Butch Walker in Chicago Set List, redux

Bibi is still processing the kick-ass show last night!

As you can see, feeling kind of shell-shocked by the whole incredible experience.  Butch did wow me--and the entire crowd!  Feeling a bit blue, thinking that now Bibi will have to wait for the tour Butch alluded to, maybe beginning in February of the new year.  At least, that will be when the album will come out.  Bibi has a tough time with waiting patiently for anything and now that she's realized the dream of seeing Butch live, well really, it will feel like an interminable sit in the bus station before she sees Butch again. 

Working on the set list; here's most of it:

ATL
Passed Your Place, Saw Your Car
Going Back Going Home
Pretty Melody
Dublin Crow
The Closest Thing
The Weight of Her
She Likes Hairbands
Race Cars and Goth Rock
Synthesizers (YES--he played mandolin!!!)
Summer of '89
3 Kids in Brooklyn
Sucker Punch

It was all Bibi could do to write halfway legibly--the paws, the paws--in the dark, too, jumping around, the drinks, singing, etc.  So will continue to work on this.  Amazingly, for Bibi, my opinion of some of the cuts increased dramatically upon hearing the selections live.  He also included a couple of new songs, sounded promising for the whole album.  (I know I left a couple of songs out--didn't get to write them down, but will get back to y'all with those.)  Butch is such a story teller.  A good amount of the joy engendered during the show IS Butch telling the back stories on the songs--such an endearing quality he has!  Funny, funny, funny, too!

Will say that Butch talked up his guitar ability, which is outstanding.  Will discuss this aspect of his presentation later/again.  He was truly impressive.  Hope to hear/enjoy this aspect of his talents even more on the upcoming tour.

BTW--although I tell everyone that Butch is NOT just another pretty face, DAMN, he was hot!  Not just Bibi--a huge number of us were swooning.  Couldn't get enough of looking at him.  And, of course, listening to him.

Love you, Butch!  Thanks again for bringing Bibi to Chicago!

Jimmy Rendon, August 23, 1952-October 10, 2005

For the past 7 years, October 10 has been a tough day.  I miss my brother Jimmy--he called pretty much every day and I saw him two or three times a week.  He read the entire newspaper every day, so he usually had a story or remark about something we had in common or something he knew I would be interested in:  Boston, the Beatles, Gata, UH, going to see Grand Funk if they ever came to Houston, etc.  And what a personality!  He filled up the room, wherever he was.  He was always so open to the possibility of the future.  As so often the case with us, I was usually the gloom and doom character in the script, he was always working on the "sure, things could be better, but living now sure beats the alternative" and the best thing was to keep a positive outlook.   Funny how you think things will always be the same and all your family will always be there.  It wasn't till after that awful bright, sunny, hot day when he was gone all of the sudden, so unexpectedly, that I realized how much he meant to me, my self-esteem, how much he loved and respected me.  We spend so much time being self-absorbed, missing out on what's right next to us.

One of Butch Walker's songs  reminded me of Jimmy the other day:  I passed your place, there was no car, I thought of you. 

Of course, Jimmy wouldn't want me to be sad.  He wouldn't mind me thinking of him, some of the memorable events we shared, the good and the weird, ups and downs, but he would much prefer to be thought of in the words of one of his favorites, Rod Stewart:  Forever young.




Always the sharp dressed man


So, let's drink one, or more, in his memory today.  He didn't know the expression carpe diem, but he certainly lived that way.  I'm so glad he did.  Love you, brother!