!DOG SI NOTPALC

I was listening to Deep Tracks XM40 in the car the other day when Eric Clapton’s Layla came on. Not the pained impassioned plea of a heartbroken tortured lovesick man who really did sound like he was down upon his knees from the Derek And The Dominos album, but the sleepy droney bluesy version of later years. It was raining and between the anemic rhythm, the limp wristed pseudo blues easy listening type guitar solo and the constant “slap,slap,slap” of the windshield wipers I went into a trance….1-2-3-4, 1-2-3-4, 1-2-3-4, 1-2-3-4………..I dozed off and awoke a few minutes later. I had driven off the road onto the sandy shoulder. I was getting ready to call the CHP when the next song came on, (it was Twofer Tuesday), Before You Accuse Me. I listened to the first verse and slipped back into the boredom induced coma………….1-2-3-4, 1-2-3-4, 1-2-3-4, 1-2-3-4…….zzzzzzzzzzzz.

It was the same strange sensation I experienced reading his autobiography…..”I locked myself in my mansion shooting heroin everyday until Ginger Baker came over and suggested we form a band” …….…..”I locked myself in my mansion shooting heroin everyday until Steve Winwood came over and suggested we form a band”…….. …..”I locked myself in my mansion shooting heroin everyday until Pete Townshend came over and suggested we form an all star band, do a concert, record and release so everyone will understand why you shouldn't do drugs after paying $12.99 for a cd of a concert that barely held together” 

 

(Don't ask me why he looks like Trey Anastasio in this photo, ok?)

I was awakened by 4 buddhist monks who had already wedged 2x4’s under my tires. They instructed me to shove it into reverse. After the customary “domo origato” we all bowed and waved good bye then I was on my way.

That evening I was watching a Rush concert on VH-1 and marveled how, despite being older than dirt, relevant, vital and innovative that band still is. Alex Lifeson launched into the solo for Spirit Of the Radio, then Working Man after that and it just hit me. No Master Card commercials. No designer line of Hawaiian shirts. No half baked anemic remakes of earlier songs. He was just banging away with sincerity, authority and aplomb. My jaw just dropped…and it wasn’t because I was snoring. 

 

“Alex Lifeson, Gene The Local Legend In His Own Mind Cover Band Bass Player Typing On his Laptop From a Non Descript Tract Home From A Non Descript Suburb Of Los Angeles Salutes You!!”