September 24
On my bucket list for Barcelona was seeing an authentic performance of Flamenco. What I meant was Flamenco in the style that’s been around for centuries, since the dance form was first introduced by Gypsies; flamenco, con duende! The style that catches you up in deep emotion, takes you on an excruciating journey, and leaves you feeling wrung out.
To celebrate James Newell Osterberg Jr.’s 71st (!!) Birthday on the 21st, I pop into the trusty ol’ Pig Player a DVD whose opening credits state, and I quote, “On September 3, 2010, Iggy and the Stooges performed Raw Power live in Monticello, New York. Six fans filmed the concert and interviewed Iggy and the Stooges after the show.”
21 September
In Barcelona a Marisqueria (seafood place) called La Peradata is a popular mini-chain of seafood restaurants. The one I found was in the village of El Born, near the Picasso Museum. What a wild place. Queue was 45 minutes in the sun. When I finally got in, the din was three bombs. I didn’t quite know what I was in for, the line was moving, I was getting closer and closer, and my heart was pounding. Will I figure this out by the time I get to the front of the line, or will I end up screwing the pooch?
When adults started wearing Beatle Wigs at their cocktail parties and tried to dance to I Wanna Hold Your Hand, a lot of kids were so embarrassed and angry that Mom and Dad were attempting to join the club, I was surprised most of the parents were allowed to live.
How dare they love what we love, how can my stupid parents join the party and ruin our fun? Why are OUR Beatles sooo lovable that even OUR PARENTS approve of them?
…and in response, a benevolent and caring God created the Rolling Stones. From Part Two
One of the jobs I have laid out before me is writing reviews, not just of music I love but books and other things which give me delight. It is fun most of the time but lately I am beginning to wonder if I have not taken on more than I can handle. Mentally, I find my self flagging, stacks of CDs and numerous digital files and the occasional vinyl LP/EP, ready to review when I first received them, still there, not reviewed. I want to get to them but for some the words don’t come and for others there is just not enough time. The problem is the listening. I have always prided myself on listening to each album numerous times before putting word to paper, as it were, but if I continue that I will eventually either quit out of frustration or guilt.
21 September
Paris, despite a relentless onslaught of techno-goblins, was glorious. My friend Mary, who happened to be in Paris when I was, told me yesterday that Mercury has been sitting square in retrograde for the last few days (Mercury being the god of communication, retrograde being the definition of “No way, Jose.”). Small frickin’ wonder. So many techno-dead ends, computer breakdowns and communications false starts could not have been my fault, right?
Right. Whatever.
Editor’s Note – (Amy’s Birthday Week 2018!
My daughter celebrates a birthday next Tuesday, and to mark the event, I am posting a picture, and sometimes more than one every day. Those of you waiting for Part Three of “I (Still kinda) Like The Beatles, and MacMillan Loves the Rolling Stones” will have to wait until Monday or next Friday.
Even the Lords of Rock Music cannot…WILL not…take precedence over Ames’ Birthday!
This has now become a tradition….)
“Your Son is your Son ‘till he takes a wife, but your Daughter is your Daughter for the rest of your life”
No one seems to know who first uttered this quote, but it has definitely stood the test of time. The first time I ever heard it was from my mother when my wife and I had our one and only child. At first I thought my mother was just being (as always) supportive, because, being Italian, it is assumed I wanted a boy child to carry on the family name and be a ‘chip off the old block’. The truth of the matter is that I prayed for a little girl…and we were blessed with one of the best.
Bullseye Records of Canada
