How’s it going, Folks?
Firstly! We're a week and a day away from when Waiting for the Punch comes out. It's exciting. Brendan and I want to thank everyone who has already preordered the book. We can't wait for you to read it. And if you haven't preordered the book yet, but you've been listening to me talk about it for the past few months, and you've been thinking that you might get it, if you're a longtime fan of this show and want a great representation of what we do here, or if you're a new listener and you want to get an idea of what's been happening in this garage for the last eight years, if you have any inkling of getting the book, do us a favor ad preorder it now.
This is actually a big week for the book and preorders mean a lot in the publishing industry. It really helps stores decide whether they are going to order more copies of the book, which is a huge deal. So, if you're planning on getting a copy - for yourself or as a gift - go do it now at marcmaronbook.com. And you can still upload your preorder receipt to enter the sweepstakes to win a Casper mattress or a luggage set from Away.
I’m a little premature on this but it just happened so I want to talk about it. On Friday night, I went to see John Hammond, Jr. play at McCabe’s Guitar Shop in Santa Monica. I don’t know if I have really talked about John much but I am a huge fan of the way he plays and sings. He’s a deep, astounding performer and a real blues purist.
I guess I should tell you now. I talked to him in the garage last week and it was one of those talks where I think it was clear I was a huge fan. It won’t be up for a while but I loved it.
I hadn’t seen him perform in years. I think the first record of his that blew me away was ‘Mileage.’ It’s just him and a guitar and a harmonica going at it. The truth of it is, he’s been putting out records and performing for over 50 years and I bet many of you don’t know who he is. He has like 30 records out. He’s been around since the mid-sixties and came up playing real blues during the folk era in Greenwich Village. He’s primarily a solo performer but he did some records with bands here and there throughout his career. If you want to check him out, listen to any record between ’64 and ’70 to get a foundation. Country Blues, So Many Roads and Source Point are good ones. Check out the line up on So Many Roads too. Amazing.
Anyway, I went to see him and he blew my mind. He blows my mind when I just listen to him too. He channels the real shit somehow. It’s astounding. He just sat on a stool with his harp holder hanging around his neck, alternating between an acoustic and a National steel resonator guitar and just laid down some deep true blues.
I don’t see many acoustic shows. Actually, I don’t go to many shows at all. But just an artist wrenching feeling out of a guitar and harmonica is so human, so organic somehow. I really don’t know how he goes so deep. I talked to him in the garage and hung out with him and his wife before the show and he couldn’t be a nicer guy. He did not seem haunted but anything but man, when he starts singing and playing, it is the real deal. Deep, sad lonesome longing blues goods. Maybe when you hear the talk you can figure out where it comes from. I just felt honored to be there talking and watching him. It’s just me and room full of people a decade or two older than me. They may actually know what’s best.
Today I talk to screen legend Elliott Gould about his experience in show business. It was cool to talk to him. On Thursday, we have a special show for you. There is no audio book of Waiting for the Punch, but we're going to take the entire first section of the book and turn it into a podcast for you. So that will be a little unique peak at the book on Thursday.
Enjoy!
Boomer lives!
Love,
Maron