Essays & Road Stories  |  Postcards from the Past

November 1997
You Only Have One Liver!

Hi there:

I've just recently returned from the Napa Valley Folk Festival where I had a wonderful time playing and running into friends from all over. I also thoroughly enjoyed the late evening ritual of playing songs around the campfire (I played accordion) and drinking heavily. This was where I received the sage and timely reminder: "you only have one liver!" Words to live by. This week I also made my debut at the Buncha Damn Songwriters show. It happens every Monday at Luna Park and if you dig good songwriting you should check it out for sure. Thanks to Jimmy Muffin for inviting me.

This month, on Thursday the 24th, we have our usual bi-monthly Luna Park extravaganza. In addition to the usual Malone band members, we also have Debra Dobkin from Bonnie Raitt's band playing with us. Am I dropping names? Absolutely! I am not widely known for subtlety. This show will feature some new songs as well as new band members. Also, the usual assortment of record company types will also be present as we slowly wear them down and convince them that yes, they can make money off of me (before I get dropped from the label and become a washed-up, broken-down, Vegas-playin', parody-of-myself, can't-even-get-a-guest-spot-on-Regis & Kathy Lee zero who's records can only be found in the cut-out bin). My road to this inevitable status begins with you showing up to the gig on the 24th — so be there!

This month I will also be playing at a benefit show for the Westside Food Bank at the Santa Monica Unitarian Church and I'll be with the band again at Farfalla. That will be the last show before I go back out on the road in November.

I must be going now but before I do, I want you to know what a very wise woman told me when asked: "what are the three best things in life?"

She said: "A martini before, and a cigarette after."

Amen, brothers and sisters.

Love, Bob