We are a commune of inquiring, skeptical, politically centrist, capitalist, anglophile, traditionalist New England Yankee humans, humanoids, and animals with many interests beyond and above politics. Each of us has had a high-school education (or GED), but all had ADD so didn't pay attention very well, especially the dogs. Each one of us does "try my best to be just like I am," and none of us enjoys working for others, including for Maggie, from whom we receive neither a nickel nor a dime. Freedom from nags, cranks, government, do-gooders, control-freaks and idiots is all that we ask for.
I didn't realize that Ricky Skaggs wrote this tune. We made friends with Ricky back when he was playing in bars in Kentucky. In fact, Mrs. BD hired him for a few performances. Dylan used a rousing rock version as his opening tune for a year or two, which I have from a bootleg on my iTunes.
Saw him perform, as a lad. Bridgeport, Ct., in that stadium behind the county jail. Wrote the review for the local paper too. I am too dumb to write reviews anymore about anything. You have to be young to know what to say. Older you get, the less you have to say about anything: you just say what it is. I think that's wisdom, but maybe it's brain cell death.
If I had to pick my favorite song by The Band, I think this would be it (or maybe Acadian Driftwood, or The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down, or The Weight, or their version of Dylan's Tears of Rage, or I Shall Be Released) :
On this day in 1959, the "Big Bopper" J.P. Richardson, Buddy Holly, and Richie Valens died in a plane crash. This video is "Chantilly Lace," one of my favorites from that era. (My boys hid behind their chairs when I sang it at karaoke on a cruise. -- Today, I'm tormenting them with my version of James Brown, together with my imitation of that great performer's dance steps -- wish I had a cape, too, singing "I feel good.")
It must be midwinter, because we have been posting so many New York City items. Much more than usual. Hunting season is over, Spring is far off, we don't all ski, and we all like to ingest some culcha on weekends. Where else can you find more and better of everything, without having to spend a lot of money (except for parking)?
On MLK Day, let's not forget that all of us have slaves or serfs in our ancestries. Few of our ancestors owned them. It's the natural human thing, if history tells us anything. However, we stand as American rebels with MLK against any form of impingement on our personal, God-given freedom of self-determination against all forms of power or self-anointed authority. Especially the powers of the State, which is what MLK stood up against.
These two NOLA piano-men did a few duets at the festive event I went to a couple of weeks ago. Yes, including Iko Iko and Let The Good Times Roll. Good to see Dr. John - hadn't seen him perform in many years, but I always enjoyed that cranky SOB. Found this duet on Youtube:
Also performing at the cool event I attended: Davell Crawford, with the Davell Crawford Singers (a 25-person NOLA gospel group). I had a nice chat with Davell afterwards. His grandpa wrote Iko Iko.
Attended an event recently where Buddy Guy was performing (along with some other NOLA folks I'll mention later). Sweet guy, heavenly-sweet music. He played this set, same band.
How many times do you need to listen to a Beethoven Piano sonata to really get it? My dumb ears require at least 40 times to get the feel and flow, the intended tone, and to learn the notes.
I am slow to allow a piece of music (or of anything else) to become a part of my soul. I try to maintain high, discerning walls - which frequently fail.
"Favorite" is not a helpful word. Let me ask our scientific poll questions a better way:
Beethoven's Pastoral, with Charles Hazelwood discussing