Other musical animals

Other Musical Animals

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Eric Clapton

I had known Eric Clapton basic radio stuff, but I didn't know "Promises" until PLT lifted it from his roommate's Crossroads. So when Rich turned out to love him, I was ready to learn more than "Layla." From the Cradle is the best, especially "Motherless Child." RDC and I went to an all-blues show fall of 1994, which was phenomenal, especially with Jimmie Vaughn opening.

The Grateful Dead

My desert island picks are the Branford Marsalis "Eyes of the World" from Without a Net, John Eliot Gardiner conducting the "Ode to Joy" from Beethoven's Ninth, and Peter Gabriel's "In Your Eyes" from So.

I remember in high school telling a Deadhead classmate (in context) that all their songs sounded alike to me; he said all U2 sounded alike to him. I still say they can't (couldn't) harmonize, but I do appreciate Jerry's guitar work and I love "Drums" (though in concert, "Space" was always my pee break). They're a lot of fun and I wish I had entered the scene before the Touchheads and I did, but I didn't.

I do prefer the Indigo Girls' "Uncle John's Band" to the original studio (with only six shows, I never saw it live). I remember that PLT liked it a lot too, until he said he'd heard the original studio version and no longer was impressed because they hadn't done a lot with it. Hmm? For one thing, that's not true; for another, why should one band change another's song dramatically for its cover to be good, to remain good? Best not to ask.

The American Beauty studio and Jane's Addiction's Deadicated versions of "Ripple" are both wonderful (lyrics).

My first show: Buffalo, Summer 1993. We went to Niagara Falls and Sting opened, so, I thought, if I ended up freaking out (I was apprehensive), the trip wouldn't be wasted. Some would say I don't deserve a seat, but as others have written, if you're there for the music, you're family. And the concerts, the scene, and the music, all delighted me.

Second show: Fall Tour 1993 in Philadelphia. We went to the Philadelphia Museum of Art and saw "Nude Descending a Staircase" and other Duchamp and a wonderful exhibit of hats. The morning after the show, Ytzin (?) Rabin and Yassar Arafat signed their peace agreement.

Third show: Summer 1994 in Washington DC. Outside shows infinitely better, a better scene. Plus a whole weekend at the Smithsonian with friends in DC.

Fourth show: Fall 1994 at Boston Garden. When those tickets say "Restricted View," they mean it. I think we were in about the same seats PLT and I were in for the U2 Zoo Station tour 17 March 1992. The beam in our sight line looked the same, anyway, maybe a little more rusty. What I chiefly remember is that this was the last day I saw CLH for nine months, before she moved to Aspen.

Fifth show: I saw the first "Unbroken Chain," Philadelphia, PA USA, Sunday 19 March 1995. And it was good.

The second Highgate show (I had a ticket, unlike a third of the attendees) was my sixth and last. I think the 1994 show was calmer, with Youssou N'Dour and more like the old scene. Word of that spread, so the 1995 show was chaos. Residents' property was stolen and vandalized and used for campfires; people crashed the chain link fences to get in (others climbed trees on the periphery, much cooler in thought and body and a better view), and some of those fences thus brought down occupied Port-o-Lets; but at least this time the town was prepared and filled their gas stations' tanks just before. The boys were okay, but Jerry was failing and the crowd and the crush really didn't help the scene.

Rich and I went to the Furthur Festival 20 July 1996. (That show has jeopardized the spelling of"further" in my head, but so far not on paper or screen.) Some of the other bands were okay and some were not. One of the best "Little Wing"s I have ever heard. I wore the Bear's Choice earrings I found at my second Philly show and didn't correct a man who said, "Those are some funky earrings, darlin'," because from him, there, I trusted the endearment. And that's what I miss....

Second Furthur was 19 July 1998. The final encore was "Ripple," one of my favorite songs overall and in the top five Dead titles. Plus I called the seque from "Scarlet Begonias" to "Fire on the Mountain" before RDC did even though I didn't know about "Scarlet>Fire"; and they timed "Fire on the Mountain" to happen during sunset, when the mountains look at least gilded if not actually aflame.

That's what I shall always miss now. Driving down the highway, passing a car similarly stickered and outfitted, striking up a conversation with its occupants if only in sign. Talking with anyone about anything because the trust and commonality have already been established by your mutual love for the music. The community and the trust. On Wednesday 9 August 1995, RDC and I were truckin' in Iowa. People saw the stickers on the filthy Tercel, hooked behind the U-Haul, and tried to signal RDC as they passed. Between the truck and his broken clavicle, he only waved back. That night, in a hotel in Grinnell, we learned why they were trying to get his attention.

If my words did glow with the gold of sunshine
And my tunes were played on the harp unstrung
Would you hear my voice
Come through the music
Would you hold it near as it were your own?
It's a hand-me-down
The thoughts are broken
Perhaps they're better left unsung
I don't know Don't really care
Let there be songs to fill the air
Ripple in still water
When there is no pebble tossed
Nor wind to blow
Reach out your hand if you cup be empty
If you cup is full may it be again
Let it be known
There is a fountain
That was not made by the hands of men
There is a road no simple highway
Between the dawn and the dark of night
And if you go no one may follow
That path is for your steps alone
Ripple in still water
When there is no pebble tossed
Nor wind to blow
You who choose to lead must follow
But if you fall you fall alone
If you should stand then who's the guide you?
If I knew the way I would take you home

Blues Traveler

RDC and I saw Blues Traveler at Red Rocks 4 July 1997. That was a wonderful evening.

And again 4 July 1998, with HAO and some pals.

Phish

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Last modified 23 May 1999

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