Athens, GA

Uga- Statues of the University of Georgia mascot where scattered around town like the Herky On Parade statues in Iowa City or the Cows on Parade in Chicago.

The primary reason I was visiting Athens. The project was winding down so I took the opportunity to visit the legendary 40 Watt Club and was fortunate that Jason Isbell of Drive By Truckers was in town to promote his first solo album since leaving the band.

Jason Isbell (above) was excellent as was the opener Justin Townes Earle, (Steve's boy). I thought it was a bit ironic as Justin reminded me of Hank Williams and Hank Williams III sort of reminds me of Steve Earle.

I need to get a new home computer. That is my excuse for taking a month to put pictures up and infrequently posting. I have read some good things of late after the Harry Potter, William Boyd's Restless, which I enjoyed although not as much as his Any Human Heart. I also found an early Alan Furst historical intrigue novel at the library book end store, Night Soldiers which follows a Bulgarian youth around Europe from 1934-1945 from his homeland to the Soviet Union,Spain, France etc...wonderful historical settings, characters transformed from mundane to extraordinary by circumstances, conflicting alliance and betrayals of spies and friends, The Resistance, all in all very solid writing. I love Furst because he expands the conflict beyond Britain, France and Germany to all of Europe before America enters the stage. He also tends to focus on characters who are usually overlooked.

One of Furst's stated background resources is Isherwood's Berlin Stories which I have had on shelf for a couple of years and finally am reading it to continue the theme. One of the two novels in the collection was made into the film Cabaret. If I continue my ambitions I may eventually read the Robert Musil novel of the period that is collecting dust on the shelf, The Man Without Qualities.

Some music to check out.

Jason Isbell-"Brand New Kind of Actress" - The first track from his Sirens of the Ditch album.

Drive By Truckers- "Like a Rolling Stone" - Bob Dylan cover from the bonus ep that came with their Blessing and a Curse record.

The Drive By Truckers will be at the Englert in Iowa City on October 18th as part of their Dirt Underneath tour which according to the band's web site is going to be "...mostly acoustic and somewhat stripped down mode for an evening of stories and songs." Tickets are on sale now. Some cool posters from some of the cities on the tour on the site too.