Hey, Butch Walker: Waiting on summer tour information, please

Like it or not, the truth is just like Tom Petty says:  the waiting is the hardest part. 

This was true even when AC/DC was on their monster tour and Bibi got to see them six times.

 Now that they're on hiatus and I've discovered Butch Walker--AND that unbelievable week of March 11, 2013, is past--the waiting is on, and on, and on....Oh, well, fans have to take the good with the bad, just part of the life. 

Some of the good in the last couple of weeks has been hearing others--that I introduced to Butch's music--talk about Butch.  For example:  D from the office now has Butch on one of his playlists in his computer at work.  Not only did D buy The Spade from ITunes, he includes it in his daily listening. N, gave her one of the first Butch Walker Mixtapes, said she watched a really bad Gerard Butler movie (besides the Guy Ritchie movie and The 300, there are good ones?) that had a BW song at the end!  (It's Synthesizers.)  I was so impressed!  She did listen to the mixtape cd and she recognized Synthesizers.  I felt so fulfilled:  one of the basic tenets of the fan rules and by-laws was well-accomplished--spreading the word.

Butch seems to be in Georgia right now, enjoying family life.  Great idea:  charging up for the highly anticipated summer tour.  The new album by Fall Out Boy, produced by Butch Walker, was released today and Butch tweeted to say it had a Top 10 single and was the Number 1 Album.  So cool for him and F O B.   More good to accept, right?

But that waiting thing....ugh! 

Hope we get news soon on the tour dates, locations.  Decided against buying tickets for the early June Fall Out Boy stop in Houston.  What if it conflicted with traveling to or attending one of the dates for Butch?  Of course, no question what Bibi would do, but can't throw $$ around like no big deal, even with that HUGE tax refund on its way.  lol

I know.  You're saying to yourself:  Bibi--been patiently listening to you go on and on.  Where are some Butch pics?  OK, you're right.  Here's one of Bibi's faves that Butch tweeted the other day: 

Just like Bibi thought, especially when she got to see him so close up in Dallas and Austin:  great handsI  Well, er, um, in this picture, really, really great right hand.  Bibi is such a fan.

And here are couple from Vice Bar in Austin: 

He's fabulous in color--even more so in person--and oh, so cool in black n white, n'est-ce pas?

Love ya, Butch!

Butch Walker: Post-Show Blues

Every day's a Monday now that the show has come and gone, right?  Bibi's been really busy at work and suffering from a diagnosis-proof toothache, living on Advil, and a lack of Butch Walker shows.  Guess, toothache or not, had to unfold this way for the fans lucky enough to see Butch in Chicago.  Like Tom Petty says:  waiting is the hardest part--until the new album hits and the supporting tour.  The BWAE (Butch Walker Ameliorative Effect) has been put to the test all week, helping Bibi through the pain, but really!  Just want it to go away and never come back!

Confession:  haven't been upholding my duties as a fan.  Want to make a new mixtape cd--the songs that Butch sang on December 30 at the Double Door, sans the new ones, of course--and have run out of the Butch cards I give out to those whom I want to become familiar with Butch's work.  Did get more card stock today and think/hope I'll be up to putting together the setlist for the new batch of cds later today.  There's a new indie-looking eatery next to the library and wanted to offer them the BWM II.2 (without the s and f words), but need to make a few more of those, as well.  Geez, really behind in carrying out the fan oath of purpose and obligations!  Did I even remember to pay dues recently? Priorities, Bibi!  lol

Did talk up (through the mist-inducing pain) Butch, the recent show, his talent, his persona on stage to two new people at work--that's when I realized I was out of cards and BWM II.2.  Bibi loves Butch's work and understands about the use of the s/f words--they fit in the flow, meaning of the songs, are not hate-inspired, mongering--but the idea is to introduce Butch to simpatico listeners, not give them the opportunity to get hung up on details. 

My competency with the phone camera at the show was really challenged.  Show pics would make very effective ppt-like effects while I'm talking about Butch.  But, have been able to let folks see photos other people took; some are quite good.  Very appreciative of those.  LOVE this pic someone took on NYE while Butch was singing....you know the song lyrics this gesture fits....tick, tock, tick, tock....ok, Race Cars and Goth Rock. 

Thinking that next time I see Butch, will try to get closer to the front, just for the sake of pictures.  Given different factors, Bibi's strategy had been to leave the struggle, time consumption of being at the front, difficulty of going to the bathroom or getting drinks to others, but re-thinking that.  Not something that ever bothered Bibi at AC/DC concerts--and have the pictures to prove it (ha, ha)--but with Butch playing such small venues, seems absurd not to have great pictures of him performing.  Plus, the camera LOVES Butch and the Internet needs more pictures of him looking totally fab.

Who could argue with that need?

Love you, Butch!

Butch Walker's Birthday at Petty Fest in LA and lessons in how to drink wisely

Looks like an excellent time was had by all at Petty Fest--and why not?   You knew the music was going to be great: Tom Petty's stuff is the epitome of classic rock n roll, resonating for so many of us, no matter the background or age, with its far-ranging emotions and experiences set in a rocking, must-enjoy again and again blend, guitar band best, often magical in its intensity and effect.  When we saw him back in the early '90s, or maybe that was the really late '80s--ah, les neiges d'antan, right?--what a show it was!  Still have the t shirt, somewhere.  The stars of Petty Fest, including the surprize guests, were some of the best of the best musicians.  Maybe some desperate wannabes were there, too.  No names and no judgment here. (Can't stop you from checking out YouTube on your own, though.) 

Of course, Butch was the best one: kick-ass rocker talent and professionalism on full-out display, total class act.  If I had been there, would I have left after he played? 

First night, Butch did Breakdown--excellent, ever so delightfully sinister version.  He shaded it with just a soupcon of bitter experience and lots of self-assured confidence.  Goes down so good n tantalizingly tasty!  
Butch Hancock, er Walker, Tom Petty's Breakdown,

Bibi wonders, though, what was the person filming this thinking?  Me, I would focus on Butch Walker--he's the featured musician, he's singing lead, he's playing the rock star role completely--yet, the camera meanders around, filming the other musicians, Butch is often just out of camera range or kind of fuzzy.  Why? Anyway, here's a still of the stage while Butch is playing:  Butch at Pettyfest 2012)

and an even better photo:

Butch (looked and) sounded fantastic on his birthday AND his hair was perfect!  Loved the whole look!  (Bibi never claimed to be profound.) He took being introduced by the wrong name like a man, shrugged it off with a jab at Rolling Stone.  (The guy doing the introductions is an editor/writer at RS.)   Cool for Butch!  Jameson's was one of the event sponsors and understand there was a lot of free range drinking going on, so some flubs were to be expected. 

I know when I unexpectedly went out to a wine tasting on Thursday--what? Bibi went drinking on a school night?!?!  Bibi doesn't EVEN drink--then we moved on to not one, but two more bars, there were probably many mots inattendus sprinkled in the lively converations that, hopefully, promptly wafted into the alcohol-induced ether.  Probably, each of the people I was with (M, J, S, and wow! can't even remember the other guy's name) just remembers a quite enjoyable evening.  No hangover either!  So, Bibi 's recommendation:  if you're going to drink when you have to go to work the next morning, drink sparingly of the wine, eat as many of the exotic hors d'oervres as you can nonchalantly quaff (a nod to Butch's sage advice:  ‘Cause we’re hotter when we don’t give a damn) and then switch to good, mid-level Champagne for the rest of the evening.  End the evening with a few bites of food, take a shower and go to bed.  Worked for me.

Haven't seen a video of the second night of Petty Fest, when Butch played "Even the Losers", but heard he brought the house down.  No less than a Butch Walker aficionada would expect.  Will keep checking YouTube and report later.

Today's tweets from Butch signal a move from LA to Georgia (should watch the stock market for the butterfly effect from this announcement) and a renewed sense of purpose in terms of new material for an album.  Whatever it takes, Butch!  The fans are solidly behind you on this and are fervently awaiting the songs AND the tour!