This is the second show I have seen at Appel Farm. I have seen several other programs of theirs at school. I am always impressed. Tonight’s show was the first I saw in the theatre. I love that the seats are old church pews. No kneelers, which is fine by me.
The guys came on at 8:00 along with a bassist. I was about the youngest attendee. One lady had her son. The girl next to me was younger. She had never heard of the group before, but was a fan of Simon and Garfunkel. Aztec Two-Step are touring now playing Simon & Garfunkel’s songbook.
These guys have talent, no doubt. I enjoyed the two-set, two-hour show.
At the end of the first set, they played two of their original songs. These were the highlight of the night. While there was absolutely nothing wrong with the S&G covers, the soul of the musicians shone while playing Baking and The Persecution & Restoration of Dean Moriarty (On The Road). These two songs had me longing for more originals.
There were about 120 in attendance tonight. After an hour, the guys took a 10-minute break. They were accessible in the lobby.
Back on they came to continue with Simon and Garfunkel. They played most of the hits and interjected some history. I was hoping to hear American Tune. It wasn’t played. That was the only song they didn’t play that I was “expecting”. The guys did cover the Everly brothers Let It Be Me. The Everly Brothers were a big influence on S&G.
I enjoyed the show. If they ever come back this way playing their original stuff, I would definitely go see them again.
Since I was a guest for the evening, I did not record any of this. Looking on YouTube, I see plenty have. I wonder how the guys would have felt about it. Sitting right snack in front, there was no way of being discreet.
Today our school had Rex Fowler of Aztec Two-Step present an assembly. A History of American Songsmiths is Fowler’s program that teaches students about the history of American song writing. It was a very nice program.
Fowler began with introducing Stephen Foster, who he calls the trunk of the American songwriting tree. Then he sang Oh! Susanna. From there Fowler sang and discussed Irving Berlin, Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, and Lead Belly. God Bless America, This Land Is Your Land, If I Had a Hammer, and Goodnight, Irene all were played. Fowler has a wonderful voice.
Surprisingly, only the teachers knew these songs. And apparently I was the only one who was familiar with Goodnight, Irene. Sigh . . .
All these songs were written prior to my birth, so it isn’t exactly as though they were contemporary to my era.
Part of a society is a shared culture. It is interesting to note there seems to be less shared culture than I previously thought there was.
Recently on a board I participate on someone asked:
What’s your 2 or 3 best tear jerker songs?
Hmmm . . . I’m a dude, I don’t cry. Yeah, that’s not the case any longer. Somewhere along the line I have become a wimp with movies. I sometimes get choked up with touching movies. And then there are the children’s books that get to me. That Dear Santa book is case in point!
But when it comes to music, the waterworks don’t flow as easily. I suspect it’s because I like upbeat stuff. Nevertheless, there are a couple songs that actually get to me.
I Will Take You Home
This is not your typical Grateful Dead song . . . Brent’s song to his daughter. The first time I heard this was at a show in Philly. I was in the concourse during a pee break (drums > space). The Dead always had speakers set up in the concourse. All of a sudden there was sweet sound. I rushed back in to hear the most beautifully sad song. It brings tears.
I make videos of our children. The video that chronicles Beetle’s first year begins with this song. It’s very emotional for me as it runs with the very first time Gert held our daughter. Yeah, tear jerker for sure.
Song begins about 1:45 in. This is not the best version of this song . . . Jerry was in his MIDI phase at this point.
What a Wonderful World
It’s hard to argue with Louis Armstrong’s version of this, but Jerry Garcia added some soul that really hits home for me (okay, i’m a deadhead so I tend to gravitate to toward these versions).
I hear babies crying, I watch them grow
They’ll learn much more than I’ll never know
And I think to myself what a wonderful world
Yes I think to myself what a wonderful world.
Another song that has found itself on a home video. These great musicians are able to tap into some of those special moments that people can connect to. I loved this song when I saw Jerry sing it. I think the song has taken on magical qualities since I became a father.
Battle Hymn of the Republic
The little church my wife and I were married in used to play this song. Whenever we sing it, it’s hard not to get choked up.
In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me:
As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free,
While God is marching on.
Taps
I become choked up each time I hear this. How could one not?
Now you know, dear reader. So, what are your favorite tear jerker songs?
I’m a “classic rock” kind of a guy, but The Who sounded really old the other night at the Super Bowl. I recall listening and recording their “final” show 28 years ago. “Hope I die before I get old” . . . Congratulations to the Saints! It was an entertaining game. The first quarter sure had signs of a blowout against a green team. That they came back as soundly as they did is truly a credit . . . Here’s the obligatory comment about the commercials: I didn’t watch them. I think I am immune to these things. I watched Gary Vaynerchuk’s comments about the commercials, but not the commercials themselves. So much for those advertising dollars . . . I posted road conditions the other day for Millville. How would they have been better seen? Perhaps I will run my Twitter stream through the blog again . . . Millville Public Library didn’t answer telephones Monday morning. Left a message that has yet to be returned. Called the Vineland branch and got service immediately . . . Made some red beans and rice. This place has smelled great all day . . . We followed it up with a tasty heart-shaped cheesecake. It’s Gert’s grandmother’s recipe. Wonderfully delicious! . . . Time for a change . . . Signed up for pip.io today. I don’t understand the buzz. Help me out if you do . . . If you need to believe in miracles, a man was found alive in the wreckage in Haiti, four weeks after the earthquake . . . According to Millville’s superintendent, one-third of all Millville High School students are suspended each year. Yikes! . . . And at VPS, 46% are suspended . . . Gov. Christie finally declared a state of emergency for southern NJ three days after the blizzard hit. The timing probably doesn’t matter, but I am not encouraged by all the photo-ops last weekend. As I noted on Sunday, Christie should not be using snow plows as props . . . Christie stated he worked with the BUP to restore power to those without it. The BUP only doles out money and ensures Nick Asselta has a cushy job. It’s Atlantic City Electric that can actually do something to restore power . . . My classroom recently participated with Art Goes to School. I love this program. It’s one of those programs I look forward to yearly. Excellent job. This year we analyzed Velazquez’s Las Meninas, Picasso’s Las Meninas, and Dali’s Portrait of Juan de Pareja Fixing a String of His Mandolin and how they are all related. Very kewl! . . .
An interesting story of a small publisher who almost published a J.D. Salinger book was told in today’s Washington Post. Alas, he made a mistake. No book for you! . . . A telephone call Buddy Holly secretly recorded when he tried to get the rights to That’ll Be the Day from Decca is making the rounds. It’s interesting how different the music business was 50+ years ago . . . While it’s been a rough week for President Obama (no bump from the SOTU), I applaud him for targeting to eliminate the Advanced Earned Income Tax Credit. It would be even better if eliminated the entire earned income tax credit program . . . A long time ago our family visited Haiti. It wasn’t in good shape then either. As I recall, a boy was going to be publicly flogged for an accident. While the earthquake has been devastating, Haiti has long been in great need . . . There was a time when I would have been gearing up to watch the Olympics. Now it is just a blip. How many storylines will be crafted that break up the actual sporting events? Curling and luge are still two events I marvel at . . . the one-inch of snow we were expected to get turned out to be a few inches more. It’s pretty outside . . . There is plenty to rail against the NFL for, but its move of the Pro Bowl to the off Sunday between the championship and the Super Bowl is a good move. I still have no interest in this game, but I suspect it will garner higher ratings . . . Bob Ingle’s piece today tells just one side of agency packing. It’s a bad side. Political appointments only need to earn $7500 to be in the state pension system. Of course, as I have been discussing of late, they do the political dirty work of elected officials without being held accountable . . .
Yesterday Rex Fowler of Aztec Two-Step presented a program to the students at my school. Tonight I went and saw Aztec Two-Step at Appel Farm. It was a last minute decision that worked out perfectly, although Gert was unable to come.
