We have all had a long day, that is putting it lightly. Then, it's Friday the 13th for all of us who suffer the dreaded triskdecaphobia it was even longer. And for those of us whose bosses were out of town at the beach and calling with a laundry list of "things that had to be done today," it got worse. And to top it all off I am a native Iowan, my family is still there are I worry about my family and friends and my native soil washing away while I sit helpless thousands of miles away. I guess you could say, I have it all! Personally I need a break. I really need a fun diary - I missed Cheers and Jeers when all the cool kids were there and really wanted to splash around in the kiddie pool. And the way my day is going, I'm sure such a diary was posted while I struggled with this. Nevertheless...
So my request to anyone who is reading and wants a diversion from this day, is that you join me and tell me what was your best concert experience? Who rocked your concert world? Was it rock, country, classical, maybe an opera?
Speaking for myself, I have to go with August 28, 1988 Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon. We had just moved back to the lower 48 from Alaska and I had promised myself that if the Grateful Dead came to play anywhere close to where we were living I would go. And they did, and we went.
The night before we drove down to camp in the parking lot to allow us a early start standing in line. I was the designated runner, I had to run with a blanket down the stadium steps to get a good place to sit. The day was hot, reallly hot and when the gates opened it was in the 90's. I ran down the steps with my bota bag of white wine slapping my side and we got a spot right in front of the soundboard, sweet! I had not seen the Dead for over a decade years and was so excited.
The floor covering that was put over the astro turf in Autzen helped in heating the floor of the stadium up, and as we waited for the first performer the temprature had to have risen to over 100 degrees, at least it felt that way. Then he came out, Jimmy Cliff. On a day when my sweat was sweating, he came out on the stage in his trademark black cap and black hat, black shirt and black pants, and performed his whole set without taking the cape off. And he was amazing! The best, inspiring. Hanging Fire had just come out. If you have never heard it, hear it! Listen to it, the words he sings are truly uplifting.
My favorite song off that album is It's Time - hear his lyrics -
It's Time
It's time, It's time to have good times
It's time, It's time to have good times
It's time, It's time to have good times
Yes, it's time, It's time to have good times
There's a time for everyone
Under the sun
A time to live, a time to give
A time for having fun
Time to elevate, time to celebrate
And our time has come
So let's have some fun
There's a time for everything under the sun
A time to be, a time to see time for having fun
Time fore elevation, time of revelation
And our time has come,
So let's have some fun
You live and you live and you live and you live
Live it up, live it up
time to elevate, time to recreate
And our time has come so let's have some fun
Cause it's time......
Sounds like a good song for an Obama victory celebration in November, no?
Yes the Dead we great that day, and grateful too! But Jimmy Cliff stole my heart.
And for anyone who has hung around to the end, I could not find a video of It's Time but here is the equally wonderful Hanging Fire, sung by a true master