We Don't Like Ike!

Hurricane Ike wasn't too kind to the Texas Gulf Coast and the remnants weren't too nice to us! I don't have an accurate measure of the wind gusts at my house, but there were high enough to bring down a number of big limbs and kill our power for most of the day and night. Was it a Tropical Storm when moved through the area? Not officially, but the gusts were something else!


Here's what the National Weather Service reported:

The following are some of the highest measured wind gusts (unofficial) reported to the NWS office:

• 81 mph at Kentucky Dam (Army Corps of Engineers, unconfirmed)
• 78 mph at Grand Rivers, KY (barge loading facility on KY Lake)
• 75 mph at Calvert City, KY (off-duty NWS employee)
• 73 mph at Owensboro (emergency management)
• 67 mph at Cairo, IL (emergency management)
• 67 mph at Madisonville, KY (emergency management office)
• 66 mph at Poplar Bluff, MO (airport ASOS)
• 66 mph about 6 mi. southwest of Greenville, KY (handheld anemometer)
• 64 mph at Evansville, IN (airport ASOS)
• 64 mph in northwest corner of Christian Co., KY (handheld anemometer)

At my house

I'm thankful that our home suffered no damage, although I banged my already broken toe while trying to clean up limbs. OUCH! I also lost a Sunday's worth of NFL Sunday Ticket on TV and a chance to grab Darrin Sproles of the San Diego Chargers for my NFL Fantasy team. I would have too! But that pales in comparison to what others lost and for that I am thankful, while offering my prayers to them and their families.

NFL: Early thoughts...

I love college football and love and am intrigued by the NFL, since in the NFL the difference between winning and losing is truly a razor's edge. What about Week One of the NFL:

1. Tom Brady's Knee: Forget about New England. They'll be respectable, but they're finished as far as the Super Bowl is concerned. Brady is the straw that stirs the drink. They invested a lot in him. Unfortunately, they never invested a lot in a back up. Because of their easy schedule, they'll rack up some wins, but not a deep playoff run. Open the door a little wider for the rest of the AFC East, including the Jets.

2. Colts-Bears: Colts QB Peyton Manning showed some rust. Colts WR Marvin Harrison showed some age. They'll get better, but how much? The Bears showed their great defense, and an offense, under Kyle Orton, which takes better care of the football. They'll be better this year, but will they be better than the Dallas Cowboys?

3. Dallas-Cleveland: The Cowboys showed they had more talent than anyone in the NFC, but can they keep the peace intact and the law at bay long enough to take advantage of their stacked lineup? The Browns have some talent, but can they meld as a team soon enough and avoid injuries long enough? Dallas has the talent to win the Super Bowl, but with Romo at the helm they've yet to win a playoff game. I saw Romo at Eastern IL against Murray State. He looked great. Unfortunately, he's not playing the Racers anymore. Unless he breaks up with Jessica Simpson, I have to downgrade their chances of winning it all. No boyfriend of Jessica Simpson has ever won a Super Bowl.

4. Titans-Jaquars: Titans coach Jeff Fisher knows how to win in the NFL: stop the run, use the run on offense and don't turn the ball over. The Titans can stop the run. They have a good running game with White and the explosive Johnson. Vince Young has had trouble with turning the ball over. He needs to play more with his heart and instincts and less with his ears and ego. Were all the reports about the cops being called Monday night because he was "down" being overblown? No. He must close his ears and grow up quickly, or move out of the way. He has so much natural talent. He needs to trust it, or move aside. The Titans defense is good enough they can make do with a "game manager" as opposed to a "game-breaker." It takes a tough personality to play QB in the NFL. We'll see soon enough whether Young has it, or not. Young should talk to Tavarous Jackson, who has responded so well to the pressure. When Young returns, don't be surprised if he has a hard time unseating Collins or Simms for the starting job. It's a shame because he has more natural talent than either. So much of the job, though, flows through what's in the mind.

5. Green Bay-Minnesota: Aaron Rogers got off to the best start possible for him, Will he sustain it? He'll have to, or the Farve comparisons will come quickly and rightly so. Can Minnesota still make the Super Bowl? Yes, as along as Jackson can manage the game, not turn the ball over and the defense keep them in it.
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6. San Diego-Carolina: The Chargers' big stars, outside of Thomlinson, all have health issues. The Panthers appear to be healthy (especially DeLohome) and perhaps are the team we expected a year ago. Either team could have won. The one that made the last play did.

*The answers to these questions and more coming as the season unfolds.....ain't it great!

Me & The Waffle House

Of all the songs I've written and performed over the years, if there's one for which I'm most known, it's "Waffle House Woman." It's a light-hearted song for sure, but in reality, I really DO love the Waffle House and always have. Perhaps it's some sort of reconciliation of my Southern, slightly redneck roots. It's part campy, part funny, and part my love for those dang waffles smothered in butter and syrup at the "Breakfast House of the South." Last week, while working in St. Louis, MO, I ate breakfast at the Waffle House 3 times.

Today, a co-worker of mine gave me a Waffle House Coffee mug because he liked "Waffle House Woman." This was not just ANY Waffle House mug. This one had a history. My friend was one of the National Guardsman sent to the Gulf Coast in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Part of that time, he spent standing guard over a slab of concrete where the Waffle House in Gulfport, MS used to be. In the sand near the beach, he found a Waffle House coffee mug or two. The owner said he could keep it. He did, until he decided to give one of them to me. He had no way of knowing how much I've always had a love for both Waffle House, and the Gulf Coast, as Bridget and I traveled to Biloxi, Gulfport and New Orleans many times over the years. That mug means a lot more to me than he thought when he gave it to me.

On the campy side, you can find Waffle House songs on the jukebox at Waffle Houses. You can't find MY Waffle House Woman....YET.....but that would be the ultimate for me.

On Youtube, you can find plenty of Waffle House videos, like the Waffle House Wedding.


Or Bill Hicks' Waffle House bit.



Waffle House is part of Americana. As far as roadside restaurants go, much more so than Cracker Barrel in my opinion. Cracker Barrel was born as a fairly recent imitation of Jackson, TN's Old Country Store (still the best), but Waffle House is an American original. That's why I love my mug, and what it represents.

Football time

Sometimes people ask me why I don't play as much on Saturdays and Sundays in the fall and they're surprised when I say it's because I love to watch football! It's another passion of mine besides music. I love to watch football games. I love to watch tape of football games and break it down. I love to project players progressions. I'm reminded of an old saying by one of my favorite coaches, Bum Phillips as he and fellow Oilers coaches prepared to break down tape. One of the coaches said he loved breaking down tape because it was better than sex, to which Bum replied, without batting an eye," Either you don't know how to have sex, or I don't know how to watch tape!"

I remember watching tape of Arkansas Pine-Bluff with Lane College football coach Neal McCall because I wanted to learn more about the offense they ran under Archie "Gunslinger" Cooley (which he also ran at Mississippi Valley State with Willie Totten and Jerry Rice). I was surprised to find out that his defense was just as daring and "all or nothing" as his offense. Over the years, I've been blessed to experience NFL and major college games from the sideline, which is QUITE an experience. In the NFL, they're ALL big, they're ALL super fast, they hit as hard as Mack trucks and they facemask on just about every play. The difference between winning and losing truly is a razor's edge. That's why I loved/love being on the sidelines: you can feel the percussion of the hits, and soak in the emotional swings.

I, along with my wife Bridget, enjoy playing fantasy football and following the NFL and watching college football too. Labor Day, we watched as Tennessee got off to a rough start against UCLA, but I wasn't that surprised. I knew what a great offensive mind UCLA offensive coordinator Norm Chow has, and how he never got the chance to really show his stuff with the Tennessee Titans. No fault of his or their's. It's just a different game in many ways. I also knew what a great football coach Rick Neuheisel has, even though his reputation, at times, has been a bit below board. I think he'll do fine at UCLA.

This season, we have season tickets to the UT Martin Skyhawk games, and plan on going to a few more games, while watching a lot more on TV, especially my beloved MTSU Blue Raiders, the Vols, the Titans, Peabody High School (although my heart goes out to them in their tragedy this season), Jerry's Giants, Bridget's Dallas Cowboys, Lake County Falcons, Memphis Tigers, Syracuse Orangemen and more. I also have a lot of work to do to continue perfecting my homemade hot wing sauce. I love watching my teams, but I don't get too down if they lose. I refuse to let my happiness hinge on a 19-year-old boy doing what he is supposed to do. So for those who wonder why I don't play as much music in the fall, that's the reason. It's football time in Tennessee, and for me.

Hot August Blues 2008

Although Labor Day may be the unofficial end to summer, for many of us, it's the Hot August Blues Festival at Kenlake State Park in Aurora, KY. We've been blessed to have played this festival 15 years running, and each year is more fun than the last as we visit with so many friends we've made from all over the nation at this festival over the years, and make new friends. We headlined the event Friday night and had a blast. Mark Barnhill, from Nashville, who used to play in bands with Sam, Greg and Danny years ago in Paducah came up and jammed with us. Jamie sat in on bass for a few numbers. It was HOT! At least a 5 pounder. (how much weight I lost during the set)

(Photos: Wm Gross Magee)

Prior to our set, Debbie, her daughter and granddaughter presented me with a huge birthday card signed by many of the fans at the festival, and a huge cake! I was blown away, as it was a total surprise. My birthday is the 23rd and we always joke that the Hot August Festival is my annual 39th birthday party!


Saturday was time for fun as I got to sit back with my buddies and listen to the other bands. My favorite was Scott Holt. I appeared at a festival on the same bill as Scott a few years ago, and had seen him umpteen years ago when he played with Buddy Guy. He's lost all his hair, but still has his chops! (I'm way behind him in the chops department, but closing in rapidly in the hair department) He even stopped by for a pic during his "guitar walk."

One of the bands Saturday, Flashback, from Jackson, TN, included Julie Rhodes, a talented keyboard player/singer who I remembered from when she worked in radio and I worked in TV in Jackson years ago. She didn't remember me, but that's understandable since it was almost 20 years ago, and I was pretty much forgettable in those days! (maybe still am!) They did a good job though and it was nice to see a band from my native West Tennessee! Later, my friends from the Bluesberry Blues band from Jackson came on and did a GREAT job, too.

My friend Sharon stopped by to show me she STILL has the tattoo on her leg featuring a line from one of my songs. It's a good song, "State Line Blues," but I'm not sure I even like it that much. Maybe it's just the pain thing.


Speaking of tattoos, I got some sad news. For many years, everytime we played this festival, one of our biggest fans, Deborah, came running up to me to get her picture made and she would dance, and dance while we played. She was a true free spirit, covered in tattoos on the outside, and love on the inside. She was the inspiration for our song, "Tattoo Blues." Three years ago, she didn't show up. The next year, when she didn't show up, we tried to call around and ask to see if she was ok, but no luck. This year, I didn't see her, but I saw her husband, and asked about her. He told me she took sick 3 years ago, and then passed away last year. It was his first time back to a blues festival. He said it was tough. He said every year when they came to the festival there were only 2 people she HAD to have her picture made with: Me and Big Mike Griffin. I told him we had been worried and wondering about her and that we'd remember him in our thoughts and prayers, and told him we missed her very, very much. Rest in peace, Deborah! You are missed, you are loved and you are remembered.

(Danny, Me, Deborah)

(Col. JD, Deborah, me)(Briggy, Deborah, me)

It was so good to see other friends, like Amy Carraway. She's a great gal who really puts a lot of time in on Hot August, and always has a wonderful smile and encouraging word.

And then there's my friend and associate, Ned G. Gunn.....who won the Charles Nelson Reilly look alike contest, the dance contest, and the cherry bomb contest, among others.... Ned's wife, Carla is perfect for him. Any other woman would have given him the "burning bed" treatment by now..... I love how she takes a long, slow drag off a cigarette, turns her head, and tells him to "shut up," to which he replies, "I know you love me baby, now eat your corn dog."

Another year, another summer, another sunburn, another marathon blues-a-rama. That's Hot August Blues Festival!

Brett Favre is Bigger Than Ever, Rolling Stone is Smaller

Brett Favre is bigger than ever in the Big Apple, but will he be a big bust? I think so. As much as I love Brett Favre, he's got a lot to overcome. Submitted for your approval, the following facts:

1. Favre's going to a less talented team than the Packers. His new receivers aren't as good as his Packer receivers, and more importantly, the defense backing him up with the Jets isn't as good as the Packers D he leaves behind.

2. Favre's not in shape like he was heading into his great season last year. He spent most of the off-season "retired" and living easy. Maybe not totally easy, but certainly not working out as hard as he did last off-season.

3. Favre's learning a new offense. The terminology may be the biggest change, but NFL offenses are complicated with small differences which can, in the end, make a big difference on coverages. The difference between winning and losing in the NFL is a razor's edge, and a little miscommunication can lead to a big blunder.

4. Favre's on the cover of the Madden '08 video game. The kiss of death for a productive season.

5. Favre is the New York Media darling for the moment. That's about as long as anyone stays the media darling in New York.....a brief moment.

*The Favre-Packer divorce could not have been handled worse. Who's to blame??? BOTH. The Packers should have known Favre would waffle on his "retirement" and Favre himself should have known he would waffle on his "retirement." I think the Packers just got tired of the waffling. Aaron Rogers has a lot of potential, but he's not Brett Favre, and may/will never be. Favre was the Packers best chance to make it to the Super Bowl this year. Now they won't, and Favre won't either, with the Jets. With Rogers, the Packers may make it next year, or the year after that, but this is a "win now" league. How sad that Favre's Packer history had to end this way, the the blame for that lies mostly with Favre himself.


Also catching my eye this week, Rolling Stone Magazine is getting smaller. For so many years, Rolling Stone has been a large-paged magazine, known for it's insight, it's connection with 40 and under Americans (and those 40 and younger at heart), it's cutting edge journalism and it's great photography. I think it still will be. Some of my favorite reading growing up was found in Rolling Stone, including pieces by one of my favorite writers, Hunter S. Thompson. There was a bit of a lull for a few years, but RS "came back" to some degree, and still is a powerful, cultural presence. Though the format might change, the content should be unaffected. Like many magazines and newspapers, Rolling Stone has seen ad revenues continue downward, but as long as they remain true to their principles and their vision, they should remain a force for a long time.

Fancy Farm Picnic

We played at the 128th Annual Fancy Farm Picnic at Fancy Farm, Kentucky. We've played this wonderful fundraiser for St. Jerome Parish before, where they're famous for their BBQ and for their traditional "political speaking." It's old fashioned politics at it's best, as candidates take the "stump" (stage) to speak to voters under a hot August sun. Many nationwide political figures in the past have made their way to this quiet little community to take part in the tradition, including Al Gore, as thousands gather for the food and the "speaking."

(Photos by Wm Gross Magee)

We provide the music, and have a wonderful time doing so, as the folks are simply the best! I must admit though, for all the years we've played it, I've NEVER had the BBQ, as when we played on Friday night, it was still cooking, and when we arrived in Saturday to play, it was already sold out! This year, I decided to eat before I went, so of course, when I arrived, they still had a little BBQ! My loss. Everyone said it was fantastic as they slow cook it the old fashioned way and numerous pits.....tons of it. When we've played on Friday night the Knights of Columbus have a huge fish fry, and I HAVE had that. It's wonderful too!

(Photos by Wm Gross Magee)

It was HOT.....with heat indices more than 100, but everyone took the heat in stride. The Fancy Farm High School Class of 1978 held their reunion, so we played some 70s music, just for them and it was fun all the way around. Our buddy, Charlie did sound and he always does a great job! I played the 335 through the Twin and got a good tone. I've had voice issues the past month or so, but with the hot weather had some of the Fancy Farm Lemonade this night. I think it helped. It was great to see Bill and Shirley there from South Fulton, TN. They're coming up on their 55th wedding anniversary and try to make almost all our shows, which truly humbles us. We always try to play what they want and do our best.

Next year.....I pledge to hold off, in hopes of nabbing some of that BBQ!