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Sunday, Nov 8, 2009
troubdrgrl
Published Letters: 37 Editor's Choice: 8
Martina McBride is very talented but is still, despite this writer's protestations, in my mind extremely "mainstream." I did really like her song, "My Daughter's Eyes" and of course "Independence Day" was a a plain old good tune. But how can you by any stretch compare her with, much less put her or anyone above Lucinda Williams, very arguably one of the greatest WRITERS -- not just songwriters -- in America today, one of the most brilliant literary minds of all time, as well as a stunning, tasteful, cool, groovy musician and bandleader. Williams is not a country artist anyway, and doesn't pretend to be -- she's as steeped in Delta blues (if not more so) and roots rock, politically-tinged folk and the singer-songwriter "ethos" as she is the down-home echoes of earlier ("real") country. But for your one "tailor-mades" line in "Satin Sheets" I'll raise you any one of Williams' myriad brilliant (AND innocent) turns of phrase - from "June bug versus hurricane" in "Too Cool 2 B 4Forgotten," musing about cruising "in a yellow Barracuda, listenin'to Howlin' Wolf" in "Lake Charles," not to mention the explosive (!) "Metal Firecracker" on her album "Car Wheels" ... all the way back to her first widely-received album, wherein "The Night's Too Long" is okay, maybe sad, but brilliantly brave; not to mention the triumph of Lucinda's multi-platinum-penned tune, "Passionate Kisses," arguably one of the most exuberant, self-affirming anthems ever written (and a giant hit for Mary-Chapin Carpenter, no slouch herself as a singer-songwriter though she "broke" in "country"). Someone (Steve Earle?) said, "All American music (I think he added or included, "rock & roll") is folk music." Let's skip the labels and the moralizing and get down to great singing and great writing. McBride is an excellent singer. Williams is brilliant at both.
SXSW was conceived in 1986 as a music festival, to entice A&R reps from NY and LA to come to Austin and check out a great music scene, in hopes of getting Austin acts signed. At the time, artists from Lucinda Williams to Townes Van Zandt, Daniel Johnston and Glass Eye were playing for pass-the-hat in beer joints. The idea was brilliant -- fly IN the record company people and show them what Austin, which at the time was affordable, hip, laid-back and creative, could offer in terms of sign-able talent. The event succeeded beyond anyone's wildest dreams -- for the promoters; they all live in mansions now instead of the crummy apartments they had at the time; SXSW is on the map, and along the way they have added a film festival (lots of movies get made in Texas lately because -- surprise -- there are no union requirements in Texas; it's a right-to-work state). The acts above-mentioned got deals, or didn't, starved, died, went broke or (like Williams) succeeded, but none of them I can think of due to SXSW. Williams finally got signed, and deservedly so, by moving to LA where her demo ended up with a punk label in NY. Now, at SXSW, people like Neil Young and other firmly established artists come and give free concerts; that's awesome; but the "showcases" are pretty much reserved for acts who already HAVE record deals (hello) and come from places like Cleveland or Norway. In fact, bands from Europe, already bankrolled by government subsidies, fly to Austin to "showcase" at SXSW. Eventually SXSW added their film festival segment (the week before the music festival) and a "media" festival was kind of the buzz for a while (I dunno, computer stuff?). But the only people who make out are the promoters, the hotels and airlines. Because of the influx of Hollywood labor law evaders, some demi-pro cinema related businesses have sprung up in Austin as well (like, caterers) and there is now supposedly a "film scene." But make no mistake -- SXSW is NOT for the little guy. Everything you say about Sundance is 100 times more true for SXSW. Back in the Revolution (anyone remember the Revolution? It was lost at Kent State) a great man said, "There are no hip merchants." By conceiving an event to celebrate "cutting edge" art, whether film or music, Redford et al. did a great thing, as did those who created SXSW. But the minute SXSW became successful, the underrdog became the overlord. And the independent, creative artists who don't fit the mold? Good thing "that's not why we do it" (for the deal). While I agree (sadly) from the little I know about the film world, re: Sundance (although it's ludicrous to put down, for any reason, someone who has done as much creatively, environmentally and politically as Robert Redford), please don't think you'll turn to SXSW and find anything "indie."
I wish I had seen this show. It's always so awkward when there's a tragedy -- personal, national or in-between (such as death of a celebrity) when talk show hosts generally of course feel they need to be funny, and must somehow shift gears and/or don't know how to act -- Letterman did such an incredible job after Sept. 11th -- and now Mr. Ferguson has been (truly) generous in sharing his feelings with his audience. He could have just taken a few days off. Instead he was brave and charming and honored his father in a wonderful way.
I was incredibly moved by his talking about his father touching his head. My mother used to do that, and after she died (in 1998) I was haunted by that wish, to have her do that one more time -- I hope this show is re-aired, I guess it may not be likely to be, but I would love to have seen (as I say) the entire thing. Thank you for sharing the clips of it.
When Bill Maher gets to the part about Alito, the tape stops (jams or something)!!! Help!!! I need my Bill fix. Thanks, Salon.
Cary, this was great. I've heard and read a lot of stuff about this already as we all have but yours just tops 'em all. Brilliant writing as usual, thank you!!! And I love your column too.
Much of the initial coverage about Fort Hood turned out to be wrong. Is there anything wrong with that?
The accountability imposed by another country for the CIA's kidnapping and torture reveals much about our own.
Fox News' morning show plays to type, talking about whether Muslims in the Army should face "special debriefings"
The survivor and author is upset about comparisons some on the right are making to genocide
Once seen as a lunatic fringe, reactionary anti-women groups are courting respectability
Salon headlines in your mailbox
