Friday, August 12, 2011

FARM AID 2011.


Farm Aid 2011. http://www.farmaid.org/site/c.qlI5IhNVJsE/b.2723609/k.C8F1/About_Us.htm

Wow. I have been watching this event happen for so long now. I am such a fan. First it is an awesome cause supported by some of the coolest music icons in the bidness'. They are all my favorites. Each year I get invites to join them live really close up. I haven't done that yet. I should so I can report on it. In the meantime I watch the video and listen to the satelite feeds. This year they are live on Willie's channel Sirius 56. No Direct TV live feed yet but there will be a replay for sure. There is a web feed....http://gigaom.com/video/farm-aid-2011-online/

So go buy a t shirt or even support the sponsors. I still buy Horizon Organic Milk evey week just because they sponsor this event and support small farmers. They ROCK. And it is awesome milk that is good and it lasts a long time, longer than that watered-down stuff from the corporate milk guys. Check it out. http://www.horizondairy.com/products/milk/whole-milk-plus-dha-omega-3/?gclid=CNjt_NiNy6oCFesRNAodJSG8yg

Thanks to the guys who do this every year. We love ya.

Check these videos out.....They do it because they feel it. Yeah I do too.

(Just so you know there is some incredible video here. Remember these guys kick SERIOUS ass and the band is OFF the meter.)

http://www.farmaid.org/site/c.qlI5IhNVJsE/b.6300359/k.5BC8/Farm_Aid_Live_Videos.htm

Until next time, I'll see ya. Down the Road. Maybe even a country road. :)

Friday, August 05, 2011

"Shuffle Diplomacy Tour 2011"


http://www.steelydan.com/
http://walterbecker.com/

Walter Becker. Well. This is fifty percent of Steely Dan. Yeah I took three pictures of Walter last night, this is one of them. Even though these two partners hire the best people to play on their albums and tours I still credit the officers at the head of this business deal with all the glory. They are the heart and soul of the music. The band, while sonically perfect are only there because these guys create the music. So I salute them both. Walter and Donald.

In this picture Walter was giving his extremely cool rap before "Hey Nineteen." This song comes from the "Gaucho" album. I had a poster of this album cover in my house for a long time. I wish I still had it.

"Hey Nineteen" was a huge hit. Even now Walter reminds us of the wonderful decade of the 1970's when so much music was happening. There was always a special night when...The Cuervo Gold, The fine Colombian. Make tonight a wonderful thing.

I will end these thoughts with my recollection of the entire show from start to finsh. The band seems very "On" last night. They were very tight and the sound was pristine as it always is at a Dan show. I always wear earplugs at live music shows to dampen the db level to a safe spot. Last night I took them out. I rarely do that. This was probably one of the best Steely Dan shows I have seen. I just wanted to soak up every morsel of sound from that stage.

There is only so much time to tell a Steely Dan story. I have so many more. Go see this band live. They are awesome.

Remember sleep is over-rated and life is short. Go see live music now!

Until next time. I'll see you. Down the road.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzfwtX2kgOA

Way back when in 67
I was the dandy
Of Gamma Chi
Sweet things from Boston
So young and willing
Moved down to Scarsdale
And where the hell am I

Hey Nineteen
No we can't dance together
No we can't talk at all
Please take me along
When you slide on down

Hey Nineteen
That's 'Retha Franklin
She don't remember the Queen of Soul
It's hard times befallen
The sole survivors
She thinks I'm crazy
But I'm just growing old

Hey Nineteen
No we got nothing in common
No we can't talk at all
Please take me along
When you slide on down

The Cuervo Gold
The fine Colombian
Make tonight a wonderful thing
We can't dance together
No we can't talk at all

Walt Weiskopf!


http://www.waltweiskopf.com/
Walt. OK remember the ban on concert photography? I usually oblige. But. Something made me raise my camera to snap a single picture of this moment. I remember it so well.

Walt walked to center stage. Donald pulled the microphone forward over his keyboard. He said something about predicting the current economic mess back in 2000-something. When he said that I knew what he was going to play. I had never heard it performed live. I smiled. I spent some time back in 2000 something hacking this song for a radio show on radiomargaritaville.
http://www.radiomargaritaville.com/

This sax solo was the introduction to a show I put together. I love every note of it. Walt was getting ready to freaking rip it. It was off the meter. By the time I caught my breath I snapped one single picture to avoid the camera nazis. You are looking at it. It was a moment. I am glad I captured a small part of it. You really have to experience this band live. I cannot describe how good they are, I can only try.

It's high time for a walk on the real side
Let's admit the bastards beat us
I move to dissolve the corporation
In a pool of margaritas
So let's switch off all the lights
Light up all the Luckies
Crankin' up the afterglow
Cause we're goin' out of business
Everything must go

Talk about your major pain and suffering
Now our self-esteem is shattered
Show the world a mighty hidey-ho face
As we go sliding down the ladder

It was sweet up at the top
'Til that ill wind started blowing
Now it's cozy down below
'Cause we're goin' out of business
Everything must go

We gave it our best shot
But keep in mind we got a lot
The sky, the moon, good food and the weather
First-run movies-does anybody get lucky twice?
Wouldn't it be nice...

Tell me can you dig it Miss Fugazy
Now it's gone from late to later
Frankly I could use a little face time
In the service elevator
And if Dave from Acquisitions
Wants to get in on the action
With his Handicam in tow
Well we're goin' out of business
Everything must go

Can it be the sorry sun is rising
Guess it's time for us to book it
Talk about the famous road not taken
In the end we never took it
And if somewhere on the way
We got a few good licks in
No one's ever gonna know
'Cause we're goin' out of business
Everything must go

Steely Dan is Back at the DPAC!


http://www.steelydan.com/
Some time ago I heard Steely Dan was coming out on tour again in 2011. I always get those cool emails that say pay attention and get some cool seats for Steely Dan shows. I like that. If you read my blog you know that I have been a fan since they recorded the first album in the 1970's. Since I have already saved that story back in 2000 -something, maybe even several times, I will spare you the part about mowing grass in hundred-plus degree Mississippi weather to buy Dan vinyl. You can research that if you are so inclined. LOL, I haven't piloted a lawn mower in over a decade. Just sayin.' Yeah life is good! Remember the little search box on the upper left. Just type "Steely Dan" there...

As for the picture of the trucks above. You may ask yourself, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1wg1DNHbNU not that I am writing a Talking Heads songs or anything, why is there a picture of trucks on this blog. Well it is a couple of things.

Before I start, a salute to the road crew. It is a tough job I volunteer for all the time. I really like this video of the Steely Dan setup...check it out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYOAqL-L-zw

First let's start from the beginning. I rode into Durham on this 100 and something degree day in my beloved-scratch-free MINI worrying about parking. I had received an email that there was a ballgame next door at the Durham Bulls stadium at 7:00. So I was concerned about parking. You see I always park in the adjacent deck next to the DPAC which is very new and very nice. So after navigating the streets and traffic I ended up on level 3 in my favorite parking deck. Yeah I was early. I am always early for a concert because that is the way I like it thank you.

As I walked down the steps and avoided the elevator I walked around to the back of the loading dock on the way to will-call to pick up my ticket. As you can see the matching Volvo semi-trucks were parked and chilling in the searing heat outside. The gear was already on stage at this point. I already knew there was a ban on photography inside so I took some photos to add to this trip as a backup plan. It's not like I need any Dan photos at this point in my life anyway. I probably have 10,000 or so. I have taken so many photos of these guys it is over the top...several thousand per show usually. But that is just my style. I will spare you the soapbox about concert photography bans and why artists are so picky about having their pictures taken. All we want to do is a little fan worship and frankly I don't care if you are having a bad hair or even a no-hair day. We just want something to share with our friends to try to offset our guilt of paying crazy prices to see old guys playing music or maybe it is even the that special moment when a really good-looking background singer aka Carolyn Leonhart http://www.carolynleonhart.com/ is hitting that special note....

OK before I get accused of being uptight on a Friday night I should say that I still think the musicians in this band are among the best at what they do and that is why I keep coming to see them play. They may even be the best. In fact as I write this I am listening to the studio version of the first song they played last night. "Throw out Your Gold Teeth" from the "Countdown to Ecstasy" album. I have to say it is one of my favorites. I wasn't expecting it. By the first thirty seconds of the show tears were flowing from my eyes. It was that damn good. Yeah it was DAMN good, sort of the definition of perfection from a music and sound perspective. Steely Dan music is like a fine wine that must be tasted on a regular basis.

As I listened to the lyrics that I know so well I thought it was interesting about being in the middle of tobacco-ville literally, I mean Durham, 100 yards away is the Lucky Strike factory in all it's glory, and this was the place where so many cigarettes were made for so long. Lucrative addictions. Think about it. Anyway that was just a momentary thought. You read the lryics, you will see. The link to the video of this song is at the bottom of this post. Enjoy.

Got a feeling I've been here before
Watching as you cross the killing floor
You know you'll have to pay it all
You'll pay today or pay tomorrow
You fasten up your beaded gown
Then you try to tie me down
Do you work it out one by one
Or played in combination
You throw out your gold teeth
Do you see how they roll
I have seen your iron and your brass
Can't you see it shine behind the glass
Your fortune is your roving eye
Your mouth and legs
Your gift for the runaround
Torture is the main attraction
I don't need that kind of action
You don't have to dance for me
I've seen your dance before
Do you throw out your gold teeth
Do you see how they roll

Tobacco they grow in Peking
In the Year of the Locust
You'll see a sad thing
Even Cathy Berberian knows
There's one roulade she can't sing
Dumb luck my friend
Won't suck me in this time

Got a feeling I've been here before
Won't you let me help you find the door
All you got to do is use
Your silver shoes
A gift for the runaround
Use your knack darlin'
Take one step back darlin'
There ain't nothing in Chicago
For a monkey woman to do
Do you throw out your gold teeth
Do you see how they roll


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpQ1MLA_FG0