I'll be playing and singing on stage this weekend at Club Passim

Okay, we've all heard the stories. Robert Johnson sold his soul to the devil at the crossroads at midnight, and about four years ago Baxter came over to my apartment bearing a vintage Burns six-string guitar and told me to play it, even though at the time I only knew C and G7.

Johnson went on to become the world's greatest delta blues player, and me, well, I'm happy just to say I'm still walking the earth.

I fell in love with the guitar, so much so that I've actually said that, if given the chance to barter, I wouldn't give my soul, but would consider exchanging every bit of theater talent I have to be great guitar player. However, I would prefer to meet at a more sane hour--say 10:00 o'clock in the morning. Crossroads are fine, though.

There was someone who actually said I was too old to learn to play--a theater person by trade, no less--who I gently eased out of my life. And I think there were some who felt it might be considered a crime against humanity if I actually sang in public.

So, negative theater person aside, this Saturday I will be performing with the Americana Ensemble class at Club Passim at their annual campfire on the same stage from which the likes of Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Shawn Colvin and even my hero Chris Knight have been seen. I will be singing Guy Clarke's LA Freeway, and for two other songs I'll be playing Lulu, the 1963 Burns electric Baxter handed off to me and told me to cling to like the drowning man I was.

The simple lesson is this: You can do whatever you want. Never, never listen to negativity. Run like hell from it. You don't have to take it, or even bother with it in any way. It's your life you can do what you want. And you don't have to explain yourself either. Just simply live, and things should work out all right.

Wilco: California Stars

I know we won't be playing it this good, but this is one of the songs we (the Americana Ensemble group I'm playing with from Club Passim's School of Music) will be playing at the weekend campfire next weekend.

It was only a few minutes ago that I heard this song for the first time, so I guess I better get cracking, trying to figure out where I'll fit in in the rendition.

Oh, and it's written by Woody Guthrie.



I'd like to rest my heavy head tonight
On a bed of California stars
I'd like to lay my weary bones tonight
On a bed of California stars

I'd love to feel Your hand touching mine
And tell me why I must keep working on
Yes I'd give my life To lay my head tonight
On a bed Of California stars

I'd like to dream My troubles all away
On a bed of California stars
Jump up from my starbed, Make another day
Underneath my California stars

They hang like grapes On vines that shine
And warm the lovers' glass Like friendly wine
So I'd give this world Just to dream a dream with you
On our bed of California stars

I'd like to rest my heavy head tonight
On a bed of California stars
I'd like to lay my weary bones tonight
On a bed of California stars

I'd love to feel Your hand touching mine
And tell me why I must keep working on
Yes I'd give my life To lay my head tonight
On a bed Of California stars

I'd like to dream My troubles all away
On a bed of California stars
Jump up from my starbed
Make another day Underneath my
California stars

They hang like grapes On vines that shine
And warm the lovers' glass Like friendly wine

So I'd give this world Just to dream a dream with you
On our bed of California stars

So I'd give this world Just to dream a dream with you
On our bed of California stars

(Dream a dream with you)