iShop

Usually I go shopping under the blinding florescent lights listening to muzak or the top forty one hit wonders of yester year that I really didn’t care to hear again but can’t find a reason why I am unconsciously singing all the words with my inner singing voice.

Lately I have circumvented the PA systems of the tasteless DJs of the consumerism Mecca’s with my iPod. Then I wonder what the other consumers would be listening to while they are shopping, is it really what the tasteless DJs are playing or something completely different.

Well he would be listening to AC/DC. She is more of a Faith Hill type. Would she be a Gold Digger strutting to Kanye West as I am? He defiantly got the munchies litening to Phish before grocery shopping trying to hide it with his supply of visine.

It makes me want to program a wi-fi network for iPods and consumerville that would shuffle through every consumer’s iPod in the store and display the picture of the iPod owner on your display in case you feel like striking up a conversation with that consumer. iDating, maybe it would be better suited for a club atmosphere.

Then I walk into Wal-Mart to the words:

"Oh pride is not a sin,
And that's why I have gone on down to Wal-Mart
With my checkbook to get you some.

Like waves in which you drown me, shouting

I know you must've realized by now

And by the lawn chairs there
Next to the racks of guns
Your self esteem is waiting
Canned up in aluminum"

- Mike Doughty from Soul Coughing’s Pensacola

Now I have confessed to shopping at the unethical bastard of the corporate consumer world in my blog. Damn. Well the coffee grinder and realizing what that song was about by actually paying attention to the words was worth the block walk.

A Brain, A book, and A Ballpoint Les Widespread Trucks

Les was great. I have seen him many times and this was one of the best. It was strange seeing Skerik and Mike Dillon on a large stage with a few thousand people watching them play as I already seen them in front of more intimate crowds that week.

After the show we went back to City Park and I sat up and played guitar and sang some of the songs I had been working on. I had an audience of one until Dave showed up and put us to work. We did one small job and went to sleep as it was seven in the morning.

When noon came around I woke up and made my way down to the fairgrounds. I sat outside with a twenty dollar bill in my hand hoping someone would walk by with a ticket that they could give me for that amount. Another hopeful person came and sat down next to me. He talked about all the Widespread shows he had seen this tour. All of a sudden an arm extended my way and a ticket was placed in my hand. No cash exchange needed. It was a relief for I was short on cash and I wanted to see the show.

When I made it inside, the time was about 2 o’clock. So I went to see Henry Butler. A few years ago during my last trip to Nawlins I went to the Howlin Wolf after the Phish Show to see George Porter, the bass player for the Meters. He brought out Henry to play a few songs. It was good to see him on his own as he is a soulful singer and amazing pianist. He has a stage presence akin to Stevie Wonder as they share the absence of sight.

After he was done an Australian John Butler came out and performed with his trio. His song "Treat your Momma" was memorable with the line

"slap you upside the head if you don’t treat your momma with respect."

Then was the time for Widespread Panic. This was the first time I had seen Widespread with their new guitarist. The last time was at the first bonnaroo when Mike Houser was still alive. It was different and took some getting used to. With the sun beating down I felt exhausted and couldn’t dance. Then the clouds came in to caste a shadow over the city of flags towering over the people. Then I could dance.

When I made my way back to the camp ground I found that I had an intruder visit my tent. A hole had been ripped into the back of my tent and a loaf of bread stuck out with many pieces bitten in to. I took it over to a couple of vendors who had a lantern so I could see the damage and try to figure out what had done it. On my way back I saw the two eyes of the culprit, a raccoon.

Now one would wonder why I would put food back in my tent after the ant incident, the only thing that could explain it is plain forgetfulness. At least now that it has been written in stone I can’t forget it.

I Listened to Derek trucks play and then went to sleep.