No Better Than This

This is apropos of nothing I've been writing about, but these assorted clips are as good as it gets. 

First up are Marty Stuart and his incredible band tearing it up on Letterman back in 2011. (The guitarist in the cowboy hat is Kenny Vaughan, btw.) I've watched this seven times in a row tonight. You will not see a better performance than this. Enjoy!

This is a much quieter song and performance, but equally intense in its own way. Kim Richey has one of the most beautiful voices I've ever heard and is a superb songwriter to boot. This is my favorite song of hers, from back in 1999. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Next, an insanely catchy number from Utopia, led by the brilliant Todd Rundgren. Check out those amazing live harmonies. You won't be able to get this song out of your head, but it's so good you won't mind.

Utopia made a charming, ultra-low budget video for this back in 1982. I love their warped sense of humor.

Finally, the title track (and title of this post) from John Mellencamp's terrific 2010 album:

That is all, folks. We will resume our normal programming in a few more days. 🙂

This & That: Vaccine 1, Cass 0

Hello all. A very brief post, for reasons which I think are explained by the title. 

I received my second shot yesterday (Pfizer), and woke up today feeling as if a truck ran me over. Achy, sore, and very, very tired. From what I gather it's short-lived, so I just took it easy today. I even fell asleep for a half-hour, which I only do during the day when I'm not feeling well.

Needless to say, I didn't do much writing today, but I do have the longer posts I've mentioned in the pipeline. Moving took up a lot of my free time, but I got back on track the last few weeks, so keep an eye peeled.

That will do it for this post. Have a good week, everyone!

***

I've had two songs running through my head all day, so I thought I would share them with you. 

First is a track from the final Dire Straits album, On Every Street (1991). It has several excellent songs, including the title track, "When It Comes To You" (which was covered by John Anderson, who had a big hit with it on the country charts), and this one: "The Bug." Here's a terrific live version from 1996, with some smokin' guitar from Mark Knofpler:

Completely unrelated to that is the other song: "Feets Don't Fail Me Now," from Utopia's self-titled 1982 album. This song, written by Utopia front man Todd Rundgren, is insanely catchy, even by his standards, and the video is utterly charming in an early-MTV way. (I think Rundgren also directed the video, but I could be mistaken.) I guarantee that a) you won't be able to get this one out of your head once you've heard it, and b) you won't mind at all. :c)

That will do it for this week. 'Til next time...

The Agony of Da Feet

My dear friend Kelli just posted about a lovely moment she had while out jogging.

I will let you read it there; my words will not do hers justice.

I'm very, very happy for her. She worked long and hard to get where she is.

I had a slightly similar moment tonight.

But with a typical Cass-ian twist.

And if you guessed it involves an accidental, self-inflicted injury of some kind... well, give yourself a gold star - or gold band-aid! :c)

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