Goodmorning rockers, rollers and readers ;)
I wanted to thank you for reading this newsletter. I know that when you signed up for emails after a gig in a dark, dive bar years ago that you didn’t necessarily intend to receive a lengthy note from me every Sunday, but I really appreciate you being open to it. Some of you have even shared it online and many of you have sent me text messages, comments and emails with your music documentary suggestions, marvels at lines of poetry and just general delight in the writing, so from the bottom of my creative re-habing heart, thank you.
In some personal news, I’m about to start a non-fiction writing course this week, so I’m sure I will be sharing some of that work with you here. I’m also taking a song workshop with the songwriter known as FruitBats in a couple weeks. If you’ve never checked out this artist, don’t let the funny name turn you away. Start with his ‘Absolute Loser’ record and just keep going. I personally love his Lennon-esque voice, heartfelt crooning and all of his sunny, folk-rock tunes.
If you’re local, I’m excited to announce that I’ll be playing my first Writer’s Round at The Bluebird Cafe on August 3rd. This is quite the historic landmark and venue here in Nashville and I’m looking forward to stepping inside a room where so many iconic songs have been shared and listened to. I want to thank my friend and fellow rocker, David Newbould for the invite.
Last week, I mentioned that I had Covid and had forayed into some music documentaries to pass the time. I wanted to pick up where I left off and recommend the goddess of summery pop, rock n’ roll ‘Sheryl’ out now on Showtime. Me and Sheryl go way back. My first real rock concert was seeing her when I was 9 years old at the Beacon Theater during ‘The Globe Sessions’ tour. My family actually saved the ticket stub which I snagged a few years back.
Seeing the word ‘ADULT’ in the upper right hand corner makes me laugh because that, I was not. I do however have a vivid memory of the beginning of the concert seared into my brain.
I remember my mom or dad pulling me up to stand on the velvet bucket seats so I could actually see anything. My sister, younger than me, 6 years old and a couple feet shorter than me, was thrown up on someone’s shoulders. I remember the house lights dimming and seeing the band ducking and darting to their instruments, taking position. All around me lighters started to flicker and then clouds of pot smoke billowed out from the audience up onto the stage. The hooting and finger whistling began to swell and I remember the stage lights settling on top of us, which revealed couples making out, beer cups sloshing and adults transforming into giddy teenagers. Soon after, Sheryl walked out, slung her bass strap across her chest, and in those mere moments of unbearable tension, the band then kicked into ‘My Favorite Mistake.’
I specifically remember seeing my aunt look over at me, catching my reaction after seeing the horny couples making out, feeling as if I had seen something I shouldn’t have. My aunt held my eyes, shrugged her shoulders and with a wild, ecstatic grin, screamed towards the stage. Seeing Sheryl up there in red leather pants, her short pixie cut, playing bass, singing and leading the band was electric. I felt my small body surrounded by some chaotic magnetic energy, which I now understand is live music and rock ‘n roll. I will never forget that night inside the Beacon Theater…
Sheryl was and is a total inspiration of mine. Come many years later to find out she produced a lot of her records and wrote so many of her hits, and my fandom only grew. I would definitely recommend watching if you are a fan. I thought the documentary was a real sincere look at the person behind the fame and all around well done.
Any first rock concerts or early live music memories that you care to share? Anything that sticks out in your brain? Let me know in the comments!