A Musical Haven
“I have two ears, and they both hear something different, and I’m in the middle.” ~ Richie Havens at The Lyric, Blacksburg, Virginia.
Red and ornate, The Lyric Theatre in Blacksburg reminds me of the old Boston City Music Hall where, during the 1970s, I heard Jessie Colin Young, Sly and the Family Stone, Van Morrison, Donavan, and others.
With a group of Floyd friends, I sat in the balcony Friday night to hear the distinctive vocals and driving guitar rhythms of Richie Havens. It could have been a flashback. He came on stage wearing a flowing black tunic with rings on every finger, and when he sang Joni Mitchell’s “Back to the Garden…” By the time we got to Woodstock…we were half a million strong… my friend, Jayn, got teary-eyed. I leaned over towards her, in the seat next to mine, and whispered, “It’s our generation’s national anthem.”
Folk icon, Havens, who has played everything from Woodstock to President Clinton’s Inaugural, came to Blacksburg by way of Floyd’s own, Dylan Locke Productions.
“There are songs you wish you wouldn’t have to sing anymore…” he prefaced his rendition of Jackson Browne’s Lives in the Balance (still sadly appropriate):
They sell us the President the same way
They sell us our clothes and our cars
They sell us every thing from youth to religion
The same time they sell us our wars
I want to know who the men in the shadows are
I want to hear somebody asking them why
They can be counted on to tell us who our enemies are
But they’re never the ones to fight or to die
Always political, but purposeful and hopeful, Havens is something of a cross between a monk and a story-telling comic. He hasn’t lost any of his honey-sweet voice or his charm. After the show, appearing in the lobby dressed in cowboy attire, he graciously signed autographs, which is when my friend Katherine said this to him: “35 years ago. Fairlawn Tennis Stadium.”
“You were there?!” he responded incredulously, and quickly added, “Janis Joplin!” as though he was as thrilled to have seen Janis as he guessed my friend Katherine was.
After she got her CD signed and bid him, “Namaste,” she said, “See you in another 35 years” to which Havens responded, “Don’t wait that long!”
Post note: Today is the last day to VOTE in the Share the Love Blog Awards.
February 27th, 2006 9:12 am
Sounds like a lot of fun.
I remember those days at The Boston Tea party more then The Music Hall. Actually you brought me to my first concert…JOE COCKER and it was at The Boston Tea Party.
February 27th, 2006 9:35 am
The Boston Tea Party was the greatest! I think it only last a year or two, but we saw so many bands there…like Led Zepplen before they hit it big! You must have gone to the Music Hall with me for some of those mentioned names? I saw the original HAIR at the Music Hall too.
February 27th, 2006 2:44 pm
You gotta love it!
Musicians, it seems to me, are ahead of the times. They “see” what others don’t and have such a way of putting it out there for the masses.
February 27th, 2006 6:37 pm
I bet it was a great show at the Lyric. I love the old downtown theaters. I even had a class in the Lyric once, although I can’t for the life of me remember what class it was (I guess that means I didn’t go enough.) And I’m really impressed by the list of performers you’ve seen. Especially Van Morrison. If I had to pick one album to take with me to a deserted island, it would be Astral Weeks.
February 27th, 2006 7:06 pm
I’m with Mayberry…very impressed by Van Morrison..and even more for your friend seeing Janis. Oh I love their music.
By these dates and numbers it is apparent you look and beautiful and youthful. Probably comes from your good spirit.
February 28th, 2006 1:35 am
Your post brought back so many memories (just like music does). Great finale (his words!)