all the songs to know by heart

Sheryl Crow and John Mayer played Nissan Pavillion on Sunday the 3rd.
There was a buzz in the air, and it wasn't over whether or not Jessica
Simpson was going to make a surprise appearance and duet with her
new beau, although we spoke of it in hushed voices, hoping it would not
happen while expressing a certain morbid curiosity regarding the possibility.

Sheryl had an anti-war message to transmit, and it was neither
too wimpy nor too aggressive for my taste. Just right, Sheryl.
She mentioned her battle with cancer. No bitter diatribe about ance-Lay...
She was so.. peaceful. A kind Sheryl. Not angry at the world,
just calmly resolute about her place in it - maybe befuddled
a bit at the choices made by the powers that be- but
calmly, soothingly resolute.

And she rocked. Rocked well. Rocked on.. and she closed with ZED ZEPPELIN..and
after this very fine show, on behalf of her peacefulness,
I was ready to wrestle Ann Coulter to the ground and give her
a big zerbert.. So whatever subtle political magic she's weaving,
it worked, and worked well. At least on me.

It was that kind of show.

But that's not all. Even though I don't routinely listen to her on my
pink iPod, (yes, the color matters) I found myself singing along. The
proof of her staying power as an artist was not only in the nearly full
house (and it's a pretty damn big house..) but in the fact that I and so
many other single voices in the mass - not all diehard fans -
knew the words to her ballads, her folky tunes, her delighful poprocks.
Heartache, forgiveness, compassion,
gettin' drunk at ten o'clock in the morning - and at least 5 of my top
10 values for surviving in this insanity we're calling the
American Way of Life these days... well, it was all there, and the words
came, and we all sang these melodies together. She gave props to the
crowd. "Who's in the yard!? hey y'all, we like y'all alot why don't y'all
quit your jobs and come on tour with us?"

Oh girl. Just as soon as I get done beatin' up on Ann Coulter.