All About Music & Spirituality/ Songs That Take Me There/ A Playlist/ Preaching the blues in China: a Big in China excerpt with video and photos. / "Tupelo Honey" with Junior Mack.
I still remember seeing Eric Clapton around 1990 in Philadelphia. He was playing I Shot The Sheriff, which happens to be one of my all time favs, but the part that was so memorable was him reacting to the crowd. He soloed and the Philly crowd went wild, so he took the solo to the next level, the crowd went even more wild and he again matched the intensity and took it to a while other level. This went on for like four times and I had goosebumps for days!
Ronnie Baker Brooks playing Chips in Winder, GA...
The music was so pure...
Every note played was infused with talent, passion, and joy...
My fiancé and I floated out of there in a cloud of euphoria...
“I Had A Chance” began to play...
I’m usually dancing non-stop...
That song resonated in such a way...
I turned...eased up to him...our bodies melding to one...
Eyes closed, allowing the music to move us...
The song ended...
After a minute or two I stepped back and looked into his eyes...
Both knowing we had experienced a transcending moment...
After the show we bought the newest CD...
RBB was kind enough to autograph it for us, the entire band was exhausted, drenched in sweat, yet smiling and appreciative of our enthusiastic comments of the performance...
Smiling, as I recall the evening...
Thank you...
💙💙💙
***Kirk West captured the spirit of Bob Marley...
Free, unyielding, giving his music every ounce of his passion and joy***
Marley for sure, and I get it from the Dead across their body of work, not one specific song per se, but at any time during any show. Slave To The Traffic Light and Harry Hood by Phish though, are two songs where the mellow parts set the launch pad, and then building through the jams up to the cathartic peak, opens up a portal of sorts, through which pure consciousness flows. I get shivers up my spine when it happens. Amazing stuff.
My spiritual moments occur in instrumentals as well as gospel. The Allman Brothers, Derek Trucks and Ronnie Earl move me to tears. And while I write this munck-music-radio is streaming the very last ABB night at the Beacon, a special gift to all of us. They have streamed ABB for free all month, but did not expect to get 10 -28-14 today.
1. Allman Brothers at the Beacon in 96. I was a senior in high school and saw my first Whipping Post.
2. My father died of a unexpectedly heart attack at age 60 almost 5 years ago. He was an audiophile and raised me on great music. One album that stands out as a mutual favorite of ours is Jackson Browne's Running On Empty. So a few years ago Jackson took the stage at the inaugural Love Rocks NYC and played Running On Empty. As soon as he started playing I felt this cold hit the back of my neck. Although I know my pop is always watching over me, this was the one time since his passing that I felt like he was actually there with me.
Almost every Allman Bros. show became a spiritual moment.
Bob Marley...I mean you can feel the emotion.
Some of the old Mississippi bluesmen such as Junior Kimbrough and RL Burnside hit those trance like sounds and moments that put you in an almost trance-like state, in my opinion.
Summer of ‘82 or ‘83, Santana played a show at the Calderone Concert Hall in Hempstead, Long Island. Sold out, maybe 2500 people, and brutally hot inside. There was no opening act. Before the show started there was an announcement: “Mr. Santana will play one three hour set.” The band more than equalled the temperature in the room. He played a 3 hour set then a 40 minute encore. When the show was over and the lights went up, people look around at each other speechless but no doubt thinking, “What did we just witness!” Incredible and very sweaty night.
The other show, about 5 years ago, was Walter Trout at The Funky Biscuit in Boca Raton. Trout, a Jersey guy, is a heavy blues guitarist. One of those Americans that for some reason is much more popular in Europe. His “demons” have been well chronicled and in 2014 he received a liver transplant that no doubt saved his life. His recovery was very long but he returned to the road in 2016. Watching him perform that night was watching a miracle in action. Lots of joy in the room that night.
Remember seeing Richie Havens years ago in a small club in NYC and thinking to myself "if Richie hadn't become a folk singer he could have been a preacher." Hadn't thought about that night in years...
One of the Warren Brothers best songs to me is ‘Between the River and me’ which Tim McGraw cut, but the Warren Bro’s original is great and showcases their musicianship and arrangement. They have over 100 hits as writers for many Nville top acts. They are from Tamps and as kids had a metal band till the call of Country and Western came. They’re incredible performers and still write great material. Think you’ll like them
this is fascinating writing. I have always said music is my religion. I think I was hooked at my first concert...on a southern minor league baseball field in the summer. Girls were dropping like flies and I continued to push toward the front to be closer to the music. 40 years later I am still a rail rider and every concert is my church. Just like some preachers have more to say to me, some musicians do, too. But they are all spiritual. The psychedelic's later on helped cement the spirituality. I celebrated a big birthday with over 100 shows in 2019. 100 times I got to commune with the music. Thank goodness I got my fill that year. Listening to recorded music is great but live music is where it is at and I can't wait to go to church again. Oh one of my all time best experiences was Xmas Jam 20...riding the rail til the wee hours of the morning communing with Warren, Ben Harper and JPJ. I don't think I came down for days!!!
Music is my therapist, there are so many great artists and songs I've experienced.
Robin Trowers "21st Century Blues"
and "Into the Flame " are two songs that really get me.
Of course "Elizabeth Reed from the Brothers is like going to church.
The Buddaheads " Amen" is another spiritual truth to me.
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=2qlAju49Zz4&feature=share
I still remember seeing Eric Clapton around 1990 in Philadelphia. He was playing I Shot The Sheriff, which happens to be one of my all time favs, but the part that was so memorable was him reacting to the crowd. He soloed and the Philly crowd went wild, so he took the solo to the next level, the crowd went even more wild and he again matched the intensity and took it to a while other level. This went on for like four times and I had goosebumps for days!
Ronnie Baker Brooks playing Chips in Winder, GA...
The music was so pure...
Every note played was infused with talent, passion, and joy...
My fiancé and I floated out of there in a cloud of euphoria...
“I Had A Chance” began to play...
I’m usually dancing non-stop...
That song resonated in such a way...
I turned...eased up to him...our bodies melding to one...
Eyes closed, allowing the music to move us...
The song ended...
After a minute or two I stepped back and looked into his eyes...
Both knowing we had experienced a transcending moment...
After the show we bought the newest CD...
RBB was kind enough to autograph it for us, the entire band was exhausted, drenched in sweat, yet smiling and appreciative of our enthusiastic comments of the performance...
Smiling, as I recall the evening...
Thank you...
💙💙💙
***Kirk West captured the spirit of Bob Marley...
Free, unyielding, giving his music every ounce of his passion and joy***
Marley for sure, and I get it from the Dead across their body of work, not one specific song per se, but at any time during any show. Slave To The Traffic Light and Harry Hood by Phish though, are two songs where the mellow parts set the launch pad, and then building through the jams up to the cathartic peak, opens up a portal of sorts, through which pure consciousness flows. I get shivers up my spine when it happens. Amazing stuff.
My spiritual moments occur in instrumentals as well as gospel. The Allman Brothers, Derek Trucks and Ronnie Earl move me to tears. And while I write this munck-music-radio is streaming the very last ABB night at the Beacon, a special gift to all of us. They have streamed ABB for free all month, but did not expect to get 10 -28-14 today.
A relevant quote which sums it up very well, I think:
"Playing music is a spiritual experience, which should be approached with reverence. It validates my very existence. "
---- Tommy Shannon
There's 2 that come to mind for me.
1. Allman Brothers at the Beacon in 96. I was a senior in high school and saw my first Whipping Post.
2. My father died of a unexpectedly heart attack at age 60 almost 5 years ago. He was an audiophile and raised me on great music. One album that stands out as a mutual favorite of ours is Jackson Browne's Running On Empty. So a few years ago Jackson took the stage at the inaugural Love Rocks NYC and played Running On Empty. As soon as he started playing I felt this cold hit the back of my neck. Although I know my pop is always watching over me, this was the one time since his passing that I felt like he was actually there with me.
I have a number of them.
Andres Segovia at the Civic Opera House in Chicago
Tony Williams at the Quiet Knight in Chicago.
John Hiatt at a Private Party for 50 people in San Francisco
Frank Zappa at the Auditorium Theater in Chicago
Clearly the venue factors in. Am I wrong?
Seeing a show at the Fabulous Fox in Atlanta is just a wildly better experience than most other places for example.
Almost every Allman Bros. show became a spiritual moment.
Bob Marley...I mean you can feel the emotion.
Some of the old Mississippi bluesmen such as Junior Kimbrough and RL Burnside hit those trance like sounds and moments that put you in an almost trance-like state, in my opinion.
Good stuff as always
2 shows come to mind:
Summer of ‘82 or ‘83, Santana played a show at the Calderone Concert Hall in Hempstead, Long Island. Sold out, maybe 2500 people, and brutally hot inside. There was no opening act. Before the show started there was an announcement: “Mr. Santana will play one three hour set.” The band more than equalled the temperature in the room. He played a 3 hour set then a 40 minute encore. When the show was over and the lights went up, people look around at each other speechless but no doubt thinking, “What did we just witness!” Incredible and very sweaty night.
The other show, about 5 years ago, was Walter Trout at The Funky Biscuit in Boca Raton. Trout, a Jersey guy, is a heavy blues guitarist. One of those Americans that for some reason is much more popular in Europe. His “demons” have been well chronicled and in 2014 he received a liver transplant that no doubt saved his life. His recovery was very long but he returned to the road in 2016. Watching him perform that night was watching a miracle in action. Lots of joy in the room that night.
Remember seeing Richie Havens years ago in a small club in NYC and thinking to myself "if Richie hadn't become a folk singer he could have been a preacher." Hadn't thought about that night in years...
One of the Warren Brothers best songs to me is ‘Between the River and me’ which Tim McGraw cut, but the Warren Bro’s original is great and showcases their musicianship and arrangement. They have over 100 hits as writers for many Nville top acts. They are from Tamps and as kids had a metal band till the call of Country and Western came. They’re incredible performers and still write great material. Think you’ll like them
Four concerts have had that particular effect on me:
1.) Sonny Rollins at the Bandshell at Lincoln Center.
2.) Santana at Jones Beach.
3.) Toots and the Maytals at the Chance.
4.) Paco de Lucia at The Beacon.
this is fascinating writing. I have always said music is my religion. I think I was hooked at my first concert...on a southern minor league baseball field in the summer. Girls were dropping like flies and I continued to push toward the front to be closer to the music. 40 years later I am still a rail rider and every concert is my church. Just like some preachers have more to say to me, some musicians do, too. But they are all spiritual. The psychedelic's later on helped cement the spirituality. I celebrated a big birthday with over 100 shows in 2019. 100 times I got to commune with the music. Thank goodness I got my fill that year. Listening to recorded music is great but live music is where it is at and I can't wait to go to church again. Oh one of my all time best experiences was Xmas Jam 20...riding the rail til the wee hours of the morning communing with Warren, Ben Harper and JPJ. I don't think I came down for days!!!