Joe Henry Blog

[painxtreme]

If you have a way to pester Joe, ask him to consider putting either Kansas City, or Lawrence, KS on his next tour. An old disabled fart who has never seen him live would love the experience. I further would promise him that I wouldn't say a word about Bob Dobbs, ha. Id just be watching in silent awe anyway :)

[painxtreme]

The Church of the Sub Genius is a funny, phony religion which Mojo jokingly adheres to. I was wearing a Sub Genius button that night that had the slogan "Quit your job for Bob" printed on it. In the Church, under the mythical J.R. "Bob" Dobbs, the goal all are trying to reach is a state of total slack. Its funny stuff, I think theres a wiki page on it.

No, I haven't heard Joe's new record yet, but by tomorrow (if I find a copy), I will have heard it many times, thanks for the heads up on that!

[sistersheree]

BLOODY BRILLIANT THIS MAN OF SONG.

[painxtreme]

there needs to be so much more joe Henry on here. Those of us who know of him are in the lucky minority. He, Tom Waits and Elvis Costello are our best living songwriters.

[chugginhemlock]

HALLELUJAH!!!! FINALLY! someone else understands this simple fact! joe, tom and elvis are beyond amazing. they are the grand high exalted mystic rulers of music.

[painxtreme]

WooHoo, Ive found another musically enlightened soul. It's hard enough to find people that even Know Joe Henry, Tom Waits?...isn't he some performance artist with a bad voice....Elvis Costello?...he's still working? I hear those sorts of things all the time. I just tell them, then go listen to whitesnake or whatever cliché they prefer. Im glad to discuss music anytime youd like.

[chugginhemlock]

painxtreme, around the time you posted your comment, joe henry performed at a demonstration in southern california. middle of the day, cars driving by, people talking, tiny stage... he still sounded incredible. just shook his hand and said "thanks for letting us come listen".

say tom waits about 5 years ago back in new york. small place. we were drunk and blown away to be in the same room. he hadn't started yet. he said something like "i'll just sit here then, i get paid either way". classic!

[painxtreme]

Both are brilliant and artists of class. Tom Waits live film, Big Time is damn good. Thanks for the great stories...I have 2 1.) I got thrown out of a show for getting into a loud argument with Mojo Nixon during his set and 2.) I was at a Leon Redbone show, and a fight broke out, Leon took a pistol from his jacket and fired 2 blanks at the ceiling and that ended the fight right then. He never said a word, put away the gun, and finished the song from where he stopped...another total classic.

[chugginhemlock]

HAHAHAHAHAHA! y'know? leon pulling a gun at a show isn't all that surprising. bet that the audience payed really close attention to the rest of THAT set!

so what did you and mojo argue about? if it was about gubernatorial politics in texas... you will be our hero! (for the other readers, this was a kinky friedman reference!)

awesome!

[painxtreme]

my posts keep disappearing. The "Mojo Incident" was in 1984, well before Kinky's run. I had shouted a joke about Bob Dobbs and the Church of the Sub-Genius, and he mistook it for an insult, or was just playing, cuz it turned into a insult fest between us, culminating with him telling me I should follow Dobbs so I could at least become a Sub-Genius. The bouncers saw no humor in it at all. Had it been during Kinky's Run, It would have been the argument You and I would have wanted :D

[chugginhemlock]

despite getting tossed out, that is still a classic "conversation". guess church of the sub genius is for those with thicker skin? agreed, a kinky argument would have been more to our liking! anyone who runs for governor must not take themselves too seriously!

might have to go pester joe henry and see if he will do any shows in the near future. he did some shows over in europe earier this year, but didn't hear about any over here... have you heard his new album (blood from stars)?

[therisingbarometer]

need

[kjulietraven]

this is incredible, thank you Anti for posting this! I love joe more than words can express. he needs to tour more! everyone please post more videos of joe. (joe, come back to chicago! we loved you at Old Town School of Folk Music)

[bustingupastarbucks]

one of the best albums of this year. civilians and mule variations are now my two all time favorite albums in a tie. wish they had a video of his letterman performance this year on here

[painxtreme]

I want a copy of his appearance on Sessions at West 54th, It had great songs from early days thru Fuse, it was Mesmerizing, and if anyone knows where to buy a copy of it, please let me know. Pretty Please?

[design321]

The first time I heard this song was on his album and literally the hair on my neck stood up. I had to stop what I was doing to listen to the words. It was like his words were giving voice to some part of myself that I hadn't been able to articulate but somehow knew was there -- like a part that lived in a deaf, mute world. When music touches emotions and chords in people in such a deep way, it becomes more than a song -- it becomes an icon or symbol. It's an amazing piece. One of Joe's finest.