Yep, you're right. Your music would certainly drive me far away. But I don't care. Last night I had the opportunity of a life time, at least for me. My eldest daughter and her husband purchased a combination birthday present for my wife and I, tickets for the double-billed live concert of "The Guess Who", and "Grand Funk Railroad". Now you have to understand, that though these bands were very big back in the late 60's and early 70's, they were exceptional at what they did. My wife loved the first show by the Guess Who, while I've been a Grand Funk fan for most of my life. The Grand Funk Railroad was originally comprised of Mark Farner - lead guitarist and primary singer, Mel Schaffer - legendary drummer and singer, and Don Brewer - aka Doctor of Thunder bass guitarist. These three men had incredible energy in their heyday. Mark Farner has been replaced and the new lead singer has all of the energy and a set of pipes like a 20 year-old Mark Farner. Mel Schaffer did a 10 minute drum solo that was every bit as incredible as the live drum solo he did in Detroit at a live concert back in 1969. I was completely blown away. Add to that a competant keyboard artist and a new lead guitarist that played such amazing rock, faithful in every way, if not better than Farner's original work. At some points in the show, it brought tears to my eye.
Think of legendary songs like "I'm Your Captain (Closer to Home)", "Foot Stompin' Music", and the classic "Inside Looking Out". If you never heard Grand Funk concerts, or owned any of their albums, this won't mean anything to you. But if you have shared in that incredible energy born of men who could litteraly blow the windows out of Detroit's Cobal Hall, then you know how amazing the night was for me.
Gotta tell ya, the only band who could hope to affect me as much might be Emerson, Lake, & Palmer, again because they were the absolute best at what they did.
I love most types of music. And great composition coupled with true artistry, whether its Grand Funk Railroad, ELP, or Bach (Toccata Fugue in D-minor anyone?) leaves me speechless. And last night, I was overwhelmed.
Like I said, keep your hot tub. I need more excitement than that. I am a man of great passion, and require the perfection of a ripe tomato from my garden, or the screaming guitar of a great rock band, or the amazing creation of sound by a full orchestra. Give me a raging dirt bike screaming up a hill to steep to climb and I'll climb it. Give me the adrenaline rush encountered when missing a turn and heading into the thick woods at 40 mph plus, with only lightning reflexes and some luck to avoid slamming into 2 foot wide maples and elms. Or give me a piano fugue sone so skillfully and with such fineese as to take my breath away. That's living. And I'm going to live until I die.
So right here and right now, I'm saying to my Daughter and her husband, thank you for a grand evening, even though you will never read this thread.
And yes, I called and thanked her, and thanked her again.
You ladies in the hot tub, get out of that water, get dressed, and get together with the person who means most to you, and do something in real life, right now, something that will light your heart afire with excitement, something where you can touch or feel greatness. Do something spontaneous that will drive life into you with such force that it will burn into your memory for the rest of your life. Let the rush of adrenaline fill your senses with a quickening, so that every nerve of your body becomes super sensitive to all the world has to offer. And then, best of all, let that energy express itself in love with that partner you hold dearest.
Seeeeeeya; Goodweed of the North