The sign across the street reads Mall of America. Seriously. While on a plane out of Minneapolis headed to Denmark via Amsterdam, we were about to cross the Atlantic when we were diverted back to the U.S. Seems Eyjafjallajokull is belching ash again.
If I were in Austin this week, I’d be headed to the Exile on South Lamar show Thursday, benefiting MusiCares’ Nashville Flood Relief fund. Between the devastation of Mardi Gras Indians’ costumes during Hurricane Katrina and Nashville’s recent flood, pieces of musical history have been lost and damaged. When the Cumberland River overflowed last month, Nashville suffered terrible losses, including severe damage at the Grand Ole Opry.
Leave it to the Sin City Social Club to rally locals to Music City’s defense using the re-release of the Rolling Stones’ Exile on Main Street as its theme. Members of the Mother Truckers, Jesse Dayton, Stonehoney, Deadman, Knuckle Yummy, Nakia, Randy Weeks, David Beck, and Power Station vocalist Michael Des Barres all perform songs from the legendary 1972 release.
A silent auction includes a vinyl copy of Exile, the limited edition 7-inch single “Plundered My Soul,” and “uncut proofs from the super-deluxe Exile book, featuring a gorgeous photo of Keith and Gram Parsons suitable for framing.” All proceeds from the door and auction items go directly to the NARAS Nashville Flood Relief Fund.
Want to donate or volunteer? Contact Shilah Morrow at Shilah@sincitymarketing.com. Morrow is the ball of fire behind all those Sin City shows, working with her lifelong friend Polly Parsons of Hickory Wind Ranch. Morrow and Parsons have known each other since they were toddlers, and their Sin City productions have paid homage to Parsons’ father Gram as well as being a fixture showcases during SXSW.
Good cause, good music, good tacos. I couldn’t find that at the Mall of America if I tried.
This article appears in May 14 • 2010.