Random Notes from the Birthday Life
1. I must say, I do love birthdays in this age of social media. It does my heart good to hear from friends near and far.
We tend not to do much in the way of presents for birthdays...but I did ask, and receive, what my heart most desired: a fish spatula.
I am tickled.
And yes, you can see the cat hair on the ottoman, but given that it's a miracle you can see its surface...I'm not upset.
2. I've been caught up in worrying about people, worrying about people that are sliding too close to various edges. There are many kinds of edges of course, and some of the people I know well, some I know barely at all except for some memories. I've been trying to process it all, make some sort of sense of it, to figure out how I fit into it all and I haven't been able to.
Last night, I got home from work and Owen was mopping the living room floor (he's working on getting into our good graces as he wants some game) so he kicked us back out. We sat in the front yard and the air felt wonderful. Ernie got me a glass of wine and we talked, and it felt so right. And I remembered that I need these grounding moments, savoring my daily life, me and my family, growing things around us, enjoying the moment I am in. It didn't solve my worries but it made me feel better.
3. Anne McCue tomorrow evening. I am SO looking forward to this show. Email me if you'd like to come...we'd love to have you. This song has been stuck fast in my head for the last few days....
4. I picked up my phone to look for the picture of my fish spatula and I found this picture that Ernie must have taken yesterday. Damn, I really like my husband.
5. Some words about Anne:
"McCue's virtuosity is no surprise, but the ease with which she's absorbed and restated the beating heart of swing music is impressive and thrilling.' No Depression
McCue's 6th album has her exploring early influences such as Django Reinhardt, Charlie Christian, Peggy Lee, Hoagy Carmichael, Memphis Minnie and Cab Calloway.
The album was No. 1 on Roots Music Report Jazz Chart for several weeks and Top 20 on the Americana Chart for 3 months.
McCue’s affection for this pre-rock music is evident in the disc’s gorgeously crafted songs; they sound so authentically vintage that you’ll be checking the credits to see what Tin Pan Alley tunesmith wrote them. “Things You Left Out in the Rain,” with its woozy horns punctuating McCue’s chanteuse-like purr, and “It Wasn’t Even Fun While It Lasted,” a lighthearted romp about heartbreak, suggest long lost gems that might have appeared in a ’30s musical. “Save a Life” evokes Peggy Lee’s smoky aura, while McCue professes that the acoustic blues “Cowgirl Blues” offers a nod to another of her favorite artists, Memphis Minnie.
Those who know McCue for her rugged blues rock music will connect to “Little White Cat,” a ’50s-style roadhouse boogie that she notes is the most modern cut on the release. Written as a more positive-looking reply to Howlin’ Wolf’s “Ain’t Superstitious,” the tune also reveals her love for Cab Calloway, as does “Devil in the Middle,” a darkly dramatic song (co-written with David Olney and John Hadley) that features a duet with Dave Alvin. McCue was thrilled to get Alvin to sing with her because his “beautiful, deep voice” made him McCue’s first choice for the track.
Blue Sky Thinkin’ also affords McCue the opportunity to showcase her critically hailed guitar prowess in new and often more subtle ways. Her blues playing here favors a more acoustic variety, such as the Lightnin’ Hopkins-style picking on “Cowgirl Blues.” More often she salutes her jazz guitar idols. Her fluid licks in “Knock on Wood” and the title track pay tribute to the great jazz guitarist Charlie Christian, and the gypsy jazz playing on “Dig Two Graves” speaks to her affection for Django Reinhardt. The tango touches, meanwhile, in “Uncanny Moon” reflect her admiration for Argentinian music legend Astor Piazzola.
"I've been a fan of guitarist/singer/songwriter Annie McCue for many years so I'm very honored and happy about singing with her on a damn fine song for her upcoming album. She wrote the song with John Hadley and the brilliant David Olney. You can't go wrong with such talent." -Dave Alvin
"I had done some gigs with Annie McCue out in California and thought that besides her phenomenal playing and great songs she had a unique presence. She has an angelic quality to her but also a Charlie Chaplin-esque vibe. Fearless and tender and alluring." -David Olney
Alternative Country icon Lucinda Williams has said of McCue: “Initially, her stunning voice hooked me in. Then I got inside the songs. The first chance I got, I went to see her perform . . . I was floored!"