You Kidding Me? Playoffs!?!
From The South Side, Broad Street Oyster Co., Steve Earle, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Driving and Dipping
Welcome to my weekly newsletter. This week’s issue includes five TV shows that Barb and I are currently enjoying, the story of a jazz-rock band from Chicago, outstanding lobster rolls in southern California, a country folk rocker, a Detroit Lion All-Pro, and searching for spinach. I hope you like the picks and pics.
After winning the NFC North Division to clinch a playoff spot, the Detroit Lions won a thriller on Sunday over the Los Angeles Rams, 24-23, to advance to the next round. They will host Tampa Bay on Sunday. Both quarterbacks, Jared Goff of the Lions and Matthew Stafford of the Rams, were outstanding, but Goff got the better of Stafford, the player for whom he was traded. Goff’s pass to Amon-Ra St. Brown sealed the victory, leading to a wild celebration at Ford Field. The Lions won their first playoff game since the 1991 season.
On January 5, 1992, Barb and I hosted a party to watch the Lions defeat the Cowboys in their only previous playoff victory since 1957. The latest win, coupled with Michigan’s national championship on Monday, made for an incredible week for football fans in Michigan.
Fave Five 68: You Kidding Me? Playoffs!?! Musical Memoir (From The South Side), Luscious Lobster (Broad Street Oyster Co.), Texas Troubadour (Steve Earle), Remarkable Receiver (Amon-Ra St. Brown), and Driving and Dipping.
Fave Five List: TV Shows We Are Watching
Fargo Season 5 - FX/Hulu
Justified - FX/Hulu
The Newsroom - HBO/Max
Crownies - Australian Broadcasting Corporation/Acorn
All Creatures Great and Small - Masterpiece/PBS
Book Best Bet
From The South Side by Larry Klimas and Anthony F. Siciliano
My brother David’s close friend and long-time bandmate Larry Klimas wrote this memoir with his cousin “T.” It chronicles their musical journey starting in Chicago, going through Toledo, and ending in Los Angeles, performing as The Mods, The Chicago Diplomats, The Outfit, and Puzzle.
The story is fascinating and filled with many colorful characters. It concludes in Chapter 46: “It’s Over” by filling in the years following the demise of Puzzle, including details about Larry’s many collaborations with my brother.
I have seen Larry perform many times over the years with David, both in person and online. He is an accomplished sax player and a fledgling writer. This book could benefit from some additional copyediting, removing extraneous words and unnecessary apostrophes. But I was entertained as I read it over the past week.
From Amazon: From The South Side is a true, coming of age story about friends and family from the South Side of Chicago. John LiVigni (aka John Valenti) is “Jake,” Tony Siciliano is “T,” and Larry Klimas, is “Lorenzo.” The book is peppered with cultural and historical milestones that keep the reader aware of the times as the story unfolds.
1964 to 1975 was one of the most tumultuous times in modern American history. Assassinations, the Vietnam War, the draft, war protests, riots across the country, the counterculture, drugs, civil rights, the summer of love, Woodstock, and more. Growing up through all of it, they went on the road, had a lot of fun and some close calls that could have derailed their budding music careers.
Along the way they learned about the music business and life, evolving from a cover band playing night clubs, to writing their own music and signing a record deal as the first White jazz/rock band on the Motown Records label. The band changed names several times along the way and there were many musicians who came and went. By the time they signed their record deal the name of the band was Puzzle. This is their story.
Restaurant Recommendation
Broad Street Oyster Co. 418 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
My daughter Kathy had eaten at the Malibu location and raved about it. Her sister Tracy and I wanted to try this place for over a year, and finally made it there on Saturday. The food lived up to the hype — we loved it. Our entire meal for four was served on the world’s largest tray:
World Famous Lobster Roll (Warm w/ Butter) - Maine lobster, butter, chives, salt, brioche
Baja Tacos
Cod, coleslaw, Fresno aioli, avocado
Beer battered shrimp, coleslaw, Fresno aioli
From the restaurant: Broad Street Oyster Company, a prestigious mobile raw bar, made its dazzling entrance in Malibu during the summer of 2019. Nestled in a vibrant strip mall, this coastal sanctuary provides an energetic ambiance where you can delight in our renowned Lobster Roll. If you enjoy a party or wondered "what would happen if Spicoli from Fast Times at Ridgemont High was really into seafood?" beat a path directly to Broad Street Oyster Co.
Marvelous Musician
Today is Steve's 69th birthday. I bought Guitar Town because of a HEAR Music promotion. I liked it and bought many of his subsequent albums. I have seen Steve on Cayamo 2010, 2011, 2016, and 2017. My favorite songs are “Guitar Town,” “Someday,” “The Rain Came Down,” “I Ain't Ever Satisfied,” “Copperhead Road,” “The Devil’s Right Hand,” “You're Still Standin' There,” ‘The Galway Girl,” “Jerusalem,” “City of Immigrants,” and “Days Aren’t Long Enough.”
From Wikipedia: Stephen Fain Earle (born January 17, 1955 in Fort Monroe, Virginia) is an American rock, country and folk singer-songwriter, record producer, author and actor. His family moved to Texas before his second birthday, and he grew up primarily in the San Antonio area. Earle began his career as a songwriter in Nashville and released his first EP in 1982. His breakthrough album was the 1986 album Guitar Town. Since then Earle has released 20 more studio albums and received three Grammy awards. His songs have been recorded by Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Levon Helm, The Highwaymen, Travis Tritt, Vince Gill, Patty Loveless, Shawn Colvin, Bob Seger, Percy Sledge and Emmylou Harris. He has appeared in film and television, most notably as recurring characters in HBO's critically acclaimed shows The Wire and Treme. He has written a novel, a play, and a book of short stories. Earle is the father of late singer-songwriter and frequent collaborator Justin Townes Earle.
Guitar Town
Jerusalem
City of Immigrants (Cayamo 2017)
My Playlist
Sports Star
The Lions sealed their victory over the Rams when Jared Goff completed an 11-yard pass to Amon-Ra St. Brown, allowing Detroit to run out the clock in victory formation. Other than Goff, St. Brown is the most important offensive player on the team. In the playoff win he had 7 receptions for 110 yards, most of them at critical moments to move the chains. A fourth-round draft choice out of USC, he was snubbed by the Pro Bowl voting this season, but more than made up for that by being selected to the All-Pro team. He is a joy to watch make clutch receptions, avoid tackles after the catch, and inspire his teammates.
From Wikipedia: Amon-Ra Julian Heru J. St. Brown (born October 24, 1999 in Anaheim Hills, California) is an American football wide receiver for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at USC and was drafted by the Lions in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. St. Brown was named after Amun, the supreme deity in the Egyptian religion, due to his father's interest in black consciousness.
Highlights from Amon-Ra St. Brown's clutch playoff performance - Lions vs. Rams
Picture Pun
Looking for a car with license plate SPINACH.
