Ain't a-goin' down to Oxford Town

In 2002, Fat Possum Records put out "Don't Give Up on Me."

It is a brilliant album, recorded by one of my favorite engineers, featuring songs from some of my favorite songwriters, played by some of my favorite musicians, and sung by the legendary Solomon Burke.

Over the past several years, the label has also released records by R.L. Burnside, the Black Keys, Junior Kimbrough, Grandpaboy, and Thee Shams.

So I've gotten all fired up about heading down to the Fat Possum recording headquarters this weekend to play (along with Red Chuck) on a new album by Jim Mize. For one thing, it'll be fun to be "just the bass player" on a session. But we'll also be within striking distance of a few notable North Mississippi spots:

Square Books
Rowan Oak
Zebra Ranch
Taylor Grocery

In preparation for the weekend in and around Oxford, I re-read As I Lay Dying and finally got around to reading Father and Son, a deeply disturbing but addictively great book by the late (as of a couple of weeks ago) Larry Brown.

I would have said that it made me never want to drink a drop of alcohol again, but I just downed two Fat Tires while writing this entry.

P.S. Harbs, sorry we didn't connect last weekend. This weekend it will happen.