LeftyBrown's Corner

I'm always overjoyed when my inner vin diagram of interests intersect. Tonight I watched the National Anthem Vote for Change Concert from Washington D.C. Here my interest in politics shared the same space as my love for good music and my love for autuers like D.A. Pennebaker. Toss into the ring my ability to record the concert and burn it onto DVD and my evening has been set. For those in the Liberal Coalition who want a copy of this on DVD, drop me a line and I'll mail you out a copy. Anyway onto the music...

First up was my secret favorite, John Mellencamp. For some reason he gets a bad rap with some, but I dig the hell out of him. He put on one heck of a set with a rousing Authority Song, while not my favorite it quickly got the crowd on his side. Mellencamp nearly burned down the arena with a fiery Pink Houses. His band is so darn good I think it just may be illegal in some swing states they've toured in.

After Mellencamp walked out Babyface, for a forgettable "Change Your World", it was okay, but not my cup o' tea, although I kept watching to see how many people kept looking around to see if any of the rumored guests would turn out to be Eric Clapton to come out and help his co-conspirator out. No such luck, and in a concert that prides itself on being performed by Americans for Americans I didn't expect it.

In between set changes, we the home audience were treated to shorts by documentarians D.A. Pennebaker and Albert Maysles behind the scenes of the Concert for Changes at various stops along the way. These would continue during the night to be short vignettes of artists telling why they wanted to be a part of these concerts, their love for the other artists, and ordinary folks making comments about how important it is to vote (and sometimes how important it is to vote against the current sham of an administration). I was especially touched by the R.E.M. vignette and their sincere love of Bruce Springsteens music, complete with Mike Stipe practicing Born to Run backstage with his bandmates. It made my inner music geek giddy with exuberant excitement.

Next up topped even Mellencamp. The trio of Keb Mo, Bonnie Raitt, and Jackson Browne came out to perform together. It was a match made in heaven, with only one flubbed stanza during Buffalo Springfield's For What It's Worth which seemed to cause a momentary hesitation onstage. But what blew my mind, and stopped my wife cold was a great song they covered by Little Steven called I Am A Patriot. It's my new inner anthem, and puts into song what I feel what makes America great. It was a scorcher. I loved their set. Loved it!

Next up was Jurassic 5 whose short set was catchy. I enjoyed it, but knowing little of the band I commenced reading the new Rolling Stone about John Stewart. Before I knew it, R.E.M was on my T.V. in the short vignette I described earlier. After the short, R.E.M. played a rousing 4-5 song set. I love R.E.M. but right around New Adventures in Hi Fi, my interest in them waned. Lately I've been thinking about their new album, and seeing my old favorites up on stage has put their new CD in my must-buy category. I can't remember every song they played, but it was a great collection of their early stuff, their hit stuff, and a song from their new album. The highlight was having Eddie Vedder come out and sing with them, only to be followed up with The Boss himself coming out to sing Man on the Moon. Mike Stipe looked extremely happy and reminded me of a child being told they do get to pick out a new toy. It was great, damn it was more than great, it was mind-blowing. The band also played their big hit, Losing My Religion which surprises me because I'm sure they're damn tired of playing that one by now.

After R.E.M., Pearl Jam came out. It's been 5 years since I last picked up a Pearl Jam CD. A few weeks ago I was on a Pearl Jam kick, and I played all the CDs I had of them at work for a couple days. So their music was sticking around in my bloodstream, even though I knew only about 1/2 to a 1/3 of the songs. I was surprised to see Tim Robbins come out to perform a cover of X's The New World. Which reminds me that I need to watch Bob Roberts again this election eve. The also played one of my favorite Dylan covers they do, Masters of War. It's fitting with Dubya and their's "Judas[es] of old."

After Pearl Jam we got another vignette, and our first commercial/plug for the night, which I'll have to remember to edit out. And then we were back to the music where James Taylor took it down a knotch. While I do like James Taylor, he did make me slightly sleepy, but he played something like three songs, maybe it was two. He then brought out the Dixie Chicks, who I don't have an immediate fondness for, and their hairdstyles smacks more of Pro Wrestling than country songstresses. I do have to admit, I enjoyed some of their set, and nicely avoided all the crap I hate in contemporary "hit" country. I also liked James Taylor's advice on how to pick your choice for president. He said to look at both candidates, and pick the smart one. After one more song, James was off the stage, leaving only 'Da Chicks. They get a half point with me for the somewhat funny line, "We must put an end to Mad Cowboy disease." After that it was back to checking out various blogs and glancing at more Rolling Stone articles as my interest in the Dixie Chicks became toe-tapping background music. That is until I heard the words, "Here's a Bob Dylan tune", and I looked my dog with her head half-cocked at an angle when I ask her if she wants to go outside. It was a very country-fried version of Mississippi from Dylan last CD, Love and Theft. It was weird hearing it because the original was slow and haunting, and this was well, it was upbeat. Nothing wrong with that, but it just felt awkward. And after that the Dixie Chicks set came mercifully to an end. I think I got more enjoyment out of seeing the stage rotate after their set. Anway on with the show, and I'm now blogging in real time. Next up Dave Matthews...

Another documentary vignette. How many people can utter this line, Dave Matthews begins his short: "I was talking to Neil Young the other day..." Now before the DMB comes out to play I need to go on record I have a limited tolerance of the Dave Matthews Band. I respect them for what they've done and achieved for live music. but the whole college frat vibe just turns my stomach, especially with some of the ditzes they seem to attract (and not just because the tend to lean Bush...well maybe that's a little bit of it). The DMB has just started out with the nice Don't Drink the Water, which I do actually like. It has the nice amount of political sensibility with enough decent jamming to cause my head to bob up and down with my fingers tapping away on this post as a also look at the latest ways we can try to stop Sinclair Broadcasting from using our public airwaves as a bully pulpit over on Talking Points Memo and Daily Kos. The next thing I know Dave has gone into the "songs that all sound the sound the same" territory and my am now biding my time until the next act, which I think is Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. Oh Oh, they just launched into Ants Marching, which I have to admit I do like. My interst level in the set has risen a bit, as I listen in again. Umm, they are doing So Much to Say, which with judging by how many times they sing "So Much to Say" doens't amount to very muc to say after all. Isn't ironic dontcha think? It's like raaaaiiiin..um sorry, getting a little bored with the song, must focus for The Boss...

Oh Shit! I forgot John Fogerty. Fogerty falls into the my "I ought to own some of their stuff" but haven't picked up any yet. I love CCR. That wasn't always the case, but like the Beach Boys, like the Stones, as my understanding and growth as a music listner I've come to love CCR and John Fogerty. I've heard all kinds of good stuff about his latest song Deja Vu, so I am looking forward to it. And it looks like he'll be sharing the stage with Bruuuuuuuuuuuuce.

Cool. Bruce comes out strumming the Star Spangled Banner on his acoustic guitar with (and I may be wrong here) his 1954 Esquire on his back. The man comes prepared. They are now launching into the often misused Vietnam vet anthem, Born in the USA. Nice opener so far. After Born, they launch into one of my favorite songs, Badlands. The band is scorching hot right now. I'm amazed at how much fire is still left in the Boss' belly. I see why they still sell out stadiums in mere minutes. They just launched into a song John Kerry used when he was nominated as the Democratic presendential contender, No Surrender. It's a great song, and has never ceased to get me fired up. I feel like riding the wave of hope the E Street Band is sending out. We WILL send Kerry to the White House come November 2nd. No retreat, no surrender! Power to the People!

Sorry got a little carried away there. John Fogerty just to the stage, playing with Bruce Springsteen and Max Weinberg. John launches into Deja Vu as the rest of the East Street band accompanies him. It's a good song, and reminds me of some of his better solo songs. It's a political song about the Iraqi war, which coming from the author of Fortunate Song is sadly fitting. Deja Vu all over again indeed. Soul stirring song.

And he launches into Fortunate Son. It's a left right combo and Lefty's on the ropes! Great stuff! Fogerty is a scrapper, don't piss him off! I remember in the days of grunge back when the Seattle found it's roots in the songs of Neil Young. Now it feels like Fogerty is getting the props he richly deserves belting out two great tunes with Bruces and the Band. And just like that Fogerty hits the showers as Bruce introduces Mike Stipe. This should be good, as they start Because the Night. Stipe's voice hauntingly fits the song, but it's so damn weird seeing Stipe and Bruce up on stage together doing Bruce's songs. Weird, but in a good way. Bruce's energy is infectous, as Mike Stipe sings his heart out! Awesome, simply awesome. This one was hit out of the freakin' ballpark. Bruce is playing like a man possessed. Wow!

Next Bruce encourages an audience sing along preparing them for Mary's Place off of The Rising. Here's Bruce the showman comes out as here makes everyone in the audience feel welcome at Mary's Place. Come on in! Here's comes The Preacher. Bruce sometimes slips into this personna as he deliver's his rock and roll sermons, which mixes a fiery presentation with a little of humor and silver-tongued devilishness. Somehow Bruce manages to reach across the airwaves and now is preaching redemption from the "burdens of republicanism." Too funny, too damn funny. I'm a believer!!!! Preach it Bruce, preach it brother! Oh god this is so great! Absolutely un-freakin'-believable!

Very nice, as I scramble to continue recording after the show has passed the 12 AM stop time I had on the recording. I think I'm good, but now the encore will be on a seperate menu number than the rest of the Bruce set, and I may have missed a couple of seconds of recording. It could be much worse, I could have gone to bed and missed these last few songs.

That being said, the show goes on with the band launching into a sweet Born to Run. with R.E.M.'s guitarist coming out to jam. I think there's a contest going to see how many guitarist they can have playing on one song. They have it up to four and a bass guitar. The song is full of energy and robust in excitement. Well played Mister Springsteen. Match, Set & Game.

Now it's time for the finale as everyone comes out to the stage. The star-studded ensemble launch into Elvis Costello's What's So Funny About Peace, Love & Understanding?. Springsteen sang a verse, a Dixie Chick (Maines?) sang a verse, Fogerty sang a verse, while the rest sang the choruses. Mike Stipe has a Kerry t-shirt and is flashing it to the crowd and nodding. Looks like they are doing another song, and it's Patti Smith's People Have the Power. A fitting end to tonight's festivities. Stipe sang lead, and Springsteen, and Vedder, and Jurassic 5, and Mellencamp, as well the entire arena singing the chorus (and this blogger at home as well).

Very nice concert. I am very glad on how well this went down. The home-viewing audience was able to see the entire concert with the documentary shorts filling in the gaps of time while sets were changed. I had my doubts, so I am very very glad. What an awesome show, full of excitement, some anger, lots of hope, and maybe even a force of change come November 2nd. Good night/morning. I'm gonna feel this when I get up in 3 1/2 hours. I'll be dragging all day.