In my previous post I mentioned that Mr. Brown set me up with a small cache of burned CDs for our drive from Chicago back to Tennessee. One of those was the newest Willie Nelson album, Oh What A Beautiful World, wherein Nelson plays the songs of Rodney Crowell.
I've loved seeing my friend fall in love with both these gentlemen's music, and in on-brand fashion for myself, I've engaged with everything he's shared with me by both, but not really jumped 'feet first.'
That may have just changed.
I have a previous connection with Willie Nelson; in 2015, in a misguided attempt to, ah, save our marriage, my ex and I saw Nelson at L.A.'s Greek Theatre. I'd obviously been as vaguely familiar with Nelson's music as any other music-minded person in our time would be, with maybe a little bit of extra exposure here and there.
Watch:
Yesterday, K and I accompanied my Dad to see the new Joseph Kosinski film, F1, starring Brad Pitt, Damson Idris and Kerry Condon.
I know nothing about racing, and I've never seen another film by Mr. Kosinski. This, however, was fantastic; a truly epic experience at the movies on a Sunday with the family. Man can not live by Horror alone, and it's nice every once in a while to take in a well-made, big studio film and feel the exhilaration they can offer when done right. F1 hits all the standard "Save the Cat" beats but does so with bravado and confidence that make this a thrilling theatrical viewing. Not sure it would carry as much weight at home, so if you've any interest, see it in the theatre.
Read:
Although I will freely admit that it is never a good idea to read more than one book at a time, I stumbled upon David Sodergren's new Splatterpunk novel, Death Spell, a few days ago and have been voraciously devouring it since.
Fantastic novel. Fantastic prose, vivid - and gnarly - imagery, and some insane shocks. Mr. Sodergren likes to punch the tropes in the nuts, and I'm all for that. Here's the solicitation from Barnes and Noble's website:
"25 years ago, young businessman Ron Jarvis made a sinister deal that changed his life forever. The cost was high... but who can put a price on power?
Now, Ron is the CEO of a global media empire, and one of the richest men in the world. And yet, to help his daughter, Ron will once more seek out the architect of that hideous pact, bringing death, despair, and total destruction to all around him in a jaw-dropping frenzy of outrageous, bloody carnage."
The Author himself describes this book on his Instagram page as, "H.G. Lewis directing a Shaw Brothers black magic film." This hits all the right notes, and I'd add that there's such a harmonic resonance here with a lot of the Indonesian Horror films I've become enamored with over the last few years that this is really scratching an itch I didn't know needed scratching. Black Magick feels extra threatening when wrapped in the heat, insects and vastness of the jungle.
Available anywhere you buy your books, you can check out all Mr. Sodergren's books here on his Indiebound page.
Playlist:
Willie Nelson - Oh What a Beautiful World Songs of Rodney Crowell
Willie Nelson & Leon Russell - One for the Road
The Jesus Lizard - Goat
Deadguy - Near-Death Travel Services
Deadguy - Work Ethic EP
Emma Ruth Rundle & Thou - May Our Chambers Be Full
Deafheaven - Lonely People With Power
Wake the Devil - Eternally Under Your Spell (single)
Roy Head - Same People (That You Meet Going Up, You Meet Coming Down)
Rodney Crowell - Airline Highway (pre-release singles)
Rodney Crowell - Triage
The Cops - Free Electricity
Kneecap - H.O.O.D
Ty Segall - Possession
YUNGBLUD - Idols
Card:
From Jonathan Grimm's Hand of Doom Tarot, which you can buy HERE.
• Ten of Pentacles
• Knight of Swords
• Four of Wands
The determination for success requires harmony. Obvious, right? I drew a determining card and received the Nine of Pentacles: Abundance. Is this a nod toward success? Maybe, but that's a pretty dangerous tact to take. In other words, my takeaway here doesn't come from the cards, but what I read in between the cards: Stay hungry.
