The Countertop Chronicles

Check out the 2nd Set

Dead, at their zenith in the magic of Red Rocks.

Starting with Bobby’s “I’m moving to Australia” at 8:29 of Ship of Fools and then BOOOM

Estimated Prophet -> The Other One -> Eyes of the World

An insane mind melting experience.

It seems, that in addition to being a guitar god, Eric Clapton also fancies himself something of a gun nut. Luckily for some rich folks, his collection has grown too big and he needs to sell some guns off to make room for others.

Clapton has claimed that his passion has gotten out of hand in much the same way his guitar collection did. “It’s following the same pattern as when I collected guitars, cars and watches. I start out with a fairly broad spectrum, get obsessed and engulfed and finally narrow the collection down. I built a gunroom that can house a certain amount of guns and now I have to clear the decks for the new guns I have on order.”

Oh to have his problems.

And I think this comment, sums it up nicely

O-shit- Clapton is even cooler than I thought.

But enough of that, here’s some pictures (and yes, thats Eric playing guitar in the engraving)

I’ve been really lax in the blogging.
No excuses. Well, yes. There is. Three or four.

As I’ve stated, life gets in the way sometimes. And to quote Uncle, I do this for me not you.
That said, I also got a face book page recently. Its under my real name, and I’ve been posting a bunch there. Its strange, most of the folks I am linked to are from high school and college. And a couple from DC. I started posting a bunch of political stuff there - cause thats what interests me, but then realized I didn’t want to do that. In my line of work, having folks know your political thoughts isn’t good for business. Sure there are Republicans and Democrats in DC, but I’m neither. I offended (and am offended by) both. But, I’ve got this handy little Facebook link on my Firefox toolbar, and it makes it easy.

Any one know if one exists for Wordpress??

The other things are really work. And at night (or in my little free time when I’m not at work or with the wire and kids), as I come to terms with the looming Obama I’m loading ammo. I’ve loaded about a 1000 rounds this week. 80 rounds of 280 Remington. 200 rounds of 7.62×39. 500 rounds of .45 ACP. And 100 rounds of .45 Colt

In the meantime, groove to this. It may be the single best Fire On The Mountain ever. Can’t help but put a smile on my face when I listen to it (and I’ve played it at least 20 times this week)

Jerry is grooving. And Carlos Santana just shreds.

And I am not frightened of dying, any time will do, I
don’t mind. Why should I be frightened of dying?
There’s no reason for it, you’ve gotta go sometime.

If you can hear this whispering you are dying.

I never said I was frightened of dying.

RIP, Richard Wright

Dave Stewart is a mad genius

Not only did he come out with a line of harmonically tuned vibrators - and played Somewhere Over The Rainbow with them on the Howard Stern show (you can listen here) -

but he has totally re-done the Eurythmics songs with full orchestration to replace the synthesizers.

Check it out. It blew me away

Here’s the video for the original Sweat Dreams. WHen this song came out - at the fawn of the MTV age, it was a musical revolution

You can also see him in the video for Tom Petty’s Don’t Come Around Here No More, a song Dave wrote (about the night Stevie Nicks broke up a long relationship with Joe Walsh and he ended up sleeping with her) on an album he produced. He’s on the giant mushroom at the start.

Getting ready for shotgunning season around here. Doves and Resident Goose open up Labor Day weekend, Teal is September 15. Dogs back down to training this week for a month, while I’ll be stepping up the skeet shooting in preparation.

This was played once, in an acoustic set on 12 July 1970, and is also on Pigpen’s “home tapes” (which is where the lyrics below are taken from).

Bring Me My Shotgun
Words and Music by Lightnin’ Hopkins

Go, bring me my shotgun, bring me back some shells
Why don’t you just bring me my shotgun
Bring me back about a pocket full of shells
Well you know if I don’t get myself a little competition
You know there’s gonna be some trouble ’round here

Well you know my mama told me, when I left my door
She said, “you gonna have bad luck, son, don’t care where you go”
So why don’t you bring me my shotgun
Bring me back a pocket full of shells
Well you know if I don’t get myself a little competition
You know there’s gonna be some trouble ’round here

Early in the morning when the sun gonna rise
She’s laying there rolling them old bloodshot eyes
In the morning bring me my shotgun
Well, I can stand any mess for a while
But I can’t stand it for very long

Woke up this morning
Found out some [jack strap?] had gone took my room
Woke up this morning
Found out some [jack strap?] had gone took my room
Yeah you know he took along with it my woman
That [jack strap?] going to meet his doom

That’s why I say bring me my shotgun, boy
I want you to bring me back some shells
I said why don’t you bring me my shotgun
Bring me back a pocket full of shells
You know if I don’t get myself some good competition
There’s gonna be some trouble ’round her

This time with Eric Clapton on the Unplugged album (this one is hot!)

I really do need to run into another Rock Star . . . maybe I’ll blog about my Eric Clapton story some time . . . but I warn you, the Chuck Leavell posts will come back this winter after I go hunting down at his farm.

The Allman Brothers Band
1973 - Macon, Georgia

With Chuck Leavell

I posted about him playing with the Second Amendments the other night. Most of the press, and attention to him, focused on his role as the touring keyboardist for the Rolling Stones. Of course, he was pretty damn rocking long before that . . . coming on originally for the Brothers and Sister’s album taking the place (on piano) of the departed Duane Allman in the Allman Brothers. Here he is talking about how they came up with Jessica from that album

Of course, one could argue (one will argue) that from an American perspective, Jessica is really why Rock and Roll was invented.

Lyrics?? Who needs lyrics. This is the Allman Brothers were talking about!!!

Of course, there is a second part to this post . . . .and thats to quote this NY Times article on Chuck and how he incorporates hunting as an active part of the management of his land.

For Mr. Leavell, hunting is an integral part of responsible land stewardship. Voracious herds of deer need constant thinning, and hunters, like tree huggers, he points out, are important allies in the battle for land preservation.

Stick that in a hippy Vegan the next time they attack you for hunting.

For Tam

I couldn’t agree more

When The Levee Breaks
Words and Music by Kansas Joe McCoy and Memphis Minnie

If it keeps on rainin’, levee’s goin’ to break, (X2)
When The Levee Breaks I’ll have no place to stay.

Mean old levee taught me to weep and moan, (X2)
Got what it takes to make a mountain man leave his home,
Oh, well, oh, well, oh, well.

Don’t it make you feel bad
When you’re tryin’ to find your way home,
You don’t know which way to go?
If you’re goin’ down South
They go no work to do,
If you don’t know about Chicago.

Cryin’ won’t help you, prayin’ won’t do you no good,
Now, cryin’ won’t help you, prayin’ won’t do you no good,
When the levee breaks, mama, you got to move.

All last night sat on the levee and moaned, (X2)
Thinkin’ about me baby and my happy home.
Going, going to Chicago… Going to Chicago… Sorry but I can’t take you…
Going down… going down now… going down….

Abbadon posted about Space Fucking and that of course necessitated a killer concert clip of Deep Purple playing Space Trucking at Hofstra in 1973.

I always loved that band . . . what first got me into them though was Perfect Strangers . . . their comeback song from 1984 - eight years after first breaking up (when I was 5) with what I still think is one of the coolest sounding refrains/unlikely choruses ever.

And if you hear me talking on the wind
Youve got to understand
We must remain
Perfect strangers

From there, I quickly made the connection to Ozzy and Led Zeppelin (who were already faves . . . .) and it just took off.

Can you remember remember my name
As I flow through your life
A thousand oceans I have flown
And cold spirits of ice
All my life
I am the echo of your past

I am returning the echo of a point in time
Distant faces shine
A thousand warriors I have known
And laughing as the spirits appear
All your life
Shadows of another day

And if you hear me talking on the wind
Youve got to understand
We must remain
Perfect strangers

I know I must remain inside this silent well of sorrow

A strand of silver hanging through the sky
Touching more than you see
The voice of ages in your mind
Is aching with the dead of the night
Precious life (your tears are lost in
Falling rain)

And if you hear me talking on the wind
Youve got to understand
We must remain
Perfect strangers

UPDATE

Crap, disabled embedding. Go hear to view/listen. Its worth it.

Heh! Here it is live!

Yeah, no Dead today.

We ended up going to the Greek Taverna in McLean for Dinner Saturday night. The Greek Taverna is in the same building as Ocean M, where VCDL held one of their Saslaw Open Carry dinners. It also has a great picture - which they recently placed in a more promonient position - of armed Greek freedom fighters. We pulled into the parking lot there and saw a Maserati.

Whats the connection between guns and Maseratis?

Ted Nugent - with a face like a Maserati.

Wango Tango
Words and Music by Ted Nugent

All right! It’s zee Wango, zee Tango
1-2-3-4
Come on boys
Time to Wango

My baby she like to rock
My baby she like to roll
My baby she can dance all night
My baby got no control
She do the Wango Tango

My baby she can scream and shout
My baby she can move it out
My baby she can take a chance
My baby got a brand new dance

Wango Tango
Wango Tango
It’s a Wango Tango
Ooooh yeah! (oooooh..)
Baby!

My baby like to rock
My baby like to roll
My baby like to dance all night
She got no control
She do…

Wango Tango
Wango Tango
Wango Tango
Ooooh yeah! (oooooh..)

Yeahhhhhhhhhh!
Baby! Baby! Baby! Ooooh I like the way you look baby
You look like you’re made for me honey
If you wanna take a little chance
I’m gonna show you a new dance
Baby I gotta Wango down one time with you honey
I like it, I like it, I like it, I like it, I like it
Well, it’s a brand new dance
Yeah been sweepin’ the nation
I said a brand new dance
A rock ‘n’ roll sensation
Yeah I like it baby, I do it every night
I got to do it ‘cos I like it so much
Oh honey believe it baby
You see it’s a crazed gyration of the rock generation
It’s my motivation to avoid the nauseation, frustration
When I need some lubrication - Baby!
Kinda like, goes kinda like this
You take her right ankle out
You take her left ankle out
You get her belly propped down
You get her butt propped up
Yeah lookin’ good now baby
I think you’re in the right position now baby
Yeah but if you ain’t quite ready I’ll make sure everything is a little bit nicer ‘cos
I’m gonna get a little talcum
I’m gonna borrow it from Malcolm
Yeah you look so good baby I’m startin to drool all over myself
I got the droolin’, droolin’, get all wet, salivate, salivate
I got salivate late, salivate late, salivate late
Got salivate, salivate, salivate, salivate, heh heh heh
Yeah you look so good baby, I like it, I like it, I like it
You know what I been talkin’ about honey
It’s a nice dance, we gotta a nice dance goin’ here
Now what you gotta do, I’ll tell you what you gotta do
You got to pretend your face is a Maserati
It’s a Maserati
It’s a Maserati
It’s a gettin’ hotty
It’s a Maserati, Maserati, Maserati
It’s a fast one too man, that thing’s turbocharged
You feel like a little fuel injection honey?
I’ll tell ya about it, I’ll tell you about it
I’ll check out the hood scoop
I gotta get that hood scoop off, shine and shine and buff
I gotta buff it up, buff it up, buff it up, buff it up, buff it up,
Yeah, shiny now baby, heh heh heh
You’ve been drivin’ all night long
It’s time to put the old Maserati away
So you look for a garage, you think you see a garage
Wait a minute, Hey!, there’s one up ahead
And the damn thing’s open
Hello! Get in there!

Is my baby alive? (Is my baby alive?)
Is my baby alive? (Is my baby alive?)
Is my baby alive?
She Wango’d to death

Wango Tango (Wango Tango)
Wango Tango (Wango Tango)
Wango Tango (Wango Tango)
Wango Tango (Wango Tango)
Wango Tango
Wango Tango
Wango Tango
Wango Tango
Wango Wango
Tango Tango
Wango Wango Wango Wango
Tango Tango Tango Tango

Here’s a pic, from back when San Francisco was part of America

(yes, thats Pig Pen holding a rifle on the steps of the Dead’s House to 710 Haight, not sure who the guy in front of Jerry is . . . Mickey Hart maybe???)

And here’s a little bit of Cowboy Bob

El Paso
Lyrics by Marty Robbins

Out in the West Texas town of El Paso I fell in love with a Mexican girl.
Nighttime would find me in Rose’s Cantina,
Music would play and Felina would whirl.

Black as the night were the eyes of Felina,
Wicked and evil while casting a spell.
My love was strong for this Mexican maiden,
I was in love, but in vain I could tell.

One night a wild young cowboy came in, wild as the West Texas wind…
Dashing and daring, a drink he was sharing,
With wicked Felina, the girl that I love.

So in anger I challenged his right for the love of this maiden;
Down went his hand for the gun that he wore.
My challenge was answered, in less than a heartbeat
The handsome young stranger lay dead on the floor.

Just for a moment I stood there in silence,
Shocked by the foul evil deed I had done.
Many thoughts ran through my mind as I stood there;
I had but one chance and that was to run.

Out through the back door of Rose’s I ran, out where the horses were tied…
I picked a good one; he looked like he could run,
Up on his back and away I did ride.

Just as fast as I could from the West Texas town of El Paso,
Out through the badlands of New Mexico.
Back in El Paso my life would be worthless;
Everything’s gone in life nothing is left.

But it’s been so long since I’ve seen the young maiden,
My love is stronger that my fear of death.
I saddled up and away I did go, riding alone in the dark…
Maybe tomorrow a bullet may find me,
Tonight nothing’s worse than this pain in my heart.

And at last here I am on the hill overlooking El Paso,
I can see Rose’s Cantina below.
My love is strong and it pushes me onward, down off the hill to Felina I go.

Off to my right I see five mounted cowboys,
Off to my left ride a dozen or more.
shouting and shooting; I can’t let them catch me,
I’ve got to make it to Rose’s back door.

Something is dreadfully wrong for I feel a deep burning pain in my side
It’s getting harder to stay in the saddle.
I’m getting weary, unable to ride.

But my love for Felina is strong and I rise where I’ve fallen;
Though I am weary, I can’t stop to rest.
I see the white puff of smoke from the rifle,
I feel the bullet go deep in my chest.

From out of nowhere, Felina has found me,
Kissing my cheek as she kneels by my side.
Cradled by two loving arms that I’ll die for,
One little kiss and Felina good-bye.

From the late 80s . . . .

When Push Comes to Shove
Words by Robert Hunter

Shaking in the desert, wherefore do you cry?
Here there may be rattlesnakes to punch you in the eye
Shotguns full of silver, bullets made of glass,
String barbed wire at your feet and do not let you pass
When Push Comes To Shove, you’re afraid of love

When Push Comes To Shove
When Push Comes To Shove
You’re afraid of love
When Push Comes To Shove

Shaking in the bedroom, covers on your head
Cringing like a baby at the hand beneath the bed
Phantom in the closet, scratching at the door
The latest mystery killer that you saw on channel four
When Push Comes To Shove, you’re afraid of love

Shaking in the garden, the fear within you grows
Here there may be roses to punch you in the nose
Twist their arms around you, slap you till you cry,
Wrap you in their sweet perfume and love you till you die
When Push Comes To Shove, you’re afraid of love

When Push Comes To Shove
When Push Comes To Shove
You’re afraid of love
When Push Comes To Shove