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It's been a while since I've posted, but there's good news: If everything goes well, there will be a Listen to the Lion radio show/podcast appearing regularly in this space very shortly.
I'm teaching myself how to do it, and any tips/suggestions will be welcomed via e-mail.
The Del McCoury Band - I used to call them the finest bluegrass band in the world, then I just started dropping "bluegrass" - has a new CD called The Company We Keep coming out July 12, and NPR just aired a nice piece on Del, complete with lots of extras on this page.
There is, however, some bad news. Bassist Mike Bub (four-time IBMA Bass Player of the Year) just left the band, ending a 13-year run. During that time, Mike was part of the most awarded and, arguably, the best and most successful bluegrass band since the music's storied first generation.
Along with Del (guitar), Ronnie McCoury (mandolin), Rob McCoury (banjo) and Jason Carter (fiddle), the music Mike helped make was peerless. No one I've ever seen or heard can play together like these five guys. In the several times I saw them play, they always had me shaking my head or laughing at some new shade of sound they conjured up.
What's more, Mike is a great guy and (I hope I can say this Mike) a good friend. The first time I saw the band play (in Chicago a few years ago just after I had been bitten by the bluegrass bug) Mike took lots of time to talk to me after the gig, and introduced me to the rest of the band. The next night after a small bar gig in Milwuakee, Mike and the band allowed me to just hang out with them, which was incredibly kind.
Since then, when we've bumped into one another in person and in cyberspace, Mike always has a smile and a kind word. I'm sure he'll continue to make great music whatever his next step is.
Here's a link to a story about the amicable spilt that includes Mike's announcement.
I always chuckle to myself when people talk about the ascendancy of a united Europe. Paul Johnson's recent Wall Street Journal piece explains why.
My review of Bruce's latest is now up at NRO here.
I admit my initial strong negative reaction to my first listen to the disc, as posted in this space earlier, was half wrong.
A decent piece on Van Morrison in Rolling Stone is here. My review of the new CD Magic Time is coming soon.
I'm not as big a fan of Nixon as Ben Stein is, but I share his hatred for Nixon's enemies. Read what Ben says about Deep Throat's self-outing here.
