Walk This Way

I like to walk – and my iPod has convinced me to like it even more.

Today I pushed the chair away from the desk at 5:00 sharp and headed out with portable music library in hand. Sometimes I have a musical plan in mind for my walks; sometimes not. My first thought today was to start with a song that had been going through my head as I put on my walking shoes – “Walking After Midnight.” I knew I didn’t have the Patsy Cline original, but I thought I might have loaded the Garth Brooks cover version on there.

But, no. Still, having looked for the song via the iPod’s “Songs” listing, I found myself staring at a list of songs that all started with the word “walk.”

Hmm.

And so, here’s the listening program from today’s walk. Another reason why I love my iPod...

“Walk Away” – Joe Walsh
“Walk Back In” – Keb’ Mo’
“Walk Like A Man” – Bruce Springsteen
“Walk Of Life” – Dire Straights
“Walk On” – John Hiatt
“Walk On” – U2
“Walk Softly…” – Ronnie Montrose
“Walk Tall” – John Mellencamp
“Walk This Way” – Aerosmith

R.I.P. Danny Federici

His Boss called E Street Band organ, glockenspiel and accordion player Danny Federici "one of the pillars of our sound." Late yesterday word came that Federici had died at the age of 58, after a three-year battle with melanoma. Ten years ago, Danny Federici was my first professional interview, after Daily Vault Founder Christopher Thelen was kind enough to assist me in lining it up.

The interview, which took place concurrent with the release of Federici's first solo album, 1998's Flemington, is here. Chris's review of the album is here. You can read more about Federici's colorful life and tremendous musical accomplishments here, and see video of his last live performance with the band on March 20th here. I recommend having the Kleenex handy for the latter. Judging by their expressions, I think they must all have known.

Danny Federici was a remarkable musician and a true gentleman. R.I.P. Danny.

It was the best of times; it was the worst of times

Yeah, I know; only I would open a baseball post with a quote from Dickens. Guess I'm just twisted that way.

Anyhow, there were several stories going at once down at the ballpark by the Bay yesterday. One involved the perpetually undersupported Matt Cain taking a no-hitter into the seventh inning, hitting a home run to give himself a lead, and then having the bullpen blow a 5-0 lead for him. The Giants lost 8-7 in 10 innings. A second involved Bruce Bochy, the veteran-coddling, youth-hating skipper who seems so totally incapable of managing this team up to their ability level that some of the Giants' increasingly cranky fans are calling yesterday's game the worst managed game of all time.

But the one I'll choose to focus on is the feelgood story, the one about the kid from Sacramento who went to the same high school as my own kids, who made his major league debut yesterday, singled in his first at-bat, and then hit a three-run homer later in his very first major league game. It was an amazing debut for John Bowker, and hopefully the first of many highlights to come. This is excatly the kind of youth and excitement this team needs.

The Promised Land

It's a GOOD day today.

There's no other way to describe the feeling. For tonight, I will go to the mountaintop and return with a message from the Boss... the one from New Jersey, that is. At 7:30(ish) tonight, that oil company arena (got to love the irony there) out in the Sacramento flood plain will be transformed into a rock and roll tent revival. Again.

I have probably been to 50 concerts in my life -- small change by the standards of most music diehards. It's just that it takes something special to motivate me to spend the money, deal with the hassles, and make the road trip to wherever. But when the greatest rock and roll show on earth comes right to your back door... well, I just can't say no.

That time again

Springtime, that is -- when baseball returns to make all things right in the world.

Now, let's be clear; I'm not talking about *watching* baseball. My Giants are so bad this year there are fans on the message board saying we should trade our best young pitcher Matt Cain out of compassion for the poor guy. He's 23 years old and if he goes 7-16 with a great ERA again it could scar him for life.

No, what I'm talking about is *playing* baseball. And it's funny to be saying that, because I was never more than decent in Little League and didn't play at all in high school or college. In those days I was mostly just a fan. But after college I started playing softball with a group from the office I was working in and it just stuck. I moved across the country not long after and was back on the diamond with a new neighborhood softball team as soon as I could find one.

That team celebrated the start of its 19th season last night.

It was a typical Tuesday night at the ballfield down the street at our local park. Twelve guys who mostly hadn't seen much of each other since last September showed up and greeted each other like long-lost cousins. The youngest guy's wife came by with his two little kids; one of the older guys was showing off a mug shot of his new grandbaby. Spring training lasted 15 minutes and consisted mostly of goodnatured grousing about sore knees and elbows and scar tissue popping as we threw.

And then we went out and played -- mostly -- as well as we ever do and won 9-6. Afterwards we sat on the grass for a round of cold beverages and ribbing. There was absolutely nothing unusual about the evening, and I loved every minute of it. So never mind the Giants for today; today I'm just going to ride on the good feelings of playing the game itself, and paying for the privilege. It's spring again.