"Hey, come on up. I got the bar-b-q fired and will be roasting sausage."

I had to contemplate the situation. I was in the middle of compiling a CD with the idea of it becoming an HST musical memorandum. I do stuff like this to relax between late night compuzine sessions and washing dishes. You may laugh. I don't care.

I agreed and got my bag packed for the show, brewed up a giant black tea for the road and split. It was a nice day so I didn't feel as tired as I knew I was. The passing landscape seemed vividly 3D via my polarized sunglasses. Firery hot paper cup tea bubbled my skin as I motored north along familiar curves through known territory feeling good to be in control.

Heading west out of the Republic there were hordes of sporting polypro yucksters. They love to ride bikes on blind curves with the outside chance they will catch me off guard and be able to collect on my insurance. I understood this and remained calm. The burnt tips of my fingers were the only pain I would allow during this trip.

I got close to Uncle Jeff ground zero. After passing a circa WWII ambulance I settle into a great parking spot in the ditch, adjacent to the cabin. Luck is a great tool.

"One hour... not bad," me thought.

I bopped up the rock steps and heard Wendell Austin's, "LSD" through Jeff's screen door. At the time I didn't know that, but I write this after the fact... pay attention.

I went in. Jeff said, "Hi. I was thinking today's show would be one for Hunter Thompson."

It was a good idea and of course I agreed. As a simple celebration Jeff had a beer... Matheson Stout. I had ginger ale. I'm aging faster that Jeff, so during the day I stick with lite beverages. My mind is permanently altered, so this is not a burden for me.

Hints of spring shown on the big beard as we lounged in folding chairs close to the fire. The smell of smoke moving off the coals was a joy and helps to fight off the bite of old age setting in. Spring is a new beginning. I mean, it's the best time to rejuvenate your soul. For a second it's normal to think like a kid, to wonder if this is the year... the one that you will never forget for some reason.

After a delicious sausage sandwich with a vegetable medley side we slouched in the chairs, sun baked our wintry white skin. Oh, man... good times.

A memory jolt reminded us we better get down the hill... there's music to be played!

The show began and during the first set Uncle Jeff handed me a note, "This show is dedicated to the memory of Hunter S. Thompson. The world has gotten too sanitized for its own good and we need the iconoclast to remind us of that."

Yep, we do.

Milkman stopped by with some SxSW pointers for Uncle Jeff. Another "Ted disc" had arrived this week... another musical gem for the collection. Thanks Ted.

Tunes I especially enjoyed were the Sons Of The West original version of "Oh Monah." Nice fiddle, great vocals and a bobbin' big bass beat. Johnny Tyler's "It Ain't Far To The Bar" had some interesting barrelhouse piano and standup bass. The Hot Trak tonight was Dusty Owens' "Hey Honey" on the Barklog label.. its "Cash beat" and soothing guitar kept this tune above the rest.

Toward the end of the show "let's just do it" became the credo for deciding what the next song would be... just as HST would of liked it. Lyrics in the final trak pretty much summed it up, "... used to be all right but things got strange." Like I said earlier... it feels good to be in control and HST was, even more than we know.

Get ready for LIVE music... Steve Earle 3/30 at the Boulder Theater, Magnolia Electric Co. 4/23 at the Larimer Lounge and the Drive By Truckers April15&16 at the Fox Theatre.

Local 33's, "Hearts That Bend" CD release party at Benders on April 9th. Fancy western shirts required.

See ya next week.