I’ve never had a road manager/booking guy who’s an accomplished musician as well. It certainly has its perks. Besides having strong hands for those massages that are in my rider.

Micah listens to a lot more music than I do. For a musician, I spend far too much of my car time in silence or listening to Dan Patrick and This American Life. So I need friends who listen wider and frequently if I have any hope of staying musically inspired. Micah has been just such a friend.

Recently, Micah introduced me to a British band one reviewer called “Coldplay it’s OK to like.” (I didn’t know it wasn’t OK to like Colplay. See how far behind I am? Obviously.) The band’s name is Elbow and they have consistently (for five albums now) created layered alternative music one critic called “sentimental rock.” I agree. Very sentimental, moving, personal, emotive. Gorgeous.

Check out one of my favorites from Elbow. “Lippy Kids” from the album Build A Rocket Boys!.

Lippy kids on the corner again
Lippy kids on the corner begin
Settling like crows
Though I never perfected the simian stroll
The cigarette senate was everything then

Do they know those days are golden?
Build a rocket boys
Build a rocket boys!

One long June
I came down from the trees
and kerbstone cool
You were a freshly painted angel
Walking on walls
Stealing booze and hour-long hungry kisses
And nobody knew me at home anymore

Build a rocket boys!
Build a rocket boys
Build a rocket boys!

Lippy kids on the corner again
Lippy kids on the corner begin
Settling like crows
And I never effected that simian stroll
No

Do they know those days are golden?
Build a rocket boys
Build a rocket boys!

One long June
I came down from the trees
And kerbstone cool
You were a freshly painted angel
Walking on walls
Stealing booze and hour-long hungry kisses
And nobody knows me at home anymore

Build a rocket boys!
Build a rocket boys
Build a rocket boys!

What new music have you recently discovered?