Going Back in Time
My husband and I just returned from a rare date. Our kid is two and a half, and we really haven't gotten out much in a couple of years. I don't know if it was that we were just excited to be out of the house together, or if this show was just really cool. Either way, it felt like we had made a trip back in time. I closed my eyes a couple of times, and I thought when I opened them I would be in the Blue Note in Columbia, Missouri. That didn't actually happen, but damn it felt good to be there.
We went to see a band we saw many times in college. I knew my husband's soul needed a little feedin', so when I saw the Bottle Rockets were coming to town, I went in search of a babysitter. We met another couple at the show and sat down for the opening act. We had never heard of Otis Gibbs before, but we knew we'd like him. My husband downloaded some of his music before the show, and we had our own little concert in the living room this afternoon. The thing that immediately struck me is that he didn't look how he sounds. I don't really know what that means exactly, but I didn't expect him to have a long, fuzzy beard. The second thing that struck me is that this guy is an amazing storyteller. He's a writer. His songs aren't formulaic. They're honest and poetic. They're real life. They're full of heart and soul. I loved all of his music, but One Day Our Whispers really touched me. I think the statement he's making with this song is so pertinent right now, and if the right ears pick it up, it could have a powerful impact. I also loved Thinking 'Bout Jolene. During the show, he asked if there was anyone out there who had ever heard of him, we could feel free to make requests. He said this sarcastically thinking there was no way this crowd was into him. My husband, Otis, yelled out the name of the only song he knew. Otis Gibbs said, "Sorry, man. You stumped me, but I'll play another one for you." We were a little puzzled by this, but we enjoyed what he played anyway.
After his set, Otis Gibbs jumped down off the stage with his box of CDs and came looking for my Otis, who was out of the "listening room" at the time. Gibbs explained to me that the song my Otis requested was a song he had never played live. In fact, he had written it a couple days before he recorded it and hadn't yet gotten comfortable with it. He just wanted us to know the real reason he didn't play it during the show. Dude. That's cool. I just appreciate someone who's freaking real, man. He was honest, and I respect the hell out of that. He's not a recording artist. He's a real artist, but he just didn't want to play a song live if he couldn't kick its ass. We will see that guy again.
When the Bottle Rockets took the stage, Otis Gibbs was in the crowd with the rest of us. You could tell he was a fan. Immediately, we noticed a difference there, too. The lead singer was stone-cold sober and skinny! He's lost like 60 pounds. Also, the bass player/backup vocalist was new. He is obviously younger than the rest of the other guys, but he gave them a new spark, I thought. The first few songs were off their new album, which is awesome! Then, they packed us all into their Time Machine. It felt so good to be there, listening to one of our favorite Missouri bands here in good ole South Cackalacki. I had forgotten how passionately I love some of their songs. I am most personally touched by Welfare Music, because of my own early childhood. The chorus is:
"It's welfare music
Watch the baby dance
To the welfare music
Will she ever stand a chance"
I love the balls on these guys, too. I love it that they come into the South, into a state that just took the Confederate flag off the Statehouse dome a few years ago (I was there when they did it), and sang Wave That Flag with pride and without fear of retribution. If you aren't familiar with the song, it's not a cheer for the "Rebel flag," as some people call it. I cheered as loud as I could to drown out any possible red neck rants, but, fortunately, it wasn't necessary. It wasn't that kind of crowd mercifully. At least they now know we're all not backwoods assholes.
We had to leave before the show was over, so we could get our babysitter home by midnight. That really bummed my husband out. He's not quite yet ready to let go of his youth, and having to conform to parental responsibility restrictions causes him to bristle ever-so-slightly. However, he didn't give me too much shit about it, and I got my babysitter home before she turned into a pumpkin. Those TV producing skills still come in handy every now and then. I can back-time just about anything any time with contingency plans A, B, and C. That skill will earn me absolutely no respect with most people, but for the time being, it helped me keep my promise to my sitter's mom.
We were able to hear the first couple of songs of the encore before we had to leave. They did an awesome version of Lynyrd Skynyrd's Ballad of Curtis Lowe. I'm not at all ashamed to admit that I like the old Lynyrd Skynyrd, and that is my favorite Lynyrd Skynyrd song. Brian Henneman's voice is perfectly suited to sing this song the way it's meant to be sung. It was a cool surprise that they performed it. The last song we heard was one of our favorites, Stuck in Indianapolis. We've used that song and Welfare Music on mix CDs we give out to our friends for the holidays. Stuck in Indianapolis has an awesome "trucker song" beat. If it doesn't make you want to dance, you are either too drunk to stand or you have no soul.
Going to this show tonight felt good. It was food for our souls. We are the kind of people who need to see live music. We wear out our ipods pretty much every day, but they'll never compare to being in the same room with the people who created the music that makes you feel good. The collective vibe of all the strangers in the crowd who have this one common link, even if it's just for a couple of hours, lifts my spirit a little bit. You can also never underestimate the power of time travel. Going back in our minds to that old theatre-turned bar in the early stages of our relationship reminded us of one of the strongest bonds we had in the early days: our love of music. Since that time, there have been many more things that have brought us together and kept us together, but it was an integral part of making us, us. It's nice to remember that and celebrate it.
We went to see a band we saw many times in college. I knew my husband's soul needed a little feedin', so when I saw the Bottle Rockets were coming to town, I went in search of a babysitter. We met another couple at the show and sat down for the opening act. We had never heard of Otis Gibbs before, but we knew we'd like him. My husband downloaded some of his music before the show, and we had our own little concert in the living room this afternoon. The thing that immediately struck me is that he didn't look how he sounds. I don't really know what that means exactly, but I didn't expect him to have a long, fuzzy beard. The second thing that struck me is that this guy is an amazing storyteller. He's a writer. His songs aren't formulaic. They're honest and poetic. They're real life. They're full of heart and soul. I loved all of his music, but One Day Our Whispers really touched me. I think the statement he's making with this song is so pertinent right now, and if the right ears pick it up, it could have a powerful impact. I also loved Thinking 'Bout Jolene. During the show, he asked if there was anyone out there who had ever heard of him, we could feel free to make requests. He said this sarcastically thinking there was no way this crowd was into him. My husband, Otis, yelled out the name of the only song he knew. Otis Gibbs said, "Sorry, man. You stumped me, but I'll play another one for you." We were a little puzzled by this, but we enjoyed what he played anyway.
After his set, Otis Gibbs jumped down off the stage with his box of CDs and came looking for my Otis, who was out of the "listening room" at the time. Gibbs explained to me that the song my Otis requested was a song he had never played live. In fact, he had written it a couple days before he recorded it and hadn't yet gotten comfortable with it. He just wanted us to know the real reason he didn't play it during the show. Dude. That's cool. I just appreciate someone who's freaking real, man. He was honest, and I respect the hell out of that. He's not a recording artist. He's a real artist, but he just didn't want to play a song live if he couldn't kick its ass. We will see that guy again.
When the Bottle Rockets took the stage, Otis Gibbs was in the crowd with the rest of us. You could tell he was a fan. Immediately, we noticed a difference there, too. The lead singer was stone-cold sober and skinny! He's lost like 60 pounds. Also, the bass player/backup vocalist was new. He is obviously younger than the rest of the other guys, but he gave them a new spark, I thought. The first few songs were off their new album, which is awesome! Then, they packed us all into their Time Machine. It felt so good to be there, listening to one of our favorite Missouri bands here in good ole South Cackalacki. I had forgotten how passionately I love some of their songs. I am most personally touched by Welfare Music, because of my own early childhood. The chorus is:
"It's welfare music
Watch the baby dance
To the welfare music
Will she ever stand a chance"
I love the balls on these guys, too. I love it that they come into the South, into a state that just took the Confederate flag off the Statehouse dome a few years ago (I was there when they did it), and sang Wave That Flag with pride and without fear of retribution. If you aren't familiar with the song, it's not a cheer for the "Rebel flag," as some people call it. I cheered as loud as I could to drown out any possible red neck rants, but, fortunately, it wasn't necessary. It wasn't that kind of crowd mercifully. At least they now know we're all not backwoods assholes.
We had to leave before the show was over, so we could get our babysitter home by midnight. That really bummed my husband out. He's not quite yet ready to let go of his youth, and having to conform to parental responsibility restrictions causes him to bristle ever-so-slightly. However, he didn't give me too much shit about it, and I got my babysitter home before she turned into a pumpkin. Those TV producing skills still come in handy every now and then. I can back-time just about anything any time with contingency plans A, B, and C. That skill will earn me absolutely no respect with most people, but for the time being, it helped me keep my promise to my sitter's mom.
We were able to hear the first couple of songs of the encore before we had to leave. They did an awesome version of Lynyrd Skynyrd's Ballad of Curtis Lowe. I'm not at all ashamed to admit that I like the old Lynyrd Skynyrd, and that is my favorite Lynyrd Skynyrd song. Brian Henneman's voice is perfectly suited to sing this song the way it's meant to be sung. It was a cool surprise that they performed it. The last song we heard was one of our favorites, Stuck in Indianapolis. We've used that song and Welfare Music on mix CDs we give out to our friends for the holidays. Stuck in Indianapolis has an awesome "trucker song" beat. If it doesn't make you want to dance, you are either too drunk to stand or you have no soul.
Going to this show tonight felt good. It was food for our souls. We are the kind of people who need to see live music. We wear out our ipods pretty much every day, but they'll never compare to being in the same room with the people who created the music that makes you feel good. The collective vibe of all the strangers in the crowd who have this one common link, even if it's just for a couple of hours, lifts my spirit a little bit. You can also never underestimate the power of time travel. Going back in our minds to that old theatre-turned bar in the early stages of our relationship reminded us of one of the strongest bonds we had in the early days: our love of music. Since that time, there have been many more things that have brought us together and kept us together, but it was an integral part of making us, us. It's nice to remember that and celebrate it.
Labels: Date, Music, Otis Gibbs, The Blue Note, The Bottle Rockets
5 Comments:
"Ol' Curt was a black man,
with white, curly hair.
When he had a fifth of wine
he did not have a care."
Also one of my favorite Skynyrd songs. Takes me back to middle school.
I am so happy that you are going to invest this great passion you have for life into a return to the theater. You are so kind to tell me that my theater work, measly as it is!has inspired you. I hope it happens soon Nothing like it, no matter how large or small one's involvement.
I'm going to find some Otis Gibbs and Bottle Rockets music and your post made me think back to some great times in the 1970's when Lynard Skinner was in the air, even if I was drunk on my butt!
Later.
I know what you mean about "rare dates" and feeling like you're going back in time. Not because I went to a Bottle Rockets show, but because Hubby and I were married for 6 1/2 years before our first child was born. We kinda liked our lives and hanging out just-the-two-of-us style. And now, 3 1/2 years later we have two rugrats under the age of 4 and I've been known to bemoan the fact that at times I can hardly remember life BZ2 (before the "two Z's")except to remember that it sometimes included gluttonous behavior such as lounging on the couch all weekend and watching whatever we wanted on the tube, doing lots of not-child-friendly things spontaneously, having sex whenever the urge hit. Oh, and the best of all, sleeping in as late as we pleased the next morning.
Ouch, it's painful to even think of it as I describe it.
Whenever we manage to get out of the house alone together I tend to go back in time as I remember how it was when it was just the two of us. And it's the strangest thing that no matter how much I miss it sometimes, I'd never exchange the current chaos of our lives that includes parenting our two wee ones and saying goodbye to the way things were.
Parenting is the epitomy of paradox on so many levels!
Glad you had a good time!
MGM,
So true. I wouldn't trade my rugrat for the world. In many ways, he is my world. But, last night was an important reminder to me that parents need to nurture their relationships every now and then like we did pre-kiddos. It makes us better parents.
The Bottle Rockets were great here in Columbia. They play Mojo's now instead of the Blue Note though. Zoysia is my favorite track off of the new album. I prefer Brian's non-relationship songs. Aaron
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