On Justin Townes Earle’s recent arrest, etc.
**UPDATE: Justin Townes Earle has suspended his autumn tour and is entering rehab. More news here.
Kyla just forwarded a link to me from My Old Kentucky Blog, which talks about a recent gig Justin Townes Earle played in Indianapolis. Sounds like the night got out of hand and eventually resulted in Earle’s arrest. You can click on that link up there to read more about what reportedly happened.
I’m not interested in making a big deal of anyone’s addiction, or what might piss someone off on a bad day on the road, or whatever it was that led up to that. I’m only interested in the comfort and safety of everyone involved, and hope it all got settled in the most sensible way.
UPDATE: When asked to comment, Earle told My Old Kentucky Blog, “Unfortunately, reports surfacing online about the incident in Indianapolis are not accurate. I have been advised by counsel that I should not comment on a pending criminal matter, but suffice to say that I am looking forward to having my day in court. I would also like to say that I oppose violence against women in any form.”
I know there’s a way of thinking which says such a happening has nothing to do with the music. But then there’s a song like this:
When I heard this news, I thought I might make a comment about the life of a professional artist being just plain tiring. To humanize the reality of road life, the toll it takes to be away from your family and friends, the weird things it does to your mind, your sleeping patterns, your temper. All that on top of the fact that your average artist is at least twenty times more sensitive to the world than most folks. Then, a family legacy and a predilection toward addiction…but it’s not something I reckon words can entirely service, regardless of any comment I might make here.
I’m aware most people look at full-time artists as lucky, romantic figures, even though we now have Twitter to force-feed us the unglamorous reality of it all (Jason Isbell watching sports; Rosanne Cash’s boundless licorice habit; Earle’s post-fight bloody ass; on and on).
At any rate, any discussion about what led to that friction in Indiana would be speculation. Let’s just hope whoever got hurt that night heals alright. And that an artist as talented and promising as Earle can turn around and pour it all right into the music.