John Mellencamp
My mom used to wear a T-shirt that said "Dance Naked" across the front. That's right. My mom. On the back, it read,
"John
Cougar Mellencamp." It was one of her favorites, and I have so many fond memories of the two of us singing to "Hurt So
Good." I recently told her she better find that shirt because he's playing the
Ryman Auditorium
in Nashville in November. Until then, I'll be digging out my favorites like "Small Town," "Hurts So Good," "Jack & Diane"
and "Pink Houses." However, I'm also digging a few tunes from his new album,
No Better Than This, recorded with one
microphone and a mono tape recorder that's more than a half-century old, giving the album a very raw, one-take feel. The album's
first single and video,
"No Better Than This," provides
an upbeat ode to a good time. The black-and-white, home-movie-like footage also keeps with the album's vintage feel.
His
website boasts that his new tour will feature "all phases of his artistry" including a documentary meant to be a "think
piece" for the audience. Although I'm curious to see the behind-the-scenes film featuring him on tour with
Bob
Dylan and
Willie Nelson, I really hope this "artistry" includes those hip-swinging
dance moves.
