MUMBO JUMBO – May 2012

ROAD DOGS and THOROUGHBREDS!

On the road in the South and The Kentucky Derby

It’s the Monday morning after the Kentucky Derby here in Louisville, and I’m recovering from our two shows here and a wonderful string of social events. Three of my friends and partners in The Smokin’ Tuna are Louisville folks and have seats at The Derby, so I was lucky enough to attend the 138th running of the legendary event.

If you’ve ever been here you know what an incredible week it is. The horse racing is amazing in and of itself, but I think the accompanying parties and dinners and charity events put it in a class of its own! I guess I just love the history and civility of it all.

When was the last time you landed at an airport and walked into a spotless terminal adorned with thousands of stunning long stemmed red roses and were greeted by beautifully dressed woman offering you chocolates?!

And just imagine this? 165,000 people crammed into a stadium (a record!) in suits, dresses, hats and hideously uncomfortable shoes in 85 degree heat and humidity. Now consider most of these folks are consuming large quantities of bourbon and gambling (and in most cases) losing large quantities of money. I never saw a fight or even an argument!!

I’ve given this great thought and pondered how it’s conceivable that so many overheated, bourbon fueled men could possibly behave in such a cheerful and civilized manner and not follow their instincts and degenerate into a boiling cauldron of soccer hooligans!

I apologize if this is in any way politically incorrect, but as a keen observer of humanity this is my conclusion: Even the most pre-historic, testosterone filled male, after losing thousands of dollars in the southern heat, has neither the stomach nor the heart to make a complete ass of himself in front of thousands of the most gorgeous, beautifully dressed women in the world! It’s really as simple as that.

Even myself and legendary Key West guitarist Caffeine Carl were able to clean up and behave appropriately. And yes, we drank bourbon and lost money!

Carl was in town performing with The Nick Norman Band at one of the great parties in town. Nick’s Band plays regularly at The Smokin’ Tuna, so we had a little Key West in Louisville this week! Now it’s on to the Cincinnati area, Nashville, Gulf Coast, New Orleans and Texas.

It’s that time of the year when I feel more like the late CBS reporter Charles Kuralt, who was best known for his weekly “On the Road” series. He also penned a book of the same title and included chapters of his favorite places in America; Key West being one of them.

Coincidentally, he always stayed at a guest house on Catherine St. called The Travelers Palm, which is right down the street from my home. I saw Kuralt a few times around town but never at the right moment to sit and share a drink. As a passionate traveler/devout hobo, I always enjoyed his brilliant pieces on Americana.

With the exception of a one week engagement at our beloved Smokin’ Tuna Saloon, May 21 through 26, I don’t expect to be in Key West until sometime in October.

We’re still looking to play in Colorado in June, and to fill dates in the Midwest in July, so if you have any ideas or would like to sponsor a house concert please contact Terry@scottkirby.com.

MAY SCHEDULE:

May 8 – Molly Malone’s; Covington, KY

May 10 – Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville; Nashville, TN

May 11 – Flora-Bama Oyster Bar & Grill; Pensacola, FL

May 12 – Juana’s Pagodas; Navarre Beach, FL

May 13 – Tropical Isle; New Orleans, LA

May 16 – T-Bone Tom’s; Kemah, TX

May 17 – Sideliner’s Grill; San Antonio, TX

May 18 – Sugar Land Town Square; Sugar Land, TX

May 19 – Port Bay Club; Rockport, TX

May 21-27 – Smokin’ Tuna Saloon; Key West, FL

May 30 – Private Event; Miami, FL