Riding On

Furr starts with the folk-rocky title track, a tale about a shapeshifter (or am I just thinking that because I’m hooked on True Blood?) who changes into a teen wolf and lives out in the woods with the pack: “They allowed me to join in and sing their song … howling endlessly at the dawn.” Or maybe it’s a song about being in a rock band. Either way, the protagonist ends up changing back to human form to marry a girl and “settle down upon a farm” to raise a family. Still he dreams of “running careless through the snow” with his old wolf buddies.

Blitzen T. is running careless on the road with The Parson Red Heads, a like-minded Sixties-ish band also originally from Oregon, now based out of L.A. The first song that comes up on their MySpace is a cover of “I’m into Something Good,” the Goffin/King song made famous by Herman’s Hermits. That should give you an idea where they’re coming from. I once owned that Hermits’ record, but I like the new take better.

The “First Thursday Film” next Thursday, Dec. 4, at the Morris Graves MuseumisHelvetica, a cool documentary about the typeface, reviewed in the Journal a few weeks back (again by Zogboy). The music connection? El Ten Eleven, the L.A. post-rock/math duo that played the Alibi recently, did the soundtrack music. Yes, I took that nap and stayed up late to see them, and it was worth it.

As you are no doubt aware, Thursday is Thanksgiving Day, which makes this as good a time as any to give out some thank yous. Thanks to the folks who run the clubs and cafes and assorted other venues that provide a place for all of us to go hear music. And ditto to the promoters who bring in touring bands, often without making any money in the process. Thanks to the sound men, the lighting techs and everyone else who helps the shows come off. An especially big thank you to the musicians who put their blood, sweat and tears out there to entertain us. And last, to readers who have made it this far, thanks for sticking with me, without you there’s be no point in writing this column every week. Enjoy the holiday.

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