Robert Plant. A few thoughts.

Well. I don't have any pictures of Robert. But my head is full of stories. That is what this blog is for. Let me spill a detail or two.

I was standing backstage. It was mid-day on Sunday. The stage was set for Robert and his Band of Joy. It was the finest equipment we had seen most of the week. Well. Maybe the new Yamaha mixing console the Doobie Brothers brought was on par...That one took six guys and a lift truck with a boom to load out way after midnight....Even so I was impressed with the quality of the sound equipment on this stage. I was standing next to the mixing board just scanning the back stage area. In comes Robert Plant. Unnoticed. He had come in with sunglasses and a stocking hat covering his hair. He walked right up to me and stood. I am thinking he was three inches from my shoulder. I slowly, very calmly motioned the new stage manager over and said "We need some security...I turned to Robert and said Robert...the green room is about fifteen feet that way." He smiled and walked that way. Soon the back stage was locked-down for the rest of the show.

I have to tell you I never took a picture after the one above. I was asked not to take pictures so I didn't. It is all good. I saw Patti Griffith from 10 feet away with Buddy Miller and Robert Plant smiling as they took the stage. I sat next to Jim Lauderdale on a road case and watched the show from twenty feet away. I watched the encore happen as they all smiled and took in the moment before the final song.

Robert Plant is one of the best vocalists I have seen perform. Period. I have seen so much live music I can't even remember it all.
That is part of the reason for this blog. To try to remember the years and the stories. What I will tell you is Robert has the history, he has some special charisma that few have, and his vocal talent is very special. I am ready for another Robert Plant show!

That is all from Merlefest. I have been so busy it took almost a month to record all of this on my blog. But I have a JD Souther show in less than a day! Onward!

Oh...finally. My favorite moment. "Ramble On." I love the song but afterwards Robert asked from the stage "Can you FEEL IT?"
I was standing in front of the stage at this point having just watched some people my age sway in the crowd. I smiled real wide and I said out loud "Damn Right I did." I think a tear rolled down my face.

See you down the road my friends.


Leaves are fallin' all around, time I was on my way
Thanks to you, I'm much obliged for such a pleasant stay
but now it's time for me to go, the autumn moon lights my way
for now I smell the rain, and with it, pain
and it's headed my way
Aw, sometimes I grow so tired
but I know I've got one thing I got to do

A-ramble on, and now's the time, the time is now
Sing my song, I'm goin' 'round the world, I gotta find my girl
On my way, I've been this way ten years to the day
Ramble on, gotta find the queen of all my dreams

Hot Tuna at the Carolina Theatre!

http://www.carolinatheatre.org/

It was a very cold night in Durham right after a very nice warm day. As I walked up the steps to the Carolina Theatre the wind was blowing and all i could think about was warming up. As I approached the door the sign behind the glass said "Doors open 7:00."
It was 6:50. Brrr.

When my pal Tony Turner showed up it was well after 7:00. He had the tickets and I was inside waiting. We checked out the beer selection and made some choices. We then headed for our seats. I wasn't really sure what to expect from this show. I knew it would be good. I had no idea how great it really would be.

The English accented dude came over the PA system "No video, no photography." I thought to myself you gotta' be kidding. All I wanted was a couple of thousand pictures so I could throw a few on my blog!

So things you will not see from my camera lens...Jack Casady's gold signature Epiphone bass which was plugged into a custom amp. http://www.jackcasady.com/ GE Smith's road Telecaster which was extremely well-worn from years of playing. I mean here is a guy with his own signature Telecaster and he plays a beat-up road model. He can made it talk too. http://www.fender.com/products/search.php?partno=0118202806 Nor will you see Jorma Kaukonen's beautiful Gibson guitar. It was a gold top with a fabulous Bigsby on the tail. http://jormakaukonen.com/gear.html Or even Charlie Musselwhite's harmonica case with all those stickers from everywhere. There were even some from Austrailia where he recently toured. To me it is the small things at a show I enjoy looking at even years from now. Without pictures you only have slight memories. I really wish people would loosen-up and let people take pictures. It is not like there is a market for snapshots from fans. Actually I believe it creates even more excitement about going to see a live performance and frankly that is where the money is now for an artist.
So anyway, you are looking at the lone picture from this concert. I took some of the performers after the show but I am going to leave those off the blog too.

My short review of this show? Well I had no expectations which usually means I expect to see a good show. This one made me smile the next morning. I had no idea I was going to see Charlie Musselwhite, Jim Lauderdale, and GE Smith walk out with the band. I had heard some bits and pieces but honestly I had not had time to research the show in advance. When GE Smith walked out I freaked. I thought yeah here I am operating on 6 hours sleep after getting up at 4:45 AM, working all day, driving two hours, all to see this. By the time I get home it will be 1:00 AM. To me just seeing GE made my night. Sleep is over-rated, GE Smith is not! I really love seeing this guy play. He is such a virtuoso and a great guitar showman. All those years on Saturday Night Live as the bandleader. I can remember moments seeing him play very cool guitars and just making them sing. Yeah. It was a great show.

It started acoustic until the intermission. Lots of instrument changes and cool licks. Then after the intermission the electric frenzy broke out. I have to say I liked it all but I LOVED the electric part. The solos, the harmony, the intensity of the players, it was awesome. These guys are not young but you can see the youth of their souls coming out. It was a great night.

I will share a few video links for you. I can't describe how a good night of friends and good music really rocks me but it is a good feeling. Last night I had a really good feeling. I am ready to watch this show again. Right now. ' Nuff said.

http://hottuna.com/

http://gesmithmusic.wordpress.com/

http://www.charliemusselwhite.com/

http://jimlauderdale.com/

This is a great video featuring Charlie Musselwhite. A very cool story.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ww-QoKSqObU

Hot Tuna Live:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pm-vNXnkFGk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y36jjfsiS-0&feature=related

If you want to see a cool video of Daryl Hall with GE Smith playing check out this link. 'Caravan of Love" is a great song! I love these videos. They are very cool.

http://www.livefromdarylshouse.com/currentep.html?ep_id=15

Jim Lauderdale!

http://jimlauderdale.com/

Name a song. He wrote it. I really love this guy. He has great cds. Awesome songs. You just have to check out his catalog. He has wrote some great ones. And he opened the stage before the Hillside Album Hour.

I will tell you about him sharing the backstage with me at the Robert Plant gig soon. Not to mention the guitar story...stand by.

Talent.

There was a TON of talent on this stage. What a great show.

Elvis Costello, Jim Lauderdale, Jerry Douglas, and others. A great show. Did I say that twice? Yeah, it was an awesome show.

http://www.elviscostello.com/

http://jimlauderdale.com/
http://www.jerrydouglas.com/