Fierro

Costs about the same, maybe an extra $5. Looks like his U.S. publisher passed on it. He is asked about it in the interview but doesn't go there. It's a head-scratcher, but publishing is weird right now.

Just ordered Twelve Children of Paris, Tim Willocks' sequel to The Religion. It is set during three days of the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre in 1572. I've been waiting 7 years for this.

Full length 2011 show Robert Plant and Band of Joy. Damn! Most all of those players are veterans of touring with Emmylou Harris and/or Steve Earle. Patty Griffin is in my designated chorus of angels, with her pal Emmylou. And Plant is just great here. They're obviously having a great time. Love it.

For the past two weeks on the way to and from work, listening to the massive Duane Allman box Skydog. Occassionally, I'm twirling the iPod over to a song I think should've been on the set (just did that for Leave My Blues At Home). On Monday, I'll start the Layla section and probably be done towards the end of the week since there are the long live tracks near the end.

Pure genius.

Wayfarin' Stranger by Tim O'Brien off the CD Songs from the Mountain. The album was conceived as a soundtrack for the book (not the movie) Cold Mountain — songs that were common in the Appalachians during the Civil War period. I'm on a bit of a Tim O'Brien binge. I did a piece on his son John /Riley at http://www.frontierpartisans.com. Song is about Irish soldiers who deserted during the U.S. Mexican War and went over to the Mexican army, where they formed the San Patricio Battalion. Great historical ballad that REH would have dug — although he probably would not have approved of the San Patricios.