Shows Shows

Last Thursday August 20, 2009, I went to a show. It was a bit of a last minute decision. I was at the office late that night, slinging last minute visas for a Tour Manager and FOH Engineer. I wanted to get into Long Beach early because David Serby plays at The Pike every third Thursday, and sure enough on the train ride home the texts start "Where are you?". By the time I finally made it home, and cooked my self a bowl of chili from Fresh and Easy, I start to return the texts, "Are you still at pike?", no it seems that everyone has moved over to the Que Sera, It's country night, and Sam Outlaw is playing.

I roll in right around midnight, to catch the first song of Sam Outlaw, perfect timing. I love Long Beach, I love the community, I love being greeted by my first name from the girl at the door and the guys at the bar. I notice that Sam Outlaw has a new backing band. I immediately recognize Brandon Young and Sean Walker from The Delta Spirit are accompanying him on drums and guitar, I can tell that I am going to enjoy this. The sound at Que Sera is well... the sound at Que Sera, and while I would have liked the Pedal Steel and Mandolin up a bit higher, Sam Outlaw's honesty and charm was able to shine through. I imagine it would be like getting to watch The Flying Burrito Brothers in '69 at The Palomino Club. Sam Outlaw is full of great one liners, one lyric that stuck out to me particularly was "Lord I miss your smile / and though it’s been a while / Lord I miss the way we kissed before we fell in love". I've had that line in my head for five days now.

After the show it was great to catch up with friends, Both The Fling and Cold War Kids had just returned home from long tours and it was nice to see members from each band coming out to support local Long Beach country music. I'm looking forward to see Sam Outlaws progression, I will be first in line to buy his new record. I have a feeling good things are happening for this fine gentleman, as I noticed a couple Managers and Record Labels also in the audience.

I love all kinds of music, but have recently had quite the affinity for Country music, It started with Johnny Cash, then moved into Gram Parsons. Next thing I knew I was buying Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, George Jones, Patsy Cline and Paco records. More recently I've even started listening to Country Radio, I find myself singing along to Darius Rucker and The Zak Brown Band. My Metal/Industrial High School self would have punched me for taking a line dancing lesson at Cowboy Country, but what I can say, you grow older and your tastes change, but no matter what kind of music I am listening to, it will always draw the emotion out of me, and I will always pefer sitting in my living room listening to a record then watching TV.

So tonight I put on my Immigration Consultant hat, as a co-worker and I attend one of our clients shows - Steely Dan at the Gibson Amphitheatre. Stay tuned... I will let you know how it goes. Thanks for reading my first real post.

Cheers,
+Wyatt