Grace Slick Art Exhibition
Wentworth Gallery
Westfield West County
Des Peres, MO
Saturday, June 16, 2007
free
Okay, this one isn't a performance of live music. But I got to talk to a true legend of rock, so I'm going to write about it.
My music taste evolution basically went from top 40 to MTV hair metal to classic rock to progressive rock and other arty rock. There were a lot of crossover years when I liked both metal and classic rock, but one more than the other. I barely like any metal these days. There was also a strange little crossover from top 40 pop to classic rock.
When I was 12, my favorite song was Starship's Nothing's Going to Stop Us Now. I even saw that awful movie Mannequin because the song was in the movie (and because it was shot in Philly). I bought both Starship cassettes. And then, I learned about the history of the band and how Starship used to be Jefferson Starship who used to be Jefferson Airplane. And so I bought Surrealistic Pillow. It was my first classic rock album, er, cassette. It warped my pointed little head.
Almost 20 years later, I still like the band. I have a few of their albums, and I still happily sing along with White Rabbit and Somebody to Love when they're on the radio. Sometimes I surprise Roy by singing along with Lather and Volunteers, because he doesn't know those.
I never got to see Jefferson Airplane live. :-( I had the opportunity, when they did a reunion tour a year later. One of my regrets. I've tried to never let something like that slip by again. I don't have much interest in any of the off-shoot bands.
So anyway, I was running around doing errands and went to a suburban mall, out near where my mother-in-law lives. This mall has an art gallery. There was a sign that Grace Slick would be there for an exhibition in a couple weeks.
Roy and I went. I thought about digging up my old cassette for an autograph. Roy thought it was a good idea, but I was embarrassed about it being a cassette and not an LP or something better. Good thing, there was a sign by the door that no memorabilia would be signed.
We looked around and there was no sign of Grace. The paintings were nice. Lots of portraits of 60s era musicians and art based on Alice in Wonderland. The originals weren't too expensive, starting around $7000, but the prints were in the $2000s. I wasn't planning on buying one anyway, but still...
While we were there, Grace came out to a roped off table. She still looks and sounds the same, but with white hair now. Anyone who bought a picture could go inside the ropes, get an autograph, picture, handshake. In between those, Grace was informally talking and answering questions from us little people on the other side of the rope. She didn't seem to mind, but she did tell us to speak loud because she's half deaf.
She seemed pretty open and friendly. One person tried to give her a CD demo. The guard took it, and Grace explained why she didn't listen to demos, but she was nice about it and tried to let the girl down gently. Another person asked her about places she has lived and if she gets back to her hometown in nearby Illinois often.
I knew in advance what I'd say if I got the chance to talk to her. I didn't want to interupt her, but it got quiet and she made eye contact with me. "Grace, my favorite song when I was 12 years old was Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now. It led me to buying Surrealistic Pillow." She replied, "It's a good thing you listened to Surrealistic Pillow and not". She paused there. I said quietly "No Protection", the album with that song on it, but she mentioned "Knee Deep in the Hoopla!", which she said disdainfully, like she's embarrassed by its existence. I followed up with how I've been enjoying her music for the last 20 years. We left after that.
I can think of so many musicians with similar histories - did creative important music and then got suckered into the top 40 limelight and now regret it. Yes, Steve Winwood, Heart, now Grace Slick, ... Not that these bands didn't do some good work then, but most of it is so superficial in comparison to their best work. It seems like the record companies matured into big businesses right around the time visuals became so important with MTV. Everything got pushed towards making money and being flashy.
The only band that comes to mind that moved from classic progressive rock to top 40 and is still happy with it is Genesis. I don't know why they're different, but I do like a lot of their 80s material.
And maybe the band I'm seeing tomorrow night. Asia, who had a strong debut album, but whose members did much more interesting things before that band. Howe, Wetton, and Palmer all consider their earlier bands Yes, Crimson, and ELP, respectively, as what they are most proud of, but they seem to be having fun playing Asia music again.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Sunday, June 10, 2007
It's a Dangerous Place!
King Crimson
Opening Act: California Guitar Trio
Sunday, June 4, 1995
Town Hall
New York, NY
Section Right Orchestra, Row M, Seat 23
$27.50
Three days after seeing King Crimson for the first time, I saw them again. Like I said before, I think I realized how much I like this band literally while looking at the tour dates. I realized this was not some band I could see once, but needed to see more. And given their history, before they broke up again.
I've been enjoying writing up some of these more memorable concerts. But I lose the autobiographical thread by jumping out of place. I don't want to get too in-depth with my mom issues, but here's a little background. When I was growing up, my mom and I had a lot of conflicts. Too many arbitrary rules and punishments.
I was a good kid. I realized that I had goals I wanted to achieve - go to a good college and get a good job. Be independent. Get away from home. I also realized that my mom's rules had nothing to do with my goals, and more to do with her frame of mind at the time. So if I could do what I thought was reasonable and not get caught breaking her rules, good for me.
This story could have happened with any parent, nothing spectacular, but I was not having this conversation with a typical parent. So, when I decided I was going to see King Crimson in New York, I was going to do it. The "big city" aspect didn't scare me, I grew up in Philly and that whole city was my playground. And I had been to New York before for concerts, albeit with older fan chaperones. I had street smarts. And I was an adult, I was 20 years old. But I had moved home for the summer and my mom raised a shitfit. "It's a dangerous place", she said, unknowingly quoting King Crimson. She was actually not going to let me go.
This could have been any mother's overreacting comments to a daughter. But I was hearing with the same voice as "you can't go out tonight" with no good reason or "you're grounded because you looked at me funny and have a bad attitude" or "you're just as bad as your brother" and every stupid thing I had to deal with as a teenager. This issue became my big fight to do what I wanted to do without having to sneak around to do it (except when I wanted to keep something private, of course).
Eventually, my sheer force of will won. It must have been, because logic never won an argument with my mom. I was going to take Amtrak up that afternoon. Go directly to the venue. Take a cab directly after the concert to the train station. The one point I didn't win was after arriving in Philly - I would have just taken the local train back home, but she insisted that she and my dad were going to pick me up at the train station in Philly at one in the morning. Fine with me.
The day of the concert, I arrived in New York City. I wore my new red tshirt with the VROOOM artwork. I ate at the train station. The weather was gorgeous. I asked a cop how to get to the venue's address and walked there. And sat there for several hours. The goal was to see the band enter the venue and get some more autographs. I brought my Discipline LP, where I only needed Fripp's autograph and my THRAK. I had only learned about Fripp's attitude about fans and autographs at the show in Philly days earlier.
I wrote up my encounter with Fripp for Elephant Talk a few months later.
"Fripp arrived and was walking towards the entrance of the Town Hall. Remembering the warnings I had received from other fans, I was careful not to walk right up to him. I walked to within ten feet of him, and asked him if he would please sign my Discipline album. He looked at me and said "Can I blow you a kiss instead?" This was not what I was expecting to hear from him, and for a moment I was speechless. He blew me a kiss and walked away. I think I thanked him afterwards. The rest of the day I remember being absolutely thrilled that Fripp spoke to me. Fripp is the only musician I've ever met who wouldn't sign an autograph for me. He has his reasons, and I'd never ask him again, but I'm really glad that he did take a moment to speak to me."
I was more successful getting Pat Mastelotto's autograph. He was very friendly and asked my name.
"Rhea."
"How do you spell that?"
"R-H-E-A"
"What is it again?"
"Rhea. R-H-E-A"
"Ohhhh. Like Rhea Perlman"
He signed it "To RHEA. Pat Mastelotto. Thanx!"
I don't remember talking to anyone else in the band, but Tony waved to me on his way out. I don't know if he recognized me from the other day in Philly. Later on, before the doors opened when a crowd had gathered out front, he opened up the stage door and started signing autographs for people. So cool.
I don't know if I was posting anywhere online at this point in time. I can't find any review I wrote of this show. I do have this show on cassette, and the setlist is:
coda: Marine 475
Frame by Frame
Dinosaur
Heartbeat
Red
B'BOOM/THRAK
Matte Kudasai
Sex Sleep Eat Drink Dream
People
Vrooom Vrooom
Elephant Talk
Indiscipline
drum duo
The Talking Drum
Larks' Tongues in Aspic Part II
One Time
Vrooom
coda: Marine 475 (again)
Walking on Air
There was one additional song from my previous show, Heartbeat, but the setlist was in a slightly different order so you'd never know what they'd play next. The concert was enjoyable. I felt stifled sitting still in my seat, so I asked the people next to me if I could switch seats with them. I was now in the far aisle and up and dancing.
After the concert, I hightailed it outside and took the first cab to Penn Station. No problem catching my train. It was worth it not just to indulge my musical passions but to be able to go where I wanted to.
If you have a good eye, you'll notice that Fripp's signature is on my Discipline and THRAK covers. I'll tell that story some other time. ;-)
Opening Act: California Guitar Trio
Sunday, June 4, 1995
Town Hall
New York, NY
Section Right Orchestra, Row M, Seat 23
$27.50
Three days after seeing King Crimson for the first time, I saw them again. Like I said before, I think I realized how much I like this band literally while looking at the tour dates. I realized this was not some band I could see once, but needed to see more. And given their history, before they broke up again.
I've been enjoying writing up some of these more memorable concerts. But I lose the autobiographical thread by jumping out of place. I don't want to get too in-depth with my mom issues, but here's a little background. When I was growing up, my mom and I had a lot of conflicts. Too many arbitrary rules and punishments.
I was a good kid. I realized that I had goals I wanted to achieve - go to a good college and get a good job. Be independent. Get away from home. I also realized that my mom's rules had nothing to do with my goals, and more to do with her frame of mind at the time. So if I could do what I thought was reasonable and not get caught breaking her rules, good for me.
This story could have happened with any parent, nothing spectacular, but I was not having this conversation with a typical parent. So, when I decided I was going to see King Crimson in New York, I was going to do it. The "big city" aspect didn't scare me, I grew up in Philly and that whole city was my playground. And I had been to New York before for concerts, albeit with older fan chaperones. I had street smarts. And I was an adult, I was 20 years old. But I had moved home for the summer and my mom raised a shitfit. "It's a dangerous place", she said, unknowingly quoting King Crimson. She was actually not going to let me go.
This could have been any mother's overreacting comments to a daughter. But I was hearing with the same voice as "you can't go out tonight" with no good reason or "you're grounded because you looked at me funny and have a bad attitude" or "you're just as bad as your brother" and every stupid thing I had to deal with as a teenager. This issue became my big fight to do what I wanted to do without having to sneak around to do it (except when I wanted to keep something private, of course).
Eventually, my sheer force of will won. It must have been, because logic never won an argument with my mom. I was going to take Amtrak up that afternoon. Go directly to the venue. Take a cab directly after the concert to the train station. The one point I didn't win was after arriving in Philly - I would have just taken the local train back home, but she insisted that she and my dad were going to pick me up at the train station in Philly at one in the morning. Fine with me.
The day of the concert, I arrived in New York City. I wore my new red tshirt with the VROOOM artwork. I ate at the train station. The weather was gorgeous. I asked a cop how to get to the venue's address and walked there. And sat there for several hours. The goal was to see the band enter the venue and get some more autographs. I brought my Discipline LP, where I only needed Fripp's autograph and my THRAK. I had only learned about Fripp's attitude about fans and autographs at the show in Philly days earlier.
I wrote up my encounter with Fripp for Elephant Talk a few months later.
"Fripp arrived and was walking towards the entrance of the Town Hall. Remembering the warnings I had received from other fans, I was careful not to walk right up to him. I walked to within ten feet of him, and asked him if he would please sign my Discipline album. He looked at me and said "Can I blow you a kiss instead?" This was not what I was expecting to hear from him, and for a moment I was speechless. He blew me a kiss and walked away. I think I thanked him afterwards. The rest of the day I remember being absolutely thrilled that Fripp spoke to me. Fripp is the only musician I've ever met who wouldn't sign an autograph for me. He has his reasons, and I'd never ask him again, but I'm really glad that he did take a moment to speak to me."
I was more successful getting Pat Mastelotto's autograph. He was very friendly and asked my name.
"Rhea."
"How do you spell that?"
"R-H-E-A"
"What is it again?"
"Rhea. R-H-E-A"
"Ohhhh. Like Rhea Perlman"
He signed it "To RHEA. Pat Mastelotto. Thanx!"
I don't remember talking to anyone else in the band, but Tony waved to me on his way out. I don't know if he recognized me from the other day in Philly. Later on, before the doors opened when a crowd had gathered out front, he opened up the stage door and started signing autographs for people. So cool.
I don't know if I was posting anywhere online at this point in time. I can't find any review I wrote of this show. I do have this show on cassette, and the setlist is:
coda: Marine 475
Frame by Frame
Dinosaur
Heartbeat
Red
B'BOOM/THRAK
Matte Kudasai
Sex Sleep Eat Drink Dream
People
Vrooom Vrooom
Elephant Talk
Indiscipline
drum duo
The Talking Drum
Larks' Tongues in Aspic Part II
One Time
Vrooom
coda: Marine 475 (again)
Walking on Air
There was one additional song from my previous show, Heartbeat, but the setlist was in a slightly different order so you'd never know what they'd play next. The concert was enjoyable. I felt stifled sitting still in my seat, so I asked the people next to me if I could switch seats with them. I was now in the far aisle and up and dancing.
After the concert, I hightailed it outside and took the first cab to Penn Station. No problem catching my train. It was worth it not just to indulge my musical passions but to be able to go where I wanted to.
If you have a good eye, you'll notice that Fripp's signature is on my Discipline and THRAK covers. I'll tell that story some other time. ;-)
Friday, June 1, 2007
It Was Twelve Years Ago Today!
King Crimson
Opening Act: California Guitar Trio
Tower Theater
Upper Darby (Philadelphia), PA
Thursday, June 1, 1995
Section Right Orchestra, Row M, Seat 23
$27.50
I got into King Crimson at exactly the right time. Sometimes, I've seen bands before I knew much about them. You know, I knew I'd love them eventually, but I had to see them in case I never got another chance. Or other times, I'd wait a long time to see a favorite performer. But Crimson's timing was perfect.
I bought my first King Crimson CD the summer after I graduated high school. It was Court of the Crimson King. I didn't know a note of it before buying it, but I had seen their name linked with my favorite band Yes enough times and I was curious. I didn't mean to buy Court over any other album, but it was the only one in stock at Tower Records. I liked it. A lot. In the days before I had a credit card, I slowly built my record collection. Over a year later, I bought Lizard, Red, and then on a single day, I bought Discipline and Three of a Perfect Pair on used vinyl from the Book Trader on South Street. This was spring of 1994. I was very interested by the time VROOOM was released.
I had the greatest job ever in college. I worked at my college radio station WXPN, a professionally run AAA format music station. I had nothing to do with the music played, I just did some office work and soaked up the atmosphere. My station loved 80s era King Crimson. The pay certainly didn't help pay for college, but it got me into some live shows, got me some swag, and got me some great experiences.
One day, I found the promo single to Dinosaur sitting in my inbox. The record company sent the station two copies and my boss knew I was a fan. I listened to it over and over again. Even before THRAK's release, I saw the tour dates online. Reading over them and thinking about the tour made me realize I needed to see this band and more than once. I think I became a bigger fan just looking over the tour dates. This was the summer before my senior year of college, and I had to schedule my shows around my GREs (SATs for grad school). I think all the Crimson fandom made me smarter.
Buying this ticket was an ordeal. The show was at the Tower Theater, so normally, I'd take the El there early on the morning the show was going on sale. But SEPTA, the public transportation system, was on strike. Angela, who is still my best friend, and I had actually gone to the Tower the night before for a Black Crowes concert. If I had been by myself, I probably would have just stayed in line overnight. But Angela was going to sleepover in my dorm room, so I had to go back with her. I couldn't afford to keep taking cabs back and forth to the Tower, and there were no Ticketmaster outlets near me anymore, so I had to deal with ordering my ticket over the phone. Didn't get the best seat, but I managed to get in before it sold out. I knew I wouldn't be able to convince any of my friends to go to this one, so I happily went solo.
One time at the radio station, Bill Bruford had come in for an interview on our big syndicated program that brought in all the rock stars, The World Cafe. How did I find out? I was at the fax machine when he sent a thank you fax for allowing him to be on the show. Very nice manners for Bill, but he was in the very same building as me and I missed out! My wonderful boss told the World Cafe folks that I should know about these things. They let me know in plenty of time that Bill and Tony would be stopping by the studio the day of the King Crimson show. This would be my first time meeting either of them. I wasn't allowed to sit in on the interview, but I talked to them in the lobby on their way in and out. Not bad for a day's work.
I got some autographs from them on their way in. They both signed my THRAK, VROOOM, Discipline, and Three of a Perfect Pair. Bill had also been a member of my favorite band Yes, and he also signed my Fragile special edition gold CD box and my Yes jacket - a denim jacket with the Fragile artwork airbrushed on the back, and autographs from various members of Yes all around it. (I'm only missing Trevor Horn. I stopped wearing it years ago because I'm worried it will get worn out or damaged.)
On their way out, I got to talk with them again and got some pictures. I told Bill that this would be my first time seeing King Crimson and how excited I was. He replied, "You can't trust a band you've never seen live." I guess I trust Crimson a lot now. :-D They both started making fun of my height - they are tall guys and I am quite short. Bill started to squat down as our picture was being taken - you can see me glancing over at him. Tony made me stand on something, and he's still almost a head taller. After the show, he was standing on the curb, and I was at street level. He told me, "You got shorter!"
I went down to the Tower early and got to meet Adrian Belew. I met him at one of his solo shows the year earlier, and this time he autographed a picture of the two of us from then, plus THRAK and VROOOM. There were some other fans there too, so I didn't get to talk to him much.
The show itself was wonderful. The opening act was California Guitar Trio, former students of Fripp's. I had never heard of them before, but really liked them. I think I've seen them more times than Crimson now. They were signing autographs at a table after the show, so I had them sign my program. Since then, I've actually worked their merchandise table for them at local shows here in St. Louis. They were a good complement to King Crimson's music. Roy also saw this tour, in Ann Arbor, and said he was so anxious to finally see King Crimson that he didn't want to have to sit through an opening act. But CGT changed his mind.
My seat was way over on the side, so I could stand up and dance for the concert. The band opened with the VROOOM coda and also closed the main set with it. The encore was Walking on Air and the soundscape at the end continued after the band left the stage. Lots of songs from THRAK and Discipline, plus Red, Talking Drum, and Larks part 2 from the 70s incarnation of the band. I love Indiscipline, always fun live. It was such a great performance, great playing. Wow!
The show started very early, at 7:00pm. The school year was over, and I was living at home again. My parents were always willing to pick me up from concerts, because my mom did not like me being out by myself at night. I asked them to get my at 11. By that time, the concert was over, the band had left, and I was sitting by myself out front. I was happy to have more time to hang out. I got Adrian to sign my tour program and I told him I'd see them again on Sunday. I'm always amazed when artists on tour know where they are and where they're going, but Adrian knew they'd be in New York and told another fan that show was also sold out.
Opening Act: California Guitar Trio
Tower Theater
Upper Darby (Philadelphia), PA
Thursday, June 1, 1995
Section Right Orchestra, Row M, Seat 23
$27.50
I got into King Crimson at exactly the right time. Sometimes, I've seen bands before I knew much about them. You know, I knew I'd love them eventually, but I had to see them in case I never got another chance. Or other times, I'd wait a long time to see a favorite performer. But Crimson's timing was perfect.
I bought my first King Crimson CD the summer after I graduated high school. It was Court of the Crimson King. I didn't know a note of it before buying it, but I had seen their name linked with my favorite band Yes enough times and I was curious. I didn't mean to buy Court over any other album, but it was the only one in stock at Tower Records. I liked it. A lot. In the days before I had a credit card, I slowly built my record collection. Over a year later, I bought Lizard, Red, and then on a single day, I bought Discipline and Three of a Perfect Pair on used vinyl from the Book Trader on South Street. This was spring of 1994. I was very interested by the time VROOOM was released.
I had the greatest job ever in college. I worked at my college radio station WXPN, a professionally run AAA format music station. I had nothing to do with the music played, I just did some office work and soaked up the atmosphere. My station loved 80s era King Crimson. The pay certainly didn't help pay for college, but it got me into some live shows, got me some swag, and got me some great experiences.
One day, I found the promo single to Dinosaur sitting in my inbox. The record company sent the station two copies and my boss knew I was a fan. I listened to it over and over again. Even before THRAK's release, I saw the tour dates online. Reading over them and thinking about the tour made me realize I needed to see this band and more than once. I think I became a bigger fan just looking over the tour dates. This was the summer before my senior year of college, and I had to schedule my shows around my GREs (SATs for grad school). I think all the Crimson fandom made me smarter.
Buying this ticket was an ordeal. The show was at the Tower Theater, so normally, I'd take the El there early on the morning the show was going on sale. But SEPTA, the public transportation system, was on strike. Angela, who is still my best friend, and I had actually gone to the Tower the night before for a Black Crowes concert. If I had been by myself, I probably would have just stayed in line overnight. But Angela was going to sleepover in my dorm room, so I had to go back with her. I couldn't afford to keep taking cabs back and forth to the Tower, and there were no Ticketmaster outlets near me anymore, so I had to deal with ordering my ticket over the phone. Didn't get the best seat, but I managed to get in before it sold out. I knew I wouldn't be able to convince any of my friends to go to this one, so I happily went solo.
One time at the radio station, Bill Bruford had come in for an interview on our big syndicated program that brought in all the rock stars, The World Cafe. How did I find out? I was at the fax machine when he sent a thank you fax for allowing him to be on the show. Very nice manners for Bill, but he was in the very same building as me and I missed out! My wonderful boss told the World Cafe folks that I should know about these things. They let me know in plenty of time that Bill and Tony would be stopping by the studio the day of the King Crimson show. This would be my first time meeting either of them. I wasn't allowed to sit in on the interview, but I talked to them in the lobby on their way in and out. Not bad for a day's work.
I got some autographs from them on their way in. They both signed my THRAK, VROOOM, Discipline, and Three of a Perfect Pair. Bill had also been a member of my favorite band Yes, and he also signed my Fragile special edition gold CD box and my Yes jacket - a denim jacket with the Fragile artwork airbrushed on the back, and autographs from various members of Yes all around it. (I'm only missing Trevor Horn. I stopped wearing it years ago because I'm worried it will get worn out or damaged.)
On their way out, I got to talk with them again and got some pictures. I told Bill that this would be my first time seeing King Crimson and how excited I was. He replied, "You can't trust a band you've never seen live." I guess I trust Crimson a lot now. :-D They both started making fun of my height - they are tall guys and I am quite short. Bill started to squat down as our picture was being taken - you can see me glancing over at him. Tony made me stand on something, and he's still almost a head taller. After the show, he was standing on the curb, and I was at street level. He told me, "You got shorter!"
I went down to the Tower early and got to meet Adrian Belew. I met him at one of his solo shows the year earlier, and this time he autographed a picture of the two of us from then, plus THRAK and VROOOM. There were some other fans there too, so I didn't get to talk to him much.
The show itself was wonderful. The opening act was California Guitar Trio, former students of Fripp's. I had never heard of them before, but really liked them. I think I've seen them more times than Crimson now. They were signing autographs at a table after the show, so I had them sign my program. Since then, I've actually worked their merchandise table for them at local shows here in St. Louis. They were a good complement to King Crimson's music. Roy also saw this tour, in Ann Arbor, and said he was so anxious to finally see King Crimson that he didn't want to have to sit through an opening act. But CGT changed his mind.
My seat was way over on the side, so I could stand up and dance for the concert. The band opened with the VROOOM coda and also closed the main set with it. The encore was Walking on Air and the soundscape at the end continued after the band left the stage. Lots of songs from THRAK and Discipline, plus Red, Talking Drum, and Larks part 2 from the 70s incarnation of the band. I love Indiscipline, always fun live. It was such a great performance, great playing. Wow!
The show started very early, at 7:00pm. The school year was over, and I was living at home again. My parents were always willing to pick me up from concerts, because my mom did not like me being out by myself at night. I asked them to get my at 11. By that time, the concert was over, the band had left, and I was sitting by myself out front. I was happy to have more time to hang out. I got Adrian to sign my tour program and I told him I'd see them again on Sunday. I'm always amazed when artists on tour know where they are and where they're going, but Adrian knew they'd be in New York and told another fan that show was also sold out.
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