2009.5

I don't think the fact that I had a name for it from the opening bell of Jan. 1 - ¡El Ocho! - could have possibly made 2008 such a tumultuous roller-coaster of a year, but it's curious that the still-unnamed 2009 has been such a steady, mellow year so far.

As I wrote last year at this time, a half year is a period of time that never gets enough credit. So if a year generates a year's worth of reflection, why not give half as much to a half year?

The Fourth of July has long been claimed as a modified personal New Year's Day by Mr. Chair, and in a bit of good fortune I was able to spend the holiday with the man himself, soaking in the glorious Colorado weather and flinging myself headfirst into the funky side of Denver.

The trip also provided one of the greatest moments of the year so far - Wilco & Okkervil River at Red Rocks.

I've already caught about 40 shows so far this year, and here are some highlights aside from Wilco & Okkervil River: Fourkiller Flats (six times - great as always), the Crooked Fingers, Elvis Perkins, Justin Townes Earle, Gary Louris & Mark Olson, Mike Watt, Provocative Whites, Avett Brothers, Jonathan Richman and Sunset Rubdown.

And then there's SwedeFest, the ludicrously self-indulgent 30th birthday party I threw myself. Talk about growing elderly in style. Thanks again to all the bands that played that one...

If last year was one for weddings, this year has already been a big one for kids - The General, The Skousens and Freaktown & Lisa Marie have all welcomed tiny human beings into the world.

My adventuring for the year started up last month when I went to Desemboque on Mexico's Sonoran coast. Further adventures are likely to include Seattle and San Francisco...

These pictures were all taken from my balcony yesterday evening, with the camera on my sweet new iPhone. The searing heat in this desert does bring a few rewards from time to time.

Here are some of the best albums I've heard so far in 2009:
• Elvis Perkins in Dearland - Elvis Perkins in Dearland
• Neko Case - Middle Cyclone
• Clem Snide - Hungry Bird
• Golden Boots - Winter of Our Discotheque
• Bob Dylan - Together Through Life
• Mos Def - The Ecstatic
• Wilco - Wilco (The Album)
• Sunset Rubdown - Dragonslayer
• Sum & Belief - The Lone Wolf
• Fourkiller Flats - Treasure & Trash
• Justin Townes Earle - Midnight at the Movies
• The Felice Brothers - Yonder Is The Clock
• The Antlers - Hospice

Like every other year, I'm way behind in catching worthwhile movies, but I did really enjoy Adventureland and I Love You, Man.

Anyone else have thoughts on the first hemishphere of 2009?

DOWNLOAD:
Bob Dylan - Beyond Here Lies Nothin'
Golden Boots - Love Is In The Air
Elvis Perkins in Dearland - Shampoo

2008.5, part 1

A half year is a period of time that never gets enough credit. Six months is a damn long time, but we wait for the reflection until a whole 12 have been collected?! Screw that. Just as Mr. Chair has adopted July 4 as his own sort of New Year's, I've grown to embrace the idea that the dead middle of summer - with its own touchstone moments of Independence Day, the glorious summer solstice, and around these parts (typically), the arrival of awe-inspiring thunderstorms - is ripe for taking a little time out to think about the previous six months.

So what's happened in the first half of 2008? For one, I decided right away (before even seeing the light of day on Jan. 1) that this year was to be, at every opportunity, referred to enthusiastically as ¡El Ocho! It's an important year, and that's not just me spitting jive, it's built up that way, and there are expectations everywhere. There's a presidential election and the Olympics and this overwhelming sense that history will be made.

So what have I done with these 180 odd days thus far in El Ocho? I've abided, that's for sure. There've been strikes and there've been gutters. I dressed as The Dude on a Jazzercise kick while sharing the winding and hilly streets of San Francisco with 100,000 other demented souls on a bright Sunday morning. I hate to admit, though, that my gettin'-out-of-town this year hasn't included much else. Two trips to Phoenix were more than decent, though to call them vacation is a stretch.

I've been a live music hound as much as possible - by my latest count I've squeezed in 34 shows and this week holds at least two more. I've been a joyous well wisher at three weddings, with one more top-notch nuptial to attend before the year closes out. Not only that, I have two friends damn near ready to pop out babies, and yet another new child to welcome later this year.

And ¡El Ocho! still holds a lot more: I've got two trips out to the Bay for sure-to-be-awesome music festivals. There are still albums to hear from Okkervil River, Beck, The Hold Steady, Dr. Dog, The Walkmen, Calexico, Giant Sand and many, many more.

Stay tuned for the list-style wrap-up of Catfish Vegas' first half of ¡El Ocho! tomorrow: best new records, best old record discoveries this year and best shows.

For now, here are the best jams of my ¡El Ocho! so far:

DOWNLOAD:
SumKid Majere - Chuck Norris On Drugs
The Swim - Margaret With Comets
Kathleen Edwards - Asking For Flowers (acoustic)
Source Victoria - Miss Spiritual Tramp of 1948
The Helio Sequence - Keep Your Eyes Ahead
Fleet Foxes - White Winter Hymnal
Bon Iver - Skinny Love