Genesis: I Can't Dance (live)

Phil Collins and Genesis are just fucking awesome. The werewolf can't emphasize that enough. Seeing them live before he dies –more realistically before they all croak, but who knows what tomorrow will bring– is a serious component of his ever growing bucket list. Anyhow, this appropriately self-deprecating song seems so fitting at the moment. Phil Collins has that classic presence where he is able to properly self-parody, while maintaining his classic rock-star cool. It’s a gift.


As has been mentioned, the werewolf’s tour of duty in Nashville turned him into a bit of karaoke fool at the legendary Lonnie’s Western Room. There are few things the werewolf would embrace with pure alacrity more than an encore tour of Nashville and all of his old haunts. Although he developed a deep repertoire of songs he was willing to desecrate on that small stage, three go-to songs emerged and become synonymous with what to expect during a night of appropriate drinking, honky tonkin’ and karaoking. Beyond being a perennial favorite of the werewolf, “I Can’t Dance” has the dubious honor of being on that list. Watching it done right by Phil Collins and the maestros of Genesis always brings a smile to werewolf’s haggard face.

Echo and the Bunnymen: Lips Like Sugar - Live

Echo & The Bunnymen have been a perennial favorite of the werewolf since he stumbled onto them during college. That discovery was courtesy of one of history's greatest footnotes, Napster. What a find it was back in the day. He felt like Cortez stumbling upon the legendary Aztec city of Tenochtitlan and realizing the potential for something great. The song that pulled him into their orbit was actually the eerily addictive and chilling The Killing Moon. Echo & The Bunnymen served as the gateway that introduced the werewolf to the joys of Gary Newman, Peter Murphy, Tubeway Army and Joy Division along with the uniquely distorted electric sounds associated with the early 80s.

The song is great for other reasons. It tells the tale of that unattainable wench who steals our heart, drives our imagination wild in the most lascivious of ways, knows her power over us and leverages it as she tempts and teases with the sadistic cruelty normally reserved for a Spanish Inquisitor, while never allowing us the chance to follow through. You all know the type of women to whom I refer. Yet, we convince ourselves that the pay-off of enduring her torture is that her "lips are like sugar." What fools we men can be when it comes to allowing the fairer sex have imaginary dominion over us at times.

This song is on the karaoke bucket list. It'll take a bucket or two of beer to execute

Lonnie's: The best place on earth.

Catholics have the Vatican, Muslims have Mecca, kids have Disneyland, gays have San Francisco, and the werewolf has Lonnie's Western Room in Nashville, Tennessee. When the werewolf passes from this earth, his one request may be that the memorial service be held at Lonnie's.

This clip captures a remarkable specimen of humanity that is frequently on display at Lonnie's. The dude's name is Omar and the stomach slap is epic.

For better or worse, the werewolf spent a lot time engaging in tomfoolery and his second favorite pastime of blitzed karaoke on that stage. Exile has caused the werewolf to look back on the fonder moments of his odd life, and Lonnie's is regularly on the recall register. There will be a forthcoming post about karaoke, werewolf style, along with more thoughts on the legendary nature of Lonnie's. In the meantime, the werewolf assures his readers that the 40-second clip above is well worth their time.

Rotten Apple sues Nashville Landmark. Her songs still suck.

According to The Tennessean, Fiona Apple, a musician most people have long forgotten ever existed, is suing Lonnie's Western Room, in what is likely a vain attempt to either reignite her long dead career, or get some money for last month's rent. Fuck you, Fiona!

The article seems to imply that Lonnie's will emerge from this just fine. Let's hope so. As suggested in other posts, Lonnie's was an integral part of the werewolf's business school experience in Nashville. A Friday night bouncing around Nashville's amazing honky tonks wasn't complete until you stumbled into Lonnie's for both a night cap and to belt out some songs. It's where the werewolf's ill-fated karaoke career both began and ended. Lonnie's is a truly a gem in multiple ways, and frankly, one of the werewolf's eternal favorite destinations. Lonnie himself is both a decent guy, and rather impressive entrepreneur. The werewolf crossed paths with him on several occasions while frequenting his establishment and was impressed to learn that Lonnie allegedly won his legendary karaoke bar in a poker game once upon a time.

It's funny, just today, the werewolf received a New Year's well wishes card from a dear business school friend, featuring a rather hilarious photo of that dear friend on the stage at Lonnie's. Anyhow, the werewolf wishes Lonnie all the best, and hopes that the rotten Apple contracts an awful STD and fades into oblivion. Where she belongs.