Aw! I saw the Police when I was 14, so that was ... 1981? Wow.

We used to sing "Jooooo-anne" to a girl in my grade whenever "Roxanne" came on. I can't help hearing it in my head that way now, and picturing her rolling her eyes at us.

Aw! I saw the Police when I was 14, so that was ... 1981? Wow.

Yes, they toured the summer after my freshman year of high school. I remember because I got asked to go and I was too stupid back then to realize I should have gone even if I didn't really like the guy.

I remember very little about the show, sadly.

I got stoned in the parking lot with my friend and some random guy. Um.

I got stoned in the parking lot with my friend and some random guy. Um.

You, Amy? Quelle surprise!

(I tease because I love)

Me! Imagine it!

I did see Sting on the Dream of the Blue Turtles tour. Thinking of him performing "Roxanne" with no accompaniment other than his guitar and Branford Marsalis on soprano sax still gives me mega goosebumps.

Oh yes, Barb! (I saw it on vide, but still, gorgeous!)

Which reminds me that I must track down a DVD a rip an mp3 of it (I used to have a tape cassette of it that I made when I was wee by putting the boombox next to the TV).

That and his closing number of "Message in a Bottle" where he just keeps the refrain going and going and the crowd is singing and they're all sending out an S.O.S., sending out an S.O.S.sendingoutanSOSSENDINGOUTANSOS "Thank you, Goodnight!"

Dream of the Blue Turtles was the first album that I actually loved, rather than pretending to like the popular music that all my friends were digging. And while I love The Police and find them more enjoyable, and while much of Sting's latter work might be more monotone and sometimes embarrassing, I love it more because I see him experimenting and playing and mixing and matching styles, and sometimes it works, and sometimes not, but it's simply a joy to see him trying new things in ways that others haven't, exploring music and himself and continually reaching for something new. And if nothing else, I could read his lyrics like a book of poems, simply enjoying his use of language sans the embellishment of sound.

got stoned in the parking lot with my friend and some random guy.

Hee hee. You reminded me of going to the first Lollapalooza. It was at The World Music Center outside Chicago. Newly built I guess they were trying not to irritate the neighbors but it was pretty impossible to hear anything from the lawn seats. The only thing that made it bearable was the couple of "old guys" on the blanket behind us who shared their smoke with us.

A few days later I got a letter from my brother who'd just been to Hootenanny with another "old guy" and he talked about how they'd shared their pot with a couple of kids on the blanket in front of them. Weird concert lawn synchronicity.

I'm in Nashville after a great reading at Grimey's last night with Will Kimbrough kicking the ass out of a few Richard Thompson songs. The audience was generous and kind and a good time (I think) was had by all.

Amazon's download deal today is Coltrane's My Favorite Things for $.99.

Well, that's a bummer-- LeRoi Moore, sax man for Dave Matthews Band died yesterday.

Think I'll go listen to "Satellite."