"Breaking from tradition like a corked bat"

I've done a few radio interviews so far for Big Hair & Plastic Grass where the interviewer will repeatedly misread the sub-title as "A Funny Ride Through Baseball and America in the Swinging '70s," a flub which always makes me wince involuntarily (and makes me think they haven't actually read the book). But, in truth, there's a lot of funny stuff in the book — something which Dave Hoekstra totally picked up on in his review of the book in the Arts section of today's Chicago Sun-Times.

Hoekstra also makes a great comment, which might be construed as damning with faint praise if he hadn't so obviously enjoyed the read: "Epstein...proves the truth of one sports axiom: It’s more interesting when music people take on baseball as opposed to baseball experts analyzing music."

Seriously, man. I know Bob Brenly and Len Kasper are genuine fans of alternative rock, but my insides totally seize up whenever they say something on a Cubs TV broadcast like, "Gee, I can't wait to see the Flaming Lips at Lollapalooza this year!" And of course, the less said about Peter Gammons' forays into the world of rock, the better. I love music, and I love baseball, but mixing the two is a deceptively difficult endeavor. I am stoked and honored to know that someone like Hoekstra (who positively reviewed one of my old bands about 20 years ago, though I'm sure he doesn't remember it) thinks I'm doin' it right.

Anyway, getting some unexpected good press from one of my hometown papers totally made my day, and got me even more pumped for what looks to be an incredibly fun (and incredibly busy) trip to Chi-town this week. Hope to see all you '70s baseball-lovin' Windy CIty types at the Liars Club or Book Cellar events this Thursday and Friday nights!

Comments

[Rob Badgerow]

Can you move to Portland? We need more hipsters like you over here and less of the kind who don't know the difference between Fran Tarkenton and Booth Tarkington. The AOR demo night is pure brilliance and I can't believe it hasn't been done before (has it?). Still, Steve Dahl was a huge influence on everyone within range of WLUP's transmitter (or his short lived "network") in the late 70's. I still remember the words to "RTA" clearly to this day....

I Ride into to the City on My
RTA Machine
My Three-Piece Suit is Polyester and My Fingernails are Clean
Businessman to the Left of Me
Secretary to My Right
Wonder if I'll Smell This Good
When I Get Home Tonight
RTA Oi Vey Oi Vey

[Dan E]

Thanks Rob - I'd forgotten all about "RTA"! Still very clearly remember the words to "Do Ya Think I'm Disco," and "Another Kid in the Crawl," though!