The Grand Canyon and the Rolling Stones? Twice now I've had slightly askew experiences with each one. I've been to the Grand Canyon twice--in the middle of the night. Back in the day with the compulsive/impulsive ex, we drove the northern route from Texas to California. The sign pointing to the G.C. was too much for him to resist, even though we were more than 100 miles south both times, and it was already sunset or later. Result? I've seen the vasty deeps pretty much in pitch dark.
The Stones at least I heard. First time in Sydney, Australia, '96. We lived on Harris Street, down the cliffside from Edgecliff, at the top of a tiny canyon that spread out to a small park and cricket pitch. The Sydney Cricket Grounds were less than a mile away, and the night the Stones played there the sound funneled right up the canyon. Sat on the deck and reminisced.
The Stones were at Zilker Park in Austin a couple of weeks ago, and since I live two blocks from the park, I heard them from a similar distance. This concert was shorter and slower. Can't believe it was ten years ago their sounds filled the air in Australia.
So what's the significance? Must be something happening to have been in proximity to two such major forces of nature and to have had at least one sense muffled or missing from all four experiences. I grudgingly admit to enjoying the G.C. after dark, and fully get behind listening to the Stones without paying obscene ticket prices to either concert.
Maybe it's the ability to be able to feel mostly satisfied with a less than "perfect" experience. But only with forces of nature, I want more from life in general...
11.02.2006
What do the Grand Canyon and the Rolling Stones have in common?
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2 comments:
To be honest, it seems like those who snuck a listen for the Rolling Stones had a much more enjoyable experience than those who paid $95 for their tickets and nearly the same for the beer. Those who sat out on the lawn enjoyed like-minded company, their own beer and almost as good of an auditory experience. They ain't much to look at these days and it really is about the music.
It's always about the music, as far as I'm concerned. Back in the late 60's early 70's when I made demo tapes for Screen Gems/Columbia, the A&R folks always wanted you to wear fishnet stockings and hot pants--know what those are? Well, I had classical training and snaggle teeth, and didn't give a shit about trying to look like a Hollywood Ho, and so was pretty miffed about it for years, until I finally learned that to be happy, I would have to quit listening to the tin-eared execs and just forge ahead on my own path. I know for a fact that I'm happier and doing more music than those poor women are...
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