Where I'm coming from

Howdy folks! Been a great long weekend out here in the toolies. I spent three glorious days on the back roads. Dug some selenite crystals from a mud cliff in the San Pedro river valley, and took my rock hammer to a vein of turquoise in the hills east of Tombstone. No company but Alice, the dog, and one lone Border Patrol truck.

No radio, no corporate jibberjabber and fake smiles on TV.

Nice.

As you might imagine, not much time was spent tracking down interviews, or listening to new music. Didn't run across any hidden gems of original singer/songwriters, bless their pointy li'l heads, but I did find some nice mineral samples for the display case. And we even had time for some turkey. Brought a couple of pre-cooked drumsticks along in the cooler.

But since this is supposed to be a music column, not a mining travelogue, I'd feel kinda guilty if I didn't give y'all at least one heads-up about some great new music that might get missed otherwise. Give a listen to Mark Elliott's newest project, "Pickin' Blackberries". Some mighty fine music from a solid pro. Mark's been plugging away in the real music biz while yours truly has been dabbling around the edges, but we all have to choose where we're coming from at some point.

Given the choice, I'd have to say my worst day prospecting is better than my best day dealing with artists, producers, venues, and fragile self-esteem.

In the end, where I'm coming from boils down to what's over the next tailing pile.

But, as Mark puts it so well in one of his tunes, "Not All Who Wander Are Lost." Give him a listen.