Dolorean, almost

Got to see Al James, the lead singer of Dolorean, play an opening set at Mississippi Studios last night. He performed some material from the upcoming release, "The Unfazed," which focuses on turning 30. That - coupled with my liking of his band, which wasn't playing - was the big draw. Friend Dan was kind enough to come out for the show, too.

James did some of the "Unfazed" songs, read some poetry by Robert Bly and apologized to his mother - who was sitting behind us - for playing some songs with curse words. He talked a lot - in words and music - about the challenges of reaching 30 as a musician who hasn't got that big break but who keeps plugging away for something he's clearly passionate about. And really, what's life without something you're passionate about?

In a weird twist of fate, Oklahoman Garth Brooks, retired country music superstar, played a show in Los Angeles last night. Part of it was televised live on CBS. Thing is, Brooks doesn't exactly need the money. In fact, he was donating proceeds from that and a few other shows to firefighters who battled the wildfires in Southern California last year. That crowd on CBS last night - which I caught a bit of before heading to Mississippi Studios - was going absolutely berserk for that old guy who, for the most part, was playing 10- to 15-year-old material.

So it was kind of bittersweet when James started talking about watching all these younger bands in Portland making it, and how he'd taken - for one day - a job in a cabinet-making shop, but quit after having a box dropped on his hand and shooting a nail in his finger. Kind of a bum deal for a guy who plays guitar. Then, amid a set of gorgeous mostly new material (and a sweet Dylan cover), he said it all made him want to play, of all things, a Garth Brooks song that's always been distinctly country to me, but last night seemed decidedly less so: "Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old)."

The chorus pretty well sums it up:

And the white line's getting longer and the saddle's getting cold
I'm much too young to feel this damn old
All my cards are on the table with no ace left in the hole
I'm much too young to feel this damn old

So go check out his stuff if you haven't already. As the headliner, Barton Carroll, said in his set: CDs are available in the back, for those of you who still buy them. If you don't, if you get your music free online, maybe you can buy me a coffee sometime. Like a six-dollar cappuccino. I mean, I drink two-dollar coffee, but I gotta make a living here.