I went to go hear him read last night (and got a bonus Q&A with Jim Walsh to boot). It was fabulous.He is a kind, gracious, charming, and entertaining man. I was amazed how he got up and shook the hand of every single person waiting in line. It was a great time.

Oh and then when I got my book signed I got to crush David Carr’s dreams about how Paul Westerberg mentioned his book on the blog. Westernerds, he was so excited. The look in his eye was five-year-old getting a bike for Christmas excited. And then I was like, “Uh, that was me.”

We can add this to the list of phrases I never expected to utter in actual real life with my own voice: “I’m not Paul Westerberg.”

Second of all, Imemat has done all the heavy lifting with regard to that 1982 show and converting the files to MP3. Go download than and while you’re there check out the response he got to the only fan letter he’s ever gotten.

Third of all, Aquarium Drunkard has a great, great write up on 5:05.

I like to pretend that y’all love books as much as I do and that when I suggest ‘mats-esque books you kind of dig that, even if you don’t read them. Please do not disabuse me of this delusion, okay?

Anyway, I am here to tell you about David Carr’s memoir The Night of the Gun. Some of you might remember Carr from his NY Times piece about The ‘Mats a few years back. Some of you local old-timers might remember him from his stint at the now-defunct Twin Cities Reader. A lot of you probably have no idea who the fuck I’m talking about.

You should read this book anyway. It’s a thrilling, fascinating, can’t-lookaway-like-a-trainwreck book. See, before becoming Mr. Successful NY Times Writer, Carr was a skeevy crackhead trolling the streets of the Twin Cities. We’re talking dirtbag of epic proportions — a woman-beating, child neglecting, drug dealing, kind of dirtbag. Reading about his depths and how he slowly dug himself out makes for a good time. This isn’t one of those glory be to God on the highest, let your little light shine kind of bullshit recovery memoir. So don’t worry about that.

Seriously, it is jaw-droppingly fascinating. I don’t throw that word around lightly, and I’m generally the snobbiest of the book snobs, but this book is worth your time.

Also there are a few blink-and-you’ll-miss-it ‘Mats references, which is totally my justification for writing about this book here. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: We should always support authors who have the good sense to like the ‘Mats. Right?

Missed my other Paul Westerberg Bookclub Recommendations?
Joshua Furst’s Sabotage Cafe

Er, I guess that’s it though I could have sworn I talked about Brock Clarke’s An Arsonist’s Guide to Writers’ Homes in New England. I should have. Ha! I did. I’m so smart.