tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7632029549152237270.post1229726172378462871..comments2023-11-03T03:46:35.665-07:00Comments on Tom Russell: Notes from the Borderland: Tom Russellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03134977181127153226noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7632029549152237270.post-37417418308088651072009-11-23T13:44:12.080-08:002009-11-23T13:44:12.080-08:00Cormac McCarthy is still alive and well, last I ch...Cormac McCarthy is still alive and well, last I checked. Read every single one of his novels and tell me again that the novel is dead. <br /><br />Nothing is dead. Everything is constantly new, changing, evolving. To claim otherwise is to die with the past. To claim otherwise is to die in fear of being surpassed by something greater. To claim otherwise is to close your eyes to the genius born in each new day. Shame on you for not noticing.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07165070093018663988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7632029549152237270.post-70598197402331544342009-09-25T01:25:12.703-07:002009-09-25T01:25:12.703-07:00“No "new generation" of folk writers. “
...“No "new generation" of folk writers. “<br />With all due respect, Mr. Russell, I call BS.<br />With acts like Josh Ritter and Jack Johnson out there, folk is alive and well... It's just not what it used to be, but such is the way of new generations.<br />The energy, angst, culture of the new generation requires different approach, new voice. While the folk of the past remains relevant to my generation (I'm just shy of 24), just as roots folk did to Guthrie and Dylan, the need for new voices – Our voices – exists. Each generation contributes to the next, and the end is a whole – Don't lose sight of that whole because the voice is shifting. <br />Folk is alive with people like Ritter and Johnson, Nick Cave, Mary Gauthier – And it still slips into other genres, I've got a mix of Red Hot Chili Peppers and The Dresden Dolls/Amanda Palmer on my sound system right now, and I'm hearing it. It's all there.<br />I'm glad to see you mention Amy Winehouse, train-wreck that she is, that song is golden. Not folk, not even for my generation, but it's another new voice becoming part of the whole all the same. <br /><br />The same is true for the novel too... I'm quite sure.<br />I'm of course catching up at this point, just put down Norm Maclean and Larry McMurtry, and my desk is covered in Cormac McCarthy (He's an old voice now, but still put out a new novel for the now – The Road) and Gabriel Garcia Marquez. But the narrative voice in American is far from dead, even far from stale.<br />Some of us are still banging away on the novel, the real novel. But not to the exclusion of working with what works right now – Short fiction is alive, and may be more of a realm of truth, now, than the mainstream novel. I just had a wonderful experience with a small-journal (web based) editor and bringing one of my stories to publication – It was refreshing, and hopeful for the state of fiction in America. <br /><br />Journalism I'll give you. I am pretty much convinced that it is dead. Even what is good now, doesn't compare to what was good once upon a time. I have my folks life-time of magazines and newspapers to compare to, I grew up reading them as they were at ground level in baskets and boxes around the house where I could reach when still small. The media is so far off track and have fallen so far below any real standard that it would be laughable, if it wasn't so tragic. <br /><br />You aren't wrong though. We've got our work cut out for us. You're doing your part, and it's by-god appreciated. Keep it upNagromhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12464768190969600481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7632029549152237270.post-23991216533572249922009-09-22T14:32:51.393-07:002009-09-22T14:32:51.393-07:00when not writing songs, i write about other people...when not writing songs, i write about other people's songs. my brief review of blood and candle smoke is here:<br /><br />http://ninebullets.net/archives/tom-russell-blood-and-candle-smokeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7632029549152237270.post-74495564541095988612009-09-19T22:42:57.092-07:002009-09-19T22:42:57.092-07:00Part of the road I traveled was a section of The T...Part of the road I traveled was a section of The Trail of the Ancients. They let me pass.<br /><br />Awesome show. Got me a signed copy of the new CD.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7632029549152237270.post-85171646286964677192009-09-19T07:20:56.851-07:002009-09-19T07:20:56.851-07:00That would be :
Breaker breaker ...
And I saw a ...That would be :<br /><br />Breaker breaker ...<br /><br />And I saw a pale horse ... and hell followed. <br />Watch yourself Abner ...<br /><br />Drinkin' and ridin' is ok ... if you are on a train<br /><br />Johnny Cash sang his warning this morning about " When The Man comes around " . Better safe than sorry ...Saddle Tramphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15640646036914910941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7632029549152237270.post-70312050530113407932009-09-19T07:07:45.482-07:002009-09-19T07:07:45.482-07:00Give 'em the devil up there Abner ...
I know y...Give 'em the devil up there Abner ...<br />I know you've got it in ya ...<br /><br /><br />saddle tramp<br /><br />Via: St Louis town; gateway to the west and I'm headin' east listening to Hillbilly Jim's show and Johnny Paycheck singin' " Drinkin' and Drivin' ". Not adviseable ...<br />Breaker breaket ...Saddle Tramphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15640646036914910941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7632029549152237270.post-72496341106345915152009-09-19T05:57:54.241-07:002009-09-19T05:57:54.241-07:00To Durango (via old Route 666)!To Durango (via old Route 666)!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7632029549152237270.post-86697203225147794082009-09-11T06:57:28.322-07:002009-09-11T06:57:28.322-07:00Tom.
I doubt the carnival is coming to my town, ...Tom. <br /><br />I doubt the carnival is coming to my town, but I can see that you'll be touring Norway pretty hard next year (seven dates or so). I'll try to be at least two or three of them. As far as the American novel go, I think there are alot of great writers out there still. Filmmakers and musicians too. I didn't grow up in the 60s, I grew up in the 90s, but I've spendt most of my life living in the past. That might not be healthy, but that's the way it is. Dylan changed my life, turned it upside down when I was 14. I was already a huge Johnny Cash fan at that time, so I'm not going to give Bob all the credit though. There was something about Johnny singing, "I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die" that was ten times more badass, cold blooded, cool and honest as the fucking rap songs my friends listend to at that time. I've spendt all my life searching for those raw emotions. I never cared much for my own generation when I started listening to music. It didn't seem important then. I stole my dad's old records and I watched old movies. I loved and still love Peckinpah's savage poetry, Altman's weird melancholy and I got lost in those John Ford epics. I fell in love with those rugged men. Lee Marvin in "Monte Walsh"...man. Warren Oates in "Cockfigher" and "Bring me The Head of Alfredo Garcia", Robert Mitchum in "Night of The Hunter" and "Thunder Road"...Warren Beatty in "McCabe & Mrs. Miller". I wonder what happend to men like that? <br /><br />I read Steinbeck, Faulkner, Greene, O'Conner, Kerouac. I listend to the folk singers, the blues singers. Townes Van Zandt, Leonard Cohen, Eric Anderson, Utah Phillips, Woody Guthrie, Missisippi John Hurt and Lightnin' Hoppkins. American poets, storytellers crazy truthtellers. Things have changed. Dylan used to pop music for fucks sake. I wouldn't listen to contemporary pop music even if somebody shoved a shotgun barrel into my mouth. Hell, it's understandable that my generation might seem doomed. Maybe we're nothing more than zombified mall-rats, a bunch of Soulless, ballless, braindead MTV kids with silver spoons jammed up our collective asses. Belive me, there's some truth to that. Still, I hear real voices out there. Willy Vlautin from Richmond Fontaine. He has been putting out great albums for many years now. He recorded a record three years ago at wavelab too. Called "13 Cities". He has also written two novels called "The Motel Life" and "Northline". I love them both. His voice is his own but I would compare him to Larry Brown and Raymond Carver. I think Larry Brown is the finest American writer since... hell, who knows. He died of a heart attack in 2004, he was 53. "Father & Son", "Joe" and his latest "A Miracle of Catfish" are all classics in my book. I can't think of a writer that has moved me more. Brown is not a part of my generation though, he was born in 1951 and he released his first novel in 1989. Harry Crews is another fine writer, he writes sleazy, laugh out loud funny southern stories about redemption and madness. "Feast of Snakes" is a fine novel. I also read and love William Gay, Dennis Johnson , Ron Rash, Tim Gautreaux, James Carlos Blake, Cormac McCarthy and yes, Willy Vlautin (he also reminds me of Leonard Gardner, at least his book "Fat City").<br /><br />I'm also interested to know about Calexico. Did you discuss "new song"/"new folk" with Joey Burns? I'm a huge fan of Calexico and I consider them to be honest about what they do. Another young songwriter I admire is Richard Buckner. "Bloomed", "Since" and "Devotion & Doubt" are strong albums. <br /><br />Enough of this shit. Sorry for rambling on for so long. I can't wait to get my hands on your new album Tom. If it lives up to the hype it might be too much for me to handle. <br /><br />Peace! <br />JKJan Kristoffer Dalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09866759256202077331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7632029549152237270.post-89428993248951856932009-09-10T10:33:27.322-07:002009-09-10T10:33:27.322-07:00Heard East of Woodstock on XM/Sirrius yesterday. L...Heard East of Woodstock on XM/Sirrius yesterday. Love the sound. It's a departure, but an organic sort of one (not a tip-over-the-table-to-hear-the sound-of-the crash kind of departure.<br /><br />Having heard several of the songs and this production, I am really looking forward to the CD.editorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18298399110078317876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7632029549152237270.post-69204337974389198582009-09-10T09:00:20.970-07:002009-09-10T09:00:20.970-07:00I'm usually as cranky as TR on these matters, ...I'm usually as cranky as TR on these matters, but — contrarian that I am — I have to throw in a countering viewpoint.<br /><br />This is too bleak. I agree that there's a lot of lazy songwriters out there who don't do their homework, who settle for something less than digging into the heart of the matter — and whose craft is wanting.<br /><br />But there are a lot of (relatively) young artists out there who are doing damn good work. Several of them be at the Sisters Folk Festival this weekend (where TR has played thrice and will again one day):<br /><br />Susan Werner. Danny Schmidt. There's also Jonathan Byrd. <br /><br />It's not all darkness out there.<br /><br />The novel may be dead — but who cares? How many great novels have there really been? There are other, better forms of story. God willing, maybe the short story will make a comeback. There is more story in 5 minutes of The Sky Above, The Mud Below than there is in most novels.<br /><br />You want good story, check out some graphic novels — Scalped; Criminal. Real deal noir shit. Written to the soundtrack of "Nebraska.<br /><br />Enough for now. Just getting warmed up.editorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18298399110078317876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7632029549152237270.post-38149643220527226032009-09-10T08:27:24.803-07:002009-09-10T08:27:24.803-07:00I second the shout-out to Tim Winton and add his r...I second the shout-out to Tim Winton and add his recent novel, "Breath." At the same time I sympathize with the feeling that long-form fiction is under some kind of, possibly terminal, siege.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07677259538893700048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7632029549152237270.post-53390472930278464092009-09-10T06:34:16.367-07:002009-09-10T06:34:16.367-07:00I forgot. Australian Tim Winton is as good as anyo...I forgot. Australian Tim Winton is as good as anyone has ever been (Read Dirt Music, The Riders, Cloudstreet). And John Dufresne's last two books, the novel Requiem, MASS. and the stories in Johnny Too Bad make you glad you've got a book to read.Neil Crabtreehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09824553597223668295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7632029549152237270.post-14430629144023263372009-09-10T06:10:25.940-07:002009-09-10T06:10:25.940-07:00The novel is dead comment makes me cringe. There a...The novel is dead comment makes me cringe. There are still very good writers out there, but getting new voices through the NYC publishing monopoly is harder now than ever before. It does seem like my favorite novel writers are dead, like David Foster Wallace and Roberto Bolano and William Gaddis. Of the living, Denis Johnson seems to be able to say what needs to be said. Read Angels, then Tree of Smoke. Two novels 20 years apart, with the same characters that inhabit your songs.<br /><br />Looking forward to the new album. Ordering it from Village Records today. And it's time to let everyone know about the Letterman appearance Oct 1. Kick ass on tour.Neil Crabtreehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09824553597223668295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7632029549152237270.post-9778003571471571412009-09-10T04:18:05.541-07:002009-09-10T04:18:05.541-07:00WEB SHERIFF
Protecting Your Rights on the Internet...WEB SHERIFF<br />Protecting Your Rights on the Internet<br />Tel 44-(0)208-323 8013<br />Fax 44-(0)208-323 8080<br />websheriff@websheriff.com<br />www.websheriff.com<br /><br />Hi Tom,<br /><br />On behalf of Exile Productions, Exile Publishing, Exile Films and Lion Records, many thanks for plugging Van Morrison and, if you / your readers would like good quality, non-pirated previews from Van's latest album and DVD - "Astral Weeks Live at the Hollywood Bowl" - then footage of “Sweet Thing” from the Hollywood Bowl is available for fans to view and link to (ONLY please – not for embedding) at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BYvoH2_XuA. Up-to-the-minute news on the “Astral Weeks Live” album and film releases and Van’s 2009 shows is, of course, available on www.vanmorrison.com and www.myspace.com/vanmorrison. An increasing archive of exclusive film footage of Van Morrison performances is also available for fans and YouTubers on Exile’s official channel at http://uk.youtube.com/user/OfficialExileFilms ... .. and keep an eye on these official sources for details of further preview material and on-line promotions. <br /><br />Thanks again for your plug.<br /><br />Regards,<br /><br />WEB SHERIFFWEB SHERIFFhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00650064481919290484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7632029549152237270.post-56531976916081183882009-09-09T22:18:55.057-07:002009-09-09T22:18:55.057-07:00WISE BLOOD
" I've got wise blood in me ....WISE BLOOD<br /><br />" I've got wise blood in me ... I'm not sayin I'm a prophet or anything ... " I paraphrase here from memory. <br /><br />Having just last week, watched a DVD of John Huston's geat adaptatation of Flannery O'Connor's first novel " Wise Blood " your quoting her in empathy to your anachronistic conflicts doubles the impact of your post for me. I also listened to the rare archival recording of her reading her short story " A Good Man Is Hard To Find ". This reiterates<br /> our current malaise in the National media. I do not watch tv. Do not own one. No room for it. DVD's on a MacBook only. However, I did stop at Willie's Place in Carl's Corner, Texas for a shower and lunch this afternoon. Love Willie Nelson and his satellite radio show. Dallas Wayne was live <br />on the air doing the radio show when I was there. Even though I would hands down, take this over most any other truck stop, I do have to say it has more of a theme park feel to it. No patina. No sawdust on the floor. no blood stains. Carl's old place has been buried. Ray Price is playing there on the 24th. George Jones is stopping by <br />tomorrow to visit with Bill Mack. No complaint on the bookings for sure. A great and intimate theatre setting as well. The Honky Tonk days are behind them though ... <br /> <br />Back to the tv ... I saw Glenn Beck for the first time on the big screen tv in the Blue Skies Restaurant while having lunch. A Rush Limbaugh clone I assume. One of the <br />plagues upon us like Locusts ...<br />Leonard and Tom, I know what you mean.<br /><br />A friend of mine posed a question to me in 1974 asking me if Dylan Thomas were alive today would he be in a rock <br />band ? <br /><br />There is more than enough great songs, great literature, poetry and art and sources of truth from the past to get us where we need to go. What is lacking more and more are <br />those taking us on the path to discover it and worse than that are those who are pulling down the sign posts. Your <br />twelve songs put a few more signs back up and every generation has it's good wine so says a good book ...<br />As for me I am [ Shifting ] through the madness, driving the line and looking for the way. Keep putting up the signs Tom. GPS ain't gonna get us there ...<br /><br />saddle tramp<br /><br />Via: A roadside picnic area on U.S. Hwy 77 just south of <br />Schulenburg, Texas loading Friday and headin' west ...Saddle Tramphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15640646036914910941noreply@blogger.com