Roots
Greetings again, honored brethren, in the name of Clapton, Santana, and Bo Diddley. This is the third and last installment of the Rock and Roll pilgrimage I made nearly two weeks ago.
On June 16th of this year I was at a Bobby Bland concert. The Blues is the root of all Rock and Roll music. It's no coincidence that the three highest of its prophets, the Church of Rock and Roll's Holy Trinity, all held great regard for it.
When the time came for the man himself to perform onstage, he was old, gray, clearly very tired, but his performance was as energetic as any I've ever heard. This was a truly inspiring evening, and nothing short of the end of time could have ruined that evening. However, the time comes now for me to talk of concert etiquette.
Singing along when the band encourages you to do so is all well and good, but when asked to allow the lead singer to do most of the singing, and to sing along when he gives the cue, it's only right to respect an elder Blues legend's wishes. I was surprised to see a great deal of the older audience members disregard his request. Enthusiasm should not be allowed to overwhelm reason and decency. And in between songs, as he was trying to tell stories, many over-excited fans screamed out requests, to the point where at the end, Mr. Bland said of his last song for the evening, "I'm going to sing one last song now, and some of you can yell and scream much as you want to, but I'm singing this last song for me." I really couldn't help but concur with his declaration. When a person has a story to tell, and when you paid good money to hear the man, it's only right that you should both listen, and give those around you the chance to listen.
But, aside from minor nuisances, the performance was truly legendary. Several times he talked through his songs, and included questions to the audience members in the front row in his song. That's the sing of a true artist, the ability to adapt. And he is certainly an artist. We may rest assured that when he dies, he will go directly to that great gig in the sky.
My sermon ends here. Go in peace, and remember always to respect your elders.
Amen.
On June 16th of this year I was at a Bobby Bland concert. The Blues is the root of all Rock and Roll music. It's no coincidence that the three highest of its prophets, the Church of Rock and Roll's Holy Trinity, all held great regard for it.
When the time came for the man himself to perform onstage, he was old, gray, clearly very tired, but his performance was as energetic as any I've ever heard. This was a truly inspiring evening, and nothing short of the end of time could have ruined that evening. However, the time comes now for me to talk of concert etiquette.
Singing along when the band encourages you to do so is all well and good, but when asked to allow the lead singer to do most of the singing, and to sing along when he gives the cue, it's only right to respect an elder Blues legend's wishes. I was surprised to see a great deal of the older audience members disregard his request. Enthusiasm should not be allowed to overwhelm reason and decency. And in between songs, as he was trying to tell stories, many over-excited fans screamed out requests, to the point where at the end, Mr. Bland said of his last song for the evening, "I'm going to sing one last song now, and some of you can yell and scream much as you want to, but I'm singing this last song for me." I really couldn't help but concur with his declaration. When a person has a story to tell, and when you paid good money to hear the man, it's only right that you should both listen, and give those around you the chance to listen.
But, aside from minor nuisances, the performance was truly legendary. Several times he talked through his songs, and included questions to the audience members in the front row in his song. That's the sing of a true artist, the ability to adapt. And he is certainly an artist. We may rest assured that when he dies, he will go directly to that great gig in the sky.
My sermon ends here. Go in peace, and remember always to respect your elders.
Amen.