Postcards from the Swamp: A portable chair. Do you have one?

I just got this one. Ideal for rocking lake-side. But you’ll also need some cigars and seltzer to rock it out swamp-side this October. Next month, I’m reprising the six song series Postcards from the Swamp at Doodad Farm. The band will feature Ben Singer and the fine fellows from Wurlitzer Prize. The evening also features special guests The Mighty Gospel Inspirations, all the way from Durham, NC.

If you’re not the outdoor type, I’ve got some indoor things happening, too. Hope to see you there.

9.10—bring a chair and take a stand
Laurelyn Dossett hosts an evening of songs focused on issues of social justice for this s Songs of Hope & Justice: A Fabric of Freedom Concert. I’m joining up with some of North Carolina’s preeminent singer/songwriters: Bhi Bhiman, Laurelyn Dossett, Alice Gerrard, Rhiannon Giddens, Django Haskins & emcee Preston Lane. Presented by 17 Days.

Plan to bring: A lawn chair
7 pm, Thursday, September 10
The Railyard in Greensboro, NC
Free

9.16—stay standing
I am stoked to announce a new collaboration with songwriter and DJ Anna Luisa Daigneault, aka Quilla. We’ll debut a few new tunes at the DiMuziou Bros. show at the Blind Tiger.

Plan to bring: Your groove
9 pm, Wednesday, September 16
The Blind Tiger in Greensboro, NC
$5

9.22—a seat in the kitchen
Back with the Wurlitzer Prize trio in the best-tasting musical venue in Greensboro: Lucky 32.

Plan to bring: Your appetite
6 to 9 pm, Tuesday, September 22
Lucky 32 Southern Kitchen in Greensboro, NC
Free

9.26—you’ll need more than a camping chair
The ramble continues. Possum Jenkins debuted the festival last year in the GPS-navigator-challenged mountains outside Boone, NC. This year, the festival deck is certainly stacked to be better than the first Ramble.

Plan to bring: Camping and cold weather gear
All day, Saturday, September 26
Family and fool-friendly

Underwater

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“Do you know why you can’t swim here?” he asked.

He stood in front of his car, like it was a workbench. The 90’s gray Wagoneer pointed to the lake, and he pulled a few things from a gym duffle bag: goggles, a snorkel, and some flippers.

“I’m not sure. I think it’s the city’s drinking water,” I said, pausing from pumping up my SUP with a bicycle-like pump. I was on pump number 323 of 350. I count it out. Keeps it interesting.

“What are you training for?” I asked.

The Navy. He needed a 2 mile swim and the monotony of doing laps at Gold’s was killing him.

“What are you training for?” he asked, nodding towards the board.

“I don’t know. Life?”

I wished him well and paddled out, wondering if I’d paddle over him at some point, a little more curious about what goes on under the water, and hoped he wasn’t scared of snakes.