Last night, Sarah and I headed east to Richmond and the Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens to hear Texan singer/songwriter (and fellow Aggie) Robert Earl Keen. I like REK a lot, mainly because he can tell a great story, both traditionally and in a song. His best work gives us glimpses of love ("Gringo Honeymoon"), murder and desperation ("The Road Goes On Forever"), and longing ("I'm Coming Home, the wonderful new song "What I Really Mean"). All of these tuneful stories are infused with a vivid and definite sense of place. Most of the time, that place is Texas, though occasionally he ventures to Santa Cruz, Mexico, Tenessee, or (in the new song "The Great Hank") Philadelphia, where he sees Hank Williams in drag.

Last nights show was hampered by an obviously under-the-weather Keen, though he tried his damndest. With a scratchy voice that he described as "the love child of Tom Waits and Joan Rivers playing country music", he solidered though old favorites like "Gringo Honeymoon," "Feeling Good Again," and "Shades of Gray." He also treated us to new stuff. He played "What I Really Mean," and commented that it had been written in Charlottesville. The set also featured "Mr. Wolf and Mamabear" and "The Great Hank." Although Keen was not at his best and played a short set, I was still impressed, especailly by the obligatory "The Road Goes On Forver" as the closer. This song tunred into a guitar and mandolin jam that lasted ten minutes, with Rich Brotherton on guitar blowing me away. That was one of the best "Roads" I have ever heard.

A good time, to be sure, even if we just sat in the parking lot for thirty minutes after the show. One exit and no one directing traffic -- nice job, there, promoters.

And even though I was home and in bed by 12:30, I'm still beat. This means, of course, that I'm an old man.