When Dolly Parton died, I had the high-pressure position of hosting the Salt Creek Show. Thankfully, the record library at WVBR had plenty of albums to choose from, and there were lots of albums and downloadable stuff from the internet to play too. Reaction from listeners indicated I did a fine job, but when I listened to another local tribute show on the following Monday, they kept playing songs I wished I'd gotten to. You can only cover so much material in four hours.
There was also the passing of Frank Beard, the drummer of one of my favorite bands, ZZ Top. Here's the playlist in case you missed it:
The week after Frank Beard died, ZZ Top decided the show must go on and I made the trip to the NY State Fair to see them. They had a Billy Gibbons look-a-like contest, and there were even jet ski demonstration on the pond next to the stage before the show. I passed on paying the dollar to see the baby porcupines, but did sit in the Adirondack style lean-to for a few minutes.
Even with only Billy Gibbons as the only remaining original member, and he being in his late 70s, they did a great show. You can judge for yourself by watching the whole thing.
Too bad I didn't know about the look-a-like contest. I would have walked away with first prize.
Another excellent show I got to was Don Was and the Pan-Detroit Ensemble. I didn't really know much about Don Was, except he played in and produced lots of great stuff going way back (Bonnie Raitt and the B52s in the 80's, as well as Dylan and the Stones and, and, and). He even did one of Todd Snider's best albums, The Excitement Plan. Turns out, he was in one iteration of the Grateful Dead, so they played their most technical and jazzy album, Blues for Allah, in it's entirety. I loved it anyway.
Back on the radio for a special show to commemorate the 80th anniversary of John Prine's birth, and the 60th of Todd Snider's. They were born on Oct. 10 and 11, respectively, and Cornell was on Fall Break so the studio was open for me to get dressed up in two of my favorite shirts and play an evening of their music. Another set list in case you missed it:
Illegal Smile 1971
My Generation (Part 2) 1994
I Remember Everything- Brandi Carlile
Vinyl Records- Todd
Angel from Montgomery- Bonnie Raitt
America’s Favorite Pastime- Todd
Paradise-John + Steve Goodman
Mexican Home- Josh Ritter
Sideshow Blues-Todd
Sabu Visits the Twin Cities-John
Talking Reality TV Blues- Tom Jones
Quit Hollerin at Me-John
6 O’Clock News- John
In Spite of Ourselves- John (for John and Melissa)
Incarcerated-Todd
Onomatapeia- John
Let’s Talk Dirty In Hawaiian- John
Speed the Sound of Loneliness- Nancy Griffith (Talked dirty at poker game)
You Got Away With It-Todd
Christmas in Pison-John
Some Humans Ain’t Human- John Shit at 4:52/53
The Frying Pan- John Written at 14
DB Cooper- Todd
Sour Grapes-John Written at 14
Hello In There- Kathleen Edwards
Unwed Fathers- Tammy Wynette
Talking Seattle Grunge Rock Blues 3:50 remaining
Reading- I Never Met a Story I Didn’t Like
This Land is Our Land- Todd
Play a Train Song (Elizabeth Cook and Aaron Lee Tasjan):
Don’t Tempt Me- Todd
I Almost Stole Some Weed from Todd Snider- John Craigie
John Prine- Kasey Musgraves
Crooked Piece of Time- Todd
Big Old Goofy World- John
Souvenirs- John and Steve Goodman
Conservative, Christian, Rightwing Republican American Males- Emma Ogier
Alright Guy- Jerry Jeff Walker
Your Flag Decal Won’t Get You Into Heaven- John
Bring Em Home- Todd
Sam Stone- John
Todd describing meeting John:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaV4hfxPpck
Aimless Love- John
Everything is Cool- John
All the Best- John
Aaron Allen Story-Todd
Good Fortune- Todd
Stomp and Holler- Hard Working Americans
Age Like Wine- Hayes Carll
Cape Henry- Will Kimbrough
Handsome John- Todd
When I Get to Heaven- John
In Spite of Ourselves- John & Todd
