The Blazing Stump Tavern

The date at Spencer’s Stadium Tavern on August 30 featured contributions from around the word. A delighful man, Helmut Haberkamm, dropped by from Germany by way of Miami Street where he was the guest of Norbert and Katherine Kraph.

Helmut tells me he’s going top make my recorded work the subject of a class he’s teaching back home. Elvis and the Beatles both owe a great debt to Germany, so I’m delighted. I also received an anonymous gratuity of a Limamung Piso from the Republic of the Phillipeans. The Beatles played there too on their last world tour.

Valerie Smith, who did a lovely version of “Turtle Wings” on her Rebel release of the same name has chosen “Whisper Baby” and “Hot Grease At

Midnight” for inclusion on her new album with Becky Buller, “Here’s A Little Song” which will be released stateside in August. You can find out more information at www.valeriesmithonline.com.

Despite its unique subject matter, this is the second cover version of “Hot Grease”. The Elly Maze did a fine performance of it on their self-titled CD.

A fine Indiana children’s author, Mary Beth Kelsey, will be authoring an new book available in the summer of 2009. The book is entitled “A Recipe For Robbery” and is based on the song “Stewed Cucumbers” from A Well Traveled Porch. The book will be published by Greenwillow, a division of Harper Collins.

I just received word from Mr. Henry Swain, storykeeper and long-standing resident of Brown County, that the Tall Tale event that he asked me to judge this weekend has been cancelled. Hank cites lack of entries. This is not from a lack of stories apparently, just a lack of people willing to tell them. My response is much like the fellow who was told by a couple fishermen headed back from the Arrowhead Lake that the bullheads weren’t biting. “Good news,” he thought, “That means they’re waiting on me.”  

Two items of note from the European subcontinent: First, I’ve recently received a payment from Mr. Gerard van den Heuvel in Euros. My plan is to keep them handy until I hit the Netherlands. Following my philosophy of localism; spend it where you got it. Also, a recent piece in the Spiegel on-line Kultur section from Germany lists my six best songs, from one album and two compilations apparently. I do appreciate “Living Things” and “Screen Door” being mentioned, even though I didn’t write the second one.