The Good News: I'm A Heartless Bastard.

First the Bad News: We were not able to see Emir Kusturica and the No Smoking Orchestra on Sunday night. Last year we were able to just walk up and get tickets, and they were fantastic, but this year, even on a Sunday, even though we showed up (uncharacteristically) early, the show was already sold out. Part of me was disappointed, but noticing the blend of Zurich straights and hippy kids in line in front of us, another part was sort of glad that this gypsy Balkan music was so well received. I wonder if this supportive turn-out is related to the February 8 vote about whether to extend EU states' citizens of Bulgaria and Romania their EU status priveliges in Switzerland. Maybe, maybe not. Could just be great live music.



Never mind though...live music plan B was pretty smokin', and had been a tossup for plan A all along, Lo and behold, James McMurtry (and his band, the Heartless Bastards) was in town, along with Jon Dee Graham! Yeah, in Zurich! So we headed over to El Lokal and caught them. El Lokal, the bar itself, is more than a little bit Austin weird and wonderful. It had been years since I had seen James McMurtry in the flesh, and I have to say a decade's worth of miles and years and facial hair really does him justice....the baby face is gone. These guys are so familiar to me from going out and listening to the radio in Austin. I felt like I was touching home, and theirs was a serious Continental Club vibe, except for slightly less tattoos and tank tops, and way less dancing given the caliber of the show. Most Swiss enjoy almost all genres of live music as though they are watching a classical orchestra in theater seating, greatly internalizing their emotion and enjoyment. They did give it up more than normally though. I feel a little self conscious myself in a crowd like that, but there was no way to stop myself from shakin' it. Who hoo. :)

By the way..the song Choctaw Bingo is seriously genius dark poetry truth and so wrong all at the same time. Love it.