A non-Woodstock Legend

Although I have only been posting concert reviews of Woodstock performers, the man I saw this week could very easily have performed 40 years ago in Bethel, NY. He was certainly just as famous as any of the Woodstock performers, if not more so. You would have trouble finding somebody today who has never heard a Bob Dylan song. The man was never a politician, war veteran, or president, yet you can point to him as having a large impact on our nation's history and popular culture.

Bob Dylan performed with John Mellencamp and Willie Nelson at McCoy Stadium this past Tuesday. While Nelson and Mellencamp are legends in their own right, Bob Dylan carries a certain special quality. He has written some of the best protest music in our nation's history. He was on the front lines of the Civil Rights Movement in the 60s, spoke out against Vietnam, and was open to discussing his fears of a possible nuclear war. He is without a doubt one of the most important, ground-breaking performers in our history.

For most people, Dylan's lyrics were always more important than the way he delivered them. Many people can't stomach the voice of Dylan. I think he is definately an acquired taste. I can remember hearing Bob Dylan songs when I was younger and thinking "how can anybody listen to this?" As years went by, I really did find myself paying more attention to what Dylan was saying in his music. As even more time went by, I found myself starting to enjoy the music.

These days, Bob Dylan doesn't sound like he used to. After over 40 years of singing, his voice is much deeper. He growls a bit. Yet somehow, the legacy and mystery of Dylan keeps people coming to see his concerts and buying his albums. I talked to a few younger attendees of the show who came because they simply wanted to see the legend in person before he retired. This past year in my classroom, I had a few students start to admit they had come to enjoy Dylan. One student, in fact, felt so compelled that he went out and bought Bob's new album. I don't expect everyone to enjoy Dylan. As I said earlier, he was an acquired taste for me. However, it is important that we look to the messages of the songs and how Dylan impacted his generation with those messages.

Here is a review from Tuesday night's show along with a few pictures I took:

Review: Legends night at McCoy

BY JOHN WINTERS FOR THE SUN CHRONICLE

PAWTUCKET - It was an off-the-wall triple Tuesday night at McCoy Stadium, as Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson and John Mellencamp brought their summer ballpark tour to town.The biggest threat of the night, other than a broken hip onstage, was the ominous clouds that looked ready to burst at any moment. After a day of forecasts that contained phrases like "flood warning" and "build an ark," it was not an auspicious start. However, the rain held off for the most part, and the show went on for the near-capacity crowd that ranged in age from 17 to 70.

The mix of performers seemed to be a good one, as each was greeted enthusiastically by the audience and returned the favor by delivering the goods.

Nelson, in his mid-70s and with his graying red mane flowing freely, delivered a low-key, loose set that concentrated mostly on the hits, such as "Georgia on My Mind," "Mama, Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Cowboys," "Always on My Mind," and "On the Road Again." The Texas native did seem to want to sneak some religion in, though, tossing off a medley of "Will the Circle be Unbroken" and "I'll Fly Away." For good measure, there were also a couple of Hank tunes.

Lifting things a notch was Mellencamp, whose set rocked hard and included a handful of hits, as well as a few more mordant tunes from his recent albums. This band was loud: the kick drum was so punishing that it throbbed inside my chest. A few mid-set acoustic tunes helped ease that, and other than a few lost violin parts, the sound and mix were very good, especially for a ballpark. And, as if on cue, it started to mist a little during "Rain on the Scarecrow."The stage was set up in the centerfield stands, with a section cordoned off in front so thousands could stand and get a closer look. The rest sat in the stands, further away, but appreciating a little shelter from the partial roof.

As is de rigueur for outdoor concerts, both Willie and Mellencamp did a lot of pointing to the crowd and urged them to sing along and even take over the vocals of some of their biggest hits.

Dylan did no pointing. But he did seem to be in high spirits. Under a white, wide-brimmed hat and a blue suit, Dylan came out clutching a guitar. He played and sang the opener, "Cats in the Well," with a little Elvis leg shake, and later, at the keyboard, was bopping all night.The band was so good it not only blew your socks off, it took the hair off the top of your toes. They were lovingly gentle on tunes like "Po' Boy," but ripped it up on others, like "Highway 61" and "Jolene," the only track played from Dylan's excellent new CD "Together Through Time."

The quality of Dylan's singing is always an issue, and at the start of his set Tuesday all that came out was a gruff sort of growl. It got better, and by the time he hit "Masters of War," it became the Voice of Doom, spitting out lines like "And I'll stand o'er your grave 'til I'm sure that you're dead." On "Summer Days" and "Ain't Talkin'" the "voice of a generation" was rough, but somehow right.

Anyone unsatisfied or taken by surprise by Dylan's lack of vocal acuity these days can't complain: Simply logging on to YouTube before buying tickets and putting in "Dylan live 2009," they would have heard what they were in for. It's a far cry from the mid-'70s, when he was one of the best singers in rock, but it's an instrument that's still serviceable in the way he uses it.

Neither the 70-year-old guy next to me who almost didn't recognize "It's Alright Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)" thanks to the bluesy shuffle that briskly carried it along, nor the 'tweens who were dancing at the back of the crowd to a torrid "All Along the Watchtower" seemed to mind. Like everyone else, they came to see the man who wrote these songs and continues to pen sui generis gems even as dotage nears, and who changed history: An artist now trying to survive like the rest of us, still sounding his clarion croak for the world to hear.

Another Woodstock legend...

I had the chance to see Joe Cocker on Cape Cod this past week. One of the greatest voices in rock history, Cocker used the Woodstock stage in 1969 to really cement himself into the mainstream music world. His unique, powerful voice combined with odd stage movements made Cocker one of the standout performers at Woodstock. His version of "With a Little Help From My Friends" has become a true anthem of Woodstock and the 60s.

Although Joe is now 65 and has aged quite a bit physically since Woodstock, his voice is still very much intact. Below are some pictures of the show along with a review...

MUSIC REVIEW: At age 65, Cocker is still a rocker

By JAY N. MILLER
The Patriot Ledger
Posted Jul 03, 2009 @ 02:02 PM

Any worries that Joe Cocker’s live show might be, like his recent albums, a bit ballad-heavy, were incredibly unfounded. Thursday night’s 90-minute barnburner was every bit as rocking and vibrant as his classic “Mad Dogs and Englishmen” live album from 39 years ago – except his current band is probably better.

Cocker delivered every notable song from “Mad Dogs” and a stunning cross-section of his career since then. At 65, he may be a few pounds heavier, and gulping water between songs instead of something stronger, but he’s every bit as mesmerizing a rocker as he ever was.

Cocker, dressed in a black suit and black shirt, made a fantastic entrance. As his eight-piece band unveiled the familiar funky lines to “Hitchcock Railway,” he strode down the aisle of the big tent, packed with one of its few sellout crowds this season. After a rollicking romp through that tune, Cocker shed his suit coat and careened through a vintage-quality “Feelin’ Alright.” There’s no other way to say it, but the audience of 2,300 went wild, and the gruff-voiced man from Sheffield had them right in his pocket the rest of the way. A good estimate would be half-a-dozen spontaneous standing ovations as the night wore on, as Cocker kept pushing the envelope on a truly bravura performance.

Cocker’s band deserves special note, as they really played the music with muscle and verve. Bassist Oneida James was a revelation with her visceral foundations all night long, and drummer Jack Bruno was equally potent. Guitarist Gene Black could be subtle or fiery as the occasion demanded, and pianist Nick Milo and saxophonist/percussionist Norbert Fimple displayed wonderful versatility. Hammond B-3 organist Mike Finnigan really hit the pocket, reprising some of those classic lines made famous by original Cocker band member Chris Stainton. And backup singers Nicki Tillman and Tyonee Reed were practically flawless in harmonizing with Cocker. James, Black, and Finnigan also provided harmony vocals, so Cocker had a real choir behind him.

After those first two bombshells from the past, Cocker unleashed a sizzling take on “The Letter.” It seemed like Cocker was trying to exhaust his fans early, and the next song only downshifted a little. “When the Night Comes,” a latter-day Cocker gem, rode a more mid-tempo groove, but the singer still managed to accentuate it with a joyful jump in the air at its finish.

That was the opening sprint, and then Cocker brought the sound way down for a quiet rendition of “Up Where We Belong,” the ballad from “An Officer and a Gentleman,” with Tillman deftly filling the role Jennifer Warnes did on the hit. A throbbing charge through “Shelter Me” got temperatures rising again, but then Cocker sang “You Are So Beautiful” with just Milo’s piano providing lovely accompaniment.

James’ funky bass was the crucible that turned the Beatles’ “Come Together” into something hot and steamy, and brand-new, and last night’s version was even better than the one on Cocker’s latest album, “Hymn for My Soul.” But then Cocker immediately topped that with “Now That the Magic Has Gone,” one of the best soul torch songs of the past couple decades. The song’s sweeping dynamics fit Cocker’s vocal power like a glove, and Black’s stiletto guitar solo was mind-bending.

During “You Can Leave Your Hat On” one besotted female fan strode onstage to embrace Cocker, who smiled at her, and never missed a beat as he continued to sing with her clinging on until security arrived.

Cocker’s homestretch would be daunting for a singer in their 20s, but he pulled it off with style and inhuman energy. “Unchain My Heart” was just a roaring march through the blues, while “With a Little Help from My Friends” simply drove the all-ages crowd bonkers.

“Delta Lady,” “She Came in Through the Bathroom Window,” and a pounding, B-3-focused “Cry Me a River” were all slammed out like it was 1969.

For his finale, Cocker did a scaled down, gospel-feeling take on John Fogerty’s “Long as I Can See The Light,” from the latest album.

Welsh singer/songwriter Paul Freeman opened with an appealing 30-minute set. Freeman’s own “Walking on a Tightrope” was lively rock, while his cover of the Traveling Wilbury’s “Handle with Care” had the whole tent clapping along gleefully.

40th Anniversary of Woodstock

Being the music and history lover that I am, I am excited about this summer being the 40th anniversary of what most people consider to be the pinnacle of the 1960s era of activism. The Woodstock Music and Arts Festival took place in Bethel, NY from August 15-17th, 1969. Appropriately dubbed "3 days of peace and music", Woodstock is widely regarded as the most famous musical gathering in our nation's history. The biggest artists of the time gathered in upstate New York in an event which, despite its logistical problems, was a peaceful gathering. During the 1960s, musicians really seemed to represent the voice and conscience of the counterculture. You can learn much about what was going on in the United States by reading and listening to the lyrics of artists such as Bob Dylan, Crosby Stills, Nash & Young, Joni Mitchell, and many others.


The signs of the 40th anniversary are everywhere this year. In fact, a student of mine brought me in a Woodstock "coozie" from Target. Apparently Target has a big display of Woodstock items and apparel to coincide with the anniversary. This summer also includes a re-release of the original documentary and album, a 40th anniversary concert in Bethel, as well as a full-length Hollywood feature film.


Over the course of this summer, I'll be attending several concerts (including the anniversary show) which feature some of the original Woodstock artists. I'll be updating the blog with pictures, reviews, and opinions on my travels over the next couple months. I feel pretty fortunate to be living during this time period where many of the artists who gave a voice and soundtrack to a generation are still alive and performing.


To begin, here are a few photos from the Crosby, Stills, and Nash concert I attended this past weekend along with a review from the Boston Herald:




CSN perform in perfect harmony
By Brett Milano / Music Review


Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Early in his show on Sunday with Stephen Stills and Graham Nash, David Crosby explained why he hadn’t told any political jokes yet.

“The problem is,” he said, “that with Bush out of office we’ve lost half of our best material.”

That’s one possible reason Crosby, Stills & Nash were feeling upbeat. In any case, the veteran trio is apparently feeling a second (or third or fourth) wind. Their harmonies were solid over two long sets, which hasn’t always been the case (after some health problems, Stills’ high register is back from the dead).

They seemed comfortable with each other, a change from recent years when Stills and Crosby/Nash seemed in different orbits.

And yes, there were still plenty of political songs, from Crosby’s Woodstock-era “Long Time Gone” to Nash’s 9/11-inspired “In Your Name.”

To some extent, a CSN show is always about the reassuringly familiar. Much of their 1969 debut album got played as always, and the night closed with the usual singalong on “Teach Your Children.”

But Sunday’s set had a few surprises. For one thing, it opened with a long stretch of acoustic material, which CSN usually save for the middle. There were catalog surprises, including a pair of Buffalo Springfield gems (“Bluebird” and “Rock & Roll Woman”) that Stills hasn’t performed regularly in decades. And there were a half-dozen songs from an all-covers album that the group plans to record with producer Rick Rubin later this year.

Cover songs may seem a bizarre move for a group that’s known largely for its songwriting. Some of Sunday’s choices - Dylan’s “Girl from the North Country,” The Rolling Stones’ “Ruby Tuesday” and Tim Hardin’s “Reason to Believe” - have been done to death already. But these oldies served to return the group to its acoustic-trio roots, and fit in surprisingly well after the first album’s “Helplessly Hoping” and “You Don’t Have to Cry.”

The group’s enthusiasm for these cover songs seemed high (Crosby shouted “Surprise!” after every one) and the best-performed of them all, the Grateful Dead’s “Uncle John’s Band,” was also the best-received song of the night. With apologies to the current Dead, it was nice to hear it done by a group that can actually sing.

Thoughts on Service Learning for 2009

As some of you may know, I have been on a committee over the past couple of years to investigate the future of service-learning at Norton High School. The main idea of service-learning is that you integrate some type of service into the classroom learning process. The large project that I have worked on over the past 2 years has been the historical tour of Norton for the 3rd grade. My students research and learn about their local history. They then take their knowledge to the streets of Norton and guide the elementary school students around town. Thats it...boom....you have your learning and your service. I really think this is a great idea.

Here are links to some local newspapers who have covered our activities this year...

http://sunchronicle.com/articles/2009/06/02/news/5032172.txt

http://www.wickedlocal.com/norton/news/education/x313671445/PHOTO-GALLERY-NHS-share-history-with-younger-students

The million dollar question in regards to service-learning is how to we officially integrate it into Norton High? Should there be a requirement for all students? Should all teachers have to complete a service-learning project over the course of the year? Should we simply just encourage it and count the hours towards the community service requirement?

I truly believe in the concept of service-learning. I think it can be one of the most rewarding high school experiences. If you ask any of my students who have done it over the past 2 years, I think they will certainly agree.

Any suggestions or comments? How do we bring about more service-learning?

Service Learning - Tour of Norton

Here are some photos from the recent service-learning project we completed with the L.G. Nourse School. I had 6 students complete the project with approximately 60 3rd graders from the Nourse. Thanks to the entire staff over at L.G. for making the trip a success. (and thanks to mother nature for the great weather we had!)

Freedom Trail

Its that time of year already! As I stated earlier, I really think this school year has gone by quickly. With the end of the year comes one of my favorite trips to the Freedom Trail in Boston. I still remember walking the trail when I was a high school student. It really is neat to have so much local history within driving distance. Being one of the oldest cities in America means that Boston is loaded with historical places. I think everyone should walk the Freedom Trail at least once to appreciate the many heroes which helped establish our nation.

Our tour this year went really well. Despite cloudy skies, the rain held off for us. The tour guides were enthusiastic and presented many interesting facts. I learn something new every year. Thanks to Mrs. Young and Ms. Mays for coming along to help out.

Here are some photos from our day...

Still here...

I am still here. I thought I was long overdue for a post...it has been nearly 2 months since my last. For those who have me as a teacher, you know I am enrolled in a graduate program this year. I am currently in the toughest stretch right now so my free time is endangered for the moment.

But, I did want to check in with a thought. Have you noticed that the older you get, the faster time moves? I thought this week about how we are just a few weeks away from the start of term 4. Yes...I said TERM 4! This year has really been moving quickly...and I feel like the older I get, the quicker time flies.

Anybody have a similar experience to share regarding the inevitable passage of time? Can you believe how quickly the school year is passing...or is it just me??