David Bazan - Cold Beer And Cigarettes

Tonight I’ll be seeing this man, my favorite musician, playing in a living room for about 40 people. It’ll be my 8th (or 9th? or 10th?) Bazan show (including Pedro The Lion) and I’m undeniably excited. I never get tired of his music or his performances and I’m continually awed by his talent.

I’ve never heard another artist craft songs that tell such perfect linear stories without using the standard verse/refrain format - in fact, a large number of his songs don’t even have a refrain/chorus at all. I wish I had a way with words, as I could never write something as perfect as this:

A white ghost, making his way up the West coast, trying to focus his high hopes, on a vagina or two. He’s taking his chances.

Meanwhile, back in his living room, bright smiles are watching his toddler run speed trials over her grandmother’s rug. And nature advances…

…Up the interstate. He’s been awake and pretty drunk for three whole days. No one wants to stop until they get to where they’re going. I’ll get to where I’m going, pretty soon.

So he takes another drink, cause watching the scenery bleed into each similar scene isn’t as sweet as it had been in his dreams.

It’s faster to buy cigarettes and some cold beer if you don’t rattle the cashier by asking her back to your room. She’s calling security!

A car’s on fire in the parking lot and nobody wants it to rain. But god isn’t listening - so all of the windshields glisten. The water and oil mix, causing the fire to spread to five or six innocent automobiles waiting in their nearby spots. What a cruel god we’ve got.

Right on.

So he takes another drink, cause watching the formula bleed into each similar thing isn’t as sweet as it had been in his dreams.

I like this song a lot - especially the chord progression during the “Up the interstate…” section. It’s magical.

Originally recorded: March 31, 2011