Vic Chesnutt died on Christmas day. He will be missed in our home and in our hearts. He was one of the most honest, funny, original musicians of my time and I'm glad I got turned on to him and saw him perform and will always listen to his music. I am reminded of his song "New Town" from the About To Choke record released in 1996 when visiting new suburban enclaves:
To me this sums up both the promise of new American towns as well as the eventual boringness and blandness that new towns leave behind as they age. I'll miss you Vic.
new town reeks of lumber
new town beat the crowds
new town kittens discover
that the birds scrape the ground
and even the loneliest old ladies get social calls
where they dine and talk about their savior
and the grassroots effort to incorporate
elects a smiling mayor
new town Americana
new town rookie police
new town industries are wanted for the local employees
and a little bitty baby draws a nice clean breath
from over his beaming momma's shoulder
he's staring at the worldly wonders
that stretch just as far as he can see
but he'll stop staring when he's older
oh, new town
new town
new town
To me this sums up both the promise of new American towns as well as the eventual boringness and blandness that new towns leave behind as they age. I'll miss you Vic.
