So, as you probably know, it’s MLK day.

“March! for Martin Luther King,” by John Fahey (mp3, about 4 MB)

Fahey, who died in 2001, was an eccentric but singularly talented acoustic guitarist. His first releases appeared in 1958, and he kept up a relatively steady recording schedule for decades. Even so, Fahey fell into relative obscurity in the 1980s, but was rediscovered in the mid 1990s by avant-garde post-rock musicians like Jim O’Rourke, Sonic Youth, and the folks at music label Table of the Elements.

You can buy his stuff at good brick and mortar music stores, or online at iTunes, or from this eMusic page .

For more info:

• Relevant page at good old, possibly reliable Wikipedia.
• John Fahey: American Primitive Guitar
• “In Memory of Blind Thomas of Old Takoma,” by Eddie Dean (Washington City Paper. March 9-15, 2001.
• “A 60’s Original With a New Life on the Fringe,” by Ben Ratliff (New York Times, January 19, 1997).
• “Homage to John Fahey,” by Nels Cline

The Godfather of Soul has died. May he rest in peace.

“Santa Claus, Go Straight to the Ghetto” (mp3, 4.2 MB)

Chuck and I are going to see Jeff Tweedy perform solo tonight. The last time I saw him perform (with Wilco in Manchester, England), he tossed a pick in my direction from the stage and then called me a “punter.”

In the following quote, Tweedy’s talking about music, but I think what he says applies to relationships of all kinds.

It’s so prevalent in a lot of people’s lives — this idea that it’s so hard to let go of anything, to the point where people just die…Neither person is doing anyone else a favor by staying together…There’s no reason whatsoever to keep it together if it’s not fun….You should be happy.

“Tweedy’s Ghost Stories,” by Mark Binelli
(Rolling Stone Magazine)

So here’s to letting go, having fun, and being happy…

Update: Look! It’s Jeff Tweedy! (He didn’t look this small in real life.)

Hey, y’all. Just a quick, weekend note regarding some Cat Power tour dates that I just found out about. They look a little somethin’ like this:

08-05 Urbino, Italy – Frequenze Disturbate
08-12 St. Malo, France – Route De Rock Festival
09-10 New York, NY – Irving Plaza (early show) *
09-10 New York, NY – Irving Plaza (late show) *
09-12 Atlanta, GA – Variety Playhouse *
09-13 Chicago, IL – Vic Theatre *
09-15 Austin, TX – Austin City Limits Festival *
09-16 Dallas, TX – Gypsy Ballroom *
09-17 Austin, TX – Stubb’s BBQ *
11-01 London, England – Roundhouse
11-03 Amsterdam, Netherlands – Paradiso
11-04 Brussels, Belgium – Ancienne Belgique
11-09 New York, NY – Avery Fisher Hall (The Music of Bob Dylan)

* with the Memphis Rhythm Band.

I’ve already bought my tickets for Atlanta’s Variety Playhouse, using their Ticket Club to bypass Ticketmaster’s odious extra fees. Is anyone else in the Atlanta area planning on going? (Scrivener, I’m looking in your direction.)

I’ve tagged a few Cat Power things, for those who are interested.

The band Sleater-Kinney are calling it quits for awhile, but you can catch one of their last performances by listening to tomorrow’s webcast provided by National Public Radio.

“I was definitely a part of riot grrl when it happened way, way back in the early ’90s,” says Sleater-Kinney guitarist and singer Corin Tucker. “But that all kind of took place and came and went really before Sleater-Kinney started. But I think that our presentation probably carries over a lot of feminist notions about wanting to be seen as multidimensional humans and as musicians first and foremost, and not wanting to be sort of seen as these objectified ladies.”

Rawk!

Update: Rescheduled for August 3 due to power outage.