#whatimreadingnow … I have so many books on my to-read pile waiting for the appropriate time for me to open them, and being on the cusp of a new year seems the right moment to crack the cover of Last of the Better Days Ahead by one of my favorite #minnesotamusicians, @charlie.parr. I can’t count the number of times I’ve seen Charlie play, from the @turfclubmn to small venues throughout MN. But I have fond memories of that first time I saw him take the stage. It was back 10+ years and over in Bayfield, WI, at Big Top Chautauqua. I was there to see Greg Brown. I had no clue who the opening act was, so when this dude with a scruffy beard, blue jean overalls, and a beat-up baseball cap walked onto the stage, I thought he was just a stagehand checking on things. The silence that washed over the audience at that moment hinted at the musical treat I was about to experience. I’ve been a fan since, and if his book is half as good as some of his songs, then it’ll be a damn fine read. And if plans work out, he’s got a residency at the Turf Club this January. Hopefully I can make that a countless + 1 times I’ve seen him play. https://www.instagram.com/p/Cm2JFCZp73V/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
