tag:macleaphart.com,2005:/blogs/rock-roll-part-one?p=2NEWS 2023-11-24T14:13:08-06:00Mac Leaphartfalsetag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/73088772023-11-24T14:13:08-06:002023-11-24T14:13:08-06:00Time for 'Motel Breakfast'<p><span style="color:rgb(69,69,69);">I'm working on a new album! </span><br><br><span style="color:rgb(69,69,69);">It's called </span><i><strong>Motel Breakfast</strong></i><span style="color:rgb(69,69,69);"> and I hope you'll help make it happen like many of y'all did for ‘Music City Joke’ a couple years ago. This time around we're doing the crowdfunding here on my website to avoid those pesky Kickstarter fees, keep things simple, and give you more flexibility in choosing rewards. I've added some things to the album release wish list, including vinyl, project management, digital marketing, and tour support, so the ask is a little bigger than last time–$30,000 is the goal! </span><br><br><span style="color:rgb(69,69,69);">Check out the rewards and the longer explanation at </span><a class="no-pjax" href="macleaphart.com/crowdfunding" data-link-type="url"><span style="color:rgb(69,69,69);"><strong>macleaphart.com/crowdfunding</strong></span></a><span style="color:rgb(69,69,69);">! </span><br><span style="color:rgb(69,69,69);"> </span><br><span style="color:rgb(69,69,69);">Thanks a ton, y'all. Cheers! </span></p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/71471832023-02-01T17:30:46-06:002023-10-16T09:51:05-05:00February's Left of the Show on Spotify<p>This month’s <a contents="Left of the Dial Show on Gimme Country" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://gimmecountry.com/#/shows/772/archive" target="_blank">Left of the Dial Show on Gimme Country</a> will be a replay, but you can check out a brand spankin’ new <span style="display: none;"> </span><strong><a contents="February playlist on Spotify here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.macleaphart.com/leftofthedial-feb2023" target="_blank">February playlist on Spotify here</a></strong>! </p>
<p>No chatroom over there on Spotify, but come say hi & talk about the tunes in the comments on <a contents="Facebook" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.facebook.com/MacLeaphart/posts/pfbid02CRnBo2HxwwHUhM7c2R3Y5jBhJXdW2uoXZQRmRxBTTXtnSve8Xui5cdHEeNWHPkcFl" target="_blank">Facebook</a> & <a contents="Instagram" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CoIV_lzsVSI/" target="_blank">Instagram</a>!</p>
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<p> </p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/71471732023-02-01T17:23:09-06:002023-02-01T17:23:09-06:00TX & OK with Mando Saenz<p>Got a fun run coming up in March with my buddy <a contents="Mando Saenz" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://mandosaenzmusic.com" target="_blank">Mando Saenz</a>. I'll be opening for Mando in Fort Worth & Houston and San Antonio & Oklahoma City will be the two of us doing a song-swap style show. Make plans to come on out and see us! If you know anyone in one of these towns who'd wanna come check us out, please spread the word! </p>
<p>March 8 • The Post • Fort Worth, TX <br>March 9 • McGonigel's Mucky Duck • Houston, TX<br>March 10 • Bowman Backyard • San Antonio, TX<br>March 11 • Blue Door • Oklahoma City, OK</p>
<p><a contents="Tickets &amp; Info Here." data-link-label="SHOWS" data-link-type="page" href="/shows" target="_blank">Tickets & Info Here.</a></p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/69622902023-01-05T15:25:00-06:002023-01-05T15:40:08-06:00Left of the Dial on Gimme County<p>Tune in to my radio show, <a contents="Left of the Dial" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://gimmecountry.com/#/shows/772/archive" target="_blank">Left of the Dial</a>, on Gimme County the first Thursday of every month via the <a contents="Gimme Country website or app" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://gimmecountry.com/#/welcome" target="_blank">Gimme Country website or app</a>. It's easy to set up an account, and a great outlet for discovering tons of new music, or just being reminded of some classics! <br><br>You can even check out the replay or archived episodes–<a contents="click here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://gimmecountry.com/#/shows/772/archive" target="_blank">click here</a>! </p>
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<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/32411/295daeb52482afd89d5259ea493dab957679502a/original/gimmecountry-howto.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/71326372023-01-04T13:53:06-06:002023-01-04T13:53:06-06:00Norman, Amarillo, Tulsa, Memphis in January<p>Looking forward to heading back to The Deli in Norman OK, GoldenLight in Amarillo, and Hernando's Hide-A-Way in Memphis later this month...and really excited to be adding a stop at PJ's Pub & Grill in Tulsa on the run! Y'all spread the word and make plans to come see us & do a little honky-tonkin'. </p>
<p>1/25 • The Deli • Norman OK<br>1/26 • GoldenLight • Amarillo TX with Seth Ward<br>1/27 • PJ's Pub & Grill • Tulsa OK<br>1/28 • Hernando's Hide-A-Way • Memphis TN with Honky Tonk Airlines<br><br>More info at <a contents="www.macleaphart.com/shows" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.macleaphart.com/shows" style="" target="_blank">www.macleaphart.com/shows</a></p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/70793192022-10-11T15:23:20-05:002022-10-11T15:23:20-05:00We Wanna Play at Your House - If You'll Let Us! <p>Having a genuine hootenanny used to be a thing back in the 1960s. And apparently it’s all happening again, but we’re calling them house shows these days! We’ve done a few over the years, and they're always a blast. There's something special about breaking it down to the core elements: the songs + the folks who want to listen to them.<br><br>It’s great to connect in such a we’re-all-in-this-together kind of way, and we'd love to come play your abode–whether you have a big ol’ backyard, a tiny spot that hardly requires a lawnmower, a quaint little patio, a giant deck, or a studio apartment. Heck, some “house shows” don’t even happen at a house–think neighborhood pool, event space, art studio, or something else. Tons of cool options.</p>
<p>To me there’s not much better than good music, good friends, and maybe even some good food & drink. I<a contents="f you’re interested in us providing the first, shoot me and email and let’s chat" data-link-label="CONTACT & BOOKING" data-link-type="page" href="/contact-booking" target="_blank">f you’re interested in us providing the first, shoot me and email and let’s chat</a>!</p>
<p>www.macleaphart.com/contact</p>
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<p><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="fYNPkUWa1iI" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/fYNPkUWa1iI/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fYNPkUWa1iI?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="180" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/70394952022-08-16T20:50:00-05:002022-08-16T20:50:00-05:00Normaltown Records & Friends Americanafest Day Party<p>Come out to the <a contents="5 Spot in East Nashville" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://the5spot.club/" target="_blank">5 Spot in East Nashville</a> Friday, September 16 (noon-5pm) for the <a contents="Normaltown Records" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.normaltownrecords.com/" target="_blank">Normaltown Records</a> & Friends DAY PARTY during this year's Americanafest. Last year's party was a dawgone blast, and this year's shindig has a helluva lineup: with <a href="https://www.thepinkstones.com/">The Pink Stones</a>, <a href="https://www.emilynenni.com/">Emily Nenni</a>, <a href="https://www.deslondes.com/">The Deslondes</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/teddyandtheroughriders">Teddy and the Rough Riders</a>, and <a href="https://www.parkergispert.com/">Parker Gispert</a>. <br><br><a contents="MORE INFO" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://the5spot.club/event/new-west-records-day-party/" target="_blank">MORE INFO</a>. </p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/70156582022-07-15T13:46:13-05:002022-07-15T13:46:13-05:00KPUR Amarillo with Craig Vaughn<p>Craig Vaughn at <a contents="KPUR Amarillo" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.957kpur.com/" target="_blank">KPUR Amarillo</a> was one of the first folks to really get behind <em><strong>Music City Joke </strong></em>– playing the album in its entirety on air the day of the release, pushing “That Train,” & “Honey, Shake!” to the #1 spot on the weekly countdown, and adding even more songs off the record into the rotation. Had a great time chatting with him on the phone this week, and can't wait to be in the KPUR studio next Friday before the <a contents="GoldenLight Cafe" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://goldenlightcafe.com/" target="_blank">GoldenLight Cafe</a> show with Travis Roberts. <a contents="Click here to listen to the interview" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://soundcloud.com/craigvaughn/mac-leaphart-phone-interview-957-kpur-7-13-22?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing" target="_blank">Click here to listen to the interview</a> and tune in to KPUR July 22 at 6pm to hear me & the boys live in the studio.</p>
<p><strong>Friday, July 22<br>GoldenLight Cafe with Travis Roberts</strong><br>Doors 8PM | Show 9PM <br>Ages 21+ <br>$10 at the door</p>
<p> </p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/70096412022-07-07T13:48:56-05:002022-07-09T23:04:28-05:00Left of the Dial on Gimme Country<p>Tune in to my Gimme Country radio show, Left of the Dial, Thursday, July 7 at 2pm cst at <a contents="gimmecountry.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://gimmecountry.com" target="_blank">gimmecountry.com</a> or on the Gimme Country app. Y'all come say hi in the chat room! </p>
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<p> </p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/69933632022-06-14T00:43:34-05:002022-07-09T23:04:28-05:00Memphis, Ft Worth, Amarillo & Norman OK Dates Announced<p>NEW DATES ADDED! We’ve got some killer shows coming up at <a contents="Hernando's Hide-A-Way" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.worldfamoushernandoshideaway.com/" target="_blank">Hernando's Hide-A-Way</a> in Memphis, <a contents="Magnolia Motor Lounge" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://amplitix.com/mml/21733" target="_blank">Magnolia Motor Lounge</a> in Ft Worth, <a contents="GoldenLight Cafe" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://goldenlightcafe.com/" target="_blank">GoldenLight Cafe</a> in Amarillo, and <a contents="The Deli" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.thedeli.us" target="_blank">The Deli</a> in Norman OK! This is our first time in these markets & I sure would appreciate y'all spreading the word to help us get more folks in the rooms, so please, tell your mama and ‘em! </p>
<p>PLUS We'll be in the studio with <a contents="Craig Vaughn at KPUR in Amarillo" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.957kpur.com/" target="_blank">Craig Vaughn at KPUR in Amarillo</a> on July 22 - tune in at 6PM for that! More info coming soon. </p>
<p><a contents="Click here for show details and ticket links" data-link-label="SHOWS" data-link-type="page" href="/shows" target="_blank">Click here for show details and ticket links</a>. </p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/69933622022-06-06T00:00:00-05:002022-06-14T00:39:09-05:00Friday, June 17 at Off Broadway St Louis<p>Looking forward to playing <a contents="Off Broadway St Louis" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.offbroadwaystl.com/" target="_blank">Off Broadway St Louis</a> on Friday, June 17 with <a contents="Nick Gusman &amp; the Coyotes" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.nickgusman.com/" target="_blank">Nick Gusman & the Coyotes</a> and The Mudpie Revue! <a contents="Click here for tickets" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://bit.ly/3vA3Fux" target="_blank">Click here for tickets</a>. <br> </p>
<p>Friday, June 17<br>with Nick Gusman & the Coyotes and The Mudpie Revue <br>Doors: 7PM<br>Show: 8PM <br>$12</p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/69639872022-05-04T22:59:10-05:002022-05-04T22:59:10-05:00Peach Jam at The Basement - Wed May 11<p>Excited to be a part of <a contents="Ben Chapman" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.benchapmanmusic.com/" target="_blank">Ben Chapman</a> Presents Peach Jam at The Basement in Nashville, Wednesday, May 11 with <a contents="Kaitlin Butts" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.kaitlinbutts.com/" target="_blank">Kaitlin Butts</a>, <a contents="Caylee Hammack" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.cayleehammack.com/" target="_blank">Caylee Hammack</a>, and more. </p>
<p><a contents="Click here for more info &amp; tickets" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.thebasementnashville.com/calendar/#tw-event-dialog-11637515" target="_blank">Click here for more info & tickets</a>.</p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/69595942022-04-14T23:25:00-05:002022-04-28T23:12:46-05:00On the Road <p>Got some good shows right around the corner – check out all the <a contents="tour dates right here" data-link-label="SHOWS" data-link-type="page" href="/shows" target="_blank">tour dates right here</a>.</p>
<p>Book your own house show or private event at www.macleaphart.com/contact.</p>
<p>Hope to see y'all out! </p>
<p> </p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/69028732022-02-20T23:37:30-06:002022-02-20T23:37:30-06:00Grady Smith's Best Songs of 2021<p>Grady Smith really has his finger on the pulse of all things Country & Americana (maybe that should be a new genre-like Country & Western) so, it was really cool to have “That Train” be included on his 2021 list of songs of the year. Check it out! </p>
<p><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="D2kL9qsHQ4I" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/D2kL9qsHQ4I/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/D2kL9qsHQ4I?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="180" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/68851652022-02-01T00:19:53-06:002022-02-17T15:09:56-06:00"Music City Joke" Best of 2021 Round-Up<p>This time last year, we were just a couple weeks away from releasing “Music City Joke.” The broad goal, according to my <a contents="Kickstarter" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://macleaphart.com/kickstarter" target="_blank">Kickstarter</a> campaign, was “to get the songs out to as many listeners as possible.” While there are still quite a few listeners we would like to reach, with the help of all the supporters and a crack shot team, we certainly made a few blips on the radar this past year. We got on the charts and at the end of the year were recognized by a number of publications and outlets as one of the best of the year. It was a humbling and vindicating way to end a helluva fantastic year.<br><br>Thanks to each and every one of these for being such incredible supporters through out the past year, and already into this new one! Y'all go checked out their sites and socials and show them some love! </p>
<p><a contents="Farce the Music's Top 20 Albums of 2021&nbsp;" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.farcethemusic.com/2021/12/farce-musics-top-20-albums-of-2021.html" target="_blank">Farce the Music's Top 20 Albums of 2021 </a></p>
<p><a contents="Pop Matters - 10 Best Country Albums of 2021&nbsp;" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.popmatters.com/best-country-albums-of-2021" target="_blank">Pop Matters - 10 Best Country Albums of 2021 </a></p>
<p><a contents="Alt-Country Chart - Top 100 of 2021 (Music City Joke #8)&nbsp;" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://altcountrychart.com/top-100-2021" target="_blank">Alt-Country Chart - Top 100 of 2021 (Music City Joke #8) </a></p>
<p><a contents="Sound and Soul’s 100 Favorite Albums &amp; EPs of 2021&nbsp;" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.soundandsoulonline.com/2021/12/19/sound-and-souls-100-favorite-albums-eps-of-2021/" target="_blank">Sound and Soul’s 100 Favorite Albums & EPs of 2021 </a></p>
<p><a contents="Americana Music Show" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://americanamusicshow.com/bestof2021/" target="_blank">Americana Music Show</a> </p>
<p><a contents="That One Show with Bryan Combs top 25 songs of 2021&nbsp;" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CXrkfhSLLj-/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link" target="_blank">That One Show with Bryan Combs top 25 songs of 2021 </a></p>
<p><a contents="Texas 95.7 KPUR - Top 25 of 2021 - #13 That Train" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.957kpur.com/" target="_blank">Texas 95.7 KPUR - Top 25 of 2021 - #13 That Train</a></p>
<p><a contents="Saving Country Music - Album of the Year Nominee&nbsp;" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.savingcountrymusic.com/saving-country-musics-2021-album-of-the-year-nominees/" target="_blank">Saving Country Music - Album of the Year Nominee </a></p>
<p><a contents="Saving Country Music - Single of the Year Nominee " data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.savingcountrymusic.com/saving-country-musics-2021-single-of-the-year-nominees/" target="_blank">Saving Country Music - Single of the Year Nominee </a><a contents='Saving Country Music - Single of the Year Nominee ("That Train")' data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.savingcountrymusic.com/saving-country-musics-2021-single-of-the-year-nominees/" target="_blank">("That Train")</a></p>
<p><a contents="Saving Country Music Single &amp; Song of the Year Nominees Playlist&nbsp;" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/364bqzfCx2pL4OSi9kDaqj" target="_blank">Saving Country Music Single & Song of the Year Nominees Playlist </a></p>
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<p> </p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/68425012021-12-16T05:00:00-06:002021-12-16T05:00:03-06:00Hey! I Miss You! The Festive Finale! <p>Back in February, my friend <a contents="Sarah Morris" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://sarahmorrismusic.com/" target="_blank">Sarah Morris</a> had me on her livestream show, <a contents="Hey! I Miss You!" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://bit.ly/festivefinale" target="_blank">Hey! I Miss You!</a>, and she's invited me back for her year-end extravaganza on Friday, December 17...</p>
<p><a contents="Click here to tune in to the Festive Finale" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://bit.ly/festivefinale" target="_blank">Click here to tune in to the Festive Finale</a> right at 12pm cst to catch me and other singer-songwriters singing some holiday tunes! </p>
<p> </p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/68425222021-12-15T19:56:59-06:002021-12-15T19:56:59-06:00Pop Matters Best Country Albums of 2021<p><em><strong>Music City Joke</strong></em> has been named one of the best country album of 2021 by <strong>Pop Matters!</strong> <a contents="Click here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.popmatters.com/best-country-albums-of-2021" target="_blank">Click here</a> for the entire list and to see what the kind folks at PM have to say about <em><strong>Music City Joke</strong></em>. Thanks, y'all! <br> </p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/68335322021-12-07T23:05:43-06:002021-12-07T23:19:00-06:00Saving Country Music 2021 Album of the Year Nominee<p>I’m excited, honored & humbled to have Music City Joke nominated for <a contents="Saving Country Music" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://bit.ly/scmAOTYnominees" style="" target="_blank">Saving Country Music</a>'s album of the year. </p>
<p><strong>Saving Country Music</strong> is one of the most influential outlets in the field of roots music, so it’s really cool to get a nod from such a cool source. I’m in good company, too–a fan of all the albums on the list. <a contents="Check out the list &amp; join in the conversation here!" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://bit.ly/scmAOTYnominees" style="" target="_blank">Check it out & join in the conversation </a><a contents="here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://bit.ly/scmAOTYnominees" style="" target="_blank">here</a>. </p>
<p> </p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/68045892021-11-10T12:04:45-06:002021-11-10T12:04:45-06:00November in SC <p>Hitting the road for a solid SC run...</p>
<p>Thu Nov 11 <a contents="Steel Hands Brewing" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://steelhandsbrewing.com/" target="_blank">Steel Hands Brewing</a> in Cayce (Columbia) with <a contents="John Wesley Satterfield" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.instagram.com/johnwesleysatterfield/?hl=en" target="_blank">John Wesley Satterfield</a><br>Fri Nov 12 <a contents="Pawleys Island Tavern" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://pawleysislandtavern.com/" target="_blank">Pawleys Island Tavern</a> in Pawleys Island<br>Sat Nov 13 <a contents="Holy Smokes BBQ Festival" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.holysmokeschs.com/" target="_blank">Holy Smokes BBQ Festival</a> at The Bend in N Charleston [sold out, but you can still donate!] with <a contents="Elizabeth Cook" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://elizabeth-cook.com" target="_blank">Elizabeth Cook</a> & <a contents="Cordovas" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://cordovasband.com/" style="" target="_blank">Cordovas</a><br><br>Y'all come see us! </p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/68045762021-11-08T11:00:00-06:002021-11-10T11:58:27-06:00Holy Smokes is Sold Out! <p>Looking forward to the Holy Smokes BBQ Festival in Charleston Saturday, November 13. <br><br><em>"Holy Smokes BBQ Festival brings the leaders of the national barbecue community together in Charleston for a festival paying homage to the history, culture, and traditions of American barbecue while raising awareness and funds for families affected by pediatric brain cancer through donations to Hogs for the Cause."</em><br><br>The festival is sold out, but you can still make a donation to support this worthy cause. <a contents="Click here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.holysmokeschs.com/" style="" target="_blank">Click here</a>. </p>
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<p> </p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/67652202021-10-03T22:09:57-05:002021-10-03T22:21:37-05:00Fall for Greenville - Sat Oct 9<p>Looking forward to being back in Greenville, SC on Saturday, October 9 for Fall for Greenville! </p>
<p>Check out the event's entire <a contents="musical line-up here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.fallforgreenville.net/287/2021-Music-Lineup#/" style="" target="_blank">musical line-up</a>, the <a contents="schedule here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.fallforgreenville.net/294/2021-Music-Schedule" style="" target="_blank">schedule</a>, and the <a contents="map rightchere" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.fallforgreenville.net/DocumentCenter/View/934/FFG-2021-Map-and-Schedule" style="" target="_blank">map</a>. I'll be playing the Live at Aloft stage by the Aloft Hotel Saturday at 5:30PM. Y'all come hang! </p>
<p> </p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/67268982021-08-25T13:26:11-05:002021-08-25T13:26:11-05:00AMERICANAFEST Official Showcase Announced<p>Y'all come hang with me & over 200 mighty fine Americana artists at this year's AMERICANAFEST in Nashville, TN! </p>
<p>I'll be showcasing <strong>Friday, September 24 at 8PM at <a contents="The Basement" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.thebasementnashville.com" target="_blank">The Basement</a></strong>. Conference and festival passes are on sale now. <a contents="Click here to get yours" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://americanamusic.org/about-americanafest" target="_blank">Click here to get yours</a>! <br><br>Follow <strong>AMERICANAFEST</strong> on Twitter and Instagram or Americana Music Association on Facebook for lots of info and updates along the way. </p>
<p> </p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/67230592021-08-21T13:08:37-05:002021-08-21T13:08:37-05:00Holy Smokes BBQ Fest with Cordovas & Elizabeth Cook<p>Holy smokes, this is gonna be a whole lotta fun & good food! Join <a contents="Elizabeth Cook" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://elizabeth-cook.com" target="_blank">Elizabeth Cook</a>, <a contents="the Cordovas" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://cordovasband.com/" target="_blank">the Cordovas</a>, and yours truly at <a contents="The Bend" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.thebendcharleston.com/" target="_blank">The Bend</a> in Charleston for <a contents="the Holy Smokes BBQ Festival" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.holysmokeschs.com/" target="_blank">the Holy Smokes BBQ Festival</a> on Saturday, November 13. </p>
<p>Tickets go on sale August 25–get 24-hour early access by signing up for the festival email list at holysmokeschs.com! </p>
<p> </p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/66998422021-07-27T20:27:13-05:002021-07-27T20:27:13-05:00Macon Mixtape with Sound & Soul <p>The kind folks at <strong>Sound and Soul and The Creek FM</strong> invited me to share the playlist we'll be blasting as we head down to Macon to play with <strong>The Pink Stones at Grant's Lounge, Macon, GA next Friday, August 6</strong>.</p>
<p><a contents="Click here to take a listen" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.soundandsoulonline.com/2021/07/27/mac-leapharts-road-trip-mixtape/" target="_blank">Click here to take a listen</a>! <br><br><strong>Show Details</strong><br>Fri, Aug 6<br>Grant's Lounge with The Pink Stones <br>Ages 21+<br>8PM Doors | 9PM Show <br>$12 Advance <br><a contents="Click Here for Tickets" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://wl.seetickets.us/event/The-Pink-Stones-with-special-guest-Mac-Leaphart/435177?afflky=TheHistoricGrantsLounge" target="_blank">Click Here for Tickets</a></p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/66993102021-07-27T10:11:23-05:002021-08-10T23:04:13-05:00Greenville’s Mac Leaphart Returns Home <p>Thanks to iOn Greenville for getting the word out about the homecoming show <strong>Saturday, August 7 at the Radio Room with the Pink Stones</strong>!<br><br><a contents="Click here for the article" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://iongreenville.net/greenville-mac-leaphart-returns-home-for-august-7th-at-the-radio-room/" target="_blank">Click here for the article</a>.<br><a contents="Click here for tickets to the show" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.freshtix.com/events/mac-leaphart-at-radio-room-wsg-the-pink-stones?fbclid=IwAR3L1OicaoTP4gTdYnG7wmCXXFYCj0REZUtMyeVl5t6buaQWkbtTj789ddQ" target="_blank">Click here for tickets to the show</a>! </p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/66942662021-07-21T12:24:39-05:002021-07-21T12:24:39-05:00Sound and Soul Interview // Flashback <p>Back in February, I sat down to chat with Aaron Irons at <a contents="The Creek 100.9 FM" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.soundandsoulonline.com/2021/02/02/music-city-joke-mac-leaphart-on-new-album-terrible-guitars-and-becoming-a-better-songwriter/" target="_blank">The Creek 100.9 FM</a> to chat about 'Music City Joke'...and a whole lot more. With the Macon GA show right around the corner, thought I'd share <a contents="this Sound and Soul interview" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.soundandsoulonline.com/2021/02/02/music-city-joke-mac-leaphart-on-new-album-terrible-guitars-and-becoming-a-better-songwriter/" target="_blank">this Sound and Soul interview</a> again for anyone who missed it! </p>
<p>Gonna be a blast playing <strong>Grant's Lounge, Macon, GA with The Pink Stones Friday August 6.</strong> <a contents="Tickets are on sale now" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://bit.ly/Aug6GrantsLounge" target="_blank">Tickets are on sale now</a>!</p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/66926812021-07-19T21:50:59-05:002021-07-19T21:50:59-05:00Honky Tonk Times Spotlight <p><a contents="Honky-Tonk Times" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://honkytonktimes.com" target="_blank">Honky Tonk Times</a> making me feel like a dawgone outlaw country super star! Honored to be featured in such a cool rag, and to be included in an issue with Jesse Daniel on the cover. Thank you very kindly! </p>
<p>Go to honkytonktimes.com and get yourself an issue! Highly recommend if you’re trying to keep up with the ins, outs, and all the goin’ ons in real country, outlaw, & Americana music! </p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/66797952021-07-08T05:00:00-05:002021-07-08T05:00:06-05:00Left of the Dial's July Playlist on Spotify<p>The <a contents="playlist from last week's Left of the Dial show on Gimme Country" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://bit.ly/julyleftofthedial" target="_blank">playlist from last week's Left of the Dial show on Gimme Country</a> is available now, for your listening pleasure, on Spotify. Check it out and tune in for the next show Thursday, August 5 at 2PM CST!</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/66797752021-07-06T10:00:00-05:002021-07-06T10:00:08-05:00Macon GA Fri Aug 6 with The Pink Stones<p>Come see us at <a contents="Historic Grant's Lounge" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.historicgrants.com" target="_blank">Historic Grant's Lounge</a> in Macon GA on Friday August 6 with <a contents="The Pink Stones" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.thepinkstones.com/" target="_blank">The Pink Stones</a>. Tickets are on sale now! <a contents="Click here to get yours" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://wl.seetickets.us/event/The-Pink-Stones-with-special-guest-Mac-Leaphart/435177?afflky=TheHistoricGrantsLounge" target="_blank">Click here to get yours</a>. </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/66724782021-06-28T00:18:36-05:002021-06-28T00:18:36-05:00Honky Tonk Times Spotlight <p>"Honky Tonk Times is an old school, print-only magazine bridging classic country music and the honky tonk heroes of today."<br><br>Honored to be featured in the July issue of Honky Tonk Times! Get your copy, stickers, and more cool stuff at <a contents="thehonkytonktimes.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://thehonkytonktimes.com" target="_blank">thehonkytonktimes.com</a></p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/66701882021-06-25T10:11:06-05:002021-06-25T10:11:06-05:00Tix on Sale Now - Greenville SC Aug 7<p>Excited to return to my home town, Greenville SC, on Saturday, August 7. This time, we'll be playing at the <a contents="Radio Room" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.radioroomgreenville.com/" target="_blank">Radio Room</a> with <a contents="the Pink Stones" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.thepinkstones.com/" target="_blank">the Pink Stones</a> from Athens, GA! Gonna be a great night of honky tonk rock n roll. <a contents="Tickets are on sale now" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.freshtix.com/events/mac-leaphart-at-radio-room-wsg-the-pink-stones" target="_blank">Tickets are on sale now</a>. For a very limited time (while supplies last), we're offering up 2-for-1 advance tickets to the early birds who act fast. Get a twofer and bring a buddy!</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/66697762021-06-24T23:17:56-05:002021-06-24T23:20:17-05:00The Musical Divide Mid Year Report - Album Review<p>In some really good company on <a contents="The Musical Divide's 2021 Mid Year Report" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://themusicaldivide.com/2021/06/21/the-2021-midyear-report/" target="_blank">The Musical Divide's 2021 Mid Year Report</a>.Thanks for the kind words about <a contents="Music City Joke" data-link-label="" data-link-type="album" href="/album/1668813/music-city-joke" target="_blank">Music City Joke</a>! </p>
<p> </p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/66676502021-06-22T23:48:45-05:002021-06-22T23:48:45-05:00Greenville, SC with The Pink Stones - Sat Aug 7<p>Looking forward to being back in Greenville, SC with <a contents="The Pink Stones" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.thepinkstones.com/" target="_blank">The Pink Stones</a> on Saturday, August 7 at the <a contents="Radio Room" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.radioroomgreenville.com/" target="_blank">Radio Room</a>! </p>
<p>Tickets go on sale Friday, June 25 at 10AM. We'll have a limited number of 2-for-1 early bird tickets available for $12 - these won't last long! Grab a twofer & bring a buddy for a great night of honky tonk rock n roll. </p>
<p>Early Bird 2-For-1: $12 <br>Advance: $12 <br>Day of Show: $15<br><a contents="Click Here for Tickets" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.freshtix.com/events/mac-leaphart-at-radio-room-wsg-the-pink-stones" target="_blank">Click Here for Tickets</a><br><br><em>"The Pink Stones deliver a full serving of Peach State picked country-rock from Athens, Georgia with the release of their debut album, Introducing… The Pink Stones. Mixing elements of classic cosmic country, raucous rock’n’roll and fresh humor and heartaches, The Pink Stones are authoring a new chapter in the annals of Cosmic American Music." </em><a contents=" Learn more and check out their tunes here." data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.thepinkstones.com/#music" target="_blank">Check out their tunes here.</a> </p>
<p> </p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/66618242021-06-16T23:51:48-05:002021-06-16T23:51:48-05:00Saving Country Music's Best Country & Roots Albums of 2021<p>I was honored to get a great Saving Country Music review for <a contents="Music City Joke" data-link-label="" data-link-type="album" href="/album/1668813/music-city-joke" target="_blank">Music City Joke</a>, and now for it to be considered one of <a contents="Saving Country Music’s Country &amp; Roots Albums of 2021 So Far" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.savingcountrymusic.com/the-best-country-roots-albums-of-2021-so-far/?fbclid=IwAR3L8TgUzrVmehpjA4uKfBV-E3AMc42MraaTzmTC2vzefa6v_WdUDxsJIaM" target="_blank">Saving Country Music’s Country & Roots Albums of 2021 So Far</a> is genuinely humbling. Thanks, Trigger! </p>
<p> </p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/66590452021-06-14T11:08:30-05:002021-06-14T11:08:30-05:00June's Left of the Dial Playlist <p>The <a contents="June playlist" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://bit.ly/leftofthedial-june" target="_blank">June playlist</a> is up for your listening pleasure! </p>
<p>Featuring tunes from <a contents="Chase Crawford" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://chasecrawford.bandcamp.com/releases" target="_blank">Chase Crawford</a>, <a contents="David Quinn" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.davidquinnmusic.net/" target="_blank">David Quinn</a>, <a contents="Dangermuffin" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.dangermuffinmusic.com/" target="_blank">Dangermuffin</a>, <a contents="Gillian Welch" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://gillianwelch.com/" target="_blank">Gillian Welch</a>, <a contents="Guy Clark" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.guyclark.com/" target="_blank">Guy Clark</a>, and many more! </p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/66538902021-06-09T00:22:50-05:002021-06-09T00:22:50-05:00Nashville Nights at Steel Hands Brewing - Columbia, SC<p>Excited to play Nashville Nights with my buddy <a contents="Ryan Bonner" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://ryanbonnermusic.com/" target="_blank">Ryan Bonner</a> Friday, June 11 at Steel Hands Brewing in Columbia, SC. <br><br><a contents="Click here for more info" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://steelhandsbrewing.com/events/" target="_blank">Click Here for More Info</a></p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/66461962021-06-01T09:46:20-05:002021-06-01T09:46:20-05:00Left of the Dial on Gimme County<p><a contents="Click here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1VDzZJVYEu1Z7vthMInbfH?si=d9426438d66c4755" target="_blank">Click here</a> to check out the playlist from my May Left of the Dial show on Gimme Country, and tune in to GimmeCountry.com (or the app) this Thursday, June 3 at 2PM CST for the next show! Come say hi in the chatroom. <a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1VDzZJVYEu1Z7vthMInbfH?si=d9426438d66c4755" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/32411/b388f526785ebdd2abc533e297ab265530919724/original/lotd-post-fb.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.png" class="size_m justify_center border_none" alt="" /></a></p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/66340182021-05-19T04:50:00-05:002021-05-19T05:00:04-05:00Americana Music Show Reviews<p><em>"Over a decade he’s paid his dues and this, his fourth album, just goes to show that life isn’t fair. He deserves a large commercial break with Music City Joke."</em> — Tony Ives </p>
<p><em>"Mac Leaphart’s songs say all the things you want to say. And I dunno, he just seems like he would be a good drinking buddy. Always has a new story to tell. </em>" — Calvin Powers </p>
<p><em>"Mac Leaphart’s raspy, wearied voice tells tales of life at the tougher end of music city without losing his wry sense of humour. Great stuff." </em>— Lyndon Bolton </p>
<p><em>"Some old songwriting greats have been mentioned as influences (like John Prine), but I hear some of his songs as going through a next generation filter, like Todd Snider or his old bandmate Will Kimbrough." </em>— Bill Rutsch<br><br><a contents="Check out these reviews from Americana Music Show" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://americanamusicshow.com/review-music-city-joke-by-mac-leaphart/" target="_blank">Check out these reviews from Americana Music Show</a>! <br><br><br>I know for a lot of folks in my circle, Americana music and artists seem like they are everywhere. But talk to your some folks you went to high school with, talk to your aunt back home, and there’s a good chance they’ve never heard of John Prine. So, Americana & roots music needs champions and ambassadors, and Americana Music Show is one of the best sources out there in terms of helping spread the word.<br><br>Calvin and the crew have been super supportive of <em><strong>Music City Joke</strong></em>–they’ve lumped me in with a lot of my heroes on some wonderfully crafted shows. Many thanks and lots of love!</p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/66279462021-05-12T08:00:00-05:002021-05-18T21:22:18-05:00"The Same Thing" Recorded at Alex the Great <p>Check out this great video <a contents="Alex the Great Recording" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.facebook.com/Alexthegreatrecording/" target="_blank">Alex the Great Recording</a> did of "The Same Thing."</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="jRFB6KRp9Qc" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/jRFB6KRp9Qc/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jRFB6KRp9Qc?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="450" width="800" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe>" </p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/66207592021-05-03T22:52:09-05:002021-05-18T21:24:50-05:00Monthly Show on Gimme Country<p>I'm excited to let y'all know that Gimme Country has invited me into the booth for a monthly show! </p>
<p>Join me on the first Thursday of the month for my new show, <strong>Left of the Dial,</strong> starting this week – <strong>Thursday, May 6 at 2pm cst</strong>. Come say hi in the chat room!<br><br>Tune in at <a contents="GimmeCountry.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://GimmeCountry.com" target="_blank">GimmeCountry.com</a> or through the Gimme Country app. <br> </p>
<p>• • • • • • • • </p>
<p>Here's how to do it on... </p>
<p><strong>The App / Phone </strong><br>• Download the app <br>• Create an account, log in <br>• Tap "Live" and find my show <br>• Tap the little speech bubble to join the chat! </p>
<p><strong>The Website / Computer </strong><br>• Visit gimmecountry.com <br>• Create an account, log in <br>• It might pop right up, but if not, click "Radio" at the top and start chatting! </p>
<p><strong>Note:</strong> Gimme Country will generate a username for you...and some of them are downright hilarious. You can change it up if you want, but please take a screenshot and share it with us before you do! Signed, PossumJones :-)</p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/66096812021-04-20T19:50:33-05:002021-04-20T19:50:33-05:00Interview on WWUH<p>Thanks to Ed for having me on for a chat! It was really cool to dive into Milton Glaser, and Robert Crumb, Creem Magazine, all that stuff that I could probably talk about for hours, and don't get the opportunity to as much as I'd like. </p>
<p>I really appreciate the attention to detail you gave my songs, too, Ed. <a contents="Y'all take a listen in the&nbsp;archives here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://wwuh.streamrewind.com/bookmarks/listen/319323/wednesday-fm-on-toast-caterwaul-with-ed-mckeon" target="_blank">Y'all take a listen in the archives here</a>!</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/32411/f57691dce51bdfec96ebc566d08ba06611a74ded/original/210421-wwuh.jpeg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpeg" class="size_m justify_center border_none" alt="" /></p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/66044012021-04-15T05:25:00-05:002021-05-18T21:25:55-05:00Drumming Up Support for Logan Todd<p>Loved having Logan Todd as part of the 'Music City Joke' recording process. Y'all, this guy added a lot of character to 'Music City Joke'–his drumming is solid & attentive, and he brought great ideas to all the pregame arrangement talks. I really dig what he did on “The Same Thing,” but I don’t think anything can top the killer “Wipe Out" style start to the title cut. </p>
<p>Not too long ago, Logan damn near cut his pinky off and had to have two surgeries, putting a hold on playing drums for a bit–and drumming is his full time job, y'all. About a decade ago, I had a major health issue and was sidelined from playing live, which was how I kept money in my pocket. My friends did a benefit for me to help me stay on my feet. So, I’ve set up a GoFundMe for Logan to help with expenses that are piling up while he’s unable to work. If you’ve got something to give, that would be great. If you’re strapped for cash but can help spread the word, that’s great too. If you can do both, win win! </p>
<p>Thanks, y’all! <br><br><a contents="gofundme.com/f/support-for-logan-todd&nbsp;" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://gofundme.com/f/support-for-logan-todd" target="_blank"><strong>gofundme.com/f/support-for-logan-todd </strong></a></p>
<p>#musiccityjoketeam</p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/65999412021-04-09T23:47:59-05:002021-04-09T23:47:59-05:00"Honey, Shake!" on The Front Porch on Country Hits Radio <p>Click <a contents="here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3nXw1fpM3OSRhvmiPvBQQ5?si=rSPj0pm0QYaWey1RjETsCQ" target="_blank">here</a> for the Spotify playlist, or listen online at www.countryhitsradio.com. </p>
<p><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3nXw1fpM3OSRhvmiPvBQQ5?si=rSPj0pm0QYaWey1RjETsCQ" style="" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/32411/e51627233de043a31cb18ae32a1150db31ae6dc3/original/210410-country-hits-uk.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_none" alt="" /></a></p>
<p> </p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/65994482021-04-09T13:20:55-05:002021-04-09T23:11:59-05:00Roots Down Radio on WVTF<p>Click <a contents="here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.wvtf.org/post/mac-leaphart" target="_blank">here</a> to hear me do a little rambling and playing some songs off 'Music City Joke.' Thanks to Luke for having me on Roots Down Radio on WVTF!</p>
<p><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.wvtf.org/post/mac-leaphart" style="" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/32411/961e5df62994faa7198c0ac7e85326ccf2c9e583/original/210409-rootsdownradio.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_none" alt="" /></a></p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/65968782021-04-07T10:02:35-05:002021-05-18T21:30:51-05:00"Honey, Shake!" Debuts on Ditty TV<p>"Honey, Shake!" debuts on Ditty TV's The Curve Wednesday, April 7 at 10pm ct | 11pm et. Watch Curve online at <a contents="dittytv.com/watch" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://dittytv.com/watch" target="_blank">dittytv.com/watch</a>! </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="BFggkmlFe9g" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/BFggkmlFe9g/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BFggkmlFe9g?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="180" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>
<p> </p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/65948252021-04-05T14:08:16-05:002021-04-05T14:08:16-05:00Gimme Country March Playlist on Spotify<p>Had a few people in the chat room asking for the playlist from last week's Gimme Country Guest DJ spot and wanted to let y'all know <a contents="it's up on Spotify now" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2OEvGFIZbUEt4hQDpYEXlB?si=kJbGZydzSIKdI5mpehkP3g" target="_blank">it's up on Spotify now</a>! <a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2OEvGFIZbUEt4hQDpYEXlB?si=kJbGZydzSIKdI5mpehkP3g" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/32411/6f7ab56930a6359e3d6a50436c1f08acf3247106/original/210406-gimmecountry-march-playlist-2.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a></p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/65920822021-04-02T10:05:55-05:002021-04-02T10:11:29-05:00Finally Friday on WMOT<p>I rarely feel the urge to twist the dial when I’m tuned into <a contents="WMOT," data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.wmot.org/post/finally-friday-home-cristina-vane-and-mac-leaphart" style="" target="_blank">WMOT,</a> it’s good song after good song after good song, man. And, they are super supportive of the local scene–Ana Lee actually spun the demo of “Window from the Sky” on the Local Brew before the album was out, and did <a contents="Liner Notes" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.wmot.org/post/mac-leaphart-releases-music-city-joke" target="_blank">Liner Notes</a> for the album back in February. <br><br>It was really cool to be asked to do an episode of “Finally Friday” (From Home), a part of <a contents="NPR Lives Sessions" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://livesessions.npr.org/artists/mac-leaphart" target="_blank">NPR Lives Sessions</a>. Check it out <a contents="here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.wmot.org/post/finally-friday-home-cristina-vane-and-mac-leaphart" target="_blank">here</a>!<br><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.wmot.org/post/finally-friday-home-cristina-vane-and-mac-leaphart" style="" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/32411/ecd5f070dbffc12431c007fcfa2df960359f7247/original/210402-finally-friday.png/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.png" class="size_m justify_center border_none" alt="" /></a></p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/65907252021-03-31T23:19:40-05:002021-03-31T23:19:40-05:00Gimme Country Playlist on Spotify<p>Had a great time guest DJing on Gimme Country Tuesday. Thanks to those who joined me in the chat room. Always great to get to talk to folks there and on socials when touring and meeting people on the road just isn't in the cards right now. </p>
<p>A couple people asked me about the playlist. The show will re-air Friday at 10pm cst and Saturday 4pm cst, so tune in on GimmeCountry.com (or the app) if you missed the show, or just want to listen again. </p>
<p>And the playlist for my February show is available on <a contents="Spotify" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://bit.ly/gimmecountryfeb" target="_blank">Spotify</a>, so head over there to check it out. Hit that follow button for updates when new stuff is added! </p>
<p><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://bit.ly/gimmecountryfeb" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/32411/085878304906612674e525e8efdc3f21cee8caf9/original/210401-gimmecountryfebplaylist.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a></p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/65886102021-03-29T23:02:10-05:002021-03-29T23:02:10-05:00Gimme Country Guest DJ Tue Mar 30 4pm (cst)<p>I'll be back in the DJ booth on <a contents="Gimme Country" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.gimmecountry.com" style="" target="_blank">Gimme Country</a> Tuesday, March 30 at 4pm cst. Come hang out in the chat room and say hi! </p>
<p>Planning a great line up for y'all! Check out my socials for details on that, and how to tune, if you're not already a Gimme Country listener. <br><br><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.gimmecountry.com" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/32411/7669d402dec4fee5c59963bf6fc86feeab112751/original/twit-leaphart.png/!!/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a></p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/65824692021-03-23T11:38:43-05:002021-03-23T11:38:43-05:005Ft Hiigh & Rising on PBSFM in Australia<p><a contents="5Ft High &amp; Rising" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.pbsfm.org.au/program/5ft-high-rising/2021-03-13/06-00-00/7389914" style="" target="_blank">Click here to hear "Blame on the Bottle" on 5Ft High &amp; Rising</a>. Thanks for getting my music heard on the other side of the world, Myles - appreciate the support! </p>
<p><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.pbsfm.org.au/program/5ft-high-rising/2021-03-13/06-00-00/7389914" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/32411/dd49c672568aa684e728179e83f8cc26cedd52b8/original/310323-5fthighandrising.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a></p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/65821082021-03-23T01:17:15-05:002021-03-23T01:30:22-05:00More Twang Moments with Denise at 3RRR in Australia<p><a contents="Click here to listen" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.rrr.org.au/shared/broadcast-episode/15407/2641000/4887000" target="_blank">Click here to listen</a> to me ramble on with Denise Hylands on 3RRR's Twang. Denise has been supporting 'Music City Joke' for weeks, and it was great to finally get a chance to chat with her. Can't wait to visit down under! </p>
<p><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.rrr.org.au/explore/programs/twang/episodes/15407-twang-20-march-2021" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/32411/96125d5e6588f2eff6b7f7a7490410d9d595c922/original/210320-twanginterview.jpeg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a></p>
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<p> </p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/65794002021-03-19T16:57:07-05:002021-03-19T16:57:07-05:00The Boudin Barndance<p>Y'all check out <a contents="this really cool Rhode Island PBS profile" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://watch.ripbs.org/video/barndance-ffdxo9/" target="_blank">this really cool </a><a contents="Rhode Island PBS" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://watch.ripbs.org/video/barndance-ffdxo9/" style="">Rhode Island PBS</a><a contents="this really cool Rhode Island PBS profile" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://watch.ripbs.org/video/barndance-ffdxo9/" target="_blank"> profile</a> about <a contents="The Boudin Barndance on WRIU" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.wriu.org/service_category/the-boudin-barndance/" target="_blank">The Boudin Barndance on WRIU</a>. Dan Ferguson has been shining a light on Americana and Alt-country music for decades. It's an honor to have him spinning "Honey, Shake!" on his show. <br><br>Tune in to the Boudin Barndance on Thursdays (6-9pm est) at <a contents="www.wriu.org/listen" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.wriu.org/listen" target="_blank">www.wriu.org/listen</a>. </p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/65773852021-03-18T06:00:00-05:002021-03-18T06:00:14-05:00Two Tracks on Saving Country Music's Top 25 Current Playlist<p>I've followed <a contents="Saving Country Music" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.savingcountrymusic.com/newest-adds-to-saving-country-musics-top-25-current-playlist-80" target="_blank">Saving Country Music</a> for a long time. It always has the scoop on Americana, Red Dirt, & Genuine Country before anybody else. So, I am honored to have another song get a spot on this playlist. A little late in sharing this, but no less grateful. Really appreciate the support, Trigger! </p>
<p><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.savingcountrymusic.com/newest-adds-to-saving-country-musics-top-25-current-playlist-80" style="" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/32411/c643390a241b2b01c6a60de68342ae311c69da9d/original/2103018-scm-top25.jpeg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a></p>
<p> </p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/65742732021-03-15T10:45:23-05:002021-03-15T10:45:23-05:00Show Added! Cordovas & Friends at City Winder Nashville April 6<p>I'm very excited to be a playing City Winery Nashville with my good friends Cordovas & Brian Wright on April 6 for one of the Cordovas & Friends nights. </p>
<p>Gonna be a fun night. Show starts at 7:30pm. Come see us!</p>
<p><a contents="Click here for details and tickets" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://citywinery.com/nashville/cordovas-friends-residency-in-the-music-city-wine-garden-4-6-21.html" target="_blank">Click here for details and tickets</a>. </p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/65665332021-03-05T23:11:25-06:002021-03-05T23:11:25-06:00More Twang Moments <p>Big thanks to <a contents="Denise at 3RRR" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.rrr.org.au/explore/presenters/denise-hylands" target="_blank">Denise at 3RRR</a> in Melbourne for continuing to spin tunes from 'Music City Joke.'<br><br>Y'all check out <a contents="the special shoutout" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.rrr.org.au/shared/broadcast-episode/15145/7020000/7047000" target="_blank">the special shoutout</a> at the end of the show, and be sure to tune in to <a contents="Twang&nbsp;right here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.rrr.org.au/explore/programs/twang" style="">Twang</a> right here from anywhere in the world!<br><br><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.rrr.org.au/player-items/go/207201" style="" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/32411/beb6889240265c3bae2fd9af4640dc9e8bd0d05c/original/210306-twangfeb27.png/!!/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a><br><br> </p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/65654392021-03-05T00:01:29-06:002021-03-05T00:01:29-06:00#1 on the Alt-Country Specialty Charts <p>Man. Number 1 on the <a contents="Alt. Country Specialty Chart" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://altcountrychart.com/" target="_blank">Alt. Country Specialty Chart</a> again this week! </p>
<p><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://altcountrychart.com/" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/32411/5973b48d5e76934b15c30dbdeb4ed03db34d592b/original/210305-altcountry-no1-2.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a></p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/65654402021-03-03T00:20:00-06:002021-03-05T00:08:30-06:00#23 Americana Albums Chart + #27 Americana Singles Chart<p>Still movin' on up! "That Train" jumped 14 spots to hit number 27 on the <a contents="Americana Music Association singles chart" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://americanamusic.org/radio-chart-singles" target="_blank">Americana Music Association singles chart</a>, and 'Music City Joke' is number 23 on the <a contents="albums chart" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.docdroid.com/g4p0Qkl/albums-chart-web-3-2-21-pdf" target="_blank">albums chart</a>! </p>
<p>Thanks for spinning and listening, y'all! </p>
<p><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.docdroid.com/g4p0Qkl/albums-chart-web-3-2-21-pdf" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/32411/2ea8abfb3734c247cc6a41360f9725979f7bad25/original/210304-americana-23-27.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a></p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/65629092021-03-02T13:01:17-06:002021-03-02T13:02:56-06:00Catch "That Train" Video Here<p>Proud to share the official video for "That Train" with you here and now. Spread the word! </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Mvf-zVzyUw8" width="560"></iframe></p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/65598842021-02-26T17:11:59-06:002021-03-09T18:02:25-06:00Twang on 3RRR in Melbourne Australia Adds 'Music City Joke'<p><strong><a contents="Denise at 3RRR" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.rrr.org.au/explore/programs/twang" style="" target="_blank">Denise at 3RRR</a></strong> down in Melbourne, Australia kindly play two tracks on <strong><a contents="Twang" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.rrr.org.au/explore/programs/twang" style="" target="_blank">Twang</a></strong> earlier this week! <br><br>Y'all take a listen. She's playing some great stuff!<br><br>Listen to the whole show <a contents="here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.rrr.org.au/explore/programs/twang/episodes/15064-twang-20-february-2021" style="" target="_blank">here</a> or to the two Mac moments: <a contents='Intro + "Music City Joke"' data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.rrr.org.au/shared/broadcast-episode/15064/3778000/4028000" style="" target="_blank">Intro + "Music City Joke"</a> and <a contents='"Blame on the Bottle"' data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.rrr.org.au/shared/broadcast-episode/15064/4195000/4690000" style="" target="_blank">"Blame on the Bottle"</a> (plus).<a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.rrr.org.au/shared/broadcast-episode/15064/3778000/4028000" style="" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/32411/8fd5f9a7c6e48579e8ac96f2594d92bcb930ada0/original/210220-twang-3rrr.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_none" alt="" /></a><br> </p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/65577722021-02-24T16:11:38-06:002021-02-24T16:11:38-06:00#1 on the Alt-Country Specialty Charts<p>Super cool to be at the top of the <a contents="Alt-Country Specialty Chart" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://altcountrychart.com/" target="_blank">Alt-Country Specialty Chart</a> this week! </p>
<p>Check out the <a contents="Top 20 playlist on Spotify&nbsp;" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2kOtmI2r78ChRlQPSK4GrR?si=d97f6706f1054ad9" style="" target="_blank">Top 20 playlist on Spotify</a>. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="encrypted-media" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="380" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/playlist/2kOtmI2r78ChRlQPSK4GrR" width="300"></iframe></p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/65560812021-02-22T22:26:40-06:002021-02-22T22:26:40-06:00Farce the Music Album Review<p>“I do regret the weeks I could have been listening to this album and it is an early favorite here in 2021. I love hearing threads of influence from so many of my favorite artists, and I appreciate Mac Leaphart’s ability to tip his hat to them, without losing his own voice and style. This is an album I will listen to for years to come and that makes him far from a 'Music City Joke' in my eyes.” </p>
<p>Check out this great review from <a contents="FarcetheMusic.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.farcethemusic.com/2021/02/album-review-mac-leaphart-music-city.html" style="" target="_blank">FarcetheMusic.com</a></p>
<p><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.farcethemusic.com/2021/02/album-review-mac-leaphart-music-city.html" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/32411/ef2c1a0a28f7a38899a3433299e9a79f8fb2322e/original/210212-farcethemusic.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a></p>
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<p> </p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/65580442021-02-22T10:00:00-06:002021-02-24T22:28:45-06:00#24 on Americana Music Association Album Chart<p>Man, it's somethin' else to see my album climbing the Americana Music Association Radio Album Charts - 'Music City Joke' is number 24 this week! </p>
<p>Huge thanks to all the stations and DJs supporting the tunes... <a contents="Click here to see a list and follow 'em on Facebook" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.facebook.com/MacLeaphart/photos/a.10150598663482256/10157763216927256/" target="_blank">Click here to see a list and follow 'em on Facebook</a>. </p>
<p> </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/32411/cf5a82a7cb0d9fd4cb3a61874e6885d776940d08/original/210222-americanamusicassociationalbum-no24.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/65550882021-02-21T22:22:49-06:002021-02-21T22:22:49-06:00Saving Country Music Top 25 Current Playlist<p>From 'Saving Country Music':<br><br><em>The <a contents="Saving Country Music Top 25 Playlist " data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.savingcountrymusic.com/newest-adds-to-saving-country-musics-top-25-current-playlist-79/?fbclid=IwAR2n2xgLiC-P0KWCCHpbDydT0noEXaW5IzbFuzrxj3IT-x9rZK30caPa55U" target="_blank">Saving Country Music Top 25 Playlist </a>is built to keep you informed on all the best songs and albums coming out right here, right now in country and roots music. It’s available on most all streaming formats or you can just use the song, artist, and album recommendations to find something new to listen to. New songs have just been added.</em></p>
<p>"Mac has turned in the best country album of 2021 so far with Music City Joke according to your truly and everyone else who’s listened to it..." </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="encrypted-media" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="380" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed?uri=spotify%3Aplaylist%3A7mfYm0btgVvLXdeC7wiV7K" width="300"></iframe></p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/65533722021-02-19T12:57:04-06:002021-02-19T12:57:04-06:00WMOT Liner Notes<p>Check out the <a contents="'Music City Joke' Liner Notes" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.wmot.org/post/mac-leaphart-releases-music-city-joke#stream/0" target="_blank">'Music City Joke' Liner Notes</a> with Ana Lee over at WMOT Roots Radio 89.5 FM and get a little behind-the-scenes look at some of the players and songs! </p>
<p> </p>
<p><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.wmot.org/term/liner-notes#stream/0" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/32411/80d542af697733c7b4c707977823ba2a05589fb1/original/210219-wmotlinernotes.png/!!/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a></p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/65510382021-02-16T12:00:00-06:002021-02-17T13:30:54-06:00#3 on Alt-Country Charts<p>'Music City Joke' is number 3 on the alt-country specialty chart at <a contents="www.altcountry.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://altcountrychart.com/alt-country-chart" style="" target="_blank">www.altcountrychart.com</a>! </p>
<p>You can check out a song from each of the new releases on the ACSC Top 20 chart on their <a contents="Spotify playlist" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/430bvxovgQQbz4kuGPGTCh?si=f54ab9d84cd44e3d" target="_blank">Spotify playlist</a>. </p>
<p>Thanks to Joe and Jenni for putting that together, and to all the stations & DJs supporting the album.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="encrypted-media" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="380" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/playlist/430bvxovgQQbz4kuGPGTCh" width="300"></iframe></p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/65580432021-02-16T10:00:00-06:002021-02-24T22:24:38-06:00Debut at #31 on Americana Albums Chart<p>‘Music City Joke’ and "That Train" debuted on the Americana Music Association Radio Albums and Singles Charts! (No. 31 album / No. 46 single.) </p>
<p>Big thanks to all the stations and DJs who are spinning the songs, and all y’all who are listening, requesting, and spreading the word!</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/32411/474fe96354f40bdd295bcf663ad857bf7fcae479/original/210216-americana-debut31.png/!!/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/65489832021-02-14T12:00:00-06:002021-02-17T12:50:24-06:00The Ranch (95.9) Music Meeting - Vote for Mac<p>Hey, y'all! Here's a really cool opportunity to help Mac get played on <strong><a contents="95.9 The Ranch" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.959theranch.com/ranch-music-meeting-16/" style="" target="_blank">95.9 The Ranch</a> in Fort Worth</strong>. </p>
<p>They wanna play what listeners wanna hear, so we need you to vote in the Ranch Music Meeting, and them that you want Mac Leaphart's "Honey, Shake!" on the air! </p>
<p>Here's how to do it: <br>• <a contents="Click here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.959theranch.com/ranch-music-meeting-16/" target="_blank">Click here</a><br>• Create an account (pretty please!) <br>• Fill out a quick little survey <br>• Listen to tunes by artists like </p>
<p>Cordovas, Jackie Darlene, and, of course Mac himself. You won't see the artists' or songs' names, but you'll know "Honey, Shake!" when ya hear it, right? </p>
<p>You can also <a contents="SHARE the Facebook&nbsp;post" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.facebook.com/MacLeaphart/posts/10157745477747256" target="_blank">SHARE the Facebook post</a> to spread the word and ask your friends & fam to help. </p>
<p>Thanks, everybody, </p>
<p>Julia</p>
<p><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://testallmedia.com/kfwr/login.aspx" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/32411/1ce1f89baea95a37fcbe5cf4818b5e25f9385c5a/original/211215-theranchmusicmeeting.png/!!/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a></p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/65486452021-02-13T13:00:00-06:002021-02-15T00:53:34-06:00Country Hits Radio: The Front Porch Playlist<p>Thanks to <a contents="Country Hits Radio" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://planetradio.co.uk/country-hits/" target="_blank"><strong>Country Hits Radio</strong></a> in the UK for spinning "Honey, Shake!" on <a contents="The Front Porch playlist on Spotify" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://planetradio.co.uk/country-hits/" target="_blank">The Front Porch playlist on Spotify</a>...#1 spot! </p>
<p>Y'all go take a listen!</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3nXw1fpM3OSRhvmiPvBQQ5?si=3GgVVCoUTEagHcx6mwIq-A" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/32411/7988f2d2d80e6c501a68a048a69d6cb9693fd0ac/original/210215-thefrontporch.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/65599892021-02-12T19:00:00-06:002021-02-26T19:05:26-06:00"Blame on the Bottle" on Cosmic Cowboy Cafe 2RRR<p>Thanks for spinning the tunes on <strong>Cosmic Cowboy Cafe</strong>, Ed! <br><br><a contents='"Blame on the Bottle" February 12' data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://2rrr.org.au/guide/?cosmic-cowboy-cafe" style="" target="_blank">C</a><a contents="Click to listen" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://2rrr.org.au/guide/?cosmic-cowboy-cafe" style="" target="_blank">lick to listen</a>.</p>
<p><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://2rrr.org.au/guide/?cosmic-cowboy-cafe" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/32411/155454e70a3a7ce46c87642bfdcd6c9364ecb100/original/210212-blame-cosmiccowboycafe.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a></p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/65476612021-02-12T18:00:00-06:002021-02-13T13:02:19-06:00Saving Country Music Album Review<p>Man, oh man...yesterday was something else! Thanks for all the kind words, album streams & downloads, and spreading the word. A big thanks to <a contents="Saving Country Music" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.savingcountrymusic.com/album-review-mac-leapharts-music-city-joke/" target="_blank">Saving Country Music</a> for this great album review!</p>
<p>"Like a more countrified version of John Prine, or a more compositionally-minded version of Jerry Jeff Walker during his gonzo era, Mac Leaphart immediately earns your ear and devotion with this handful of incredibly well-written songwriter songs and rousing boot scooters that are just about perfectly produced and ripe for repeat listening." </p>
<p><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.savingcountrymusic.com/album-review-mac-leapharts-music-city-joke/#comments" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/32411/03646865e2bbddfca95fd92376576436200ac6c6/original/210213-savingcountrymusic.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a></p>
<p> </p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/65460972021-02-11T18:05:00-06:002021-02-11T18:22:36-06:00Americana Highways Album Review<p>Check out this album review from <a contents="Americana Highways" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://americanahighways.org/2021/02/10/review-mac-leapharts-music-city-joke/" style="" target="_blank">Americana Highways</a>! <br><br><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://americanahighways.org/2021/02/10/review-mac-leapharts-music-city-joke/" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/32411/e2d316fbe642889cc791aaeb2135a7ddb973123f/original/210212-americanahighways.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a></p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/65456972021-02-10T18:00:00-06:002021-02-11T11:10:48-06:00Appearance on 'Hey, I Miss You!' with Sarah Morris<p>My buddy Sarah Morris invited me to be a guest on her YouTube show <strong>'<a contents="Hey, I Miss You!" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://youtu.be/5sdYutePjI0" target="_blank">Hey, I Miss You!</a>'</strong> and I quickly accepted. Because, hey, I missed her, too. </p>
<p>Tune in <strong>Friday, February 12 at 12pm cst</strong> for some chatting, some singing, and lots of laughing.</p>
<p>What a fun way to celebrate 'Music City Joke' release day! <br> </p>
<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5sdYutePjI0" width="560"></iframe></p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/65432222021-02-07T12:00:00-06:002021-02-11T11:46:58-06:00Gimme Country Guest DJ Fri Feb 12<p>The kind folks at <a contents="Gimme Country&nbsp;" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.GimmeCountry.com" style="" target="_blank">Gimme Country</a> have invited me to be a guest DJ this Friday, the day 'Music City Joke' comes out! Join me as I spin tracks from <a contents="Brent Cobb" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.brentcobbmusic.com/" style="" target="_blank">Brent Cobb</a>, <a contents="Cordovas" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://cordovasband.com/" target="_blank">Cordovas</a>, <a contents="Great Peacock" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.greatpeacock.com/" target="_blank">Great Peacock</a>, and more. <br><br>Simply visit www.gimmecountry.com or download the app to create an account, log in, and listen away. Be sure to stop in the chat room during the show and say "hi!"<br><br>• • • • • • • • </p>
<p><strong>Here's how to do it on... </strong></p>
<p><strong>The App / Phone</strong><br>• Download the app<br>• Create an account, log in <br>• Tap "Live" and find my show <br>• Tap the little speech bubble to join the chat! </p>
<p><strong>The Website / Computer</strong><br>• Visit gimmecountry.com <br>• Create an account, log in <br>• It might pop right up, but if not, click "Radio" at the top and start chatting! </p>
<p><strong>Note:</strong> Gimme Country will generate a username for you...and some of them are downright hilarious. You can change it up if you want, but please take a screenshot and share it with us before you do! Signed, PossumJones :-) </p>
<p><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.gimmecountry.com" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/32411/b650e2b93d68783ea6d8734f220cfe0b38d5c7f9/original/twitter-mac.png/!!/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a></p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/65411072021-02-05T22:38:56-06:002021-02-05T22:38:56-06:00Check Out the Official Music Video for "Honey, Shake!" <p>The third single off 'Music City Joke' is now available everywhere you get your music online...and you can check out the official video <a contents="here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="<iframe%20width=%22560%22%20height=%22315%22%20src=%22https://www.youtube.com/embed/dymG34wGWzQ%22%20frameborder=%220%22%20allow=%22accelerometer;%20autoplay;%20clipboard-write;%20encrypted-media;%20gyroscope;%20picture-in-picture%22%20allowfullscreen></iframe>" target="_blank">here</a>! <br><br> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dymG34wGWzQ" width="560"></iframe></p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/65396712021-02-04T14:27:24-06:002021-02-04T14:27:24-06:00LonesomeHighway.com Album Review<p>Check out <a contents="LonesomeHighway.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.lonesomehighway.com/music-reviews/2021/2/4/new-album-reviews" target="_blank">LonesomeHighway.com</a>'s review of 'Music City Joke'! </p>
<p>"Leaphart spent a decade playing bars and honky tonks around South Carolina, honing his craft, playing his humour laced sets and supporting himself by also working as a bartender. His gravelly vocal, rich in emotion, is evidence of those smoke-filled rooms and honky tonks on MUSIC CITY JOKE." </p>
<p> </p>
<p><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.lonesomehighway.com/music-reviews/2021/2/4/new-album-reviews" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/32411/a88f160970e8e5e67ca31d54b755ceec3ebd5844/original/screen-shot-2021-02-04-at-3-21-24-pm.png/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.png" class="size_m justify_center border_" /></a></p>
<p><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.lonesomehighway.com/music-reviews/2021/2/4/new-album-reviews" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/32411/04891bf1c59de8c59452814dafff8ab09c46a81b/original/210204-lonesomehighwaydotcom-002.png/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.png" class="size_m justify_center border_" /></a></p>
<p> </p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/65387312021-02-03T14:42:17-06:002021-02-03T14:42:17-06:00The Boot's Exclusive "Honey, Shake!" Video Premiere <p>Put on your dancin' shoes and check out "Honey, Shake!"–the song AND the official music video–over on <a contents="The Boot" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.theboot.com/mac-leaphart-honey-shake" target="_blank">The Boot</a>! </p>
<p>"...Mac Leaphart's new song "Honey, Shake!" will have you ready to groove. It's premiering exclusively on The Boot..." </p>
<p><br><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.theboot.com/mac-leaphart-honey-shake" style="" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/32411/f71b4a9e77968199737cbf326d3c3e04d187b986/original/210203-theboot.jpeg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a></p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/65379062021-02-02T18:22:35-06:002021-02-02T23:53:12-06:00Interview with Sound & Soul<p>Big thanks to Aaron at <a contents="The Creek FM" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.soundandsoulonline.com/the-creek/" target="_blank">The Creek FM</a> in Macon, GA for this <a contents="this thoughtful piece on Sound &amp; Soul" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.soundandsoulonline.com/2021/02/02/music-city-joke-mac-leaphart-on-new-album-terrible-guitars-and-becoming-a-better-songwriter/" style="" target="_blank">thoughtful piece on Sound & Soul</a>. </p>
<p>"Mac Leaphart’s <em><strong>Music City Joke </strong></em>is a hilarious and poignant take on the industry and life that juxtaposes expectation against experience for a helluva punchline...Mac Leaphart knows the truth can hurt when you laugh, but no matter how rough it gets, the pain’s worth it once you get the joke."</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.soundandsoulonline.com/2021/02/02/music-city-joke-mac-leaphart-on-new-album-terrible-guitars-and-becoming-a-better-songwriter/" style="" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/32411/ba4840095d0c53140ce780a9ffc7365bfff316ba/original/210202-sound-and-soul-the-creek.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" /></a></p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/65263272021-01-20T21:03:24-06:002021-01-26T21:10:20-06:00"That Train" Added to Real Roots Cafe Playlist<p>I'm keeping some great company on the Real Roots Cafe playlist, including <a contents="Rodney Cowell" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.rodneycrowell.com/" style="" target="_blank">Rodney Crowell</a>, <a contents="Brandi Carlile" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.brandicarlile.com" target="_blank">Brandi Carlile</a>, <a contents="Sturgill Simpson" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.sturgillsimpson.com/" style="" target="_blank">Sturgill Simpson</a>, and many more. <br><br><a contents="Check it out" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5VZNjcHpO2NIQYWUc9UNRM?si=LI3I3xVcTvynHQk78dSeIg" style="" target="_blank">Check it out</a><a contents="Check it out&nbsp;over on Spotify" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5VZNjcHpO2NIQYWUc9UNRM?si=LI3I3xVcTvynHQk78dSeIg" target="_blank"> over on Spotify</a>! </p>
<p> </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/32411/88a7d16af05fa5403a8092480d01da79d115f5cd/original/realrootscafeplaylist.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" /></p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/65221792021-01-15T15:56:07-06:002021-01-26T21:12:24-06:00American Songwriter Premieres "That Train" <p><br>"“That Train,” Mac Leaphart’s latest single from his forthcoming album <em>Music City Joke</em>, premieres today in a clever bundling of nostalgic allusions and raw honky-tonk harmonies. The new tune follows his debut single, “Blame on the Bottle,” and continues Leaphart’s success as a story-based songwriter. Recently, Leaphart unraveled his creative process in an exclusive correspondence with American Songwriter..."</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Click here for the entire premiere over at <a contents="American Songwriter" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://americansongwriter.com/that-train-mac-leaphart-premiere/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwAR3QjgoxuHfkq-IiluwuRrX9gMPcQJQZzW6QjBZCC3PSmUVZbSiwwK4Ivog#Echobox=1610722252" target="_blank">American Songwriter</a>.</p>
<p><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://americansongwriter.com/that-train-mac-leaphart-premiere/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwAR3QjgoxuHfkq-IiluwuRrX9gMPcQJQZzW6QjBZCC3PSmUVZbSiwwK4Ivog#Echobox=1610722252" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/32411/0553ae726c4a2d0a1d585a5ce71f21e62129de43/original/210115-american-songwriter.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a></p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/65212942021-01-15T05:05:00-06:002021-01-26T21:13:22-06:00New Single Out Now! <p><br>"That Train," the second single from the upcoming album 'Music City Joke' is available wherever you listen to music! <a contents="Click here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://smarturl.it/macleaphartonline" target="_blank">Click here</a>. </p>
<p><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://smarturl.it/macleaphartonline" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/32411/8b83ed54066b62d66953cc59b64eb951a971f61f/original/screen-shot-2021-01-14-at-9-01-47-pm.png/!!/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a></p>
<p> </p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/65104542020-12-30T16:24:24-06:002021-01-26T21:04:22-06:00"That Train" Available January 15<p><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://smarturl.it/macleaphartonline" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/32411/ca5fb556df616395d4db54cd136494b79b6d116c/original/thattrain-poster.png/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsInNtYWxsIl1d.png" class="size_s justify_left border_" /></a></p>
<p><br>"That Train," the second single off 'Music City Joke,' will be available January 15! Can't wait for y'all to hear it. Follow me on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and wherever else you stream so you'll know as soon as it, and other music, become available. <a contents="Click here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://smarturl.it/macleaphartonline" target="_blank">Click here</a>. </p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/64948862020-12-08T22:05:13-06:002020-12-08T22:05:13-06:00"Blame on the Bottle" Added to TuneCore: Americana<p>Got word that <a contents="TuneCor" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.tunecore.com" target="_blank">TuneCor</a>e has added "Blame on the Bottle" to their official Spotify playlist, <a contents="TuneCore: Americana" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/15CK9vHMTCunRvrQ3nOWyL?si=eN4Jv3XZQpK2wkYxO-Q_ew" style="" target="_blank">TuneCore: Americana</a>. It'll be up there for three weeks...could be a cool opportunity for some new folks to hear the music. Check it out if ya wanna find some new tunes, yourself. </p>
<p>You can also check out a bunch of #macmadeplaylists that I put together for the single release. Find me on Spotify (bonus points if you <strong>follow</strong> me there!) or click <a contents="here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://macleaphart.com/listenonspotify%E2%80%8B%E2%80%8B%E2%80%8B%E2%80%8B%E2%80%8B%E2%80%8B%E2%80%8B" target="_blank">here</a> for direct links. </p>
<p><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/15CK9vHMTCunRvrQ3nOWyL?si=eN4Jv3XZQpK2wkYxO-Q_ew" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/32411/9b3ecfb180e078e21aa1bdd4b2871464a036709e/original/tunecoreamericana.png/!!/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a></p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/64948922020-12-02T10:15:00-06:002020-12-08T22:15:31-06:00Country Du Monde on GimmeCountry.com<p>Big thanks to Jimi over at Country Du Monde for spinning “Blame on the Bottle” this morning on the Gimme Country app! He's playing some great music on his show, y'all. Cool app. You can even connect it to your Spotify account to help make your listening experience better. <br><br>If you wanna check it out, just visit <a contents="gimmecountry.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.gimmecountry.com" target="_blank">gimmecountry.com</a>, download the app (or choose to listen on desktop), create an account, and listen away. </p>
<p><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.facebook.com/CountryDuMonde/" style="" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/32411/0581dc917453d1300f7ddfc887159207c3f84362/original/countrydumonde.jpg" class="size_orig justify_center border_" /></a></p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/64859262020-11-25T22:27:55-06:002020-11-25T22:27:55-06:00Listen on Spotify<p>"Blame on the Bottle," the first single off 'Music City Joke,' will be available on all the usual streaming platforms Friday, November 27! </p>
<p>I'm a big fan of discovering new (or new-to-me) music via Spotify playlists, and thought y'all might be into that, too, I've made a few playlists to share as we ramp up to the single release. Follow along on social media for these #macmadeplaylists or check 'em out at <a contents="macleaphart.com/listenonspotify" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://macleaphart.com/listenonspotify" style="" target="_blank">macleaphart.com/listenonspotify</a></p>
<p>Enjoy!</p>
<p>(And be sure to tune in to your favorite streaming platform on Friday to listen to "Blame on the Bottle"!)</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://macleaphart.com/listenonspotify" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/32411/a8d6f8d7c65d3bfe7afc473b095b04f982db0da5/original/screen-shot-2020-11-25-at-11-26-31-pm.png/!!/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a></p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/64831942020-11-22T01:17:52-06:002020-11-22T01:18:29-06:00$17,800 & A Million Thanks<p>The Kickstarter campaign ended with a big bang on Thursday, with 145 friends, family, and fans contributing over $7,000 more than the original goal of $10,000!<br><br>We're absolutely blown away by the support and encouragement, and can't wait for y'all to hear the album in the new year. There is already some great stuff happening, from Kickstarter to the <a contents="Wide Open Country premiere" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.wideopencountry.com/mac-leaphart-blame-on-the-bottle/" target="_blank">Wide Open Country premiere</a> of the first single, "Blame on the Bottle"...and there's even more to come, so stay tuned. </p>
<p>If you're not already on the mailing list, be sure to <a contents="sign up" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://macleaphart.com/contact-private-events" target="_blank">sign up</a>, and follow Mac on <a contents="Facebook" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.facebook.com/macleaphart" target="_blank">Facebook</a> and <a contents="Instagra" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.instagram.com/mac.leaphart" target="_blank">Instagra</a>m for all the latest news. <br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/32411/c6d3384df81360aa34cb57524b29174ed7097e71/original/kickstarter-thanks-website.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/64805192020-11-18T12:29:31-06:002020-11-18T12:29:31-06:00Wide Open Country Song Premiere<p>"South Carolina-born singer-songwriter Mac Leaphart channels the humor and heart of folk heroes like John Prine and Hayes Carll on "Blame on the Bottle," the debut single from his forthcoming album <em>Music City Joke</em>."<br><br>A big thanks to <a contents="Wide Open Country" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.wideopencountry.com/mac-leaphart-blame-on-the-bottle/" target="_blank">Wide Open Country</a> for premiering "Blame on the Bottle," the first single from <em>Music City Joke! </em>Click <a contents="here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.wideopencountry.com/mac-leaphart-blame-on-the-bottle/" style="" target="_blank">here</a>.<br><br>Stay tuned for more about Kickstarter, the single, and other exciting news to come! <br> <a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.wideopencountry.com/mac-leaphart-blame-on-the-bottle/" style="" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/32411/a6461e5ac9a55c51fdb0d89e7cdd349575040b1e/original/press-wideopencountry.png/!!/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a></p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/64773652020-11-13T21:19:35-06:002020-11-13T21:19:35-06:00Facebook Live Event This Sunday<p>Here we are, folks...just one week left of the <a contents="Kickstarter campaign" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/macleaphart/music-city-joke-the-long-awaited-album-by-mac-leaphart?ref=a0lx12" target="_blank">Kickstarter campaign</a>!</p>
<p>We're in full blown countdown mode with seven days left, and just over $4,000 away from the Phase 3 goal...and we need your help now more than ever.</p>
<p>Here's the thing: at this point, pretty much anyone who's gonna hear about this from us has already heard about it from us, so in these final days we really need <strong>YOU</strong> to help spread the word to your friends and family! Every share, like, comment, text, email (etc.) helps set Mac up for an even bigger and better release when the album comes out early next year.</p>
<p><a contents="Click here for a message from Mac and ways you can help" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://macleaphart.com/home/blog/kickstarter-update-phase-3" style="" target="_blank">Click here for a message from Mac and ways you can help</a>. </p>
<p>To kick off the homestretch, we hope you'll join us Sunday night at 8pm (est) for a little Facebook live action. Mac'll tell some tales and play a few tunes from the new album. Do you have a favorite yet? It'll start late enough to give you plenty of time to get everyone fed and settled in, and will be over early enough you're not a zombie Monday morning. Come hang with us! </p>
<p>We're so excited we can hardly stand it, and your enthusiasm for this is a huge part of that! Thank you, thank you, thank you!</p>
<p>Julia</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.facebook.com/macleaphart" target="_blank"><img src="https://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/32411/5c4b1b10e3fd29e7d1167bda6fa2c9ac4fcf97e1/original/facebooklive.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a></p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/64694392020-11-03T13:33:51-06:002020-11-03T13:33:51-06:00Kickstarter Update - Phase 3<p>We made it to phase 3! </p>
<p>Wait, you weren’t aware this campaign had phases? </p>
<p>I wasn’t either! </p>
<p>At least, not till last week when we reached the goal for the campaign in under a week. So we set a new goal and called it phase 2. And here we are, reaching THAT goal in just under a week. Dang. This is really, some very exciting stuff happening here! </p>
<p>Since there are still TWO WEEKS left till the campaign ends, we’re doing it again...stretching that goal & setting our sights on $20,000 by November 19. </p>
<p>Y’all still with us, here? Let’s do this thing, how about it! </p>
<p>If you've given, thank you. <br>If you've spread the word, thank you. <br>Every little bit helps and I'm so grateful for it all. <br>Read on below the pic for some ways you can help get the word out. </p>
<p>Cheers, </p>
<p>Mac</p>
<p><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/macleaphart/music-city-joke-the-long-awaited-album-by-mac-leaphart?ref=a0lx12" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/32411/0b5ad0af348f9f81d493475266e274b2b0fce4c0/original/musiccityjoke-kickstarterlive-website.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a></p>
<p>How to Help... </p>
<p><a contents="On Facebook&nbsp;" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.facebook.com/macleaphart.com" target="_blank"><strong>On Facebook </strong></a><br>Share a recent post on your profile, page(s), and in groups. You’ll get more bang for your buck if you also include a little message in your post (a few words about my music, the campaign, album, etc), and encourage people to support the efforts by giving and/or spreading the word. </p>
<p><a contents="On Instagram&nbsp;" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.instagram.com/mac.leaphart" target="_blank"><strong>On Instagram </strong></a><br>Snag a recent pic from Facebook or Instagram to post. <br>Tag @mac.leaphart and direct people to macleaphart.com/kickstarter (or just macleaphart.com for the Kickstarter link + free music downloads and more). </p>
<p><u><strong>Through Personal Emails & Texts </strong></u><br>Personal emails and texts to family, friends, neighbors, etc are very helpful and successful. Friends and family love to support what friends and family are supporting! </p>
<p>Encourage people to visit <a contents="www.macleaphart.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.macleaphart.com" target="_blank">www.macleaphart.com</a> to sign up for the mailing list, <a contents="download music" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://macleaphart.com/home#music" target="_blank">download music</a> (for free!), and check out ramblings and more.</p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/64646372020-10-27T20:57:09-05:002020-10-27T20:57:09-05:00Brunch Time Live: Wed Oct 28 <p>Well, y'all, that whole "if we get to 6500 I'll do a brunch time livestream" thing this weekend far surpassed our expectations and now it's more of a "holy cow, let's celebrate!" since you've helped us not only meet, but exceed, the original Kickstarter goal in under a week. (We're still reeling, by the way.) </p>
<p>So, join Mac tomorrow, Wednesday October 28 at 12:30pm right here on <a contents="Facebook" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.facebook.com/macleaphart" target="_blank">Facebook</a> for some storytelling, some Bloody Mary making, and some song playing live and in person...except, well, virtually. </p>
<p>Hope to see you there!</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.facebook.com/macleaphart" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/32411/e60d01ce75884f283432097f2cf64a571903c7f0/original/brunchtimelive-studiocoffee.png/!!/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a></p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/64639702020-10-27T07:35:00-05:002020-10-27T07:40:02-05:00We Did It - But It Ain't Over Yet!<p>Wow. We hit the goal, y'all. I'm blown away. </p>
<p>Here's the thing... </p>
<p>We didn’t have the vision–maybe audacity, if you will–to dream bigger, because we thought we already were! </p>
<p>Ten grand felt like a long shot.</p>
<p>The all-or-nothing aspect of Kickstarter had me sweating bullets. So, I shot for the absolute bare minimum to just get the record out the right way...but there’s so much more that I’d like to do, especially in terms of promotion. </p>
<p>I would love to look into working with someone to manage digital distribution; a person who would work to get my music on Spotify and Apple Music playlists and things like that. I could also increase the duration of my press and radio campaigns for a whole lot more exposure. <br><br>If you shared a post, sent a text or email, told someone, or gave even one dollar, you've helped make this happen, and it means the world to me. </p>
<p>We hit the $10,000 goal in just under a week...whaddya say we shoot for $15,000 by the end of this thing on November 19, and make some of these other cool things happen? Can we do it, y’all? </p>
<p>Thank you, all, for your support. <br> </p>
<p><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.macleaphart.com/kickstarter" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/32411/0b4ff0fa1d9dd735cd5fc63c1f29c8f5859a9da6/original/macleaphart-mcjonkickstarter.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a></p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/64631722020-10-25T22:19:46-05:002020-10-26T08:00:06-05:00Cool News: #MatchBackerMonday<p> </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/32411/17c4b0509f7fd86cab07eb36de88c875eb7e2db3/original/matchbackermonday.png/!!/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><br>Hey, everybody, hope y'all are doing great, & had a good weekend. I have some really cool news to share with y'all about the Kickstarter... </p>
<p>My cousin Lynn has offered to match backers’ donations up to $1000 today, so if you’ve been waiting to back the campaign, today would be a great day to do it, as all donations count for more! </p>
<p>Lynn just got married last weekend, & now currently holds the title of #1 all-time cousin. Congrats, Lynn & Terry, & THANK YOU for your kindness & generosity. . </p>
<p>Thanks to everyone who's donated so far. I really appreciate it. We have a lot more good stuff in store this week, so stay tuned... </p>
<p>Cheers, </p>
<p>Mac </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/64594442020-10-20T00:39:01-05:002020-10-20T23:34:58-05:00'Music City Joke' Kickstarter Campaign is LIVE<p>The time has finally come...the 'Music City Joke' Kickstarter campaign is LIVE! <br><br>Click <a contents="here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.macleaphart.com/kickstarter" target="_blank">here</a> to check out the full story, video, and all the great rewards–from digital downloads to autographed CDs to a full blown Carolina BBQ with full band concert! Man, I'd love to come play for you and some of your friends to celebrate this whole thing. Maybe a group of y'all wanna go in together on that. </p>
<p>I'm grateful to all of you who've reached out about how you can help support me and help get my music out there to more people. Right now, the biggest thing is getting word out about Kickstarter, so tell all your friends! </p>
<p>Here are some ways you can do that: </p>
<p>• <strong>SHARE</strong> posts on <a contents="Facebook" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.facebook.com/macleaphart" target="_blank">Facebook</a> & <a contents="Instagram&nbsp;" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.instagram.com/mac.leaphart" target="_blank">Instagram </a><br>• <strong>FORWARD</strong> this email along <br>• <strong>TELL</strong> people about the free downloads at <a contents="macleaphart.com/music" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://macleaphart.com/music" target="_blank">macleaphart.com/music</a><br>• <strong>ASK</strong> folks to sign up for the mailing list <br>• <strong>LIKE/LOVE & COMMENT</strong> on things I post on social media (it helps keep the posts "alive" in people's newsfeeds!) </p>
<p>And, of course, if you're able to give, I'd be so incredibly grateful. I'm thankful and humbled y'all are here at all. </p>
<p>Stay tuned for a whole lot more about Kickstarter and the album in the days to come.<br><br>Cheers...and thanks,</p>
<p>Mac</p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/64583072020-10-18T08:55:00-05:002020-10-19T18:22:20-05:00Kickstarter Launches Tuesday, October 20<p>Click <a contents="here for the Kickstarter project preview page" data-link-label="Kickstarter" data-link-type="page" href="/kickstarter" style="" target="_blank">here for the Kickstarter campaign</a>–then you can click the "notify me on launch" button to get word as soon as the campaign takes off on Tuesday, October 20! </p>
<p> </p>
<p><a contents="" data-link-label="Kickstarter" data-link-type="page" href="/kickstarter" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/32411/0b4ff0fa1d9dd735cd5fc63c1f29c8f5859a9da6/original/macleaphart-mcjonkickstarter.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a></p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/64576172020-10-16T18:58:56-05:002020-10-16T18:58:56-05:00Kickstarter Update<p>I know I’ve been saying the Kickstarter would be live this week, but we hit a bump in the road, had to change a tire, and now that we’re rolling again, we have a confirmed launch date: the Kickstarter will officially launch next TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20!</p>
<p>I am really pumped to get this thing cranking as we gear up for the release of the new record. </p>
<p>And I am so happy & humbled that some of y’all are joining me on this journey. It means the world to me. </p>
<p>I’ll be posting the link to the campaign, plus a flood of reminders & updates (at least until the unfollows start gaining traction)...but don’t unfollow–tune in today, tonight, & tomorrow! There’ll be a lot of other good stuff in and around the Kickstarter reminders. </p>
<p>Stay with me here, friends. </p>
<p>Please help me take the next steps. </p>
<p>I can’t do it without you. </p>
<p>All the love! </p>
<p>Cheers <br>Mac</p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/64534122020-10-11T09:14:56-05:002020-10-11T19:53:03-05:00'Music City Joke' Listening Party Sun Oct 11<p>Hope y’all can join me tonight on Zoom for the 'Music City Joke' listening party! I'm so excited for you to hear this album and be a part of all that's in the works for it–tonight’s party, the Kickstarter campaign, and a lot more to come. </p>
<p>I’ve always put everything I’ve had into the creative side of my albums, but this time I'm doing even more to get the music out there, and I’m hoping that a lot of you who have been on this journey with me since the beginning will be excited about lending a hand to help me get this album heard by more people than I ever have before. I'm grateful to y'all! </p>
<p>If you know someone who’d like my music, please spread the word. Ask ‘em to sign up for the mailing list at www.macleaphart.com, like my Facebook page (@macleaphart), and follow me on Instagram (@mac.leaphart). That’ll really help us get the word out about everything that’s going on these next few months, and it’ll mean a whole lot to me. </p>
<p>See y’all tonight! </p>
<p>Mac </p>
<p>Link to the party: <br>https://us04web.zoom.us/j/78908190199?pwd=bno5c2w1dC9qbTk0QkdvYnV1SWw5Zz09 <br>Meeting ID: 789 0819 0199 <br>Passcode: 4UmcEa</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://us04web.zoom.us/j/78908190199?pwd=bno5c2w1dC9qbTk0QkdvYnV1SWw5Zz09" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/32411/25112c671d08c86011230d2a3fc6db4e243c5d13/original/macleaphart-zoomlink.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a></p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/64506242020-10-06T22:05:37-05:002020-10-07T08:00:06-05:00Ramblings: A Music City Joke's Punchline<p>Why did I call this album <em><strong>Music City Joke</strong></em>, you ask? </p>
<p>It’s a fair question. </p>
<p>Let’s step back in time about a decade. I was playing the low country bar band circuit, dodging alcohol-soaked song requests & a spilled drink or two, scraping by a hundred dollars at a time along with the occasional free meal at a bar where I was playing. One day, driving around Charleston, I turned to the country station, listened to a few songs and chuckled to myself, thinking, “Hell, I could do that.” So, I packed up my stuff and made my way to Music City USA, Nashville, TN. </p>
<p>I spent the next five years in and out of writing rooms and the kind of apartments & houses where the residents haven’t quite said yes to responsibility–you know, thrift store couches and rock & roll posters tacked into dirty walls. I was trying to write the kind of songs I thought mainstream country artists would want to cut. And I started thinking that if it was a piece of cake to write smash country songs, there’d probably be a few less insurance salesmen in the world. </p>
<p>I realized the joke was on me. I took a deep breath, pulled the “kick me sign” off my back, and I just kept writing. </p>
<p>In 2018 I was a New Folk winner at the Kerrville Folk Festival (past winners include Lyle Lovett, Robert Earl Keen, Hal Ketchum, James McMurtry)–it gave me a jumpstart, and I decided to ramp up my writing and make a run toward creating the best album I’ve made so far. </p>
<p>The last time I took significant effort to hammer out songs, I didn’t have a son. This time, as a father, I really had to work to get the time in tp create. It was months of late nights and early mornings, whenever I could find peace & quiet. Also writing songs in my head while I was running around with a toddler in the yard. I told my neighbors if they ever heard me talking to myself, I wasn’t crazy, I was just working out a song. </p>
<p>Eventually, I got 10-20 tunes I really liked, and I booked as many writers’ rounds as I could, testing them out, seeing what worked and what didn’t–making changes on some, dumping others, and moving forward. I reached out to a few producers, chose Brad Jones (Hayes Carll, Josh Rouse, Bruce Robinson & Kelly Willis), and we set about making this new album. </p>
<p>And now it’s here: ‘Music City Joke.’ </p>
<p>This picture here is gonna be the back of the album. I came up with the perfect set-up: “A priest, a rabbi, and a songwriter walk into a bar…” <img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/32411/5464602f935bd442dc9e9dc37e380be2b974703e/original/punchline-photo.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_right border_" /></p>
<p>BUT...</p>
<p>I don’t have a punchline. I was thinking maybe y’all could help me out with that. </p>
<p>Something like, “A priest, a rabbi, & a songwriter walk into a bar. Bartender says, ‘Hm. I guess the penguins are bowling.’” Wow. That doesn’t make much sense, and it’s also not funny. </p>
<p>So, all you Monday morning stand-up comics, gimme something good! Swing by <a contents="Facebook" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.facebook.com/macleaphart" target="_blank">Facebook</a> or <a contents="Instagram" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.instagram.com/mac.leaphart" target="_blank">Instagram</a> and leave your best punchline in the comments there. Come on now, this is your chance to make us all laugh. Go! <br><br> </p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/64498522020-10-05T20:30:24-05:002020-10-09T20:09:41-05:00New Album Listening Party + Kickstarter Launch<p>I am very very excited to let y’all know I’ll be releasing a new album, <em><strong>Music City Joke</strong></em>, in February! That seems like a long way off, but it’ll be here before we know it, and I can’t wait for y’all to hear the new tunes.</p>
<p>No, seriously, <strong>I CAN'T WAIT</strong>.</p>
<p>So, I’m gonna play the record for you this <strong>Sunday, October 11 on Zoom</strong>! And I don’t mean “playing,” like me live-with-a-guitar. I mean you’re gonna get to hear the actual recorded songs themselves. It’ll be a listening party like we used to do back in the day, where we’d spin the album on the stereo at the bar for everybody to hear. Yeah, it’s like that, just virtual (so you don’t even have to wear pants).</p>
<p>But wait, there’s more.</p>
<p>Just a couple days later, I’m launching a Kickstarter campaign, so that’s right–it’s a Listening & Launch Party!</p>
<p>Here's the thing...I’ve always put everything I’ve had into the creative side of my albums, but this time around, I’m going for broke as I shoot to climb a few more rungs on the ladder–ya know, add a few theaters to the sports bars that have taken up a sizeable chunk of my schedule in the past.</p>
<p>I hired a producer, session players, and some professionals to run press, radio, and digital campaigns for me. All of this adds up to more money than I’ve ever spent on an album–and, well, more money than I have–so I’m hoping that a lot of y’all who have been on this journey with me since the beginning will be excited about lending a hand to help me get this album heard by more people than I ever have before.</p>
<p>I started doing this music thing because I loved playing songs for folks, and the way I see it: the more folks I can play my songs to, the more love to go around!</p>
<p>There’ll be a lot of information about the album, Kickstarter, and more coming your way, so stay tuned to the (new!) website and social media outlets.</p>
<p>In the meantime, I’d love it if you’d help spread the word about <strong>the listening party coming up on October 11 and the Kickstarter campaign following that.</strong> If you know someone who’d like my music, ask ‘em to sign up for the mailing list here at <b id="docs-internal-guid-efad5ab9-7fff-fb09-1e08-f4d20edd75ae"><a href="http://www.macleaphart.com">www.macleaphart.com</a>,<a href="http://www.facebook.com/macleaphart"> like my Facebook page</a>, and<a href="http://www.instagram.com/mac.leaphart" style=""> follow me on Instagram</a>.</b> That’ll really help us get the word out about everything that’s going on these next few months.</p>
<p>I might’ve used the phrase “I’m excited” more in the past week than my entire life, and here I go again: I’m excited to have you along for the ride...it’s gonna be a good one!</p>
<p>The link for the Zoom listening party will be sent out this weekend before the party, so be on the lookout for that. Can't wait to see y'all there.</p>
<p>Cheers,<br><br>Mac</p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/64492162020-10-02T17:20:00-05:002020-10-06T16:19:38-05:00A Big Announcement<p>Sign up for the mailing list to be one of the first to receive a very big, exciting announcement I'm sending on Monday, October 5. <br><br>Stay tuned to the NEWS section here at macleaphart.com and social media for more information in the coming days, weeks, and months! </p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/64492262020-09-29T03:10:00-05:002020-10-06T16:19:24-05:00An Introduction<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/32411/7e3a4a0d733354d2b66d2b0224d34bcaa51acbd5/original/20929-socials-pic.png/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.png" class="size_m justify_left border_" />Hey there, everybody! </p>
<p>I have a lot of big news coming really soon, so I’ve brought in a pro to help things run as smoothly as possible. </p>
<p>I would like to introduce Captain Julia! She is tasked with helping me keep my socials on point. I've given her jurisdiction to post on my pages. But don’t worry, it won’t be confusing. </p>
<p>Her posts will be in 3rd person, clear and to the point. </p>
<p>Mine will be in first person, a little jumbled, with a healthy dose of sarcasm & self deprecation. Y’all know how I roll. </p>
<p>I'd love it if you'd <a contents="like&nbsp;th" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.facebook.com/macleaphart" target="_blank">like </a><a contents="the&nbsp;Facebook&nbsp;page " data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.facebook.com/macleaphart" target="_blank">the </a><a contents="Facebook" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.facebook.com/macleaphart" target="_blank">Facebook</a><a contents="the&nbsp;Facebook&nbsp;page " data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.facebook.com/macleaphart" style="" target="_blank"> page</a>, <a contents="follow me on Instagram" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.instagram.com/mac.leaphart" style="" target="_blank">follow me on Instagram</a>, and <a contents="subscribe to the mailing list" data-link-label="HOME" data-link-type="page" href="/home">subscribe to the mailing list</a>, so we can keep you in the loop. (Feel free to download some tunes and read some ramblings while you're here, too.) </p>
<p>Keep your eyes peeled for some really cool stuff from us soon. I am very excited about everything that’s happening, and I want y’all to come along for the ride and be a part of this journey. </p>
<p>Cheers, </p>
<p>Mac</p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/56639742020-04-06T18:10:44-05:002020-10-05T01:57:47-05:00Ramblings: The Graduate<p>Benjamin Braddock and Elaine Robinson riding away on the bus. Big smiles at first. Then pensive looks. Another big smile from Benjamin, then finally seeing Benjamin seemingly feeling the weight of his decision.</p>
<p>Is it happy? Is it sad? </p>
<p>As a 12 or 13 year old, seeing <em>The Graduate</em> for the first time, I was affected by all of it. The way the movie looked, the passion in Benjamin's pursuit of Elaine(For years, I thought that in order to love someone, I probably had to be willing to go bust up a wedding by pounding on glass and hollering a woman's name and literally fighting off wedding attendees). But yes, at the end I had my hands in the air(figuratively) I saw it as a victory for love, passion, and youthful rebellion. Later, after watching<em> 500 Days of Summer</em>, I was informed that much like Joseph Gordon Levitt's character, I apparently got it all wrong. Apparently, it was not a happy ending. I guess this is mostly based on the idea that what Benjamin and Elaine shared was not "love" but some sort of confused affection for each other. Now, I don't know much about love, a word that we use too casually and apparently mostly wrong, as love is not a feeling, but an action, and the way it's supposed to work, is strong affection and connection leads to a powerful bond that should not be easily broken. In essence, true love is less of the good feelings, and more of the willingness to hold strong when shit happens. Because as we get older, holding on to passion, jobs, health, and happiness seems to get tougher.</p>
<p>But, as far as I can tell, Benjamin Braddock would be there for Elaine when the going got tough. He ran the guantlet to stop her from getting married to Carl Smith, "The Make Out King" of what appeared to be the Theta Delta Chi fraternity, heading from Berkley back down to Pasadena, then back up to Berkley, then back down to Santa Barbara. Then literally fighting off wedding attendees to run away with Elaine. Now, this is either the actions of a confused, obsessed young man, who may shift his affection easily, or a determined young man who was following his heart on a path to love and conviction. I like to look at it as the latter, considering that throughout the majority of the film, Benjamin floats aimlessly in his parent's pool, drinking beer, with no direction. The only assertive decison he makes is deciding to marry Elaine, and at this point he finally gets off his ass and drives to Berkley and gets a room. Elaine seems to give him a purpose and direction that he was lacking previously.</p>
<p>Also, in terms of Elaine, and judging for the note she left for Benjamin, where she stated that she loved him, but didn't think it would work out, that marrying Carl Smith was not a decision that would bring her happiness in the long term, so whether or not she and Benjamin stay together, she still got away from the marriage to Carl, which would probably put her on the same path to unhappiness, vindictiveness, and depression that her mother was in. I think the fact that she would even consider seeing Benjamin after she found out he banged her mama, shows how strong their affection and connection was. </p>
<p>On another positive note, Elaine's running off with Benjamin also seemed to break ties with her mother, which was a good thing as well, considering that it appears to me that Mrs. Robinson actually secretly despised Elaine, because her pregnancy is what forced her into the loveless and lifeless marriage that had served as an emotional prison for the last 20 or so years.</p>
<p>Speaking of Mrs. Robinson, viewing "The Graduate" as an adult closer to the age of the parents rather than Benjamin and Elaine(hell, let's be honest, I probably AM the age of the parents) I paid much more attention to the Robinson's this time around. And, in trying to decipher why Mrs. Robinson chose to seduce Benjamin in the first place, I attempted to dissect her motivation:</p>
<p>Mrs Robinson is a character so detached from who she was before her marriage, that she is not even given a first name. She is downright mean, as expressed early in the film when Ben offers her his car instead of driving her home, and when she finally convinces him to give her the ride, instead of handing him the keys, she throws them in the aquarium, forcing him to fish them out. And, why did she choose Benjamin in the first place. Obviously, he's an easy target, and young and attractive (I'm pretty sure Dustin Hoffman never had a six pack again after "The Graduate") But, if she was simply trying to get some attention that her husband wasn't giving her, she could have gone after any number of men, who weren't the son of her husband's law partner. So why Benjamin? My theory is that for years, the two families had talked about Benjamin and Elaine possibly getting married one day. Judging from my experience briefly dating the daughter of family friends in college, this is a proposition that is exciting for friends. I guess its the vision of a big fun wedding, full of mutual friends, and big holiday gatherings, and a sense of strengthening a friendship bond into something more like a family. Mrs. Robinson, who, as stated earlier, secretly despises her daughter, blaming her for her unhappiness, knows that this union would bring Elaine happiness and fulfillment, something that she never had, and she wants to prevent her from finding this happiness. So, she, she seduces Ben, thinking that this will sabotage any chance of Ben and Elaine winding up together. I think in the real world, this would probably work. Personally, I wouldn't want to as much as have a cup of coffee with a woman I knew my father had cheated on my mother with. The look on her face when Benjamin picks Elaine up for their first date, is not one of anger, it is one of complete defeat, a spiritless blank stare that seems to express, "I thought I could at least control one thing in my miserable life, now I've failed at that, too." </p>
<p>The way Mr and Mrs Robinson both react to Benjamin's relentless pursuit of Elaine is telling of Mrs Robinson's hatred for her daughter as well: Mr. Robinson is trying to protect Elaine from Ben, who he considers a "degenerate" and "scum." Mrs. Robinson is trying to prevent Elaine from experiencing joy and happiness, something she believes Elaine took from her simpy by being born.</p>
<p>So, the end of The Graduate is like any relationship, I guess. It is uncertain. And most likely depending on your personal perspective, one might see it as happy or sad. Shit. I hope a film professor doesn't read this. Ha. I think I'm probably safe.</p>
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<p><a contents="James" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://macleaphart.com/ramblings/blog/james">James </a><br><a contents="Harry" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://macleaphart.com/ramblings/blog/harry">Harry</a> <br><a contents="Mr Ruffles" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://macleaphart.com/ramblings/blog/mr-ruffles">Mr Ruffles</a> <br><a contents="Bob/Todd &amp; Jacob" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://macleaphart.com/ramblings/blog/bob-todd-jacob">Bob/Todd & Jacob</a></p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/62712882020-04-03T21:37:01-05:002020-10-05T01:58:02-05:00Ramblings: James<p>His room had not changed since high school. The Atlanta Falcons sheets on the single bed. The Yardbirds family tree poster, the poster of Butch & Sundance guns drawn & charging. <br>His mother said that it smelled like teenagers. <br>And she would never be able to get the smell out. <br>“Teenagers?” <br>His mother made a laughing scoff. “Boys,” she replied, shaking her head. “Sweat, and mud, grass. Whatever in the world was going on behind these doors. Boys.” <br>He couldn’t smell anything. <br>He’d been back in his room for a few months. <br>His wife and 4 year old son had been staying with her parents. <br>They had sold the house to purchase his place. The place he’d wanted since he fell hard for cooking his Junior year of high school. <br>One day, after school, he whipped up some eggs and used whatever he could find in the fridge. <br>Then it was everyday and he started getting his own ingredients and experimenting, his palate was expanding. Then his friends started coming over. Everyday, it was shooting hoops and omelettes. <br>A decade of working in restaurants. First was a year at Waffle House in college. His friends used to come in drunk, and heckle him. They could not understand why he would work there, but asked him to steal shirts with logos and hats. But he was fascinated and mesmerized by the short order cooking, he felt an artisanal beauty in it. After college he headed to Charleston. Line Cook. Sous chef, eventually landing a head chef job. But, it was always the short order breakfast. That’s where his heart and passion was. </p>
<p>A low rumbling voice. Quiet but powerful, and it made its way to his brain.</p>
<p>Eggs? Said the voice. <br>He ignored it. <br>LOUDER. HEY ASSHOLE-EGGS? WHY? <br>I like eggs. A lot of people do. <br>Stupid idea if I ever heard one. I told you not to do it. You don’t listen to me. <br>He did not respond. <br>You quit your job, sold your home, and put everything you had into fuckin eggs. And look what happened. <br>He said nothing again. <br>LOOK WHAT HAPPENED ASSHOLE! <br>He sighed. I didn’t know this virus was gonna happen. <br>Maybe you should have. <br>Nobody did. Just bad timing. <br>Bad timing? <br>Yeah. <br>Tell me when it’s good timing to take everything you have and put it into one thing? Huh? <br>He said nothing. <br>You even called it One Basket. Dummy. <br>He swung, but he was way off. <br>Laughter.<br>That’s a bitter pill, ain’t it. A big brown horse looking pill with an I on it. One Basket. Dumbass. You know, she’s pissed right? You know she’s not gonna comeback from her folks place, right? <br>That’s not true. She supports me. Hundred percent. Always has. Always will. It’s just bad luck. <br>You should’ve done the food truck first. That’s what she thought was the best idea. <br>We talked about it. The food truck trend is going to burn out. And a restaurant was always the end goal, so start at the top. No baby steps. <br>She’s not coming back, asshole. <br>She loves me and she supports me. <br>What the hell is she gonna come back to, smart guy? You’re folks house? <br>I’ll get a job, I’ll get back on my feet, and we’ll try it again. <br>Yeah, that’s right. If at first you don’t succeed, keep screwing the pooch. <br>SHUT UP! I’M SICK OF IT! SAY SOMETHING CONSTRUCTIVE FOR ONCE! SUPPORT ME! <br>His mother was outside of the door. <br>“James?” She said quietly. “Who are you talking to,” she slowly opened the door. He was sitting on his bed. <br>“Nobody,” he said.</p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/62712862020-04-03T21:30:31-05:002020-10-05T01:58:09-05:00Ramblings: Harry<p>“Swut they call a catch 22, I reckon,” Harry said to the attractive doctor who was currently taking his blood pressure in response to why he still drank so much. “Booze got me on the street. But it also makes it bearable.” <br>Harry smiled. Sometimes he forgot how the last decade and a half years living under bridges and tents had left his teeth, on the inside he was still that shaggy haired fella that could make the girls swoon with his guitar. And twenty years ago, this doctor was the type of lady he would’ve bought a beer for. He didn’t much like the question, but he knew she was a genuine and good person, because she didn’t have to volunteer for this shit detail. The teeth were rough, but he still had a sparkle in his eyes. <br>“Speaking of booze, you wanna col’ beer, Doc? Well, cold enough, anyway,” he asked. <br>“No,” she said firmly. <br>“Good person, bad small talker,” Harry thought to himself. <br>"You know about this Corona Virus?” Asked the doctor. <br>“Heard rumblings,” he said. “Swhy we ain’t getting no money at the intersections and offramps, swut I’m hearing.” <br>“Well, it's Pandemic.” <br>“Sounds epic,” he said. <br>“It’s certainly unprecedented, at least in this country.“ <br>"Well, am I in danger or something?” He asked. <br>“How old are you, sir?” <br>“Harry,” he said. <br>“How old are you, Harry?” <br>“Fifty-two.” <br>The doctor was taken back. She would have guessed he was pushing 70. <br>“You’re not in the high risk category.” <br>Harry chuckled. “Maybe not for this virus, I’m not.” <br>“Truth is,” the Doctor continued, “What we’re trying to do is just flatten the curve. And so, we are attempting to use social distancing techniques to keep the virus from spreading.”<br>“Social distancing, huh? Said Harry, and sort of chuckled again. “I’ve been participating in social distancing for a while now. Nobody really comes near most of this crew, dahlin. Hell, you’re the only person I talked to all week, that don’t smell just a little like piss.” <br>“Well, here’s the issue, Harry. The disease spreads really easily. And, if it’s thriving in one area, it will continue to overwhelm.” “So wait, you’re not just talking about us giving it to each other, you’re talkin’ ‘bout us giving it to everybody else?” <br>“In a sense. What I’m talking about, is the reccomenndation for the entire country is to stay at home…” <br>“And we ain’t got no fuckin’ homes, right?” Harry interrupted. Then said, “Ok, Flatten the curve, I guess I can go hang down in a little spot by the Cumberland. I”m the only one ever goes there much.” <br>“The mayor has set up a shelter at the fairgrounds,” she said. “Beds are six feet apart. It will keep you safe.” <br>“And keep everybody else safe too, yeah?” <br>“That’s right,” she said. <br>Harry reached in his backpack and pulled out a can of Busch beer. He popped the top took a gulp and started to sing, “Straightenin’ the curve, flattening the hills, someday the mountain might get em but the law never will.” <br>“Take care of yourself, Harry.” <br>“Thanks, Doc,” he said and took another swig. <br>When she was out of hearing range and on to the next person, he chugged the rest of the beer and muttered, “What the hell has “everybody else” ever done for me?</p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/62712842020-04-03T21:25:02-05:002020-10-05T01:58:15-05:00Ramblings: Mr. Ruffles<p>A plastic, crinkling cacophony spilled into the little girl’s ears. Her eyes darted to the sound, a blue and white plastic bag moving on its own. Jerky, unrhythmic dashes beside a line of plastic trash cans on the alley behind her house. She stopped her bike, newly liberated of training wheels and watched as the shape in the bag flattened and a figure slowly made himself known. A small puppy, a black bully type, white stripe on its chest, and a pink spotted nose with potato chip crumbs. Five minutes of incessant pleading and Mama finally relented, He can stay with us for the night, but we’ll have to go the appropriate route to see if he belongs to someone. </p>
<p>Dubbed “Mr. Ruffles,” he crawled into her bed that night and nestled into the nook of her arm. Newspaper and towels on the floor, the little girl woke up to a whimper and a few puddles on the floor. She took the pup outside, as Mama had instructed her to do. Firm instruction. It was an hour before she normally got it up, but she was still quite happy to be with Mr. Ruffles. She felt calm. A sense of beauty that flowed through her slightly electric as the gray morning blossomed to color. </p>
<p>A month later, and Mr. Ruffles was still a part of the small family. Most mornings, Mr. Ruffles woke the little girl up with licks and nibbles, soft whimpers that bugged everybody but the girl. Then it was breakfast, and his crate. Or, what he recognized among the “Charlie Brown Cartoon” gibberish as “place.” The little girl and Mama shut the door to his barks of urgency that funneled to a whine and eventually simmered to a sleepy acceptance. <br>But, when the sun had moved across the three windows in front of his crate, and the sky faded leaving streaks of pink clouds, he would see his two people coming in the door, Mama with an apron, he eventually recognized from the “Where’s my apron” commotion that took place a few times a week. Money in her hands, he recognized from how much money did you make today, Mama?! The girl with a book bag screaming “Mr. Ruffles” among the other sounds he could not understand. He knew that soon there would be food and snuggles and that feeling, the electric feeling of genuine love. Of course, this is not something he “knew” just something he felt. </p>
<p>One day, after breakfast, he didn’t go back to his place. The little girl crawled back into bad, and he nestled right in with her. They did not awake until the sun was in the middle window. And the girl never put on her shoes that day. The next days were the same. The electric feeling remained, undissolved. Sparks in his eyes. </p>
<p>But he noticed Mama and less electricity in her eyes than there had been. And he could feel the fear in her. One afternoon, as the little girl was working in her coloring book, he saw Mama sitting on the couch, fearful and sad eyes looking through the window. He wiggled his way over and jumped into her lap, nuzzling his head into her t-shirt. He looked up as she looked down at him, and he could see and feel her momentary calm. And Mama felt electricity and spark for a little while.</p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/62712822020-04-03T21:17:04-05:002020-10-05T01:58:21-05:00Ramblings: Bob/Todd & Jacob<p><br>He was talking to his father on speaker. Casual catch up conversation, the current goings on. <br>“Tell him what happened at the Publix today, Bob,” he heard his mother say in the background. <br>“What happened in Publix?” <br>“Oh, nothing really. I was just doing all the social distancing stuff, standing back behind this guy in the steak section, and he was just taking his sweet ass time-must’ve spent ten minutes picking out a damned steak…”<br>“Ten minutes?” <br>“Yeah. And there wasn’t a whole lot to choose from.” <br>“Right.” <br>“So, finally this guy grabs what he wants, and I walk up to the steaks. And, I’m not there ten seconds before these two twenty year olds just come up right beside me. You know I’ve never been a get off my lawn type, but I really wanted to tell them to back the hell up.” <br>“Maybe you should have.” <br>“Well, that wouldn’t have done any good, just put me in even more contact.” <br>“I guess.” <br>“So, anyway, I just grabbed a couple of strips and moved on.” <br>“Fuckers.”<br>------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br>There were about ten people at the house, playing quarters and other beer games around a thrift store patio table. Todd sprayed lighter fluid on an already existing flame, making a woosh as it shot upwards from a rusted charcoal grill. Jacob reached his hand into a dirty Igloo with greek letters and fall house painted on the side, fished out a can of Bud Light. He pulled out his keys, punched a hole in the back of the can, popped the top and chugged. “2 seconds,” he gargled, a little beer coming out of his mouth. Then, “So, me and Todd were at the store today, and some old dude was taking way too long looking at the steaks. And this other old guy, was standing a long way from him, doing all that social distancing shit, we we were grabbing beers, so when we got a case we walked up to grab some steaks, and this other old guy huffed at us…” <br>“Wait,” said Chad. “He said something to you?” <br>“Nah, I could just tell he was pissed. People are really freaking out about this shit, man.” <br>“Maybe they should,” said Ryan. “It is a pandemic, after all.” <br>“Pandemic? Come on. This whole thing is getting way overblown. Feels more like a vacation to me. I don’t have to work, and for once, Mom and Dad aren’t bitching at me about it, they even offered to send me money. Cheers, Mom and Dad,” he said, holding up his beer. “Good times.”</p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/62049992020-02-05T17:48:36-06:002020-10-05T01:58:27-05:00Ramblings: Rock & Roll Almost Ruined My Life Sorta <p>Small town southern son coming home from the movies.<br>Recreating what was just viewed.<br>Cameras nobody else could see. <br>Kurt Loder interviewing River Phoenix, or somebody like River Phoenix. <br>Ego lighting up like a flame thrower. <br>I wanted to have long hair and answer questions about the cool movie I was just in. <br>80s music videos. Heartland, English, Glam Metal, Alternative. <br>Decadence > music. <br>Not gonna fall in line like everybody’s parents. <br>I was MEANT TO BE SOMEBODY. <br>Mind made up to go all in. <br>THE SPOTLIGHT rent free living in my brain. <br>14 years old. One year of guitar. “More than a Feeling” on a nylon string. <br>What does a kid have to do to get an electric around here. <br>Holden Caulfield. <br>Lloyd Dobbler. <br>Paul Westerberg. <br>Grunge. <br>Big brother’s freshman roommate has a duo who needs a “lead’ guitar player. <br>Sorta know some lead. <br>Real shows. <br>Cash money. <br>Big crowds at the College Bars. <br>Manager. <br>Image projected on us <br>Doesn’t fit. <br>Doesn’t work. <br>We try anyway. <br>Britney. <br>Boy Bands. <br>Rap Metal. <br>Visions of Limos, The VMAs, partying with hotties from some WB show. <br>Practical life skills shirked. <br>Levis. Pearl snaps. Chucks. Cowboy boots. <br>The Last Waltz. <br>Ryan Adams. <br>Decadence under the guise of substance. <br>“Rock starring”is acceptable as long as you talk about Flannery O’Connor, Big Star and the Carter Family in interviews. <br>Decades of booze and romanticizing rock & roll. <br>The occasional mustache.<br>Faces. <br>High Life.<br>Prine. <br>Kristofferson. <br>Jack Daniel. <br>Back burnered God. <br>Same story different towns. <br>Pretty good ain’t half bad. <br>Rotting on the vine. <br>Self serving recognized. <br>Indolence realized. <br>This is not my life to waste. <br>I was given this opportunity. <br>God takes center stage. <br>I'm trying to find my seat.</p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/64492252019-12-19T03:05:00-06:002020-10-05T02:05:03-05:00Neighbors of Sylvan Park Residency<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/32411/896f1bbdd8eb7de82e589e1287fdf3e491a8375a/original/kangaroo-final-copy.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsInNtYWxsIl1d.jpg" class="size_s justify_left border_" />Very excited to announce that I finally landed one of those sought after and elusive Nashville residencies. And, at a really cool spot, to boot: Neighbors of Sylvan Park. The second Tuesday of every month from 8-10pm, we have a house band playing songs we wrote, as well as a few choice ones we did not, and we also feature some of the best singer/songwriters we know. This is really cool, as Neighbors is the first place I saw artists such as Anderson East and Brent Cobb sing their songs. Great company indeed! So, please come see us some Tuesday. <br><br>Cheers!</p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/55660312018-12-22T22:39:28-06:002020-10-05T01:58:33-05:00Ramblings: Truth & Salvage Co<p>The Charleston Pour House. Sometime around a decade ago. <br>There were maybe fifty people in the audience. <br>Truth & Salvage Company slid into their set with a genuine ease & confidence that cannot be manufactured. I remember reading the liner notes for the Faces compilation, <em>Good Boys When They’re Asleep</em>, where someone from <em>Creem</em> Magazine, not Lester Bangs mind you, Dave Marsh it was, described seeing Rod, Woody, Ronnie & crew take the stage “the way a teenage gang takes a street corner, rolling into place with unfeigned casualness, tossing a leer and giggle here and there.” That seemed like an appropriate description for the T&S Co boys. If I recall, they sort of just rolled right into “Hail Hail,” starting it off acapella, and then Scotty got down to those really sweet guitar licks on that great SG, and they preceded to sing a song that felt like it was somehow simultaneously about the members of the band as well as everybody else in the room. </p>
<p>Now, anybody that has ever been to a show with me before, can attest to the fact that I am usually one of those dudes toward the back, arms crossed, occasionally nodding my head. But, as soon as they started, there was a surge of joy, a real shot in the arm. And, at the time, I wasn’t feeling very happy about much. I was not healthy in any aspect of my life. It was as if I was dealing with some sort of spiritual limp. I would find out a few months later that I had a golf ball sized brain tumor, that had been slowing growing above my right eye for years, and that was what throwing me way the hell off. (A few months after I had surgery to get that bastard out of my head and the T&S Boys took part in a benefit to help me get back on my feet, singing "Don't Let The Bad Times Get You Down," appropriately enough.) But, at that moment, I felt genuine and pure joy watching this band, they radiated such a relaxed positive energy, they were exactly who they were, not some band trying to pull the wool over the audience. </p>
<p>A few nights ago, I drove across the Cumberland River to go check Truth & Salvage at the Basement East. It was a good crowd, full of folks just as eager as I was to see this reunion. First song was “Hail Hail,” and I was right back where I was a decade ago, the first time I saw T&S Co. Granted I wasn’t in as bad of shape as I was then, no brain tumor, but y’all know how life can be: juggling marriage, kids, work, it can get a little stressful. And, I needed that show that night. Just as a reminder that I can still enjoy the hell out of some good and genuine rock and roll.</p>
<p>Thanks for the music, boys. Please keep doing it, at least every now and then. I know y'all are spread all over the place. But, I'm pretty damn sure I'm not the only one that could always use a little more Truth & Salvage Company.</p>
<p> </p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/55621432018-12-19T21:48:17-06:002020-10-05T01:58:41-05:00Ramblings: Carolina Run<p>“This guy doesn’t know shit.” <br>I’m assuming this was the first impression of the rest of the guys I was about to start a week long run with, as I walked into a bar in Anderson, SC, running a little late, because I had trouble finding the place. And, I couldn’t get to the direct box I had borrowed from a friend to work. Corey Hunt saw me on my knees looking at the direct box like I’d never seen one before, reached down and plugged my cord into the jack that clearly said “input” and gave me a pat on the back, which I would have taken as condescending if it wasn’t such an obvious dumbass oversight on my part. But, besides having a coughing fit during one of my songs (I was on the tail end of a cold, and it was a smoking bar) everything went well that evening. It was a good crowd for a Monday night. And I enjoyed getting to know everybody, at least through their songs, anyway. <br> </p>
<p>I stayed at my folks house that evening. I didn’t sleep that well, though. Those of you who keep up these posts might recall that I get the insomnia something fierce sometimes. But, I managed to finally get to sleep around the time most people are starting their day, and I ended up sleeping until about one in the afternoon. I woke up, and had to get ready to hit the road and meet up with the rest of the guys somewhere around Gaffney, SC. Y’all might have driven through Gaffney before on Interstate 85 driving from Atlanta to Charlotte or something. My high school football team used to get our asses handed to us by Gaffney every now and then. Anyway, I met up with the rest of the crew, parked my car and hopped into the back seat of a van, which was nice for a change: just riding, I mean. I’m usually the one manning the steering wheel when I’m on the road. <br> </p>
<p>Tuesday night's show was in Dallas, NC. Which is a little town south of Charlotte. I didn’t know such a town even existed. There is obviously one Dallas in particular that casts a shadow over the rest of them. There are apparently 16 places named Dallas in the US. Two in Canada. One in Australia. One in Scotland. And, interestingly enough, one in outer space. No shit: 8084 Dallas, it’s an asteroid, apparently. So, we played at a brewery in Dallas. And, I was off the beer for 3 months, ketogenic diet, for brain health and focus, I don’t think it worked, though–my wife says I’m more forgetful than ever. That’s not true, though. I’m just a Godawful listener. I’m working on it. I promise. So, I took a few pulls off a flask, but I could’ve used a beer. They had a porter or a stout that seemed like it would have been perfect on a cold night. But, standing around a fire pit with a little whiskey was good, too. The show was good, and I was getting to know everybody a little bit better. Van rides and Waffle Houses are good on the getting to know folks front. <br> </p>
<p>Next day was a long drive to Greenville, NC. Which is close to the coast, if you’re not familiar with North Carolina geography. It was another good night and good crowd. Even though I got in trouble just a little bit for taking pulls off my flask on stage. It was mostly for my throat. I had cough drops, too. I would’ve been more discrete had I known somebody gave a shit. No Waffle House that night, but we stayed in a farm house in the middle of a cotton field, which was pretty cool. Probably a good photo op for the social media, but damn, I always seem to forget about that stuff in the moment. <br> </p>
<p>Another long drive the next day, to Boiling Springs, SC. It was a good another good crowd, but a fight broke out, acoustic music doesn’t seem like a good instigator for a fighting, but, hey it’s Spartanburg County, I guess it comes with the territory. I’m pretty sure there was no Waffle House that evening.<br> </p>
<p>The next night we drove to Asheboro, NC. Asheboro is kind of in the middle of the state. I think there was almost a fight at the show. Apparently, Randolph County NC has some kinship with Spartanburg County, SC. No Waffle House this evening, instead we stopped at a local diner, Golden Waffle. Golden Waffle had quite a colorful staff, who seemed a little worried about an elderly regular going by the name Slick, who had apparently been wearing the same clothes for three days. We stayed out in the country that night, and there was a huge puppy of a lab, and damnit, I can’t remember his name, but a good boy who attempted to kick me off the couch at some point, even though I was trying my best to share with him. <br> </p>
<p>Last night of the run was in Mooresville, NC, and I thought there was going to be another fight, as the crowd seemed especially rowdy. But, we played a long set, with no fights and after the show I high tailed it back to Greenville, SC and the folks house. I made it home around three am and slept until my dad woke me up at quarter till eleven, we were having a family Christmas reunion, and my parents assumed I didn’t want to walk through the house in my boxers as aunts and uncles were drinking coffee Bloody Mary’s and mimosas. They were correct in their assumption. Damn. I’m writing this at about 9:30 PM. Some coffee sounds fantastic right now. But, I better not, insomnia and all that. Maybe some decaf. <br> </p>
<p>All in all it was a hell of a good run. I made some new friends that I hope to see again really soon, and shook a lot of hands along the way. I’ve been back in Nashville since Monday, and now Christmas is sneaking up on me. I can honestly say, this has been the most sneak up Christmas season I’ve ever had. I hope everybody is doing well. Let’s all get together soon and hang a banner in 2019. <br>Much love to everybody! Cheers!</p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/55113812018-11-14T22:57:08-06:002020-10-05T01:58:50-05:00Ramblings: 5 Singer-Songwriters, 1 Van, Texas Hill Country<p>Sleep didn't come easy for me the first night in Dripping Springs, Texas. The insomnia thing is a gift from my mother’s side of the family. Apparently, quite a few McKeowns spend a good portion of their nights staring up at ceilings. I’d had a little more whiskey than a I normally drink, so I thought I might shut my eyes to the world fairly easily, but sometime around 3 in the morning I was still awake. Then some rain rolled in and I finally rested. Rain on the canvas pop out section of a trailer is a mighty fine lullaby. </p>
<p>The next morning, there were bacon and eggs and really good coffee, and we all sat around a beautiful old table swapping thoughts and stories, slowly revealing ourselves to one another. At this point, we knew each other mostly through our songs, as the conversation progressed, the songs began to make more sense. </p>
<p>As the week moved forward, sleep came easier for me. One night, or early morning, I woke up in that state of mind that sometimes shows up when you’re a long way from home and you’re not sure exactly where you are. I was surrounded by wild sounds, the wildest being what was described to me as a “horny donkey” which basically meant a male donkey separated from the females, his painful moaning haw littering the surrounding country. There were also birds (I think it was birds, anyway) calling back and forth. At first the calls were sharp and responsive, as they continued, the signal strength became weaker and the responses more delayed. </p>
<p>Our gracious hosts, Gail and Thomas, always had something cooking for breakfast. And, we’d all find our way to the table at some point between nine and noon. Although, after that first Sunday, we were rarely all at the table at the same time. Each morning, after a little breakfast, I always found my way to the stream, maybe fifty yards away from the house. The days were warm enough to contemplate stripping down and jumping in the section of rocks where the blue green water pooled four or five feet deep, and looked cleaner than a swimming pool in some gated community. But one toe in, and I decided that would rapidly become a bad decision. But, submerged or not, I found time to pray and calm my spirit on those rocks daily. </p>
<p>The days were filled with songs, mostly new to me, melodies and guitar strumming coming from open doors and wooden chairs all around the property we were staying. And then, usually around 3 pm, we’d load up in my van, and hit the Texas back roads heading to places like New Braunfels and Wimberly and some tucked away little house concert. Those rides were more of a chance to get to know each other as we drove through the hill country and slowly opened up more and more on each drive. </p>
<p>On Thursday, we left Thomas and Gail’s property in Dripping Springs and were on our own. I took in a movie, something I used to do quite often, and mostly haven’t gotten a chance to after my son was born. Then we met up for a show at a Presbyterian Church in Austin. We played on an altar with backdrop of a wooden cross, and it felt spiritual, and certainly bested the backdrop of couple of football games on giant flat screens, as is often the case for my shows. </p>
<p>Friday, we made it to Fischer, Texas and participated in a parade, throwing beads and waving, then played in a beautiful barn style theater that was described to me before I got there as playing in a guitar sound hole. After playing Fischer Hall, I’d say it was that was an accurate description. </p>
<p>Saturday was the last show, in San Antonio. My dad surprised me by flying in From South Carolina. The round was finished with Sarah Morris singing lead on a John R Butler song, “Corner of the Universe,” which was a fitting close to our Texas Jaunt. </p>
<p>We said our goodbyes and I drove to Rockwall, Texas, arriving around 3 in the morning. I was tired, but it took me a while to fall asleep. Eventually, I found a few hours sleep and was on the road back to Nashville by 9:30. </p>
<p>Coming in the door around 7pm and seeing my young son, and hearing him say "Hi, Daddy!" and running to me, is as good as anything I've ever experienced. It is good to be home, but a significant part of my spirit is longing for the Texas Hill Country and my fellow Kerrville friends. I hope to be back and see them all soon. This is not something to be forgotten. Much love to all!</p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/64492242018-05-31T03:05:00-05:002020-10-05T02:04:03-05:002018 Kerrville New Folk Winner<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/32411/d8f8ef9c55abbf1a3bcb1ae0eebac8563259f5f2/original/kerrville-guitar.png/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.png" class="size_m justify_left border_" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p>I am humbled and honored to be named one of the 2018 Kerrville New Folk winners. Kerrville was one of the best musical experiences of my life. Thank you and cheers to all!</p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/51170932018-03-07T22:24:41-06:002020-10-05T01:58:59-05:00Ramblings: Don't Matter How You Get It, As Long As It's Got<p>Yesterday, I was out and about, and my phone was almost out of juice. The charger chord in my car, which I’d been seeing some wire poking from behind the white, finally quit working all together, and so, I was without my phone. You know, the way I spent the first couple decades of my life. No phone means no Spotify, so, I went back to the radio. The plain ol’ radio. Since I got Spotify Premium, I altogether quit listening to the stuff off the dial. Picking & choosing whatever artist, song, or album I want to listen to, it can’t be beaten, right? </p>
<p>So, as I was tuning up and down the dial, I stopped on Jack FM, here in Nashville. You know what I’m talking about, most markets have one these days, the “we play everything” station. When I’m visiting my folks in Upstate SC, it’s called “Steve FM,” in the SC low country, its “Chuck FM.” So, I stumble on Jack and The Pointer Sisters’ “Neutron Dance.” And here’s where it gets interesting, if I was on Spotify, I probably would have been listening to something off <em>Whatever and Ever Amen</em> by Ben Folds Five, as I have been bingeing that album for that last few days. Mostly one song, “Fair.” But, I was jamming when I heard the Pointer Sisters, man. I didn’t know I wanted to hear the pointer sisters until I HEARD THE POINTER SISTERS, you know. Yeah, all the streaming services have their on radio feature, Spotify’s radio is damn good. But it’s all based on whatever mood I’m in. So, yesterday, I probably would have been listening to Ben Folds radio, Roger Miller, or something in my typical wheelhouse. And yeah, a majority of the time before streaming, I would go up and down the dial and eventually just shut the radio off. </p>
<p>But, there was a time when there were few things better than hearing a song that I really dug on the radio. I miss the days of getting to your destination and staying in the car until the song is finished. Almost everything at your fingertips has an obvious upside, but there’s a certain excitement that is lost. But, I don’t miss the days of being super stoked about a new album by a band I really liked, going to the record store, throwing down my hard earned high school dollars just to put it in the disk player, then go through my usual new purchase routine: </p>
<p>Listen to about 30 seconds of a song, to get a thumbs up or down vibe, and move on to the next one. And within a relatively quick scan, usually while still in the parking lot, I knew if the record was good. It was a great feeling when you were digging the album, and a complete bummer when you thought it sucked, wishing you had a shrink wrapper in the trunk and could run back in and get your money back. <br> <br>Is it all just too easy now? So easy, that it means less? I have no idea. I’m sure some kid in middle school or high school still gets really into and inspired by some band he’s streaming. So, looking back, sure, it was a great day when the Black Crowes <em>Amorica</em> and Tom Petty <em>Wildflowers</em> came out on the same day, and they were both killer albums. And to me, there’s a little bit more romanticism in going to pick them up at the record store. Except, I specifically remember that I went to Best Buy to get the albums, it was a couple dollars cheaper there, and then being pissed when my brother came home from the cool store with his copy of <em>Amorica</em> which had the cover with the American flag bikini bottom with the pubes sticking out, and mine was censored. But, still, it was a memorable day of purchase. </p>
<p>But, I’ve lived enough to understand that you don’t miss what you never experience in the first place. And kids are still going to dig their tunes and continue to listen in whatever way is currently happening. <br>And really, all that matters is that the tunes are good.</p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/50281492018-01-17T11:04:07-06:002020-10-05T01:59:12-05:00Ramblings: Heavy Metal Marvin Has Got the Blues<p>Marvin. <br>It was an unfortunate name. <br>Marvin. <br>Maybe not for the gray haired mechanic who had fixed your parent’s cars for years. But, a little off, antiquated, paired with the quiet, occasionally impatient fella who packed his own lunch every day and went to movies by himself. Chris Roper, who was in a cubicle about ten feet from Marvin, had taken his wife to see <em>Avatar</em> a few years ago, not having seen a movie in the theater since <em>Titanic</em>, and on the advice of a brother in law who said, “<em>Avatar</em> HAD TO BE seen on the big screen.” Chris had seen Marvin at the ticket window, but didn’t say anything to him.<br>“Ol’ Metal Marv, all by himSELF, man,” he had relayed to his coworkers the next day. His inflection was the same as if he’d seen Marvin pouring ketchup on oatmeal. As if going to a movie by himself was so out of the ordinary it bordered on offensive.<br>The disconnect between Marvin and his coworkers was always palpable and frustrating at times. </p>
<p>“TURN THAT SHIT DOWN, MARVIN!” they’d yell. <br>“Them,” Marvin thought. <br>Marvin listened to hard rock on his headphones at work, AC/DC, Motorhead, Black Sabbath, the Stooges. Strangely, it kept him on task. He didn’t listen to that type of music much on his own time. Maybe if “Paranoid” popped up on a classic rock station, he’d crank it in his car. But, he got stuck with the nick name “Heavy Metal Marvin” or usually just “Metal Marv,” because his coworkers didn’t know much about Marvin, or metal, for that matter. </p>
<p>Marvin didn’t necessarily want or need his coworkers to like him, he didn’t like them much either. But, he often thought about a place, he didn’t even look at it as a job, just a place where he would be surrounded by some more like-minded folks. <br>“COMPADRES!” his brain would yell at him, when his mind wandered into the place. <br> <br>He had thought this place would be graduate school. He saw graduate school as draft beers and literary chatter at divey downtown college bars with worn wood and pictures of drunk professors on the wall. When he didn’t get accepted, he drove across the country on whim that led to a job and eventually subtle misanthropy. It wasn’t always like this. Marvin used to have friends. Marvin used to get laid. Sometimes. Now, he went to movies by himself and daydreamed of some place where he felt he could thrive. <br> <br>Marvin was cursed with talent: a way with words on paper, but without the drive that is required of greatness; leaving his place littered with scraps of stories, his spirit weak with insubstantiality. <br>A piece within Marvin existed, though, where he was sure he could write as well as anyone. If this piece existed externally, it might be described as a prick. His inner prick did not provide Marvin with any outward confidence though. It just made him cynical. <br> <br>“<em>Starman</em>?” Marvin said to himself quietly. <br>The thought had appeared to him unexpectedly, and out of context from what he had been thinking about when it popped in his head. He had seen <em>Starman</em> with his father in 1984, at a theater that was no longer in operation. In his head, though, it was just when I was a kid with my dad. He hadn’t thought about it much since then. He went to Youtube, and watched some scenes from the movie. He was taken by the music. His senses were flooded with 1980s synthesized strings and a swooping melody that fit perfectly with the movie and his mood and became electric within him. As Marvin was scrolling youtube for <em>Starman </em>clips, scenes and the score from <em>The Last Starfighter</em> came up in his queue. His father had also taken him to see <em>The Last Starfighter</em> in 1984 at the same theater. Marvin clicked on the theme song, and as he listened, his mind traveled to when he was seven years old at a high school football game with an older cousin, and he remembered a sad little marching band, playing a sad little attempt at the Theme from <em>The Last Starfighter.</em> Even as a seven year old, sitting in the stands he felt the sadness of the moment. At seven years of age, he didn’t understand what about the band, or the moment, made him feel the sadness. It was just there. And now, it was with him again, as he thought about the band and the moment. But, then it was gone, because the music was making him feel good. <br> <br>Then, Sarah moved into his mind. She didn’t take the place of the music, though. She fit in alongside the songs. He was picturing her slightly bent and somewhat slouched, her legs resting off her swivel chair with the gray back and black cushion at her desk, knees far apart, beside the picture of her holding her niece in her christening gown. He hoped maybe she shared some sort of space with him, a kinship. He tried small talk. But neither he nor she was particularly adept in sparring simple, small and quick. Most of the men he worked with looked past Sarah. The other ones ogled the receptionist, Erica. Erica wore white skirts with black thongs and leopard print bras that sometimes showed at the top of her shirt. But for Marvin, it was Sarah. Kind-eyed Sarah. <br> <br>At a bar after work one night, when Sarah had been working with Marvin a few weeks, Marvin had been drinking and was summoning the courage to have a real conversation with her. He waited until she was alone at the bar, breathed deeply, focused in and made an awkward stride toward her. When he got beside her, he lost his nerve. And he just stood there, pretending to be preoccupied. He wasn’t sure if she noticed him or not. But, right about the time he was getting ready to walk off, someone carelessly brushed passed Sarah and knocked her drink out of her hand. It crashed to the ground, and sprayed some pants legs, and someone in the back yelled, “Mazel tov!” He could tell she was embarrassed. Marvin reached down and picked up the broken glass, and put it in a trash can right beside the bar. <br>He looked directly at Sarah and said, “I think you need another drink.” <br>Sarah smiled, and laughed a little bit. “Thanks,” she said. <br>Marvin’s demeanor shifted and he began to feel comfortable, confident, even. And he talked with Sarah and it didn’t feel forced and they seemed to connect over a few things. But he was getting drunk, and she started talking about bands and movies that she liked, and the cynicism appeared and his words began to run hard. When she brought up some particular artists, Marvin referred to both as a “basement flooders.” Sarah asked him what he meant and Marvin replied. <br>“You know, basement flooders, girls like ‘em.” <br>Sarah didn’t say anything and so he continued. <br>“As in, they FLOOD GIRLS' BASEMENTS,” he said and made a flowing motion with his hands in front of his crotch. <br>“Yeah, I get it,” said Sarah looking somewhat annoyed and uncomfortable.<br>Marvin’s face became hot and he staggered to the restroom and then left without telling anyone he was leaving. On the way home and all that night, he tried to comfort himself by thinking that he couldn’t be with someone with such bad taste, anyway. But, he burned as he lay in bed and he barely slept. And he woke up the next day, head pounding and still burning inside. He went to work and avoided contact with Sarah. A week later, when the burning had not stopped, he decided to ask her out. He sensed she didn’t want to go, but he thought about the fact that you’re born and die and only have one shot at the whole thing and decided that he should take the risk. She told him she had plans when he awkwardly asked her out in the elevator. In truth, Sarah did have plans, and was also in a relationship she felt was bottoming out. But, even if she was single and free, she felt as though she could do better than Marvin, and she knew she would have turned him down anyway. This made her feel somewhat guilty and sad, and she didn’t really know why. <br>Marvin had planned it in his mind and tried to be cool, but lost his nerve in the elevator as they rode down three floors without saying anything and then he just blurted it out as soon as the elevator reached the bottom floor and the doors opened. When she politely turned him down, his insides felt as though they would incinerate and he just stood there until the doors closed. He hit the button and watched her as she walked out of the building. <br> </p>
<p> “I heard he banged Sarah on Friday night,” it was not quite a whisper, between Chris Roper and Kevin Stanton. <br> “Who?” <br> “Lawton?” <br> “Really? Doesn’t seem like her type.” <br> “Lawton’s every girl’s type, yeah?” <br> “He thinks so. Maybe he’s right.” <br> </p>
<p>Two months prior, Lawton Richards had gotten a job at the office as an assistant manager. A lot of people were angry that the promotion was given to someone on the outside, but Lawton made friends quickly and easily. He always had. He was six-foot-four, had played football at a small liberal arts college, had gone to law school, but was not a lawyer. His story was that he just decided one day that the last thing the world needed was “another fucking lawyer.” The truth was, he had failed the Bar exam so many times that he just gave up. Lawton was loud and cocky and Marvin tried to avoid him as much as possible, as he would give Marvin a hard time any chance he could get. He was the only person that called Marvin “Metal Marv” to his face. <br> <br>In truth, nobody really liked Lawton, and none of his so called “buddies” ever had. He referred to himself in the third person, as “Big Law.” He was obnoxious, misogynistic, and had common taste. But, he bought rounds of drinks and shots after work and he had great stories involving high school and college pranks and bizarre sexual conquests, that even Marvin laughed at occasionally when he happened to hear one. And, he had managed to have sex with Erica the first week he was there. Which impressed his co-workers very much. A couple of them had tried and thought they had a chance, but never made it happen. Marvin had heard him bragging about “nailing that hot ass chick at reception,” one morning while getting some coffee at the coffee shop on the first floor of the building. Marvin was jealous and felt small beneath Lawton’s presumed prowess. Marvin had not had sex or even come close to it since his last girlfriend, who had moved to Atlanta two years before. A possible sex story from Marvin might go something like, “One time, I prematurely ejaculated while having sex in a recliner.” Marvin’s sexual experiences were limited, which in most circumstances, is fine, not abnormal. But at the office, with four or five guys swapping stories, about “banging some girl in the bathroom of an airport, then in the bathroom of a plane, then again when they arrived...” having nothing to offer can make anyone feel insecure and cast off. <br> <br>As the music from <em>Starman</em> penetrated his ears, jealous fire spread through his being and the music along with the burning anger was putting him on the edge of tears. But he suppressed it, knowing that he couldn’t cry. <br>“Crying?” he angrily asked himself. <br> <br>It would not have helped Marvin even if he knew the truth, because it was the same truth to him, either way. It wouldn’t have mattered to Marvin, that the day before Sarah slept with Lawton, her boyfriend had broken up with her via an email that stated that he was getting back with his ex-girlfriend. And that the next night, feeling depressed and bored, Sarah slept with Lawton, getting exactly what she thought she needed to get her ex off her mind: a guy she knew would be an easy target and wouldn’t be there when she woke up. Something that she had never had, nor ever thought she wanted. She’d overheard Erica talking about, as she put it, “her crazy intense” experience with him, and Sarah just decided that she needed to see for herself. Maybe it would be fun? She didn’t know. She was at the mercy of an anxious malaise that was overwhelming. Her mind and feelings pushed her towards “getting laid.” So, she went with it. After all, the boyfriend who had just dumped her had a small penis and an enlarged prostate and often had to stop in the middle of intercourse to urinate. He claimed it hurt afterwards if he didn’t. He also turned out to be a chronic masturbator, which Sarah discovered when she stopped by his office with some lunch and walked in on him masturbating to a site from the UK, “PuffyLasses.com,” which featured heavy set girls with enormous breasts. In the end, Sarah had used Lawton as much as Lawton had used her. <br><br>She had woken up the morning after the break up, feeling hurt and angry, because she didn’t even really like the man who had just kicked her to the curb. But, she had grown attached to his presence and their occasional good times. It was comfortable. She took a shower and shaved her legs, which she usually only did a couple nights a week. She looked in the closet and found a short black dress, and put it, along with her black nylon stockings and her one pair of high heels in a hanging bag to put on after work. Sarah didn’t have much to work with in terms of terrain, but she did have good legs. She always had, even when she was a child, her legs fit her body in a way that foreshadowed her sexuality, and one time leaving a friend of her father driving home from a gathering, trying to convince himself that he wasn’t actually staring at a 12 year old’s legs. She decided that she was going to get “fucked” by Lawton around seven thirty in the morning, and by eight o’clock that night, she was fairly sure it was going to happen. She went out with her coworkers, the ones who go out every Friday evening, and when she got her chance, she handed Lawton a tequila shot and said, “I’m Sarah, I don’t think we’ve been formerly introduced.” She sat on a barstool, making sure that the tops of her stockings showed a little bit. Lawton took his shot, and moved his eyes along her body, in an obvious way, that he thought was cool. It was one of his moves. He called it the “casual cool creeper vibe” when he was telling stories and dudes would laugh. <br> “Like the Beatles’ song,” he said. <br> Sarah just sat there. <br> “Sexy Sarah,” he remarked. <br>She blurted out a girlish laugh and did not correct him. It was at this moment that she knew that she could have sex with him if she wanted to, and she was also thinking that she might not be able to get beyond her moral opposition to let such an insubstantial human being know her in such an intimate way. But then, the image of his penis going inside her moved into her mind, and her mind changed the word penis to cock and she was on track again. </p>
<p>And so, that night at the bar, Sarah listened to “Big Law” talk about high school and say “fuck” every other word and get excited when a song by Notorious B.I.G came on, and watched him take at least 3 Irish Car Bombs which she turned down all but one that she didn’t finish. And she flirted with a few other guys and watched as Erica tried to nuzzle closer to Lawton to no avail. Sarah knew Erica was not a problem. Sarah had two older brothers and knew how guys worked, they were always shooting for something new. Lawton had offered her some cocaine, which she had not done since college, but she did a little bit and immediately kissed him deeply. <br><br>They ended up going back to her place, because it was closer, even though Lawton had mumbled something about ‘home court advantage’ in the cab. Sarah had never had a one night stand, and was nervous when her apartment door shut behind her. She’d had sex with guys on a first date, but always with plans to see them again. She offered him a drink, she had a small bottle of Jack Daniels. He filled up a glass and chugged it. <br><br>He said, “Baby, I’ve been thinking about those legs all night, let see how they look outside your dress. Then he kissed her aggressively and pushed her into her room. She started to peel down her stockings, but he asked her to keep them on. He commented on the fact that she had pubic hair, and that it was sexy because it was “old school,” which made her uncomfortable. Sarah fell asleep to him snoring and woke up to nobody. It was more awkward than she anticipated at work, but she just kept her distance. There was only a small portion of her being that didn’t regret her night with Lawton, but even that portion was not satisfied in a way she thought it would be. And she was still down over her ex, and she was angry that she was missing him. <br> <br>The story of Sarah and Lawton filtered into Marvin’s life the Monday after the fact, sometime around 11 am, and when denial gave way to acceptance, he felt like breaking something. He went from feeling good, to wanting to puke, among a few whispers and laughs scattered around an office with nothing better to talk about. A muffled rage brewed deeply and he could not concentrate on anything. It plagued him, and a misanthropic loneliness took hold and could not be soothed. So he just stared at his computer and tried to smother his feelings with the soundtrack songs. It was not working and so he took off early. <br> <br>He drove to his favorite movie theater and got a matinee ticket for the only movie he had yet to see, a teenage comedy featuring mostly people that Marvin had never heard of, plus Powers Boothe and Rebecca De Mornay as grandparents, which made him feel old. He got a Cherry Coke and a medium popcorn and put so much butter on it that it stained his khakis through the bottom of the bag. Marvin did not really like the movie, but he enjoyed being in the theater and it was empty except for him. And for the duration of the movie, he didn’t think about Sarah or Lawton. The music from <em>Starman</em> was still on his mind’s turntable, though. But not quite consciously. It existed as part of his being that was tucked away from logic. It was simply there. He left the theater feeling sluggish and like a slob with butter stains on his shirt and pants. He was developing a sinus headache, so he drove to the drugstore to pick up a pain reliever. <br> <br>He parked his car and walked with his head down past a Volkswagon Jetta with the door propped and an attractive woman with her legs hanging out, resting on the open door. Her toenails were painted blue. He liked her shirt, or maybe it was a blouse, he thought. It was white and puffy with a pink and yellow floral pattern. It reminded him of Mexico. Her legs were long, smooth, and tan. His heart sped up and he quickened his pace. Inside the store, he bought a generic brand of sinus headache relief and was annoyed by a man in line who was whistling. The whistling was actually melodic, but it was still whistling. And he was thinking that this guy probably prided himself on his ability to whistle, which made it even more aggravating to him. It really started to burn him up. His stomach tightened and his head was hot and if he was an aggressive type of person, he might have told the man to knock it off. But he didn’t say anything and wondered if it was bothering anyone else as badly as it was bothering him. The girl at the check out was a bleach blonde with frosted lipstick and deep green eyes, eyelids smeared with blue eyeshadow and he immediately saw her as a purely sexual being and his mind placed her in a 1980‘s pornographic video with bad lighting and a cheap set, and then tried to quit picturing it as it made him feel uncomfortable and slightly afraid that she may be somehow clairvoyant or psychic and could read his mind, even though he knew that wasn’t possible. </p>
<p>Marvin paid for his pills and walked into the early evening. It was May, and already the air was humid. As he was walking back towards his car, his ears were greeted with the music from <em>Starman</em>. It was flowing freely from the side of the building where he had walked in. He was immediately and positively taken back. He followed the music, it was coming from the the Jetta and the girl with the blue toenails and Mexican blouse. Marvin felt a jolt, as though his universe had collided with fate and his entire life had led up to this brilliant moment and that everything was about to change. </p>
<p>His mind moved fast, charging him with a wordless electricity, but if the feeling could have been interpreted, it would translate like, “I mean the thought just pops in my head today? And then this? This CAN”T just be a coincidence.” </p>
<p>He took a deep breath and walked towards the car, following the tune. He stopped about three feet from the open window. </p>
<p>“Awesome song,” he said. The woman didn’t hear him. He swallowed hard and spoke again. “Great tune,” he said. This time she acknowledged him with, “Huh?” and a confused look.<br>“It's the theme from “Starman,” he said. “A classic Jack Nitzsche composition, you know, and kind of a departure for a John Carpenter film.” <br>She stared blankly and then said flatly, “Oh, the song. It's on a playlist that my boyfriend made,” and then added, “He listens to a lot of weird shit.” <br>Marvin could see her eyes glancing over his shirt and pants, and he remembered the popcorn stains. <br>“You work at KFC or something?” she asked through a subtle laugh. <br>He really just wanted to walk off, but he said, “No, someone spilled popcorn on me earlier.” <br>“Sucks,” she said. </p>
<p>Quickly, he reached down within himself to find some deeply hidden wit, but he just stood there, feeling small and flushed. He waited a few more seconds and then blurted out, “Bye,” and walked away. She didn’t say anything. The song ended and one by Paul Simon came on. “Kodachrome.” The girl turned up the volume and danced a little in her seat. </p>
<p>Marvin headed home, the headache not allowing him to feel much better about anything. He took a walk because right then, a walk was all he had. He walked and thought and searched. Some of his thoughts were of Sarah. Always Sarah. </p>
<p>Lawton Richards heated up some leftover spaghetti his sister had made him, sipped a Miller Lite and flipped through the channels. Later he watched some internet pornography and was slightly concerned that maybe he was concentrating more on the men than the women and he fell asleep still worrying about it. </p>
<p>Sarah stared at the name of her ex-boyfriend in her phone. She was debating calling him or deleting his contact. Then, from somewhere else, she thought about Marvin and didn’t know why. And the thought stayed with her a while. Not just Marvin, but the thought of why she was thinking of him. It lingered like muffled noise from a party when you’re on the outside, trying to study or sleep, internally clambering for peace and quiet. She stared out the window. There was a steady stream of cars and people on the streets and avenues. There were lights on in some windows. Others were dark. <br> </p>
<p> <br> <br> <br> </p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/50223152018-01-13T14:24:14-06:002020-10-05T02:00:11-05:00Ramblings: If Anyone is Selling Replacements T-Shirts, I'll Pass...<p>I remember eyeing the rock-n-roll rags on the magazine rack at the drug store when I was kid. <em>Rolling Stone</em>, <em>Spin</em>, maybe <em>Circus</em> or something, and it was very affective. I remember one time in particular, picking up a copy of <em>Rolling Stone</em>, and thumbing through the pages until I came to a piece on a band, and in one of the photos, one of the dudes was letting spit hang towards the ground, the other guys were cracking up, and seeing that, it all made sense to me. From that moment, it was all about the sort of goofy coolness, not taking it too seriously, after that, anything else just felt a little bit wrong to me. I wish I could remember who the band was. I’ve googled “Rolling Stone band photos spitting” and stuff kind of like that. Anyway, to the me The Replacements, more than any other band, represent the “we’re cool, but aren’t trying to be” vibe.</p>
<p>I heard about The Replacements before I actually heard them. And from the way they were discussed, and the fact that I didn’t hear them on the radio, I knew they must be a cool band. The kind of band you didn’t hang posters of, but that your friend's older brother that mostly kept his door shut, and killer tunes always spilled out of his room, a muffled cacophony of drums and guitars and shredded vocals, would probably be into. I’d also heard that they were a punk band. Which I didn’t know much about at the time. <br> </p>
<p>I heard my first Replacements song in the 6th grade, except I didn't know it was The Replacements when I heard it. I had rented <em>Say Anything</em> which instantly became my favorite movie. There’s a scene towards the end, where Lloyd and Diane are sharing a single bed, early in the morning, and that scene, even more than the jambox scene, felt like what love was going to be. I was twelve years old, picturing myself a few years down the road, with a real girlfriend, spooning in the bed I grew up in, on some weekend when my parents took off and left me alone. And, a few scenes later, as Lloyd is telling his sister goodbye before he heads off to England, there was a song in the back ground, with this really cool sounding guitar, which I would soon find out resulted from a “flange” or “phaser” effect, and a drum machine, and it felt perfect for that moment on screen. The song was “Within Your Reach” by the Replacements. Back then, I couldn’t just google “<em>Say Anything</em> soundtrack,” or go to Spotify and just listen. And, the snippet of the song, didn’t even have words, it was just the music. So, at this point, all I knew, was I liked the movie, and I liked the way that background music sounded. <br> </p>
<p>A few years later, when I got to high school, and grunge and alt rock had hit the main stream, but was still “cool,” everybody was blasting the soundtrack to the new Cameron Crowe movie, <em>Singles,</em> which featured Pearl Jam, Soundgarden and Alice in Chains. But, the songs from the movie that I really dug were the ones by Paul Westerberg. I liked his voice–it was raw but melodic and there was a certain snark to it. I liked that the songs had a 60s pop sensibility, but still had an edge–the acoustic strumming with the dirty electric appealed to me as well. And, as much as I enjoyed listening to Pearl Jam and Soundgarden and all that stuff, and didn’t make me want to pick up my guitar and start a band. That was the other thing, I had been playing guitar for a little over a year, and I was at the point where I could just listen to a song (some songs, anyway) and play them. That’s what I liked about the Westerberg songs on the soundtrack, it sounded like something that I could make happen. And I don’t mean it sounded easy or something, it just seemed like the kind of songs that were begging to be banged out and just played. Eventually, I discovered that Paul Westerberg was the lead singer of The Replacements. </p>
<p>Still, I had yet to discover The Replacements. About a year after that, I was on a mission trip in South Dakota, and we flew into Minneapolis. We visited the Mall of America, and at Sam Goody or one of those mall record shops, I found a tape of <em>All Shook Down</em> in one of those bargain baskets. Man, discovering The Replacements in Minneapolis, that’s pretty apropos. A lot of Replacements fans can’t stand <em>All Shook Down</em> and say it’s not a real Replacements record, because most of the original line up didn’t play on it, or they only played on one song. And yeah, it is essentially a Westerberg solo album, but I liked it when I bought it 25 years ago and I like it now. I mean, it doesn’t make sense for Paul to continue to write songs like “Kid’s Don’t Follow” or “Fuck School” a decade later. Punk doesn’t really work for people much passed 25. And looking back, <em>All Shook Down </em>is not one of the great Replacement’s albums, but, it’s still a good album. I still like the songs. But, sure, I prefer <em>Tim</em>. <br> </p>
<p>So, in High School, I wore out my tape of <em>All Shook Down</em>, driving around in a 1990 white Chrysler LeBaron. But, I didn’t really dig into The Replacements until I got to college, and purchased all their music on compact disc. Besides having this really dirty edge and energy, they still had great songs. And, in South Carolina, at the time, I couldn’t find too many people at the time who were interested in The Replacements at all. Most of the people I knew were listening to Widespread Panic, or one of the many regional acoustic duos. So, the whole Replacements thing still felt like a privilege. And that's why they are still so cool, because they never got so big that it felt like it was too much. The Replacements were never a “t-shirt band," you know? A Replacements t-shirt would have defeated the whole purpose. Putting on the t-shirt, is trying too hard to let people know you’re in on it. And, once you’re trying that hard, well, it’s just not cool, anymore. A better representation would be a set list, or a story about getting to the dirty club early in 1987 and having beers with the Stinsons. Something along those lines. <br> </p>
<p>The Replacements influence on what I create does not come through so much musically, not at all in an obvious way. But, I’d like to think there is a certain irreverence that I took from The Replacements. A certain mistrust of the mainstream bowling ball that we all get pounded with. A sly and subtle wink or nod to doing it your own way. I’d like to think so, anyway. But, once I start thinking, I’m already way less cool than The Replacements.</p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/47984572017-07-31T22:09:39-05:002020-10-05T02:00:22-05:00Ramblings: The Greatest Country Album That Never Was<p style="text-align: center;">“Woke up this morning my house was cold <br>Checked the furnace, she wasn’t burning <br>Went out in hopped in my old Ford <br>Hit the engine but she ain’t turning” </p>
<p>These are the opening lines to “One Step Up,” a song off of Bruce Springsteen’s 1987 album, <em>Tunnel of Love</em>.</p>
<p><br>The line about the engine, I always heard, and still like to hear as, “...buddy, she ain’t turning.” Buddy or not, lyrically, it doesn’t get more country than this. Just on paper, it feels like it could be a lost Billy Joe Shaver cut that never made Waylon’s <em>Honky Tonk Heroes</em>. From just the words, and the twang that Springsteen adds to his delivery, obviously an affect as there is no twang in Asbury Park, you can tell Springsteen has absorbed his fair share of Texas and Nashville heartache. The lyrical mood of the album is often somber and dark–it's a different dark place than what is painted on his sparse <em>Nebraska</em> album, more of an emotional grappling, not the whole good vs evil thing, but there is no less urgency.</p>
<p>The production on the <em>Tunnel of Love</em> is pretty similar to the previous studio album, <em>Born In The USA</em>, and nothing out of the ordinary from what was going on in the mid to late 80s: reverb drenched drums mixed prominently, more synthesizer than Hammond, chorus guitar sounds, that vibe. And the production is probably what sets it apart from what was seeping the cracks of the Nashville machine at the time, what is sometimes referred to as “the great quality scare” by some folks in Music City, but indeed, with the exception of the title track, the entire second side of Tunnel could have been scattered throughout Steve Earle’s 1986 album, <em>Guitar Town</em>, or the follow up, <em>Copperhead Road.</em> Apparently, I’m not the only one to notice the country side of <em>Tunnel of Love</em>, as the second track, “Tougher than the Rest,” has been covered by a wide range of country artists, including, Emmylou Harris, Travis Tritt, and Chris Ledoux. Which is an interesting choice, in my opinion, as I find "Brilliant Disguise" and "One Step Up," a little more country.</p>
<p>For me, <em>Tunnel of Love</em> represents a slight departure for Springsteen. The Boss had always thrown in some twang here and there, but never as much as he did on this record. But, like <em>Nebraska,</em> which was a departure in its austerity, the twang and left turn to a few extra synthesizers and affected guitar swells in the title track didn’t feel wrong, or feel any less like Springsteen. Which is a gift that great artists have: the ability to blend elements from outside of genre and add new textures, styles, and arrangements to their sound, while still keeping it distinctively “them.” </p>
<p>Why I got on this topic, though, is that, <em>Tunnel of Love</em> came out in 1987. I was in the 3rd grade, and I remember <em>Tunnel of Love</em>, and also <em>The Joshua Tree</em> by U2. Looking back, it feels like one of the first times I really explored music, and not just the stuff that found its way to my ears through my dad’s cassette tapes or pop radio. At this point in my life, I was listening to songs and processing them, and stuff was really beginning to stick. And, I really dug the stuff off <em>Tunnel of Love.</em></p>
<p><br>“Brilliant Disguise” was a certified smash, and was pretty ubiquitous, but there were smaller tracks that I also enjoyed and absorbed: “One Step Up,” the title track, for some reason, <em>Tunnel of Lov</em>e is an album that I somehow embraced more than the completely unavoidable stuff that was being shoved down my ears at the time. This album was not the cultural phenomenon that <em>Born in the USA</em> was. But, it somehow affected me more. For one thing, I personally like the album better, so, there’s that. But, I think as I mentioned previously, the fact that during the time it came out, I feel like I began experiencing music in a more conscious way, I think it made for a bigger impact as well. And, there’s always just the sort of hidden gem element of it, finding greatness in a section of the catalog that is usually passed over. </p>
<p>Well, I started writing this about how <em>Tunnel of Love</em> is the greatest country album that never was. Then I sort of moved into how and why it affected me. Now I can't really see any significance in any of this. Sigh. Yeah. I don’t know. Sorry. Maybe I’ll figure it out later and edit. </p>
<p><br>Cheers</p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/45841862017-02-09T23:53:43-06:002020-10-05T02:01:04-05:00Ramblings: Another One from the Archives: Four Months and a Kick in the Teeth<p>I spent a few long months in LA. I arrived in Los Angeles on a relative whim. I didn't get into graduate school, I had a buddy who was living out there, so, I drove across the country. The drive was the best part. Hours and days of contemplation and unfamiliar terrain and the feeling that I was a part of something bigger than what I'd known before. I would like to do that again sometime. Maybe I'll drive it with my son. Or, maybe that's something he'll need to do on his own.<br><br>LA got the best of me, or as they say in the old song, it "proved too much for the man." And, I was only out there for a few months, the good part of a year. That was a decade ago. Damn. Time. It just rambles, man. Apparently, I wasn't in the best place when I wrote this. I can actually remember how I was feeling. I was down, but hopeful. And lonely. Really fucking lonely.<br><br><strong><span class="font_large">Four Months and a Kick in the Teeth</span></strong><br><br>The first couple of months I was here, I was surrounded by sirens and horns and Otis Redding. Sirens and horns are sort of the soundtrack to LA, you cannot really escape them, especially when you live a block away from a fire station. Otis was always with me at Molly Malone's, this bar on Fairfax and Sixth where I would play the open mic night, drink too many beers, and try to get the cute redheaded bartender with the kind eyes and not quite American accent to notice me. So I'd play Otis. And the Allman Brothers and Sam Cooke. All the songs that I thought might spark a young lady's interest, you know, like maybe she'd think that the pensive young man with his eyes in his beer and the really good taste in music was somewhat enticing. But to her, I was probably not pensive, I was just another drunk. The thing is, I'm just not cool enough. I'm really not. Okay, if I'm onstage, with my guitar and my songs of love and despair and blah-blah–then yeah, I can manage. But at an open mic night, any asshole with three bucks and a guitar can take the stage, so it doesn't really work the way it does at a "real" gig. But, I would go to Molly Malone's, anyway. Hell, I went there a lot when I first got here, even if it wasn't open mic night. My girl back home and I had decided that 2000 miles was a little too far to make things work, and so I was just feeling as alone as I could feel, spending all my money on draft beer and Jack Daniels like I had some kind of endless supply. So I'd sit at the bar by my lonesome, like all those guys that used to come to the Salty Nut and talk my ears off and try to hit on the waitresses, and I'd play Otis on the jukebox, to gain the title of "dude with best taste in music at the bar" and because my heart was broken and I needed to hear some heartbreak songs. And nobody breaks my heart like Otis. Nobody. Sometimes, when you're lonely and down, the only thing you want to hear are songs that are going to tug on your goddamn emotions even more, making it hurt like a hell, taking everything out of you until you just feel empty, but somehow making you feel good, not better, but good in a way that is only relevant to lonely souls with broken hearts. I definitely fit the bill. </p>
<p>Open mic night at Molly Malone's was a pretty good deal. You got to play two songs, and usually there was a nice built-in crowd. There did tend to be a large quantity of Justin Timberlake/Maroon 5 falsetto belting crooners, but I always got up and played my songs, and sometimes somebody would dig it. Usually, I'd just head back to the bar to knock back a couple more drinks. One night, a buddy of mine and I both played after we had watched the Braves game and had too many 16 ounce Miller High Lifes. We started hanging out with these Texas sorority girls and also some girls from Canada, who were somehow friends-don't ask, because I don't know–but we went back to their house that was supposed to be right around the corner, but it wasn't as we sped through some alleys in a pick up truck belonging to some dude that I didn't know. Anyway, my buddy kept saying "Goddamn" and the girl whose house it was kept telling him not to say it, but he kept saying it and we got kicked out and had to walk about two miles back to my place. It might have been even farther. These girls lived on Crescent Heights on the other side of San Vicente, and we had to walk to Cochran, which is two blocks up from La Brea. If you are familiar with LA, that paints a pretty specific picture of a long-ass walk. So anyway, on any given open mic night, I was usually pretty drunk whenever it was my turn to play a few songs. One time another friend came and watched me, and afterward he told me that I was too drunk to play. To which I replied, "I wasn't too drunk to play, I was just too drunk to play well." </p>
<p>Thanks and goodnight.</p>
<p> </p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/45841642017-02-09T23:31:38-06:002020-10-05T02:00:38-05:00Ramblings: One from the Archives: Rubberneckers in a Car Crash World<p>I wrote this coming off a week long run from Charleston through Mississippi and Louisiana and right on back. I didn't know it, but I had a brain tumor at the time. Far out. Maybe it shows in my writing. Maybe it doesn't, really. But, I guess it does, since I was physically and emotionally affected by the tumor. Crazy times.</p>
<p><strong><span class="font_large">Rubberneckers in a Car Crash World</span></strong><br><br>I'm standing above the Mississippi river. I'm a few hours away from a hangover. To my right is the "JAX" beer sign, it is reminding me of the "Emser Tile" sign that used to shine through my window when I lived off of Santa Monica in Hollywood. My thoughts are interrupted when one of the members of the rock and roll band that I sing and play guitar in tells me that he just talked to my dad. <br>"What?" I ask. <br>"Yeah," he says. "He said someone called his phone from your phone and asked him if he wanted to buy some DJ equipment. He was just wondering if you were alive." <br>SHIT. This means someone has broken into the car. And decided to rub it in by punching "DAD" on the phone that they stole. <br>The rock and roll band starts heading toward the car. We are in pretty good spirits, considering the circumstances. We are not that surprised. Windows get busted and things get jacked in New Orleans. <br>We make it back to the parking lot that we spent 60 dollars to park the car and trailer in. There is broken glass, but the trailer has not been opened. <br><br>The thieves got away with: <br>1 phone <br>1 mixing board <br>3 microphones <br><br>They left: <br>1 GPS <br>1 Satellite Radio <br>1 $2500 Motif keyboard(really?) </p>
<p>We are surveying the damage and waiting on the police. We don't realize that one of the members of the rock and roll band has slipped away. We only realize this as we see him walking back toward us, lunatic style, informing us not to worry because he took care of everything by smashing up some police cars. <br>This is somehow supposed to be reassuring. We tell him to take off, but he does not. He heads back to the scene of the crime to retrieve his phone. He is immediately arrested. The rest of us have whiplash from the incident. <br>The sun is up. <br>The cops will not help us because one of us smashed up some police cars which pretty much voids some hoodlums stealing a few items from our ride. <br>I walk to a bar at the corner of Conti and Dauphine and get a bloody Mary. It is absolute magic. <br>I walk to the Cafe Du Monde for some coffee and a beignet. It is also magic. <br>I return to the room and sleep until 2 in the afternoon. The hotel gave the rock and roll band a late check out. Thoughtful. </p>
<p>The window is being fixed and I'm bored. One of the members of the rock and roll band is trying to get "Keith Richards/Moon" out of jail. Then, I realize that I am bored and only a block away from Bourbon Street which is the equivalent of being hungry at a Ryans Steakhouse with a twenty dollar bill. I stuff some jasmine in my shirt pocket and start drinking. </p>
<p>I am in the backseat of the car heading to Hattiesburg. A call comes in saying that Keith Richards/Moon has been released. We did not think this would happen for another 72 hours. We drive to Hattiesburg. One of the members of the rock and roll band gets a ride with a friend back to New Orleans to retrieve Keith Richards/Moon. The rest of us start playing to an empty house. The proprietor of the empty house says to knock it off since the house is empty and takes us to another bar and buys us beers. </p>
<p>I am driving somewhere between Atlanta and Augusta. The rest of the rock and roll band is sleeping. The sun is coming up. I am blaring a radio preacher. I am hoping he has the wrong idea. I could drive forever. </p>
<p>I am sitting on Folly beach with Keith Richards/Moon and one of the other members of the rock and roll band. I have not slept since Jackson. We are polishing off the cooler of leftover beer that amounted on the road. There is wind but no chill. </p>
<p><br>Somehow, it is better because of all the bullshit, even though it shouldn't be.</p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/64489682016-04-21T15:40:00-05:002020-10-04T23:53:00-05:00Bluebird Cafe<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/32411/cd1c22a0b5430d274e833e8157e28b71914a8df8/original/bluebird.png/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.png" class="size_m justify_left border_" /></p>
<p>Honored to play the <a contents="Bluebird Cafe" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://bluebirdcafe.com/" target="_blank">Bluebird Cafe</a> with Tim Jones, Peyton Parker, and <a contents="Tony Lucca" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.tonylucca.com/" target="_blank">Tony Lucca</a>. Great times. <br> </p>
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<p>Some pics from the night:<br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/32411/74d3e6817d6fa19a12f6dec0fad0a73c6473d124/original/bb-3.png/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.png" class="size_m justify_none border_" /> <img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/32411/fe072933298978282c2e04423bf53263d4471278/original/bb-2.png/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.png" class="size_m justify_none border_" /></p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/32411/a1be64d221c0c8cfd77948349197343471167432/original/bb-1.png/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.png" class="size_m justify_none border_" /></p>
<p> </p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/64489672015-12-24T15:35:00-06:002020-10-05T02:00:48-05:00Ramblings: 2000 Miles of Christmas Spirit<p>One year it took me until Christmas Eve and hearing “2000 Miles” by the Pretenders to get into the Christmas spirit. I was driving west on Interstate 26, from Columbia to Greenville, South Carolina, and it just came on while flipping through the channels. This was around the time that a few radio stations started playing nothing but Christmas music sometime around Thanksgiving. Some of you may remember a time when Christmas songs just sort of showed up randomly on stations. I kind of liked those days. How many different and tired versions of the same songs exist? The answer is lots. Lots of different and tired versions of the same songs exist. Why do I need to hear Sarah Mclachlan sing “Happy Christmas” more than John Lennon? Seriously, if you’re going to play “Happy Christmas” over and over, then play the John Lennon version more. Come on. Anyway, I was tuning up and down the dial, and I heard those opening guitar lines of “2000 Miles,” the way it fades in, and then I felt it. I felt that “Christmas thing.” That warm feeling that says this is a special time of year so enjoy it. </p>
<p><br>This was the time in my life when I was done with school and not on my parents dime, and for the first time, I could literally do whatever I wanted, obviously within reason. It was a great time, and it only happens once. </p>
<p>When I was growing up, there were rules. Lots of rules; from my parents, from teachers, coaches, other people’s parents. I was up early, like 7am early, every day, just to go to school and learn stuff that seemed unnecessary and kind of like torture. So, of course I looked forward to about a half a month of watching tv until 3am and sleeping late, oh and presents: that thing that I HAD TO HAVE, waiting for me on Christmas morning. It was easy to get into the Christmas spirit then, or at least what felt like the Christmas spirit, anyway. </p>
<p>Then, I was done with school, and all of a sudden, I’m the only one telling me what to do. Sure, I had a job. But, no real responsibility; very few bills. It was real freedom. Eventually, I would end up moving on from just slinging drinks for cash and renting place after place. But at that moment, I was on my own. I was headed home on Christmas Eve, tired and hungover. I had scrambled for gifts for everybody and it all just seemed like a hassle. I threw everything in the car, and hit the road. So far, the Christmas spirit had eluded me. Then “2000 Miles.” </p>
<p>So here I am now. Christmas Eve 2015. I have finally succumbed to responsibility, this “real world,” I’ve heard so much about. I got married. My wife asks me to do things like “run a vacuum.” And, most likely, I’ll end up with some kids running around sooner than later. Most of us end up losing the fight to responsibility. Regardless of your situation, unless you’re that awesome fifty year old guy that has a killer southern rock bar band, does carpentry and maintenance work, and talks about bands he saw at various civic centers across the Southeast, eventually, you’ll probably have to start answering to someone besides yourself. I used to drive to towns where my friends lived for the weekend with no plans and sleep on random couches. I’d wake up on Sunday, get my bearings, maybe throw up, and head back to where I was currently living. Ahh. The good old days. Genuine, crazy, freedom. </p>
<p>But, it was during those particular years of freedom when I first lost that Christmas luster. For the first time, I went to sleep on Christmas Eve without that excitement in my gut. When I was a kid, that excitement started sometime after Thanksgiving, and then it just turned into combustion by Christmas Eve. I’m sure if you have a family of your own, it probably gets easier again. Your kid’s excitement will make you excited. But, during those wild freedom years, I had to actually search for the Christmas spirit. It may be the only time when the sort of artificial elements of Christmas didn’t penetrate me so easily. And, I think that is kind of beautiful. </p>
<p>That luster should never really be a part of Christmas, anyway. But it is, and that’s ok. I’m not going to condemn the young folks or my old self for enjoying the less substantial qualities of the holiday season. But, when I didn’t have a break from school and bunch of toys or a must have gift to look forward to, its when I really discovered what’s great about Christmas. Like the moment when giving somebody something really did feel better than getting something. That’s a great feeling. I found that gift. The one I knew would mean a lot to them. And I saw them open it up and it felt great. The search to connect with the Christmas spirit has made me less selfish and it feels good in a way I never even knew could feel good-it's good feeling I never really knew was missing. And good is not really even the right word. It gives me a sort of spiritual satisfaction. </p>
<p>So, now, when I catch myself just going through the motions during holiday season, or even worse, maybe the holidays are stressing me out to the point that I’m pissed and just ready for it to be over; I pull back for a second. Breathe. Remember the good stuff: <br> Mistletoe <br> Cousin Eddie <br> The Bumpus’ dogs <br> Cheech and Chong talking about Santa Claus and his old lady <br> Christmas Eve service with my family <br> Taking some time to do something for someone with less</p>
<p>And I try to enjoy it. <br>It only comes once a year. <br>And those years only come for so long...</p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/64489652015-04-07T15:30:00-05:002020-10-04T14:55:01-05:00WKRPandora<p><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.pandora.com/artist/mac-leaphart/ARPjt6tq2Z4zgg9" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/32411/5e74bbbe7345a02168eca3dccfcbc07b7c9c371e/original/logo-pandora.jpeg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsInNtYWxsIl1d.jpeg" class="size_s justify_left border_" /></a>I have a PANDORA station! <br>I know–FINALLY! <br>I listened for a while last night. <br>My station included Billy Ray Cyrus. Which is simultaneously kind of awesome and not awesome. <br>It also included Billy Bob Thornton. <br>Okay. <br>But, no Billy Joe Shaver. <br>Damn. <br><br>Anyway, give it a listen (<a contents="here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.pandora.com/artist/mac-leaphart/ARPjt6tq2Z4zgg9" target="_blank">here</a>) if you're so inclined. <br>Thumbs stuff up and down. <br>Apparently, Pandora pays attention. <br>Lots of love, y'all... <br>Cheers!</p>Mac Leapharttag:macleaphart.com,2005:Post/64489642015-02-16T15:25:00-06:002020-10-04T14:49:11-05:00New Album! Low in the Saddle, Long in the Tooth <p><em><strong><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/32411/e28019d1d5d7c876f9e36442b6d02fb25d5ac857/original/albumart-lowinthesaddle.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsInNtYWxsIl1d.jpg" class="size_s justify_left border_" />Low in the Saddle, Long in the Tooth</strong></em> hits the street tomorrow, everybody! <br>Help your boy out! <br>Buy one for yourself and a buddy! <br>Or your mama! She'll dig it! <br>Trust me... <br>Cheers!</p>Mac Leaphart