It Came From Memphis

CAN YOU FEEL IT? That’s the cosmic countdown, baby, that’s the tick tock of time, and it’s runnin’ out. Fair’s got nothing to do with it. Fair’s what you pay when you ride the bus. Fair’s where you go when you wanna see the pigs race. And it’s just like Ma Rainey said - there ain’t never been enough, and it’s too damn late already.
----Jim Dickinson (Improvised rant from a live recording of Money Talks)

So this is it. This weekend is the culmination of everything that’s happened over the last two years. JMM, Mike McCarthy, arrives with his wife and family today. His films get shown today and tomorrow. Jim Dickinson, his wife and his two sons turn up today, rehearse tomorrow, and go onstage at the Barbican on Sunday. Christ knows what’s going to happen between now and then. I have no idea of the setlist. That will come together at the rehearsals, I imagine.

All week, we’ve been organising – or rather, Nick the Doge has been organising and I’ve been looking on in admiration – sound trucks, camera gear, technicians, contracts, access, per diems, and all the other stuff that needs to be done in order to get us in there on Sunday and to give us the coverage we need. We’re going to have a mass of footage at the end of this, whatever happens – three hours of rehearsal, three and a half of live concert times six cameras, that’s nearly twenty-four hours already, as well as whatever we shoot back at the hotel if more music starts to happen there. Then, on Monday, we interview Chuck Prophet if we can see straight or speak.

My heart is going to be beating in Memphis time for the next few days.