Wordless Wednesday.

Strand of Oaks' "End in Flames"

I haven't been able to get away much this year so far, but last weekend heralded in a cherished brief weekend away, running around CO and visiting dear friends, having especially good eats and putting so much of that good music in these ears. In just two days and nights, I saw performances by Mason Jennings, The Head and Heart, Gregory Alan Isakov, Joe Pug and Strand of Oaks. It helped recharge these batteries. At one point, I was in a nearly empty chapel in Colorado Springs, laying on a cool granite floor while Strand of Oaks recorded the tune "End in Flames" for their Fuel/Friends Chapel Sessions, recording it on my wee point-and-shoot and I had to stop a second and just shake my head (which isn't real easy when you're flat out on the floor). I was overwhelmed with a huge sense of gratitude and giddy happiness and I thought to myself, "Self, why don't you live in Colorado?" True story, that. Only problem is, I don't yet have an answer for it. Not yet, anyway. Maybe I will someday.

Fixin' To Die.

Brothers are good for lots of reasons. But today, one brother of mine earned his stripes all over again when he scooped up the new G. Love, Avett Brothers-influenced album for a fiver on Record Store Day when he was at Slowtrain. Yes, I made the gentle nudge of a suggestion that he do so, but when it showed up in my mailbox, I'm fairly certain my heart grew five times that day. Music has that power, you know. Anyway, here's a taste if you haven't heard it, which was the singular taste that drove me to wanting needing it in the first place. 

Stomp-clap, stomp-clap. Stomp-clap, stomp-clap.

Wish you were here.

On occasion, I give in to the outsider's belief that this is all I do while in Florida. This weekend involved swimming, shell collecting, chasing white crabs on the coast with a flashlight, riding around the island on a golf cart, capturing sunsets and sunrises and, yes, some hammocking. I mean with all the sincerity I can muster that I do look forward to doing this all over again, too. It was serene, gorgeous and welcomed.