Perhaps I can add a name to "those rock musicians from the 1960s, those who have managed to grow old somewhat gracefully." Friday at Town Hall in NYC, great-grandfather Richard Thompson OBE had both his son and grandson on stage. He hasn't lost a bit of his prowess and creativity, and watch out for the guitar solos by his grandson.
Thanks for doing so, and actually Chris C. (below) referenced separately to me about Neil Finn having his sons Liam Finn and Elroy Finn in the band. I saw RT last year at City Winery Hudson Valley and he was wonderful.
I couldn't agree more. For years now I have been musing on the disappearance of the generation gap. Music is responsible. Elvis released his first record almost 70 years ago. Since then rock and roll music has levelled the playing field insofar as the rock music of today may be more sophisticated than 'That's All Right' but its essence is the same, and so are its fans. I have seen it in my kids and you've seen it in yours. By and large, they like what I like. My dad struggled to like what I liked, especially as the years moved on. Most dads didn't even bother to struggle. My clothes - jeans and t-shirts - are the same as Sam's. No way in a million years would I wear what my dad wore.
No disagreement from me Chris, thanks for popping in and commenting. I hope that Just Backdated is off to a great start, it does an excellent job of talking about the above from a personal perspective.
I was only Friday chatting with some high school classmates which whom I am still very close, how the music of Sinatra from 25 years prior seemed impossibly ancient in our 1975-85 youth while my kids can enjoy the Who et al with great feeling (thank you Tony and RA). Or that the first World War was about as deep in the past from that time the as My Generation is from today. You have pondered this beautifully in this piece. The Kids are definitely alright. Very nice Sunday morning read indeed.
I think Chris may have hit on it above: rock'n'roll (brought on by the electrification of music, especially the guitar) gave us a before and after in terms of music. Even at the very start of the the 1960s, the Harry Smith Anthology of Folk Music sounded arcane and ancient to the young kids in NYC and elsewhere, largely because they were one-mic field recordings. As far as World War I being that far back, every single student at RA was born post-9/11, an event that happened this Century! I think a wiser person than me coined the phrase "time waits for no one" but I might be able to add something about old age being patient enough for us to give up being young before it imposes... Thanks for the comment, Henry.
So wonderfully said, Tony. I love this for many reasons.
First, my wife and I are in our late-50s and are both peaking creatively (she's a writer, I'm a musician and songwriter). Appreciating the influence of the journey and the accumulated maturity that comes with that, as you noted, is vital. While in my head I'm still often the rambunctious kid trying to get everyone to listen to London Calling, I'm a better, more thoughtful musician now. ;-)
Second, from the mid-aughts to the mid-teens, I was a sociology professor. I started every class with music that related to that day's material. Even large classes, like my 250-student Intro To Sociology class, would show up early to hear what I played. I was fascinated that they loved their parents' classic rock bands and generally knew nothing about my generation of music. It always made me laugh when they would recommend a new band and say, "That band you played the other day (Clash, U2, REM) sound like these guys." I would gently remind them that the direction of influence ran the other way. ;-) Their curiosity and openness about life is one of the few things I miss about that phase of my career.
Last, my bandmates are in their 30s and 40s and mostly think of music in a genre-less way. While that can be jarring as someone who grew up with relatively strict genre boundaries -- I had to hide my love for Tom Petty around my alternative friends -- it is a refreshing reminder to let go of those arbitrary rules. Pete Townsend, Kendrick Lamar, and Norah Jones can live together just fine on a playlist. I know that younger folks care even less -- or maybe don't even notice -- genre boundaries.
Cheers to your great work with the kids and The Who!
P.S. I didn't know The Vapors reunited! My first high school band, at age 16, covered Jimmy Jones and Silver Machines. Their songs hold up well. Thanks for the heads up.
Fascinating all around Dave and thanks so much for sharing. Funny enough, I am taking a sociology course right now, but it is online so no musical introductions. I'm with you on everything you say. The Vapors made a third album a few years back, I believe they are just starting on another. The lead singer of Pajamazon, Bobby Weiss, who is also a RA Show Director, is easily their biggest fan in the US, with the tattoo to prove it, and was the one responsible for bringing them to Woodstock.
Obviously I love every word of this. I will also add that in a car ride yesterday you were referred to as “ such a cool Director,” by my almost 11 year old. Thanks Tony for all that you do!
Perhaps I can add a name to "those rock musicians from the 1960s, those who have managed to grow old somewhat gracefully." Friday at Town Hall in NYC, great-grandfather Richard Thompson OBE had both his son and grandson on stage. He hasn't lost a bit of his prowess and creativity, and watch out for the guitar solos by his grandson.
Thanks for doing so, and actually Chris C. (below) referenced separately to me about Neil Finn having his sons Liam Finn and Elroy Finn in the band. I saw RT last year at City Winery Hudson Valley and he was wonderful.
A great read, and so much resonates - truly inspirational !
Thank you Ben.
I couldn't agree more. For years now I have been musing on the disappearance of the generation gap. Music is responsible. Elvis released his first record almost 70 years ago. Since then rock and roll music has levelled the playing field insofar as the rock music of today may be more sophisticated than 'That's All Right' but its essence is the same, and so are its fans. I have seen it in my kids and you've seen it in yours. By and large, they like what I like. My dad struggled to like what I liked, especially as the years moved on. Most dads didn't even bother to struggle. My clothes - jeans and t-shirts - are the same as Sam's. No way in a million years would I wear what my dad wore.
No disagreement from me Chris, thanks for popping in and commenting. I hope that Just Backdated is off to a great start, it does an excellent job of talking about the above from a personal perspective.
I was only Friday chatting with some high school classmates which whom I am still very close, how the music of Sinatra from 25 years prior seemed impossibly ancient in our 1975-85 youth while my kids can enjoy the Who et al with great feeling (thank you Tony and RA). Or that the first World War was about as deep in the past from that time the as My Generation is from today. You have pondered this beautifully in this piece. The Kids are definitely alright. Very nice Sunday morning read indeed.
I think Chris may have hit on it above: rock'n'roll (brought on by the electrification of music, especially the guitar) gave us a before and after in terms of music. Even at the very start of the the 1960s, the Harry Smith Anthology of Folk Music sounded arcane and ancient to the young kids in NYC and elsewhere, largely because they were one-mic field recordings. As far as World War I being that far back, every single student at RA was born post-9/11, an event that happened this Century! I think a wiser person than me coined the phrase "time waits for no one" but I might be able to add something about old age being patient enough for us to give up being young before it imposes... Thanks for the comment, Henry.
So wonderfully said, Tony. I love this for many reasons.
First, my wife and I are in our late-50s and are both peaking creatively (she's a writer, I'm a musician and songwriter). Appreciating the influence of the journey and the accumulated maturity that comes with that, as you noted, is vital. While in my head I'm still often the rambunctious kid trying to get everyone to listen to London Calling, I'm a better, more thoughtful musician now. ;-)
Second, from the mid-aughts to the mid-teens, I was a sociology professor. I started every class with music that related to that day's material. Even large classes, like my 250-student Intro To Sociology class, would show up early to hear what I played. I was fascinated that they loved their parents' classic rock bands and generally knew nothing about my generation of music. It always made me laugh when they would recommend a new band and say, "That band you played the other day (Clash, U2, REM) sound like these guys." I would gently remind them that the direction of influence ran the other way. ;-) Their curiosity and openness about life is one of the few things I miss about that phase of my career.
Last, my bandmates are in their 30s and 40s and mostly think of music in a genre-less way. While that can be jarring as someone who grew up with relatively strict genre boundaries -- I had to hide my love for Tom Petty around my alternative friends -- it is a refreshing reminder to let go of those arbitrary rules. Pete Townsend, Kendrick Lamar, and Norah Jones can live together just fine on a playlist. I know that younger folks care even less -- or maybe don't even notice -- genre boundaries.
Cheers to your great work with the kids and The Who!
P.S. I didn't know The Vapors reunited! My first high school band, at age 16, covered Jimmy Jones and Silver Machines. Their songs hold up well. Thanks for the heads up.
Fascinating all around Dave and thanks so much for sharing. Funny enough, I am taking a sociology course right now, but it is online so no musical introductions. I'm with you on everything you say. The Vapors made a third album a few years back, I believe they are just starting on another. The lead singer of Pajamazon, Bobby Weiss, who is also a RA Show Director, is easily their biggest fan in the US, with the tattoo to prove it, and was the one responsible for bringing them to Woodstock.
Obviously I love every word of this. I will also add that in a car ride yesterday you were referred to as “ such a cool Director,” by my almost 11 year old. Thanks Tony for all that you do!
Thanks Jane!