Well, Levon Helm, original drummer and singer with The Band, is in the final stages of cancer. His contributions to music should not be forgotten, and our thoughts are with him and his family. (I've been through this, and it sucks.)
But on a happier note (at least for me), I and my whole family got to see him at his 70th birthday bash at Mt. Jam in 2010. Billed as "Levon Helm and Friends," the headlining show Sunday night featured Warren Haynes, Donald Fagen (Steely Dan), Alison Krauss, Jerry Douglas, Sam Bush, Steve Earle, Allison Moorer, Jackie Greene, and Ray LaMontagne. It Was Amazing. It was definitely a once-in-a-lifetime sort of thing. And my (then) 15, 13, and 3-year-olds got to see it! (That personal memory is so strong for me, I just had to share it.)
I wasn't sure where this was going to go when I started it, but I think now that it's to tell everyone not to be afraid to take your kids to live music. Music festivals are a great way to see *a lot* of bands, in a friendly environment, and you can sit where it's not too loud. The same is true for many outdoor venues across the country. What better way to share your passion with the ones you love most?! People are so great at those things too. We've had people give us all kinds of stuff because they liked our family... they liked that we were there... And no matter where you go, you Won't be the only family there. (You know what I mean... excluding shows like Guar, Buckethead, etc...)
Some of my favorite stories (which I will eventually share here) are from on the road to and from some musical event. Those experiences brought us closer together as family, and now my kids can also say they've seen a half a dozen artists who were at the original Woodstock! This year will be interesting with the baby, but we don't intend to slow down. Look for us wherever live music is happening! I guarantee, we're at least there in spirit.
Hey. Do it for Levon.
No comments:
Post a Comment