Let me tell you how I spent a recent week ... oh wait. As I mentioned in my first blog, I never wanted to be that person that tweets what they are ordering for lunch or announcing that I am about to buy a pack of gum. But this week was so amazing that I even found myself at one point during the festivities thinking that I couldn't wait to share what was happening with as many people as possible.
Basically, I was on a cruise, in close quarters, with the likes of Lyle Lovett, John Hiatt, Emmylou Harris and Brandi Carlile (same ship, separate rooms). The event is called "Cayamo ... A Journey through Song." Five nights with dozens of musical acts performing constantly and basically living together...which is a little exaggeration unless you live with someone providing a 24 hour buffet and cleaning your room every time you leave it. It can easily be described as a floating Summerfest. With a lineup that sounds like a year-long internship at the Pabst and Riverside.
This is the third year of the event and the organizers and veterans were all talking beforehand about how special it is and guarantying first timers that "you will be back." I get it now and agree. The respect of the audience, the obvious delight of the performers to be in such an intimate setting, and their collaborations all help make it pretty darn special.
There were constant performances in both theaters, clubs, hallways and of course (don't hate me because it was 80 and sunny) the pool. But imagine this ... seeing Lyle Lovett wearing a life jacket during the lifeboat drill, the first thing that happens on a cruise. The second is usually heading to the bar. We went up to the pool and while contemplating what drinks to order two girls suggested pina coladas, which was good advice. More on that later.
Over the course of the next five evenings I saw Buddy Miller at both the breakfast nook and in the evening giving an amazing performance. Now I understand what all the fuss him is about. That guy was spectacular. Also, I had never seen Brandi Carlile and her talents are overflowing. John Hiatt played much of his new CD (awesome) and brought copies on board not available anywhere else (until next Tuesday in record stores ... if you can still find one...record store that is!). Steve Earle, Robert Earl Keen, Lovell Sisters, Shawn Mullins and Edwin McCain were on board both literally and in their enthusiastic performances.
And as is often the case in the diluted mainstream entertainment world ( I still remember having to sit through the Doors and Stones to get to Topo Gigio on the old Sullivan show...where seriously, the whole country saw everything at once...but now how does an artist actually get major exposure??) finding new and sincere artists was an absolute treat. Chuck Cannon, Edie Carey, Katie Herzig, Vienna Tang were among the many that deserve wider audiences. Lyle Lovett brought up a woman named Elsie May whose voice was as powerful as I have ever heard ... which might not be a surprise since she is the daughter of the late Nicolette Larson and legendary drummer Russ Kunkel.
On the subject of famous offspring, the very philosophical Ben Taylor was on board. He of course is the son of James Taylor and Carly Simon. He told a story in concert about his sister Sally recently giving birth to the famous former couple's grandchild. One day with some particularly rocky seas, and quite a few people worried about keeping their sea legs (not to mention lunch) I walked into a restroom and found myself alongside Ben. He grabbed 3 airsickness bags and said, "I guess it can't hurt to be careful just in case?". I told him that was pessimistic thinking. "Ahhh, you mean that would action would manifest itself in the occurrence I hope to avoid", Ben told me, glowing appreciatively at my deep insight. "Yeah," I managed to respond.
By the way, if you ever had any preconceived notions that a cruise is one step away from assisted living shuffleboard, think again. I happen to strongly believe it is one of the most relaxing vacations you can take. You don't have to ask directions, you don't have to reach into your wallet every five minutes, and you go from city to city without checking in and out of hotels. Most people asked me upon my return where we went. We did go to Belize and Costa Maya. I have to say in both places the fish tacos we ate were probably caught, cooked and placed on our table faster than I could drive from my house to a Red Lobster. But on this cruise the destinations were secondary. The music was the priority and the boat drinks a close second.
Speaking of boat drinks, the first night we were walking through the ship on the way to a headline show and stopped to catch a singer/songwriter by the name of Lissie. Her voice was amazing, her songs sincere and heartfelt, her electric guitar playing a perfect and unique compliment to her message, and a spur of the moment show I won't soon forget. I sat open jawed at how good her songs are and with a feeling that I was seeing someone I would not hear the last of. In fact, at the risk of sounding like Dave Marsh, the guy who wrote he saw the future of rock and it's name is Bruce Springsteen (I know, relax, someone is thinking, "I know Dave Marsh, I worked with Dave Marsh, and you sir are no Dave Marsh") I bet you this girl is going to be a force! You really should check out her stuff (www.lissie.com).
She was born in Illinois and now lives in California. After her performance I told her that the last time I was just wandering around and stumbled across a performer I hadn't seen before and felt that way, was the first time I saw John Prine. (Another Midwesterner who also happened to be from Illinois). She said she was just starting to listen to his music, she really appreciated the compliment, was really glad I like the show and asked how the pina coladas were? THAT WAS HER I referenced earlier at the pool. I had no idea that within the course of a few hours I had both casually shared a drink at the pool and got blown away by the musical talents of the same person. I get it. That is Cayamo.
Even more poetic, I heard that they have booked John Prine for next year's cruise.
Let's go to the e-mail ...
Hey Steve,
Love the show and I really like all the stuff you do that I don't usually get to hear on the radio. Where do you find new music?
-- Tom
Tom. Everything I discover I find from OnMilwaukee.com! (Actually not true. I do scour the Internet; subscribe to new music magazines that include a CD, like Paste; check out performances on TV, get lots of great ideas from listeners and other sources. But I am starting to embrace this blog and the artistic license that comes with the written word, so once again ... yes everything I learn comes from OnMilwaukee.com!)
Two responses came back, including one janitor position. Steve took the other: the opportunity to hang out at WUWM.
After that, he worked at WAUK, then WQFM, then WZUU, then back to WQFM ... and finally worked afternoons at WKLH for a little while.
"I gave up Eddie Money to earn money in 1986," says Steve, who eventually entered the world of commercial real estate.
"But 23 years ago WKLH offered me the chance to wake up early every Sunday morning," he says. "I mean every Sunday morning. I mean like 5:30 am. I mean no matter what I did on Saturday night. Live every Sunday morning. I love it."
