1. BevMo! Emeryville, California (September 8). Usually the sign over the exit is something from BevMo! top fave Thomas Jefferson: “In nothing have the habits of the palate more decisive influence than in our relish of wines,” for one. This day it was more direct:
Great approach for first column in almost a year, and as your substack title clearly states, much more an ongoing personal letter to your friends and fans. I believe this is a format in which your writing and your voice will grow and expand not unlike the amazing end notes to Mystery Train, which now are longer than the original text itself. Welcome back, Greil, and take care of yourself in recovery. I remain a faithful and loyal reader.
Welcome back to the column and welcome to this platform. I have a relation in hospital/rehab limbo right now, and your description is helpful to understanding what he’s going through. Thank you
Nick Tosches -- there's another tough guy, not a tough guy can-beat-you-up sense but a can-survive-without-a-liver tough guy. Not that you wouldn't expect he could beat you up if the occasion arose.
You want to see the evasions of "Licorice Pizza" in sharp relief, watch "Rushmore" right after it.
I've often wondered where that "Thank you, thank you very much" joke originated. It's been ubiquitous since about the early 80s , I think. My guess would be either Andy Kaufman's Elvis impersonations (which really captured EP's split personality of awkward,incoherent real-life character and dynamic stage presence), or Bill Murray's SNL lounge singer schtick. Of course, it's all very condescending and mocking, in that it presents EP's thank you's as insincere because he's so arrogant and overconfident that he couldn't possibly be grateful for the applause. It's quit nasty and dismissive-- just like the ridicule of the infamous peanut butter and banana sandwiches, which ironically, 45 years after his death, are on every hipster bistro/cafe menu in North America in one form or another--milkshakes, sandwiches, desserts. Fascinating.
Nick Tosches -- there's another tough guy, not a tough guy can-beat-you-up sense but a can-survive-without-a-liver tough guy. Not that you wouldn't expect he could beat you up if the occasion arose.
You want to see the evasions of "Licorice Pizza" in sharp relief, watch "Rushmore" right after it.
Wonderful moment of my weekend reading this. Thanks. P.S. - might not Sam Cooke’s real date of death been earlier than 2008? I’m wondering what great songs I missed now!
Welcome back, Greil. Amazon just delivered "Folk Music" after acknowledging they lost the first shipment a few weeks ago. I'm glad you're explaining "Jim Jones." I always thought it was about the People's Temple in Guyana.
When I signed on to Substack, moving my blog here, I had already been reading other writers. I love the format, and I can clearly see that my writing is now being read to some extent. I immediately looked for my favourite writers, and you are definitely one of them. So I was very pleased when I received notice that you had started posting. Real Life Rock Top 10 is always a joy, and this month is no different. Thank you Greil. Thank you very much.
Great to have the column back. Just one small correction I think. Isn’t it Jolie Holland rather than Joanna Newsom singing on the Be Good Tanya’s version of Lakes of Pontchartrain?
Great approach for first column in almost a year, and as your substack title clearly states, much more an ongoing personal letter to your friends and fans. I believe this is a format in which your writing and your voice will grow and expand not unlike the amazing end notes to Mystery Train, which now are longer than the original text itself. Welcome back, Greil, and take care of yourself in recovery. I remain a faithful and loyal reader.
Welcome back to the column and welcome to this platform. I have a relation in hospital/rehab limbo right now, and your description is helpful to understanding what he’s going through. Thank you
Nick Tosches -- there's another tough guy, not a tough guy can-beat-you-up sense but a can-survive-without-a-liver tough guy. Not that you wouldn't expect he could beat you up if the occasion arose.
You want to see the evasions of "Licorice Pizza" in sharp relief, watch "Rushmore" right after it.
I've often wondered where that "Thank you, thank you very much" joke originated. It's been ubiquitous since about the early 80s , I think. My guess would be either Andy Kaufman's Elvis impersonations (which really captured EP's split personality of awkward,incoherent real-life character and dynamic stage presence), or Bill Murray's SNL lounge singer schtick. Of course, it's all very condescending and mocking, in that it presents EP's thank you's as insincere because he's so arrogant and overconfident that he couldn't possibly be grateful for the applause. It's quit nasty and dismissive-- just like the ridicule of the infamous peanut butter and banana sandwiches, which ironically, 45 years after his death, are on every hipster bistro/cafe menu in North America in one form or another--milkshakes, sandwiches, desserts. Fascinating.
Nick Tosches -- there's another tough guy, not a tough guy can-beat-you-up sense but a can-survive-without-a-liver tough guy. Not that you wouldn't expect he could beat you up if the occasion arose.
You want to see the evasions of "Licorice Pizza" in sharp relief, watch "Rushmore" right after it.
Wonderful moment of my weekend reading this. Thanks. P.S. - might not Sam Cooke’s real date of death been earlier than 2008? I’m wondering what great songs I missed now!
Welcome back, Greil. Amazon just delivered "Folk Music" after acknowledging they lost the first shipment a few weeks ago. I'm glad you're explaining "Jim Jones." I always thought it was about the People's Temple in Guyana.
When I signed on to Substack, moving my blog here, I had already been reading other writers. I love the format, and I can clearly see that my writing is now being read to some extent. I immediately looked for my favourite writers, and you are definitely one of them. So I was very pleased when I received notice that you had started posting. Real Life Rock Top 10 is always a joy, and this month is no different. Thank you Greil. Thank you very much.
Great to have the column back. Just one small correction I think. Isn’t it Jolie Holland rather than Joanna Newsom singing on the Be Good Tanya’s version of Lakes of Pontchartrain?
Been a fan of yours since 1982, when I first read Mystery Train. Gonna love this Substack.
This was a joy to read. Thank you, especially for the Neuwirth story.