Highway Culture
Thursday, September 11, 2008
The American character has always been defined by a desire to hit the road and leave home in search of a truer one. In "It Still Moves: Lost Songs, Lost Highways, and the Search for the American Music," journalist Amanda Petrusich takes to the road looking to understand a culture that produced Lead Belly and Hank Williams, but also Cracker Barrel and Clear Channel.
Soundcheck blog: John Schaefer on exploring the roots of American music.
Soundcheck blog: John Schaefer on exploring the roots of American music.
Comments [5]
It's a shame that at the end of the interview you had to, somehow, tie 9/11 in and also note, by the way, that Ahmad Jamal is Muslim. WOW! BRILLIANT! Now how about asking the next Italian artist you interview how he feels about the genocide Columbus wrought on the native Americans? How about that John? The stupidity, and closeted bigotry of "educated" people never ceases to amaze me.
enjoyed the show, but I cant believe that the Grateful Dead wasn't mentioned. No other band, not even Led Zeppelin, embodied the spirit of Americana. I cant think of a Hunter/Garcia song that does not have a direct lyrical refference to an Americana or traditional folk song.
I always feel sad when people have to explain, or have explained to them, the most common features of their own culture as if they were the mysteries of subatomic physics. If you feel there's some sort of dissonance between Hank Williams and Cracker Barrel to begin with, then you're just not getting it.
John,
There's a Cracker Barrel restaurant off Exit 40 on Route 95 in Connecticut.
If you're driving north, stop off and take a look. Also, they serve an enormous apple dessert that's incredibly good.
i'm all for americana, but people who've grown up in the americana tradition are capable of writing about their own music. this book sounds like an exotifying journey from a northeast city kid.
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