Elvis sighting

[pages]

Yeah. Basically I saw Hayduke's post, checked the time, and took a stroll. I don't think I'd have had the nerve to say anything except for that as we past and I broke into a big smile, he smiled back as if to acknowledge, and I managed to spit out "how do you do" while trying to act like I was just passing by. Wish I'd said "welcome back to knoxville."

Damn. Did I mention that was cool?
~m.

Or thanked him for singing Knoxville Girl last time.

I'm w/ Georgia, getting up the nerve to say something is cool. And, it sounds like you did it in a way that both acknowledged your fan state and respected his privacy.

Yes, cool.

[Hildegard]

Yeah. Basically I saw Hayduke's post, checked the time, and took a stroll. I don't think I'd have had the nerve to say anything except for that as we past and I broke into a big smile, he smiled back as if to acknowledge, and I managed to spit out "how do you do" while trying to act like I was just passing by. Wish I'd said "welcome back to knoxville."

Damn. Did I mention that was cool?
~m.

It is cool. And what's cooler is if you were wearing the hat and maybe the robe (oh, damn I know you weren't but a girl can dream) and, more probably, the candidly sly look... and if Dixie Belle buzzed by in her English cap and breeches on the vintage bike with a basket and a bell (likely)... it had to have made an impression.

I was at the Patti Smith show when she said, "This is a weird little town you got here."

[James]

Or thanked him for singing Knoxville Girl last time.

I'm w/ Georgia, getting up the nerve to say something is cool. And, it sounds like you did it in a way that both acknowledged your fan state and respected his privacy.

Yes, cool.

Now that's what I'm talking about. But if you could have dropped that line about Knoxville Girl last time he was here you could have pulled a Hi Top and probably would be in the Green room by now.

[Dixie Belle]

It is cool. And what's cooler is if you were wearing the hat and maybe the robe (oh, damn I know you weren't but a girl can dream) and, more probably, the candidly sly look... and if Dixie Belle buzzed by in her English cap and breeches on the vintage bike with a basket and a bell (likely)... it had to have made an impression.

I was at the Patti Smith show when she said, "This is a weird little town you got here."

Actually, Hildy...how prescient(sp?) of you

I spotted him/them (his band?) from my crazy pinkish bicycle, whilst wearing my newsboy cap and breeches... I thought to myself "that is Elvis Fuckin' Costello" BUT, as I am a MUCH bigger fan of his current wife, Diana Krall...I betook myself and my bike over the the P-Pub patio, where I mentioned the sighting and gave a roll of the head over yonder to indicate where he was sitting (I checked in with some younger hipper-than-thou types for verification. They didn't want to believe....but they checked it out and were verrry excited!!!)

On my 2nd pass, on my way to Walgreen's on Cumberland, I saw the rose guy giving him a rose from a fan and did, indeed, give a little salute on my bicycle bell, er, to the rose guy of course...

My Daddy-o has tix to tomorrow night's show!

Yowza!

[Tennessee Jed]

You townies have a cool life, I'm jealous.

Thanks for sharing though, through you I live.

[SnM]

So the Blab enabled collective Elvis stalking?

You must use this power only for good.

[relentless1]

No, seriously. That was cool.
I can't believe I just said hi to Elvis Costello.
I mean, damn.
The blab collective rocks.
~m.

I'd say that cancels out the G. Clinton dis.

[jaketenderhook]

after some gentle prodding from my gf, I got up the nerve to say hey to the Imposters while they were enjoying some ice cream on Market Square. It went like this:

me walking up, eyes wide as saucers, purple MOMOFUKU lp in hand

moi: "uhh, 'scuse me, I really love your band, and I was just wondering if you'd sign my-"

pete thomas: (in thick london accent) "your girlfriend?"

:::much laughter::::

They were all super sweet guys, and seemed genuinely surprised that I had their new record. Pete Thomas hadn't even seen the finished sleeve yet! While the band passed around the album and signed it for me, Pete told me about his daughter, Tennessee Thomas, playing side-by-side drum kits with him on a few tracks. Another moment:

pete thomas: "yeah, we only took about a week to record it, didn't think about it too much or anything.."

me: "yeah, it sounds like it!"

::::band laughs loudly while I turn red::::::

me:"no! I mean...in a good way! I really love it!"

After some more convo bemoaning the destruction of the Tabernacle in Atl, someone (the road manager perhaps? he was british as well) told me, "well, the singer is in that shop over there (motioning to Bliss) if pehaps you'd like to meet him."

me: (awestruck) "the flying Elvi?"

::::Imposters laugh heartily:::::

road manager guy: "yeah, that's the ticket, come on!"

So, we marched dutifully across market square, one hand clasping my purple LP, the other shaking and sweaty in Jenn's hand. Jenn got a huge kick out of this whole thing by the way. She'll say anything to anyone, but she knows that distance is more my tendency, so she loves putting me through the ringer in situations like this.
SO, we march into Bliss, and there he is at the counter; bespectacled, gap-toothed grin, buying green toddler hoodies with frog eyes on the hoods.

road manager: "Hey, this is Jake, he wanted to meet you"

the Elvi: 'ello Jake! :::hearty handshake, eyes LP:::: oh so you've actually got that, can you listen to it?"

me: "yeah, I got a turntable last Christmas!"

the Elvi:::sincerely::: "aren't they lovely?"

Elvis told me that this was the first MOMOFUKU he'd actually signed, then proceeded to open up the gatefold and take me through the liner notes, pointing out who everyone was in the pictures..

the Elvi: "now there's Jenny Lewis from Rilo Kiley, and that's David Hidalgo from Los Lobos..."

me::::grinning wildly and stupidly:::: "uh-huh.....uh-huh..."

He talked with Jenn and I for ten minutes about, amongst other things:

the merits of CDs, iPODS, and vinyl

different kinds of cardboard used for record sleeves

the importance of tracklistings

the demise of record companies

favorite colors (Elvis favors green, as it appears on MOMOFUKU and his sons' frog hoodies)

All in all, it was a gigantic thrill to meet someone whose albums I've obsessively tracked down since I was 14, and find out that they're friendly, funny, and willing to stop and chat with a goofy kid. I was proud of myself for not being reduced to a sniveling pile of fanboy rubbish in front of one my all-time heroes. After parting ways with the Elvi, Jenn and I proceeded to the Senor for a gargantuan margarita. Best Cinco de Mayo ever.

[metulj]

No, seriously. That was cool.
I can't believe I just said hi to Elvis Costello.
I mean, damn.
The blab collective rocks.
~m.

You missed the chance to say "Elvis, my man."

[Georgia]

I'm extremely impressed he knew what size hoodies to purchase for his children.

Usually Dads come in and using their hands say "Oh, the kids are this big...got something that'll fit?"