Hey Jakey,

Tonight I left you and your daddy to fend for yourselves and went to see Mary Gauthier's show at the Hacienda in Reno, the same little club that I saw Camper at back in November. Pronounce it "Go-Shay," not like Jean-Paul "Gol-Tee-Ay." Just got back, and I had a great time.

But first off, the seating arrangement was horrible. Tiny space, and they jammed in these long tables like it was a bingo parlor. I got there a half hour before the show, and there was no place left to sit, cuz everyone came early to eat dinner? So I sat at the bar, with people on either side of me who were more interested in playing video poker than watching the show. And the 'tenders kept getting in the way, and chatting. It took three entire Bourbon-and-Diets to get me to the point where I wasn't pissed off about that. Well drinks, that is, not call drinks... I'm on a budget!

Mary has a wonderful, unique voice. She swoops up to peg the high notes, then tumbles back down to growl out the low notes. She looks like her voice, delicate but rough. A beautiful woman who looks like she's seen some hard times. Which, according to all her press releases, she has.

She played almost everything off her 2005 album, Mercy Now (the only one of hers that I have), and a few older songs, and some new stuff that she wrote over the past couple of months. Every single song was a keeper. It was just her on acoustic guitar and another guitar player, who switched between acoustic and slide guitar. Very subtle, very moody. Sounded a lot like Richard Thompson to me. (Maura, if you're reading this, feel free to tell me how full of shit I am, as I know nothing at all about RT! His name was John Yutz and he told me to tell you that you are a twat!) Mary played harmonica on a couple of songs, too. She was witty and engaging in between songs, which surprised me, given the serious, melancholy nature of the music of hers that I am familiar with.



Afterwards I got in line to have her sign my CD, and I shook her hand and told her that Mercy Now was my favorite album of 2005 (which is debatable, but what am I gonna say, "Mary, Mercy Now was my third favorite album of the year!"), and thanked her for coming all the way out to Reno. She was very gracious.

This is a big couple of weeks for music. Next Wednesday, I've got the Gourds at the Crystal Bay Club, and Saturday the 4th is Camper at Harrah's, then Alison Krauss at the Hilton on the 9th. I'm bribing you and daddy with money and toys and meals, cuz I feel guilty about the nights away from you two. But good live music is usually not in abundance in this area, so I'm figuring this is a once-in-a-long-while kinda thing.

So, here I come to snuggle with you and fall asleep. See you in teh morning! You're gonna have a huge day in Reno tomorrow with your daddy. Love you!