We were lucky to catch Peter Paul & Mary at the State Theater last night. I first remember them from my teens, when they were leading the Peace March in Washington, and they were marching with Dr. King - and their songs like "Blowin" In The Wind" were essentially the musical soundtrack of the protests.

As you can see from the photo, they don't look quite the same as you may remember - a tall willowy blond with long flowing hair and bangs, bookended by tall darkhaired men with goatees. Yes, they're older, and yes they're sitting, and yes (what you may not be able to discern in the photo) Mary Travers is on oxygen.

In '04 Mary was diagnosed with leukemia, since then has had a bone marrow transplant, and though fortunate to be alive has suffered damage to her lungs, thus the oxygen. And at 73, still has the gumption and guts to perform. OK, she is no longer has that iconic long blonde hair that flowed with every twist of her neck, but what she does have is readily apparent on songs like "If I Had A Hammer", where her voice just shines.

It was great to see them, and great to see how they were able to still work together and perform so well, given challenges that might easily prevent most people from going on the road at all.

So we got to hear, "Puff The Magic Dragon", "Leavin' On A Jet Plane", "If I Had A Hammer", "Where Have All The Flowers Gone" and two and a half hours of other stuff, and I got to sing "This Land Is Your Land" with them (well, actually me and about 2,500 other people).

It was really bittersweet to see them, all now in their 70's, Mary struggling with her health - if you can find a way, see them soon.

tags: music

When I was a kid, and even a young adult, I had certain expectations of what would happen in the world.  This year I’m going to be 60 . . .and I’m thinking about those expectations, and realize some have happened, in some cases way beyond my imagination. . . and some have not, and may not.

Are you surprised or disappointed by “the future”?

( Click here for what I thought, back in the 50’s and 60’s: )

tags: behavior, music, politics

We caught them last night at Princeton.  2 1/2 hours of thematic improv.  Lovett did a song, then they talked a little and Hiatt did a song related to some theme he picked up from Lovett's song, and so on for a couple hours.

While I guess he's really known as more of a songwirter, the power of Hiatt's blues is amazing (and you gotta love anybody who can pull off the "how how how how" without sounding phony).

And Lyle Lovett - well what can I say?  Every time I've seen him I've been struck by the uniqueness and clarity of his vocals, and the subtle insight of his songs.

These two guys seem to tour together sort of regularly (we saw them with Joe Ely & Guy Clark in '04 and '05).  A really entertaining show if you're interested in songwriters and some insight into the songs and the creative process.

tags: music

I just learned Robert Hazard passed away last month.

An unbelievably talented Philadelphia area singer/songwriter/performer  -  most widely know for having written Cyndi Lauper's "Girls Just Want To Have Fun".

What was so strange was  -  if you were ever fortunate enough to have caught Robert in concert you would have said . . . "Nah, this can't be the guy who wrote the Cyndi Lauper song" (not that there's anything wrong with the song).  He was an unbelievably talented writer and performer - a talent on the order of a Springsteen, Dylan or Simon.

We caught him a few times in the 80s playing bars at the Jersey Shore in the winter time (very strange).  In places where you'd expect to hear a "bar band"  -  and instead were treated to an unforgettable concert of original music that you'd expect to hear at Madison Square Garden, not a local bar.

Last winter I was invited to a coffee shop in the Village where Rykodisc had arranged for Robert to play a set to kick off the release of his new album.  I couldn't make it, I was ill; I'm sorry now that I didn't go anyway.

A huge talent gone.  But I'll never forget his live performances of "Escalator of Life", "Change Reaction", and how he finished every concert with a hard drivin' electric version of "Blowin' In The Wind".

tags: music

Every once in a while (a long while) this feeling comes over me and I realize it doesn't get better than this.

Today at about an hour before sundown Joe Cocker took the stage at the Garden State Arts Center (outdoor venue, covered).  About a half hour after sunset, it was still more than 90 degrees with a gentle breeze . . . . . and Joe broke into "With A Little Help From My Friends".  By the second verse I had tears in my eyes and was thinking - - this is as good as the performance I missed at Woodstock.  And about halfway through the song, and you know the spot if you've heard him perform the song, he lets loose a primal scream that is so powerful  -  so much more powerful than you can imagine, even if you've ever heard it on CD or DVD and think you know  -  so powerful it feels like he's unleashed a bolt of lightning and it's hit you in the chest.  At that point I thought, "It just doesn't get better than this".

Occasionally I get that feeling.  Rare, but real.

And after Joe Cocker, the Steve Miller Band took the stage and played for nearly 2 hours.  All their great hits (and it's easy to forget just how many great songs Steve Miller did in the last 40 years), and some new stuff that was good.  I hate to say it though  -  as good as the Steve Miller Band were, and they were very good  -  after hearing Joe Cocker they were just anti-climactic.

Why exactly Joe Cocker is opening for Steve Miller I can't say  -  but if their tour is coming near you, you're in for a great 3+ hours of music.

tags: music

Just listened to “Preludes”, the new release of Warren Zevon work that was culled from a stash of tapes found by his son Jordan, who decided to release some of the cuts.

 
The work is wonderful, and it’s great to hear “new” Warren work, and unreleased cuts of previously released work, but, I struggle over the posthumous release of work that an artist decided not to release while he was alive.  These aren’t tapes that were recorded just prior to Zevon’s passing, they are recordings he made all along the way.  Some seem to be early cuts of numbers he later released with more complete harmonies and instrumentation - - and some are numbers that he just hadn’t released (perhaps because they didn’t measure up to his standards?)

 
The disc was very melodic and pleasant, and an absolute pleasure, however, none of Zevon’s albums over which he had artistic control were ever so calm and relaxing – while there were always some melodic and beautifully constructed songs, there were also edgy, driving, sometimes disconcerting numbers that could tie your stomach in knots or make your skin crawl.

 
So while this exhibits even more fine work by an artist who I love, I have to wonder of the right (and I mean moral and ethical, not legal) of anyone to posthumously release the work of an artist, when the artist  had clearly decided to not release that very work themselves?

 
ps. I know this is no different than a 300 year old “unfinished” symphony or ballet, or unfinished canvas, but I question those too.

tags: behavior, music

I’m watching/listening to a Jonn Fogerty DVD, The Long Road Home, a 2006 concert.  Fogerty at age 60 or so is as energetic, and has as strong and clear a voice as he has anytime in his life which, of course, makes me think about the difference in guys like Fogerty and McCartney, who seem to have a strength and freshness about them, and guys like Mick, Keith, Charlie Watt who seem to be pumped full of embalming fluid. 

So how come Fogerty can seem fresh and inspired doing “Proud Mary” 40 years later  -  clearly he’s done the number so many times that it’s hard to believe he’s really that enthusiastic, it must be an act, a performance . . . . or is it?  He actually may be more animated and enthusiastic than he was 35 years ago.  Well, maybe Mick and the boys, and others like them, never were very enthusiastic to start with. . . . .not so, I saw Mick, actually stood next to the stage in 1966 when he and his mates were 23 years old, and I’ll tell you, there was a time that they had passion, real passion.

It may be more obvious in artists and performers whose lives and/or work are on display for all to see, but this ability to get through life, through decade after decade, and maintain a passion for life (or not maintain it) seems to vary greatly among people.  How is it some people have the capacity to to be energetic, fresh and positive and others, who are in no worse physical condition, seem old, tired, disinterested?  Passionate or apathetic?

How do you keep passion alive, year after year?  Is it developing new interests, refining old interests, living healthy to feel good?  How do you prevent, avoid becoming apathetic?  Is it the company you keep?  What are the things that make a difference?   Are they within our control?

tags: behavior, music