The Bootleg of Bootlegs

As I reached my thirties I became a bit of a bootlegger, searching for the sounds that I had heard once before played live. It started with a band. Crazy Horse. They really did change my perception of music completely, and it has never been the same since. Now, finally, near 8 years later. I have proof that it happened. As I listen to it now and all the memories and colors come flooding back, I'm inspired to write. Or type in this case.

There is no doubt this is the single greatest live performance I have ever witnessed. I have seen hundreds of bands perform live, in every setting and this one at Bonnaroo 2003 was the gem. I have searched for it time and again knowing it is in trading circles out there. Floating around like a renegade paper bag in the wind. Now I have it, in all it's wondrous glory, in my hand!

Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals Live @ The Hollywood Bowl

Another vacation day spent with the kids, somehow I feel these are the days in which I will miss most. Just me and them. Noone else. No deadlines. Harper is asleep in the carriage; Pierce is on the toilet. Ben is signing "Let's make love tonight..." and I'm trying to think how many times I've seen this DVD. A hundred? Maybe more. 200 hours? Some will go on through their lives and never know who Ben Harper is, let alone ever see this concert, or ever seen him live. To me it is part of who I am.

Let's try this again.

I'm having writer deja vu. Having already tried to write about what I had bore witness to now nearly a week ago now. Concerts seem to come and go it seems. Having been to a number of them I can tell you there are some I flat out don't remember or would like to forget. I've seen some of the best musicians on the planet and I've seen a few of the worst. 3rd Stone could be one of the greatest I've seen, now twice live.

But Brad seriously, the greatest? If I could explain to you the first time I experienced them in a concert hall at the end of the night at Suwannee. I'd truly come to see Bernie Worrell with a back up band. Honestly. I had no idea what I was walking into. I found my usual spot, middle of the floor and back so I can soak it all in. I didn't move from that spot until the last note echoed through the chambers. Dried tears were on my cheeks or they were frozen, it was freezing temperatures that night.

This band was playing out of their minds. A cohesive steam engine of emotion on a runaway course through your soul and down and out of your legs. You can't help but gyrate away and lift your arms up in praise.

The Good Ole Days

I don't know how many times I've heard it, and I'm only 35. There is a reference to the 50s and some says, "Oh, those were the good ole days." Or, "I wouldn't want to raise kids in this world." Perhaps even "These kids nowadays will never live the American Dream like we did."

Can we please stop with this nonsense? Please, enlighten me how much better the world was 50 years ago. Do you mean when you drank out of seperate water fountains than your fellow brothers & sisters? When there was a mass genocide of anyone not blonde haired and blue-eyed? When we were dropping nuclear bombs on not one, but two cities? Yeah, those days must have been great. Really wish I was there for those.

Now, it almost seems as if those same awesome things in the 50s are coming back full circle. America is a country full of people who think they know what's better for everyone else. We judge people that look different than us or pray to different gods. We use military force, the most elite military force in history, to perpetuate our agenda of democracy and freedom. Look how well it working for us now! I know if I were from another country reading what was going on in the US, I would be very worried that they dictate the way the world should be run.

I believe that there is "nothing new under the sun". Period. Everything that is going on in this world has happened time and time again since the beginning. Human hearts haven't changed. They can be hardened and absent of love, calloused by the world and the hurt it brings. People act less out of love, but fear of getting rejected again.

Monk & Coltrane @ Carnegie Hall

Man it is quiet. The only noise emanates from my garage, as usual, this time it is filled with schizophrenic sounds of a saxaphone and piano making passionate love. A rare moment indeed. Memorial Day 2010. The flag is flying and the Facebook posts are telling me to thank my military and recite the Pledge of Allegiance. Surely I'm proud of those that have served, they stood in harm's way ultimately fighting for the American Dream. My American Dream. Yours.

Nowadays though the climate is that of fearmongering and hate speech. The political waters are like that of the Gulf. Hopeless. Black. Deadly. In just the past year I've heard some scary things through forwarded e-mails, personal e-mails, blogs and conversation, whether it be at the local watering hole or right here under my roof. Words like "revolution", exaggerations that the nation "will be divided in 5 to 6 different countries in the next decade" and "liberals should eat their young like hamsters." Interesting that last one is the name of a book by "Christian" author. Sounds like "love your enemies" isn't the mantra in his mind.

Taking a moment of silence this morning. Looking at the stars and stripes flowing in the wind, and observing the rest of the block. Their flags flying too. I couldn't help but wonder who is fighting for us. I heard recently that stood out in my mind that "19 year olds are the military's greatest weapon". These are kids who believe in what some people would perceive to be communism. Muslims & satanists. Skinheads & gang members. Hippies & yuppies. Single mothers & deadbeat fathers. Drug addicts & alcoholics. All these different people. People we disagree with about on some very basic things, yet they are fighting and DYING for us.

Our own "enemies of the state" are putting their lives in harm's way so that we can live the American Dream, raise a family, have a career, worship, write blogs and post on social networking sites. Remember that there are people different than you sacrificing their lives for you. Sometimes it is not the ultimate sacrifice, but they aren't going to the beach today. We are because of them. Remember that when we say God Bless America we mean EVERYONE under it's flag. They came here for the freedom that we have enjoyed everyday of our lives.

When you take your flag down at sundown and fold into a triangle remember that American isn't white, Christian and English speaking. American is every color, race and creed. Freedom of speech, political affiliation and religion. American is being compassionate and non-judgemental, giving more than you have so that the others around you can live the American Dream alongside you.