Bob, one of my longest-standing clients, has mysteriously gone missing. I don’t know if he’s having financial problems, marital problems, health problems, or if he’s just having a Long Dark Tea-Time Of The Soul. At any rate it’s quite unlike him to go incommunicado and it concerns me because I like the guy. And because he owes me money.

Jerry Joseph and Wally Ingram “Paper Planes” (M.I.A.)
I’m familiar with drummer extraordinaire Wally Ingram from his acoustic duo tours with David Lindley. I don’t generally take notice of drummers, but this guy is incredible. Joseph and Ingram are also in a band called Stockholm Syndrome that’s going to be on tour in August.

Of course M.I.A. is just a clever stage name for the rapper/provocateur/thin skinned celebrity. But Bob really is missing. I talked to his office manager who told me he hadn’t talked to Bob in a week. I sure hope he’s okay.

Nisse Thorbjørn “Where Did You Sleep Last Night?” (Lead Belly)
This song became arguably the best-known Lead Belly song (at least to early 90s hipsters) when Nirvana did a hair-raising version on the MTV Unplugged show. This version has a bluegrassy feel with the mandolin but it’s still a blues tune. It’s interesting to hear it done as a duet, with the woman claiming that she’s the one who spent the night in the pines shivering and moaning.

I can only assume that Bob slept in his own bed last night but I have no way to know for sure. I do know where he lives since I’ve done work in his home as well at at his place of business, but I’m not inclined to peep in his windows at night to see if he’s there.

Brian Eno and John Cale “You Don’t Miss Your Water” (William Bell)
Eno and Cale put out an album in the mid 80s called Wrong Way Up. It’s wistful and charming and warm, all adjectives rarely applied to Mr. Eno. It’s one of my favorite albums, which more than one person has found surprising. Apparently an expanded version of the album was released somewhere down the line because I just found this song which is not on my CD. It’s a great song in its own right and it’s even more interesting as an example of what happens when Brian Eno plays a Stax soul song.

As the song says, I never realized how much I liked Bob until he wasn’t around.

Missing Persons “Hello, I Love You” (The Doors)
I don’t know how many people remember this video-driven 80s outfit. It consisted of four people who used to play with Frank Zappa, including ex-Zappa drummer Terry Bozzio and his wife Dale. She was best known for wearing way too much makeup and really slutty clothes. I tried to like their stuff because I’m such a huge Zappa fan but I just couldn’t get into it. But there is plenty of weirdo percussion in their music to remind you of who Terry used to work for.

Not only can I not get ahold of Bob but I can’t get ahold of his wife either. Since she’s the one who actually cuts the checks for his business it’s a problem for me to have two missing persons on my hands.

Ted Leo “Since U Been Gone” (Kelly Clarkson)
The Pitchfork favorite reworks the bombastic original as a driving acoustic song.

I’m not happier since Bob has gone. I’m just uneasy.