Dear Damien Rice,

I just wanted to let you know that my previous offer still stands. If today or even tomorrow night you want to go and let me buy you and your band drinks - awesome. Despite the fact that I am about to (at lunch, not at 8 am) fill my "drink too much" quota for the second time this weekend, I would gladly do so a third time if you were involved. Let my family call me an alcoholic! I'll be a bad ass alcoholic who hung out with Damien Rice. So, there you go. I would have told you at ACL fest, but I have no wristband, no day pass. It sucks to be an Austinite when you're too poor to go to local events but people from all over the country manage to make it. I'm sure I'll tell you (actually, anyone) more about it when I've had a few. I'll be right down the street from you and ACL for a while though, drinking with the notorious LK.

Sincerely,

The Q

It is finally here!

I have managed to keep myself quiet all month. Not even Lauren has done so well.

Do you know what today is? It is Damien Rice Day! (Is anyone thinking of Empire Records' Rex Manning Day? It's not quite the same - I won't be bringing him lunch, offering myself to him, or having sex on a copy-machine.)

I am so excited! And if I had any money I'd repeat my previous offer. However, I've dropped so many shifts lately that I am broke! So I'll just enjoy the show tonight.

Fine then!

And enjoy this anyway.

This is the best quality sound and picture wise. "Coconut Skins" off of 9.


"9 Crimes" off of 9. Don't ever listen to anyone who says that Lisa Hannigan isn't given enough respect/credit/time. She is given them, and deserves it 100%.


"Eskimo" off of O. It's fun, it's grand.


"Volcano," the very first Damien Rice song I ever head. This is what made me buy the CD O, which it is featured on. Album version has strings where Lisa improvises.


"Accidental Babies" from 9. The sweetest love song ever, from the point of view of "the other guy." Honestly, I wasn't expecting it the first time I heard it and I cried. In my car. In the parking lot at work. I don't like the quality, but you need to hear this song.


Damien Rice and Lisa Hannigan play "Unplayed Piano" and "Cold Water" at the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo.

Yes.

Have you listened to Damien Rice?
You should. You really, really should.

Some of his songs rock my soul.

I looked all over his band site, just in case,(http://www.damienrice.com/) and understandably only found his record label's address. So here is an invitation for Damien Rice:

Mr. Rice -
I know you have been to Austin a few times, I hope that we have shown you a good time. I'm inviting you and the band back because I think you are phenomenal musicians. I'd like to take you out around town, I think you'd blend in beautifully. So I'm inviting you to join me to drink, chain-smoke, eat greasy food in the middle of the night; actually, do just about anything, I love showing off Austin. As an added bonus, if I drink enough I'll sing Dolly Parton for you (I only know 1 1/2 songs, and I'm a decent singer. It's not too painful). I imagine you are interesting company, I'd love to find out.

Sincerely,

The Q