!

-Jessie