Ain't no good life but

The cover story of this week's Isthmus is the latest installment in my ongoing series about Madison nightlife. Share and enjoy.

Good word

"It was always: 'Socrates, what is truth? Socrates, what is the nature of the good? Socrates, what should I order? Socrates, what are you having?' And not once did anyone ever say: 'Socrates, hemlock is poison!'"

--Steve Martin

Hack hacks

My summer cold notwithstanding it was, as you might guess from today's Isthmus, a busy week for me. I wrote the cover story, a highly arbitrary look at Madison nightlife options, and I filled in on the music column. For the latter, I previewed this weekend's Robbie Fulks concert and blues festival, and I bade adieu to fiddler extraordinaire Vassar Clements.

Bring me no blues

A different way to go postal.

Big music tomorrow

Lest I forget: tomorrow night, Friday Aug. 26, rockabilly legend Sleepy LaBeef will be performing at the Memorial Union Terrace, 800 Langdon St. in Madison. And joining him, for a quick set beforehand and maybe other stuff, will be the White Mule Country Blues Band, a combo whose ever-shifting lineup includes yours truly, Low Rollin' Joe Nosek of the Cash Box Kings, Chris Boeger of the CBK and the World's Greatest Lovers, and others.

There is no damn cover, and music starts at 9:00.

"Closer to the dogs"

The Nashville Tennessean takes a comprehensive look back at how the 1970s streaking fad manifested itself in Music City. Streaking on the stage of the "Grand Ole Opry"!

Meet and greet

Say howdy, y'all, to my dear friends Walter and Alison. They just moved from Nashville to Charleston, and they started a blog for the occasion.