NEW AWARENESS: My normal reaction after experiencing something fun, exciting, or other positive adjectives (ahhh it is an adjective isn't it?) is to immediately tell everyone I know and then some! Today almost 24 hours after one of the best evenings ever, I just feel I want to keep it all to myself for fear it will disappear from me if I share it with you. OK that might be a bit over the top!
Joe and I enjoyed a great meal out (beef of course!) and headed to see Neil Young and Diana Krall. We had seen Krall a few years ago and I was the one who learned Neil was doing 4 tours across Canada (raising funds for legal defense of the Alberta Oilsands...so yes a bit of a touchy subject for many) I just wanted to see/hear Neil before he quit touring. I liked his music but can't say I was an avid follower of his music. It actually has been in the last year that I got more familiar with Neil's songs and his life as a longtime friend of mine suggested I read Neil's book "Neil Young, Waging Heavy Peace". A collection of random stories about his life experiences. What caused my good friend to mention the book to me was and I paraphrase: Ginny, his writing reminds me of how you write/talk..sort of all over the place sometimes " I read the book...........I enjoyed it and can say even I felt I was on a lost road a few times because he'd be talking about the 60's then jump to now and the next thing he's back in the 60's again. Fascinating man within his music career and outside it personally and his many interests and causes. This concert was to fundraise for one of those causes he believes in. and he appears to believe in quite a few. It's a good read if you are looking.
I got the tickets for Joe for his Christmas Present. Hmmmmmm. This is what I did but there is no denying that I'm the bigger concert going fan, I usually find the concerts to consider and get the tickets if we decide to go. This concert I wanted to be sure I went to and I just KNEW Joe would love Neil Young...if I could get him to go see him!!!! I had not heard one person say his concerts weren't awesome. Friends said " Joe will thank you ".............I wasn't so sure because the closer the concert date came the more media coverage Neil was receiving NOT for his music but for his defending the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation People against the Oil Company's drilling in the Oil Sands in Alberta. It was NOT a pretty picture in the press. Hmmmmm What was this concert environment going to be? The venue was the classier spot in Regina with fabulous acoustics. My bet was the crowd would be calm because the price of the tickets and venue were the tops.
The Concert appeared to be a sell out. Joe and I were certainly anticipating some mention of this cause by Neil Young. Well we were very pleasantly surprised. Yes there were First Nation people there enjoying the concert/doing some presentations before the concert and between Krall and Neil Young but Neil sang one witty song mentioning some Canadian politics and just said "THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE CAUSE" and that was it...........the rest of the 2 hours was Neil, his guitars , two pianos, his old pump organ was simply brilliant! His voice sounds like 30 yrs ago........hitting all the notes w/out effort...........his guitar and piano prowess (I had NO IDEA he could travel the ivories so delicately) OH and his harmonica.........geez how could I forget that! I know I"m flipping out here! Sorry. Seeing him hunched over with his jeans/plaid shirt/black hat sitting at that pump organ pumping, playing the harmonica and singing those songs is forever etched into my mind, and soul. We weren't allowed to take photos and that was a downer and yet I"m sure because I wasn't messing with my I phone I spent much more time just taking it all in the 'good old fashioned way'" with my eyes and memory.
For those of you who have experienced Neil live...........you know what I'm talking about because many of you shared those experiences and that's what convinced me to believe Neil would be great and he would just come SING and PLAY...........he did just that! Thank you Neil!
AND I think Joe was blown away.....well as blown away as he will let anyone see..... Ha! He's the yin to my yang..........I go a bit overboard most of the time so he remains steady!!! Thank you Joe! The passion Neil sang his songs with was moving at times....... and I am just so excited that we got to take this in together.........a great memory for us for years to come. And who knew Neil had such a great sense of humor at times......Thank you Joe..........for following my lead..........I know it's scary! But once in a while "I get it right"! Whew!
Bloggles the Mind Doesn't It!
Ginny----ology
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