Late Breaking News

My bid to leave the fire prevention bureau in the desert and return to a fire station has been approved.

Some time in the next three and half months I'll be going to Fire Station 63 in La Crescenta. Ain't exactly the Taj Mahal, but it's my ticket out, baby!

Mudcrutch

Hope y'all picked up the new Mudcrutch CD.

The world's last surviving rock star, Tom Petty, dusted off his pre-Heartbreakers band from his Gainesville FLA days.

It features Tom, the Heartbreakers' own Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench, and Tom Leadon and Randall Marsh.

Mudcrutch was cut from the same cloth as Gram Parsons, the Flying Burrito Brothers, the Byrds, and Neil Young--that is, countrified rock, heavy on the heavy guitars.

Tracked live over 10 days, this outing is better than Petty's own last solo CD, "Highway Companions." Don't believe me? Just check out the nine and a half minute "Crystal River," or "Scare Easy."

Get out your lava lamp and hookah...