So you want to be a Rock n Roll Star?
Two shows monday
FOUR shows Tuesday
Two shows Wednesday
1 show today
1 show tomorrow
Rock star life this week
On wednesday I crashed and got all kinds of sick. Did one show this morning. Got a sandwhich and then slept from noon till 6pm. Thing is I never EVER take naps. I’m not wired that way. But today my body said shut it down. Perhaps I can learn the lesson from my dogs. Love unconditionally. Play hard. Take naps. So anyway I’m awake now and its 10:30 pm. I got one show in the morning and then its back home to Massachusetts for the weekend and then back out on the road on Sunday night.
I must say that today’s show at Chatham High School was a LOT of fun. The crowd was so much fun. Very respectful but really playful. I improvised quite a bit of stuff. I was in a good zone. Today’s show is exactly why I prefer live settings and live theatre. People always ask. “When are you gonna do a movie?” “Have you done TV?” “You should do a documentary” “You should make a DVD of your show” But the fact is I am all about the energy and feeling of a live setting. Its a total risk and the magic that is created between one performer on a stage and an audience can never be replicated. Its powerful and it is WHY I do what I do. Its like that with live music for me too. My favorite artists have always been a million times better live than on record.
Anyway, this week has been a blast. I met so many amazing people. I cried with some. Shared our stories. Looked into eachothers eyes and shook hands and hugged and shared a lot of real and sacred moments that give me the calm assurance that I am exactly where I’m supposed to be. I feel emotionally tired and spent but so thankful for the experiences and people I met this week. Only wish I had more time to enjoy them longer.
Some students shared some stories with me that showed their heart and their pain and at times we had some similar experiences…I want you to know you will be in my thoughts. Some Student Assistance Counselors and guidance counselors welcomed me into their schools and impressed the hell out of me with their tireless efforts (That they do EVERYDAY by the way) and emotional commitments to the students. You will be in my thoughts.
Cool stuff I experienced this week not necessarily Dirt related:
1. Patti Smith live at CBGB’s . I wasnt there… but I heard a live simulcast of it on Sirius Satellite.
2. Episode 3 of the NBC show “Heroes”
3. Episode 4 of the NBC show “Heroes”
4. A live bootleg of Dylan doing his new song “Thunder on the Mountain”
5. A day in the rain at Barnes & Noble drinkin coffee and reading the new book by Sam Harris.
6. Talking to a SAC named Maureen about music and The Kinks!
7. Finally figuring out my sound system problem and buying a cable to fix it.
8. The poetry of Allen Ginsberg.
9. The Colbert Report on Wednesday night.
10. Talking on the phone with my niece in Vegas.
11. My birthday on Monday.
12. Drifting off to sleep writing this blog thinking about driving in Kansas last week. I saw this endless prairie with a single willow tree in the distance. A flock of birds flew out of it and then out of sight. A great moment. Simple moment. Can’t get it out of my head:-) Its getting late. Can’t wait to see the morning. Maybe it’ll be a lil cool and a little wet and the dew will be on the car and I will go to the coffee shop and have the best coffee ever made. There is always tomorrow.
Below is a recording of Patti Smith at CBGB’s on My Birthday. Listen to the whole thing. About halfway through she starts riffin and letting the spirit speak. It is NOW (10-21-06 3:24 PM) censored and did originally contain language which some consider profane. But the energy and content of what she said is straight from a source which some would call god. listen. enjoy.
Sofie Smith says:
Hey! You came to my school [chatham] the other day, and I wanted to tell you that your show was really inspiring, and I found that I could relate to at least one element of each character, and that usually doesn’t happen with school assemblies. Thanks for coming by and giving us all a little bit of hope.
October 21st, 2006 at 5:18 pm