When I was young my outings were very restricted. Going to a concert would have been out of the question. The transistor radio came to be my best friend. As I grew older (19) I became a believer and my thinking back then was that all secular music was not conducive to growing in grace so I threw out my whole album collection (ouch) and stopped listening to secular music. I really got into "Christian" music. I attended a few outdoor Jesus concerts up in the mountains of Pennsylvania. Creation '79 and 81 (remember those guys?). Great venues to catch the latest in Christian music.
Let's see. Here's who I've seen:
- Don Henley - Phenomenal concert. The Arena in Orlando.
- Sarah Brightman - voice like an angel. The Arena in Orlando.
- Ricki Lee Jones in Tampa
- James Taylor in Daytona Beach
- Lindsey Buckingham (from Fleetwood Mac) - amazing guitar player. Downtown Orlando.
- Dan Fogelberg - Bob Carr theater
- Joe Bonamassa - who? I never heard of this guy. A friend invited me to see him at Hard Rock Cafe. Probably the best performer I've ever seen. Electric blues guitar player. Amazing.
- Sting - I was so excited to see him the first time he came to Orlando. This was years ago right after he left the Police. Blue Eyes and I got tickets early so we were able sit on the ground floor. Great tickets. Or so we thought. As soon as he came out everyone stood up and cheered and hooped and hollered. Whatever. Not my thing. I'm all about the music. Eventually everyone sat down. Everyone except this one chick that stood in front of us throughout the whole concert. People were throwing stuff at her and cussing her out to sit down but no. Halfway through the concert she finally sat down. The whole section cheered. Finally we could see. When she heard the reaction she stood back up. Sweet Holy Moses. I wanted to hurt her so bad. Spoiled the whole concert.
A few years ago I went to Tampa by myself to see Ricki Lee Jones. I've always been a fan. The venue was perfect. It seats a little over 2100 so the atmosphere is intimate and the acoustics are great. From the moment she stepped out until the last song there were loudmouths yelling out to her. "Sing this, sing that... Ricki, we love you, etc..". Spoiled the whole experience again. Do you see a pattern here?
Last night we got a chance to see my all time favorite singer/songwriter, Jackson Browne, in concert.
We drove to Melbourne (about an hour and a half) with another couple.
Again the venue was great for the same reasons as I listed above.
And again the screamers and yellers were out in full force. Somebody needs to lock them up.
He was great. He's sporting a little beard but at 59 he still looks young. He was by himself and went back and forth between his 12 guitars (!) and his piano. The man can sing and more importantly he knows how to write 'em.
A few of my favorite lines from my favorite album, The Pretender.
From The Fuse
Though the years give way to uncertainty
And the fear of living for nothing strangles the will
Theres a part of me
That speaks to the heart of me
Though sometimes its hard to see
Its never far from me
Alive in eternity
That nothing can kill
Bright Baby Blues - the whole song, insightfully written.
Finally, the song he wrote shortly after his wife of 1 year died, Sleep’s Dark & Silent Gate.
Haunting and depressing.
In spite of the screamers, we enjoyed the concert.
Haunting and depressing.
In spite of the screamers, we enjoyed the concert.
2 comments:
"No matter how close to yours another's steps have grown, in the end there is one dance you'll do alone." Jackson Browne
My first concert ever? Metallica. No lie. I don't know how my dad ever agreed to let me go. New Orleans Lake Front Front Area (gone thanks to Katrina) and the guy behind us was smoking pot. Next concert? Alabama/Clint Black/Lorrie Morgan. I eventually stopped asking when someone was going to start a mosh pit. . .
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