You know how people joke about Seattle when it’s raining a lot? No? Anyway, I spent about two weeks in the Great Northwest (Portland, Seattle, Vancouver) in 1992 and didn’t feel a drop of rain. I also met Carol on that trip and we’ve remained friends to this day. That’s 13 years… Wow. So I’m not really writing about the rain, although it seems our recent weather and extended forecast through forever looks like this:
“Feels Like Rain” is from John Hiatt’s 1989 record, “Slow Turning.” The title track may have been his biggest hit, and contains lyrics that can make any baby-boomer dad smile:
I got the radio on
I’m yellin’ at the kids in the back
‘Cause they’re bangin’ like Charlie Watts”
I love his songwriting, and with 18 records (#19 due June 21), there are just tons of great songs in his catalog. Hiatt’s songs have been covered by Bob Dylan, Iggy Pop, Nick Lowe, Emmylou Harris, Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nelson, and B. B. King with Eric Clapton, just to name a few.
As is the case for much of the music I love, it’s usually Jeff or Dave that have turned me on to it. In this case, Dave made me a John Hiatt compilation CD about 5 years ago and that was it. I’ve seen him a couple times live with Kyle at the Cape Cod Melody Tent. It’s one of those summer theatre places that caters to a somewhat upscale crowd. At one of the shows as we approached the concession area I scanned the menu and said, “I’ll have a champagne…” then looked at Kyle to get the rest of my order… “and M&M;’s please.”Here’s another example of his fine writing and upcoming tour dates so you can see and hear for yourself.
Fathers and Sons….
Saw John Hiatt and Robert Cray at the South Shore Music Circus couple of summer’s ago. Two things I remember aside from the show- A woman in the audience who bared herself to Hiatt New Orleans style (much to his delight), and a dad with his young son, who ended up falling sound asleep during the show (the son not the dad). -M.