Spitball Army

The domestic war of words escalated after the foreign group favored his aspirations with the simple honor of calling them “peace.”

Her thin, papery hands ran over my face. She couldn’t recall my name but recognized the shape of my jaw. So, naturally, we danced.

Four years ago, he had a tumor removed from beneath his left eye. Now, when he smiles, only his right eye is shadowed by a crease.

I approach the cashier: “How are you?” “I’m BLESSED!” she chirps, “How was breakfast?” “Best goddam pancakes I ever ate,” I reply.

The cop car drove away. “I just can’t ever win!” I complained. “What’s this then?” she asked, holding aloft the speeding ticket.

On October 13, 2009, Lightning Rod Records will release Live in Europe, a document of Texan James McMurtry’s first European tour with his band, The Heartless Bastards.  The album will be issued as a CD/DVD combo and as a deluxe vinyl package with the CD and DVD included.  McMurtry was joined on the recording dates by keyboardist Ian McLagan and fellow Texas songwriting legend Jon Dee Graham.

The best recordings from the Amsterdam, Netherlands and Geislingen, Germany concert stops were combined to create Live in Europe.  The bonus DVD features performances from the Amsterdam show; this marks the first time that video footage of McMurtry live in concert has been made available to purchase.  Jon Dee Graham opened the shows and joins the band on a version of his tune, “Laredo,” on the bonus DVD.

Track listing:
Bayou Tortue
Just Us Kids
Hurricane Party
You’d a’ Thought (Leonard Cohen Must Die)
Fräulein O.
Ruby and Carlos
Freeway View
Restless

DVD track listing:
Choctaw Bingo
You’d a’ Thought (Leonard Cohen Must Die)
Freeway View
We Can’t Make It Here
Laredo [with Jon Dee Graham]
Too Long In The Wasteland

[audio:James_McMurtry___Bayou_Torture.mp3]
“Bayou Tortue” by James McMurtry, from Live in Europe (2009)