SHARING THE SHOWS
Thank heavens for Pete, who finds the music news before I do and updates me. Thanks to that, I was able to get free tickets to Donna the Buffalo. I’d heard of them but never really knew their music. But, thanks to this show, I’m now a member of the Herd, the term for Donna the Buffalo fans.
The Kennedy Center is a posh-looking spot, known for hosting plays, operas, and symphonies; I attended a film festival back in April. I definitely stood out in my Grateful Dead tie-dye among all the elegant attire. I was to meet with Josh, a friend from my college days who recently moved to nearby Arlington, Virginia. I had saved us two seats, but when I saw people dancing in that little dance floor area toward the front, it was a no-brainer: dance. I noted a pair of videographers during the show, and I started thinking about the work that goes into putting together a concert video. The editing must be precise. Josh and I were on PSTV, our campus television station, back in the 1990s. I learned I wasn’t cut out to work in a TV studio (looking back, I think I would’ve liked it more had there been more opportunities to shoot out in the field); apparently, Josh wasn’t either, so we’ve both migrated to education (he a Career Coach, I a professor). Now, the show itself: the male singer, Jeb Puryear, sounds a great deal like a comprehensible version of Bob Dylan. Josh observed the group is like Jefferson Airplane; I can get on board with that. The show was only one hour, and I don’t mind a show ending early, but I’m definitely hungry for more buffalo. The encore, “Blue Sky,” is officially my favorite, after having heard it on a show recording and live (this is different from the Allman Brothers version). We headed back to Josh’s sweet bachelor pad (a model for all bachelor pads) and enjoyed some grub at Fire Works Pizza while we reminisced about fun times at the TV station. All I can say is, I’m in the right career now.
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Ahhhh, Pete, my resource for all things music. Thanks to Pete, I was able to attend a screening of Alabama Harvest, a documentary showing the recording sessions of Neil Young’s classic 1971 album, Harvest.
When I entered the Alamo Drafthouse, I was greeted with a cacophony of posters of classic movies (Chances Are was one I remember renting from the local video store when I went through a romantic comedy phase). When I sat down, I was greeted by a waiter who asked me if I wanted. It reminded me of my experience with Drew/Brometheus at Hampton’s Studio Movie Grille, where the waiters would bring food to moviegoers. I made sure to hide my almonds, dark chocolate, and Vitamin Water due to me having been busted (down on Bourbon Street) with snacks that last go-round. While we waited for the trailers to start, music filled the screen and speakers (“Come and Get Your Love” and “Hey Bo Diddley” being among them). We also were treated to a trailer for the new Matrix movie, as well as a mash-up of clips from Christmas movies past. The movie opened with a present-day Neil Young talking about his experience with the album, which preceded a shot of Broken Arrow Ranch, his dream house. I hadn’t listened to Harvest much (or a ton of Neil Young), but seeing the songs being recorded, as well as the backstage banter (including a temperamental Young chewing out a recording engineer, saying “What a hole that was” when there was a sudden stop in “Words”) was illuminating. A standout included a discussion of a “moving O” in “Alabama,” Neil’s subtle letter of disappointment in the Heart of Dixie. It was also cool to see the London Symphony Orchestra arranged for “A Man Needs a Maid” (which I interpret as a feminist anthem) and “There’s a World.” Young is a versatile musician; I loved seeing him on piano, guitar, and banjo. The shots of his ranch were amazing. At the age of 24, he was able to say, “I’m basically a rich hippie.” He indicated pure contentment having his space where he can bask. “Old Man” (“Twenty-four and there’s so much more”) was an appropriate closing. I did enjoy it, although I felt it could have been cut somewhat (I was nodding out a bit toward the man, although I heard him discussing how Merle Haggard was his most current influence). All in all, I’m glad I saw it, and I gained a new appreciation for Young. |
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April 2024
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