(no subject)
J and I went to the Spirit of the West show at Massey Hall last night. It was an excellent gig -- everything we have come to expect from these folks.
John Mann's health was an obvious concern. Since I last saw the band he had survived colon cancer, and then been diagnosed with early-onset Alzhiemer's disease. It has certainly made its mark on him. He no longer plays guitar, and when he sings all of his concentration is on the iPad showing the lyrics. He had great trouble trying to say more than a sentence or two between songs. But when he dances his grin is wide and he pogos his DMs across the stage like a punk a third his age.
He thanked his wife for all her support, and then he sang Unplugged. It's a song they wrote decades ago, but it must take a lot of guts to bring out now. For those who are not familiar, the lyrics are here:
The ceiling's too familiar
Laying slackjawed on my back
and words spill out like puzzles
as she tries to fill the gap
But my lover's not my mother
And the hands that wipe my ass
Are the hands that once caressed me
I don't want them to detest me
And I will not burden those I love
I will not be a spoon fed bird
Or beg for mercy from above
Oh, let my cord become unplugged
The man from Holland left the room
But he never left his bed
On his brithday after brandy
he chose angel choirs instead
The first one was for sleeping
The next one took his breath
His wife left his bedside to reflect
In a rocking chair, with a cigarette
And I will not burden those I love
I will not be a spoon fed bird
Or beg for mercy from above
Oh, let my cord become unplugged
I will not burden those I love
I will not be be a spoon fed bird
Or beg for mercy from above
Oh, let my cord
Oh, let my cord become unplugged
Geoffrey called him "The most courageous man I have ever met." I will not argue with that. The show was filmed, and will be edited and available for free online later this year. I will try to post a link when it's up.
John Mann's health was an obvious concern. Since I last saw the band he had survived colon cancer, and then been diagnosed with early-onset Alzhiemer's disease. It has certainly made its mark on him. He no longer plays guitar, and when he sings all of his concentration is on the iPad showing the lyrics. He had great trouble trying to say more than a sentence or two between songs. But when he dances his grin is wide and he pogos his DMs across the stage like a punk a third his age.
He thanked his wife for all her support, and then he sang Unplugged. It's a song they wrote decades ago, but it must take a lot of guts to bring out now. For those who are not familiar, the lyrics are here:
The ceiling's too familiar
Laying slackjawed on my back
and words spill out like puzzles
as she tries to fill the gap
But my lover's not my mother
And the hands that wipe my ass
Are the hands that once caressed me
I don't want them to detest me
And I will not burden those I love
I will not be a spoon fed bird
Or beg for mercy from above
Oh, let my cord become unplugged
The man from Holland left the room
But he never left his bed
On his brithday after brandy
he chose angel choirs instead
The first one was for sleeping
The next one took his breath
His wife left his bedside to reflect
In a rocking chair, with a cigarette
And I will not burden those I love
I will not be a spoon fed bird
Or beg for mercy from above
Oh, let my cord become unplugged
I will not burden those I love
I will not be be a spoon fed bird
Or beg for mercy from above
Oh, let my cord
Oh, let my cord become unplugged
Geoffrey called him "The most courageous man I have ever met." I will not argue with that. The show was filmed, and will be edited and available for free online later this year. I will try to post a link when it's up.