While you might not know the name Blaze Foley, people like Lucinda Williams, Willie Nelson and John Prine do as they have either 
covered his songs or written songs about him.
One of Foley’s good friends Gurf Morlix was back in Lethbridge, Wednesday, June 8 to paint a clearer picture of this drunk, homeless, hilarious plus a few unprintable adjectives, but who was also an amazing songwriter.
While I missed Kevin Triplett’s documentary on Foley (which started off the evening) , who was murdered at the age of 39 defending a friend of his who was being abused by his son, Morlix painted a vivid picture of this fascinating character by telling a variety of colourful stories and playing his music for an attentive and intimate crowd of about 30 at the Geomatic Attic.
He started off by telling the story of how he met Foley, how Foley attached himself to him, and about dragging people to Foley’s first gig— in a disco— shortly after arriving in Austin.
Foley lived on Morlix’s couch for many years and Morlix helped him get his music out there on record. If Morlix’s performance was any indication, Foley was also a very talented guitarist. Morlix tapped out a beat on two blocks of microphoned 2x4s, while playing some impressive guitar and singing Foley’s heart-wrenching lyrics.
He began with a cool one , “Big Cheeseburgers and Good French Fries” which was also on “Cold, Cold, World,” the only official CD of Foley’s music and then played some of his more popular hits made famous by other songwriters, “ Clay Pigeons,” which John Prine recorded an “If Only I Could Fly,” which Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson both recorded.
He showed off Foley’s sense of humour by singing on e of my favourites, “Wouldn’t It be Nice,” which he wrote after watching an elderly lady locking her doors after spotting him hitch hiking. Morlix then segued into a story about how his parents first met Foley and noting his mother recognized him hitch-hiking.
He showed off Foley’s sensitive side by playing “Oooh Love,” which featured a beautifully tasteful guitar solo.
Morlix also played a song he wrote about Foley, “The music You never Made,” from his “Last Exit to Happyland ” CD. He wound things down with another whimsical song and the title track of Morlix’s new tribute album to Foley “Blaze Foley’s 113th Wet Dream” and ended with “Cold, Cold World.”
