Monday, April 30, 2012

Something in the air?

One has to wonder when you have that unsettling feeling about something. You are not sure what it is or is it just you? It seems for me I have been alittle more sensitive to others  people's vibes or what is just in the air the last three of four days.
A feeling of anxiousness about something.

Mother Nature has been wielding her ways with cold arctic air blowing down on us here in New England and it seems like she is trying to get our attention.

Everything has been constantly moving in the wind.

Is it just a flux or a slight wrinkle?

I know there is a pressure valve around  tomorrow and want may or may not occur.

I don't believe that what it is.

Maybe its another cross roads?

Or is it just permanence?

Either way we should all be extra aware of our part in it and stay as grounded and in the moment as we can.

Intention is a very powerful thing too.
Mandala courtesy of Drepung Loseling Monastery
                                                    



Sunday, April 29, 2012

Granville MA

It was a blustery day but the late afternoon light was quite special.
The matriarch of the forest.
That perfect light.
Cold clean water.


Bending birch





Emily on a April morning

One of my favorite poems by Emily Dickinson. I discovered it many years ago watching the  heartbreaking  film Sophie's Choice. If you have never seen the film  you can see the clip here of the poem being read.The yearning of her words read by Stingo, the  visual imagery and the emotional and  moving  score by Marvin Hamlisch will bring you  to tears.

Ample make this bed.

Ample make this bed.
Make this bed with awe;
In it wait till judgment break
Excellent and fair.

Be its mattress straight,
Be its pillow round;
Let no sunrise' yellow noise
Interrupt this ground.
Emily Dickinson
Photo courtesy of wikipedia
 

Saturday, April 28, 2012

The "Q" is back!

This weekend on the heels of the recent ending of the Furthur spring tour last week and the passing of Levon Helm the following day. Phil Lesh is already midstream in a  four show reunion at Terrapin Crossings out in San Rafael of the legendary "Q". This  band includes the long time  drummer of  Phil & Friends John Molo, DSO keyboardist Ron Barraco, and legendary guitar players Jimmy Herring and Warren Haynes.

To many this band was simply one of the best bands, if not the, of high energy improvisational  psychedelic rock  music of all time. To the die harder follower of this band this weekend reunion  has been long over due and some thought it might never happen. From the reviews coming out of the first two shows this  band has picked up right where they left off  back in 2002. If you hang out on the Philzone you know what I'm talking about.
It is the  buzz for sure.

I  will honor this reunion with a review of my one and only " Q" show from February, 9th 2001 at the Fillmore in Denver, Colorado. For many of us who were major Deadheads for the last fifteen years of the band's run, it was the best of times and it was the worst of times. In hind sight we all know now we asked for far more than Jerry could  give those final years and we regret it to this day. When Phil had a liver transplant a  couple years after Jerry's passing who knew how the music would carry on? Phil Lesh also recognizes how the past played out and began the resurgence of his musical career and  life by honoring the present. This is clearly best represented by his performances of live music with the large family of fellow musicians who have joined him over the last seventeen years. This begin to come back in a big way with The Other Ones in 1998 and solo projects of the core four continued. One of the most important and influential was Phil & Friends. If you were a Jerry head back in the day more than likely  you were a Phil head too. You  understood that  Phil was the heart of that band and when your heard him play live he could move you in so many ways.

With his Phil & Friends projects Phil did the most justice to the Grateful Dead song book. He also  took that very same song  book and turned it on its head and went on wild and magical rides many nights, and the "Q" best represents those efforts.

Flashing back to Denver, this  for me was the only the fourth or fifth time I had seen Phil live since Jerry's passing. The summer  before I saw my first Friends show in Albuquerque and guess who sat in?  Warren Hayes. That show was sort of a culture shock for me as Phil was taking the music in a very different direction from what I knew and loved. These were the days of what my friends and I  called the" noodle jams." Some times these jams worked and sometimes they did not.

By the time I saw this show in Denver the "Q" had really become a  force to be reckoned with as they had  been playing together for over six months. As was typical a jam opened the show and this one is ok, as after  seven minuets they drop into "1/2 Step". It is a  good version but the energy seems off in some ways. My reaction at the time was that the song did loose some of its emotional appeal and power when they were deconstructed it and inserted jams that were not there before.
The jam into "Smokestack" is a much  better example of when the  band gels and they create something quite  good. Warren's raspy vocals worked well in this old Pig Pen cover.

Now the intensity of this band is best exemplified by the explosion into "Shakedown Street". The tempo is  kicked up and the band just plays it so fast, they rip it apart but make it work. Many have called this band "southern fried" Grateful Dead and with Warren and Jimmy's style that is very true at times and this version would  reinforce that claim.
Either way the band raises the roof on this one.

Rob, who is a strong vocalist, delivers a more text book reading of " Ramble on Rose" The highlight of the set has to be the "Broken Arrow" that Phil sang. This was one of my  favorite late era song the GD performed and on this night it was  done so well. They added more solos but not to the point of loosing the melody and theme of the song. Sadly this was the last time I have heard it live. They  do a  wonderful  jam that leads to a  ferocious "Cold Rain & Snow." Warren is in the wrong key when they drop into it, and as like " Shakedown" this  version is   played at break neck tempo. Phil sings his heart out and they soar on it. The ending verses is unique as Phil sings it  as a chorus and this leads into a well played high energy jam that ends the set.

Set II begins with a another jam, this one  being much more on mark and even has a " Wheel" tease in it before they  explode into a text book reading of " Help on the Way" which blows the crowd away with its intensity and precision. The jam into "Slipknot!" is another wild example of how this band gets out there and I even hear  a " As My Guitar Gently Weeps" tease before they end the  jam and enter the final melody before racing into " Franklin's Tower."
The  audience roars in approval as Phil's sings a joyous  reading of this well loved  classic and John Molo' s drumming is stellar and  hard hitting.

The band jams out of it and teases the " Other One" before dropping into a sweet and lovely " Crazy Fingers" again sung by Rob. This features some of Phil's most delicate playing so far and is well done.
They once again jam out and arrive at a cranking " Not Fade Away" that has the " Q" twist of this Buddy Holly  classic.This leads into a intense version of Warren's classic "Soulshine"  which is excellent and showcases his strong vocals and playing. Rob's work on the organ is quite impressive as well.  This leads into a uptempo, too uptempo for my ears, version of " Fire On the Mountain". The  "Q" can be  guilty of sacrileges at  certain times and I have to say this interpretation of this one is a  good case in point. The  melody is so fast s the song looses it heart, yes it is full of  jams and  energy but...I will let you decide what you think?

Phil then ends the set with a emotional riveting and understated reading of  "Morning Dew". At this time  playing  one of Jerry's huge numbers was always walking on sacred  ground and Phil's sing this with conviction and  testament to his fallen brother. It was simply the highlight of the night for me and Jimmy's solos are very nice. The song does not end with a intense peaking  jam but on a  somber reflective note. I agreed and thought was very appropriate.Most of the crowd just  stood in awe and tears ran down many cheeks.

Phil comes out for his donor rap and shares some  kind words about himself and the band and the blood drive the next day.
They launch into one of my favorite post GD encores I ever saw. They  jump right into "The Wheel" which I thought was another  wonderful tip of the hat to good ole Jerry. This is a heartfelt and joyous version featuring Phil's strongest singing of the set and they stay true to the song and then  explode into the "Other One." Once again this band takes us on a wild and passionate ride lasting over  three minutes before switching perfectly back into the " The Wheel" and that ends the show.

After the band leaves you get a rare treat and  hear the song that comes on over the PA. Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World" in its entirety and yes as it was true back then and is today.
"I see skies of blue and clouds of white
The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night
And I think to myself what a wonderful world."

Welcome back guys.
You can enjoy this show here
Poster courtesy of deadnet
If you want an added surprise I would highly recommend listening to the opening of the first set from Portland

                                                   

Friday, April 27, 2012

Why has the #Occupy Movement not embraced the mainstream?

With a call for action of a general strike all over the country this coming Tuesday I have to wonder who is the #Occupy movement  trying to inspire and appeal to?  Last fall all over the country an amazing thing occurred as people began to come together in large  numbers to publicly voice their collective opinions in drawing much needed attention to the crimes of economic injustice, wealth disparity, banks to big to fail, corporatism, the mortgage crisis,debt, Wall Street, and the 1%. Over the last forty years  special interests groups representing these beliefs have worked endlessly in shifting our economy and laws to their advantage and polluting and corrupting our  elected officials with armies of lobbyist who have led too many smart, well we thought so when we elected them, people into buying into these enormous and reckless policies and making them a reality.

I have to credit Bill Moyers in his efforts to wake  up the middle and working class in mainstream America with his new program. He in my opinion has really made one of the best and most convincing arguments of the real and dramatic changes that have occurred in our country over the last forty years and the selling of our democracy to the highest bidder. He presents his case  in a logical and reasonable fashion that allows  people to listen.

 I also highly recommend reading the  book Winner Take All Politics How Washington Made the Rich Richer--and Turned Its Back on the Middle Class  by Jacob S. Hacker and Paul Pierson. This  book will enrage you and open your eyes on how all this has happen and not by some strange coincidence either. Bills Moyers cites this book often in his new program and interviews the authors.
The authors and their team put together the history, players, and polices over the last forty years in shocking details.The power and control these special interests now exert on all of us is one of the biggest threats to our democracy since the cold war.Many agree with these  assessments whether they are a radical, Libertarian, tea bagger, Democrat,Republican, or Occupier.

The question is what to do about this?

It seems from my experience working with a local #Occupy movement we are leaderless right now. Yes I know the #Occupy movement is not supposed to have  "leaders" but seeing how things have unfolded it is clear that leadership qualities are much more  needed at this point in time.

You can reject the system but you can not reinvent the wheel.

If you are a person who has leadership qualities and have used them working with small or large groups of people professionally, or as a volunteer, you understand that consensus building is one of the most important aspects that can help lead,organize, and motivate large groups of people to get things done.

The #Occupy movement needs to grow up in someways and embrace certain proven and recognizable ways of bringing more people into the  movement.
This chiefly means reaching out to the mainstream as that is who we need to inspire right now.
It needs to be our biggest call to action to date but sadly it is not even in the discussion.
Many recent calls  to action are scheduled at  times during the week when many of us "mainstream" people are working, taking our  kids to school, or simply not able to attend.

The May Day call for a general strike is a just another example of this. What does this say to the 99%? " Come on folks strike this coming Tuesday and we will send a message"  First America is not ready for a general strike. It has been decades since the last high profile strike and  guess what President Reagan fired them all. That weighs heavily on people's mind and even more so in this fragile economy. It is honestly selfish to ask this of people right now.

If  these  #Occupiers simply considered doing this May action on a Saturday or Sunday and organizing this as a "Welcome back. We need you" rally many more  people would consider attending and  participating.
You have to realize that after more then six months of awareness and information being put out in the media and on social media many mainstream people could be ready to join.

They just need that invitation.

For whatever reasons that is not on our radar and it is weakening the cause.

This movement will not have figure heads or leaders like Martin Luther King to inspire us it will be the 99% who will be the faces and voices of this movement and we  need them all....badly. If  Tuesday is a utter failure it will be time for us to stop looking in the mirror and to begin looking out and talking to our neighbors and the strangers in our communities and reaching out to them and letting them know we are just like them.
We want a world that is better than the one today, one that is fair and just and provides a good  quality of life to all of our fellow citizens. We were just the first wave trying to awaken and reinvigorate this calling to save our country and  by no means does this mean we know best.

Come on #Occupiers take a chance on the mainstream they are who we really are.
                                                

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

"Power concedes nothing without demand."

I am passing this along as it is such a wonderful and insightful quote. It comes via a  good soul on the Phil Zone and if you are a Virgo this is for you today.
Frederick Douglass (1818-1895), a great American statesman who, after
escaping slavery, became a leader of the abolitionist movement. "Those
who profess to favor freedom and yet depreciate agitation," he said, "are
people who want crops without plowing the ground; they want rain
without thunder and lightning . . . The struggle may be a moral one, or it
may be a physical one, or it may be both. But it must be a struggle.
Power concedes nothing without a demand."
Photograph courtesy of Biography.com


LIve music recommendations

I first saw Ryan Adams play with Phil Lesh & Friends during the second set of a show at the Nokia Theatre in the fall of 2007. It was Ryan's birthday and he came out for the second set and was greeted with a birthday cake and a rousing version of " Happy Birthday" from the energetic crowd. The band they launched into "Eyes of the World" Man was it a  amazing night of music.The night featured many classic GD songs,  like" Scarlet","Birdsong", "I Know You Rider", "Uncle John's Band" "Dark Star", and "Ripple" and Ryan sang an amazing  "Wharf Rat" for the encore.

After that I heard some live material that Ryan, like Phil, freely allowed to be circulated on the archive and I was on the bus. Starting with this show in Albany that began a amazing fall tour and showcased the Cardinals at the peak of their powers. Riding on the new songs of Cardinalogy this band would tear it up on most nights. Ryan guitar playing just kept getting better too. I would  gone on to see shows at the Apollo on Halloween and when they opened for Oasis at Madison Square Garden and one of the final shows they would play in the late winter of 2009 in New Haven.
I am very happy Ryan is back performing but will always miss the Cardinals. 

Monday, April 23, 2012

Haiku for a Monday

Nor' easter blew in
Heavy skies quench my thirst
Winds caress my lips

Sunday, April 22, 2012

Looking for love on Twitter?

This may be  more of a guy thing but for those that use it, and women do  use it  more  then men, it is viable option for making new connections. Now for love connections that is still to be determined.
Let me walk you through some recent exploits of mine.
The names will be not mentioned to protect the anonymous and maybe that is not their name to begin with anyways?
The first step. You know you will follow people who you think are cute or sexy.
Why not?
Next are they interesting? Are they clever? Are they passionate? Do they have  sense of humor? Do they love politics?
If so good you are off and running.
Now you can RT all you want but it is their reply from your tweets that breaks the ice.
So now it is your turn to be clever, funny, and insightful.
This is the deal maker young padeawan.
You only have 140 characters so you have to be very efficient and effective.
A great tweet will stand on its own merits.
When he or she finally replies to you that is a  good sign. If the person has like a thousand followers even  better.
Now you can  begin to get flirty and clever. Remember the mind is the most erogenous zone of the  body. It is very important to update your picture to a nice recent face picture.
Now you might really focus on her tweets and there might be a specific times of day you are  both on.
So you begin to look forward to her posts.
If you are smitten you yearn for her posts.
You check your interactions for  new followers, but you are only really interested if she if  following you.
Then the day happens..she is following you.
Ok before you begin doing somersaults at your kitchen table.
You must continue being cool and if you are online coincidentally and you interact more you move on to...
The direct message,
A very  big step to see if this possible connection has any legs.
Generally you can get extra flirty and clever here but  not too creepy because no one enjoys this when it occurs.
Being a gentleman is always the higher road to take.
If you are lucky you two might spend an hour or  more one night doing this.
This usually occurs during the week when there is no  good television on.
The DM may go on  for a few days and then  you pop the  question?
Are you on FB or gmail? Maybe we can IM there is you like?
Usually there a pause....
Ok here is my gmail.
You prefer gmail because its not as big of a commitment as FB. Gasp ! On FB she can read your posts to your real friends and can actually see your boring life and all the Grateful Dead youtube videos you post and with no comments too.
Next the chat request.
Will she accept?
If not she  does not want to move too fast or take it the next level of  actually talking in real time with you.
Folks this is a  big commitment for us these days.
If you do IM on gamil or FB you generally can  snap it into  third  gear all  cover all the basics.
Are you single?
Do you think I'm cute?
Do you enjoy sex?
Are you looking for sex?
Would you like to have sex with me?
Another long pause...
"I'm am kinda an old fashion girl"...
Ok that is cool.
Drats!
Generally next you enter the break up phase, no more RTs, or DMs or even a favorite tweets on both of your parts.
When she drops following you sadly you are done.
Back to tweeting about #Obama and #Romney and those bastard on #Wallstreet you go.

"Love sought is good, but given unsought, is better."
-- William Shakespeare


Furthur 4/18/2012

 I have been  blessed to get tickets for numerous recent Furthur shows in the City, Phil's birthday at the Best Buy last year, the last show at Radio City Music Hall and this performance the last night of a  eight show run at the Beacon. I had a seat in 101 in the orchestra so sight lines and sound would be excellent and I was with a zoner  buddy who is  fun to be with. The  vibe in the  place was festive and you  could not notice any exhaustion on most folks part, as there was magic in the air, as that  pre-show hustle and  bustle that is a hallmark of a show in New York
The band launches into " Here Comes Sunshine" and it is very clear the band want to  jam tonight. The vocals are  crisp and  John and Phil are dialed in, as with the version that  opened up the  last show in Albany, the  bands has places to go kids so  you better jump on the  bus. They develop a sweet melodic  jam that high lights Jeff and Joe's contributions. and then they jump right into a fun and well received "1/2 Step". This version has the Beacon faithful singing along, in decent key I might add, and similar to the version they played in Wallingford, they do a  nice jam in it.

The sing along continues with a spot on "Dire Wolf" with crisp harmonies from Sunshine and Jeff. It was clear  that Levon Helm was weighing on the minds of many including the band and they next began a  wonderful tribute to the man with a  poetic and emotional version of " He's Gone". Bob had  been low key in the mix so far  this night and he did a understated reading that was very appropriate for an ailing friend. Once again the  band extended the song with a  rich  jam that showcased Phil and Jeff contributions. They teased at a couple things  during this jam "Dark Star" and even "I Know You Rider" to this ears. My tour buddy agreed.

This would  end up with a raucous version of " Easy Wind" sung by John. It was great and featured some of  his loudest playing of the night. I had to  laugh and think that this was for the  Secret Service and their recent escapades in Columbia.
"I been chipping them rocks from dawn till doom
While my rider hide my bottle in the other room
Doctor say better stop balling that jack
If I live five years I'm gonna bust my back, yes I will ."
 Then they sprang on the biggest surprise of the night on us, " Viola Lee Blues" as they had  played it just on Saturday night. This  version is  really when things got off the track with the song having taken some twists and turns since I  last heard it. They started the song as usual but during the first jam, led by Jeff, they went into this  traditional  jazz jam that was really good. It is always a treat to hear  Phil play his  bass with a more traditional jazz influence,  like he did  during the version of "Fever" at RCMH with Diana Krall, Elvis Costello, and  Larry Campbell.

The second  jam is where things  got out of control as the ferocity of the jam switched up in tempo and they did a massive  "Cumberland Blues" tease. I honestly thought they were gonna do it, but it was just one of the sickest teases I have seen this band  do and they went back to the chorus. OMG! The place went nuts it was like Stony Brook  1970 Halloween all over again.
Staying with the 1970  theme they went deep for a version of" Black Peter" that clearly was for Levon and it was beautiful. They  built it up nice but it was not  too over the top and Bob  did it justice.
They ended the set with a high spirited version of " Cosmic Charlie" with Phil pointing to us during the " Go on home your Mama is calling  you" verse and this set was done. Maybe one of the longest and strongest first sets of this run as well.

Set II had to be the cat's meow and the band  did not disappoint opening up with a crushing  uptempo version of " Shakedown". The band was on fire and Joe Russo was dancing on air. This  reading was more like a  1981-82 version and there was no " shake it shake down chorus." They went old school for the Beacon faithful. The crowd was loving it and Phil was dominant in it. He played some of his loudest notes of the show during this and they jammed out of this not stopping and we  got to  come up for some air for a solid " Dear Mr. Fantasy" which you know had to be for Levon as well.
"Dear Mister Fantasy play us a tune
Something to make us all happy
Do anything take us out of this gloom
Sing a song, play guitar
Make it snappy"

Cassidy was Bob entrance in to the second set and he more than stepped up to the plate. Like the  version they played  at RCMH this  version is stellar and was a refreshing choice. This version just  goes places and  was one of the best I have seen this  band  play.Once again John, Jeff, and Joe are  right on it. You will thoroughly enjoy going along for the ride embellishing all the insights that this song  provides and again the band  jams out of this song, are  you noticing a trend here? The band's transition tonight are  outstanding, as we all know this band has had it challenges with transitions in the past. They clearly  hint where they are  going and led  by  Phil we arrive at " Dark Star". I am sure this is the only time both of these songs have been paired and it worked like a charm.
This version of " Dark Star" is short but is focused and  features some  deep  grooving quickly as  John's solos are quite  good.

They trade off the first  verses and then  hint very quickly where the  "bus" is heading next as Phil leaves no doubts that we are  continuing with our deep psychedelic motif and arrive at the "Other One" This version is  not the in your face but is full of twists and turns and begs you to notice the nuances this band can  do together when they are dial in. Before  even getting to the second verse they race back into " Dark Star" to sing the  second verse and then it right back into the " Other One" to sing the second verse of this classic. The  band really does a  amazing  job of reaching a powerful  peak before Bobby steps back up to the  microphone.

They continue to jam and  Phil is signaling and they pounce into " Help on the Way". They are totally into it and the band is  playing as one as they slither into a huge " Slipknot!". They are  going deep when  we  get one more opportunity for this band to steal our  faces right off our heads and perfectly rockets into  the " Golden Road to Unlimited Devotion" during the "SlipKnot!" jam. The  crowd roars in approval and even  begins singing the first  verse before the band does, I know you westies will find most displeasure in that faux pas but hey that is what we do back east.

The  band once again raises the  roof on the old restored Beacon and then storm back into "Slipknot!" with utter perfection.It was a thing of  beauty although I would  loved a  huge ballad before we arrived at "Franklin's Tower" which  Phil delivered with  passion and zeal. The band rocked it out and it was a  huge send off to all and sadly Levon, who would pass on the next  day. The other note worthy point is that this second set was one non-stop composition and that in its self is very cool.

When Phil arrived back for  his  donor rap, he received an extra  long ecstatic applause from the New York  faithful and they turned up the  house lights behind Phil so  he could all see us and  smile.

The band sent us on our way with a  heartfelt version of  Brokedown Palace that was the best one I have seen this band do. The band  offered warm embraces to each other as this run concluded and we all streamed out the doors into a warm spring night with wide grins.
Happy Trails.
"Gonna leave this brokedown palace
On my hands and my knees, I will roll, roll, roll
Make myself a bed by the waterside
In my time, in my time, I will roll, roll, roll"

You can stream the show here on the Archive

Earth Day 2012

With our country still reeling from the Great Recession of  2008 it seems that it is once again socially acceptable to exploit the Earth even more, as if  before was not enough, as we are being led to believe this  will create millions of all the new "jobs" in our country which we justifiably do  need. Clearly in this process the increasing of profits and power of the multi-conglomerate corporations will dominate. These soulless organization, that many "open mined" and libertarian Americans prefer today to blindly trust today, rather than a  government agency like...gasp! The EPA. Corporations just live from one earning statement to the next and are pushing forth an agenda that is reckless and short sighted for the quality of  life for humanity and all the other species that exist here.

If we just  think about our own day to day existence and our impact on the Earth  since 1960 each person in our country has increased the  trash they produce from 2.7 lbs to 4.4 lbs. In 2010 this has produced about 250 millions  tons of waste in our country alone. The vast majority of this now sitting in landfills and at the  bottom of the oceans.
That is simply not  sustainable and  guess who created this? The consumerist culture promoted by our "friends" in big business and  Wall Street.

Many of us do not want to even accept the fact that we may be reaching a  tipping point in our own lifetimes due to the over consumption of the world's resources. Half the world Arctic ice has melted alone in the last fifteen years. That is an area about the size of the United States. Right now there is the same amount carbon dioxide in the  atmosphere as there was 6000 years ago when the last Ice Age ended.
Plus with the world's population at over 7 billion today and projected to reach 9.2  billion mid-century our challenges will only magnify.
Sadly they could  reach critical mass.
What can be done you ask?
Many things but it  does start with each of us committing to "downsizing" our own lives.

One of the greatest efforts that could be done all over the world, but  especially here in the States is source reduction. Which simply means stopping waste at the source. This covers all areas of the waste stream from product production with less materials, to extensive recycling, to eating less meat protein, actually conserving energy, and weening ourselves off fossil fuels.
Here is a great link with dozens of beneficial facts that  can  help awaken all of us from the drunken consumer stupor we have been living in the past 100 years.

This quote from Charles Dickens resonates even more so today.

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to heaven, we were all going direct the other way - in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only."
 
Now get your asses busy kids.
                                   
Photo courtesy of The Verge.com
                                                        
 

Late on the bus

I first saw Diana Krall sit in with Furthur last year at Radio Music Hall, she did a sweet version of  "Ripple" in the first set and then came back for the encore with her husband Elvis and Larry Campbell to jam on "Fever". I recently awoke early one morning to her singing the  sweet and  hopeful song "Maybe You'll Be There" from her first album. Wow! what a way to start the day.
That song  got into my head and heart.
 I  saw the  version from her Paris DVD and she  just enchants you, with here subtleties of being in the song and her graceful and revealing expressions as she sings simply bewitch you.You can see as she sings the  final verse she knows he will never come back, although that  bittersweet moment is only there for that moment.
A true goddess she  just radiates beauty and emotion through her singing and playing. I'm head of heels. Ok thanks for indulging me in my latest celeb crush.
If you watch there  vids I am sure you will agree.
"East of the Sun & West of the Moon"

"Let's Fall In Love"

"Maybe You'll Be There"

"Cry Me A River"


Waiting on the rain

We might like to forget our  connection to the  natural world or allow ourselves to  be constantly distracted by the modern world, but we need rain and  when it has been weeks and weeks when we have not had it here in New England you do take notice. It is not even May first and the streams and rivers look like it it is late August after a severe drought.
That is not good.
We need rain and badly.
You know that right?
 Help may be on the way as a good soaking is coming, they are  projecting 3", and I awoke at 2:30 am when the large drops of a weak front came through hitting my bedroom window. I looked out the window and the  street was barely wet and it shortly stopped.
I was so anxious I could not fall  back asleep for over an hour.
Which is highly unlike me.
Now the skies are grey and thickening and the air is cold as the cooler air off the ocean settles in and the winds have shifted  to the northeast, and we  will get that long over due Nor'easter'.
Enjoy the rain.
You might enjoy this old song by Randy Newman.
" I Think It's Gonna Rain Today"

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Levon Helm an American original.

With the passing of Levon Helm this past week, the world of music lost one of it's great ambassadors.A man who loved music and shared that passion with the world for decades.

We all have a connection to the songs of The Band, even if it was an old classic Americana song  such as Long Black Veil that they covered.They were one of the few great rock bands that could draw on so many influences and introduce it to the modern rock audience. I was  very lucky to see The Band open up for the Grateful Dead on the last night of the Dead's fall  tour of 1983. This entire show from that night has been part of my soul ever since and seeing the Band that night, for the first time as well, was an enormous part of it. When they busted out " The Shape I'm In" they had  us all up on our feet clapping and  boogieing.

It was as  clear a Watkin Glen reunion we would ever see, being in upstate New York and such, and both bands did not disappoint. The Band did open two  shows later in the year and here is that performance, which is exceptional and is  very similar to the show I saw. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30B1tb9g4GU

In 1984 the  Band also open two shows in Ontario, Canada and the last two Grateful Dead performances at Soldier's Field in 1995. The Band's set that night in Syracuse was high  energy and faithfully played, as this new Band was just hitting the road and with the Cate Brothers as part of the band. This updated version  may have been  better than original in many ways.
The Last time I saw Levon play was at the free concert they would  played as a tradition at Gill's Farm in Hurly, New York each October. I saw the show in 2009 and it was really special as they played It Makes No Difference, which his daughter Amy sang. During this song a  giant turkey vulture flew right over us all.Made you have to wonder if Rick was dropping by? I do regret never making it to a  Ramble over the last couple years as I know from many people they were  quite special. Levon we will miss you but you will never be forgotten brother.
 Here is a shot from that crisp fall day in 2009.

 Here was the set list from the concert from  10/22/83
  1.  
  2. Encore:

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

I woke up to this song recently and it was the first time I had ever heard it. What a nice way to start the day as  I was still in a  dream it seemed. Diana Krall " Maybe You'll Be There"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMsvBwvZ7U8

Bernadette Peters at the Jorgensen 4/13/2012

I will get this out of the way right here and now. I love this woman and it goes back to seeing her on television back in the  1970's and it was sealed when I saw her in The Jerk. I have been very lucky to see Ms. Peters perform in Alittle Night Music and Follies over the last two years and I saw her performance of the first tour of  Into The Woods in Boston in 1986.It is an understatement to say she one of the true treasures of Broadway.She was closing the season at the Jorgensen Theater at the University of Connecticut with a  two night run.

Ms. Peters had a 30 piece orchestra with her and her main  music collaborator Marvin Laird conducting and on  piano.She came on stage to a warm welcome in a stunning lavender sequin dress, with a slit right up the center. Tonight it was  both of Bernadette's legs we were to admire and  she looked radiant. She opened the show with a festive  version of  " Let Me Entertain You." This was followed by a torch light reading of " No One is Alone" It was a  delicate and moving version. Her  voice was in wonderful form. Next she belted out a  fun reading of " There is Nothin' Like a Dame" This was followed by a new song for her. Peggy Lee's "Fever". She laid on her side the black grand piano bathed in soft spot lights and delivered a sultry  version that was smoldering.She had captivated the audience with her own twist on this classic.

She  gave us little back ground on one of her favorite musicals and album covers from her parent's record collection. It was Carousel  and she sang the song " Mister Snow." Next she sang " Some Enchanted Evening" this was  followed by the highlights of this  night of music. She delivered a  Sondheim trifecta beginning with a  touching version of " In Buddy's Eyes" from Follies. This was  followed by a  emotionally riveting version of  "Losing My Mind". I have to say this  version was better than the one I saw her perform in Follies. She owns this song  now and it was beautiful. Laird was on piano for this one as well. She next delivered a devastating version of " Johanna" from Sweeney Todd  that blew me away. The next jewel was a  brilliant interpretation of the classic  "Shenandoah"  as with previous songs this  night it was just the torch light singer and Laird on piano and it was easily one of the best songs of the evening. Next we  got a  heart wrenching reading of " Not a Day Goes By". This was  followed by a sweet version of "When You Wish Upon a Star" and then two more classics from Company  " You Could Drive a Person Crazy" and possibly her most  popular song " Being Alive" with both showcasing her range and depth of emotion and voice that only Ms. Peters can do.

She encored with a sweet ballad that she wrote herself called " Kramer" about one of her beloved dogs.
Ms. Peters is still a dynamic and delicate force and  her love for  performing is still very clear and greatly appreciated.