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November 10, 2002
November 10, 2002
Well, well, well...
After reading the ever-stewing cauldron of illiteration I came up with for my 1st publicly viewed belly-flop into the pool of fame, I'd hope to at least be able to salvage some dignity with my next installment. But as you have probably deduced by now I have about this much____ (read: none) real literary skill. I wish I was cool enough to use the "What would Steve Earle do?" mantra. Or at the very least "What would the Clash do?"
But I think I have more of a "Costanzian" existence... So kick back, pass the KFC and be prepared to receive my "Could I come across as ANY bigger of whatever the opposite of Brohans is?" manifesto or words to that effect.
About a billion years ago (as far as the Millican Board is concerned) there was a heated exchange over whether or not RK should play covers or not... It was a lot of fun to read and even more fun to be involved in!
As I think most of us will agree, RK's choices of covers have been, at the very least brilliant,(and I'll try to stay away from my usual avenue of "roots, roots, roots") here.
In my travels to the handful of RK shows I've been to,(ahem... note hint of sarcasm my devoted minions...) I've been privileged to hear tunes by such greats as:
Steve Earle (big fat duh...), Ray Price, Marty Robbins, Robert Earl Keen, Tom Russell, Michael Fracasso, The Byrds, Bobby Dylan (Bobby... that kills me Willy...), The Police, Buddy Miller, Billy Joe Shaver, Guy Clark, Jon Dee Graham, Neil Diamond (really... I was there!), Simon & Garfunkel, Pinto Bennett, Bruce Howser, Steve Poltz, AC/DC, Chris Wall, The Who, Gram Parsons, The Flying Burrito Brohans (brohans ..sheesh ...Thanks Ton, by the way, for finally giving me a chance to groan and roll my eyes at you!), The Rolling Stones, U2, Curtis Mayfield, Bob Marley (ok, ok, just bits and pieces on the last three... so I'm showing off just a little...), and whoever wrote Dim Lights, Thick Smoke and Loud, Loud Music...
Whew...
That is a lot to take in all at once... It kind of humbles me... No... that is not correct... it...
Well, you know what? What it really does is torment me! Ok, both at the same time... Sheesh...
I think I speak for a lot of us who have ever spent any time playing the same track over and over just to get that one note or chord or lyrics just right!
Personally, it's given me just a hint, a mere glimpse of what must go through RK's... hell, any band or musician's mind!
You become obsessed, albeit in a good way, by the music (trust me there are way, way worse things to have an addiction to or for).
The feeling, the emotional connection that puts you and that one song on a total one on one level. And yet, somewhere in your subconscious you know, you know... that in some way it connects you to everyone else who has ever heard one single note of music!
I told Gregg one night that there is a scene in the film American Beauty that speaks volumes of how I feel about music, people, art, love, heartache, birth, death, sunrises, sunsets, shooting stars, snowfall, rainstorms, and windblown bands, etc.
"Sometimes there is so much beauty in the world I just can't stand it"
If I absolutely have to make a point with this, I think it is that music sometimes cannot be helped, it just is. It's gonna come busting out whether you like it or not.
I think that's why RK pays respect in their own special way by taking a bit of their own musical history and putting their stamp on it.
Maybe in some way it's a thank you to the artists that influenced our boys to plug in, take a deep breath and get out there under those lights for all of us. Anyone of you who read this that have ever been on stage for any thing; a speech class, an open mike night, a local theater troupe, WHATEVER -- you know how amazingly hard it is and how much you want your peers and at some point hopefully, your heroes to be ...
I don't know the word ... maybe proud? I guess that will have to do.
"Proud" of you and what their influence has carved into your soul and filled your heart and mind with that force, whatever it is that makes you have a voice.
Part ego, part humility in the face of greatness, part fear and exhilaration, part pain and joy, part love and hate.
Every level of every emotion you can muster comes to the surface when you are naked in front of everyone or even more so in front of no one.
I try to wrap my head around that every time I pick up my guitar, and it is absolutely mind-blowing.
But hey I could be wrong...
You tell me.
Be good you bunch of knuckleheads.
I luv ya.
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Posted by reh at November 10, 2002 10:13 PM