|
Off Key Monday, January 10, 2011
And we're back...
Wont' get into much detail about my recent blog haitus, but if you've been reading the print edition of "The Beat," you have a good idea where I've been.
Happy New Year! Happy 2011! My year is already off to a great start, and it will just get better and better here @ "The Beat." Lots to catch up on, so Let's Roll Kato! posted by Marc Cabrera at 1/10/2011 12:39:00 PM Monday, June 27, 2005
The Lesson
Last day of the festival and I finally flexed my all-access muscle. Got backstage to see the sweaty artists, media hacks, quick-thinking publicists and various hangers-on that seem to creep up out of the cracks in the press room floor.
Still, it was kind of cool to get backstage before the Neville Brothers performance. I even got to chop it up with Aaron Neville. My immediate impression: he is a bad dude. Stout, fire-hydrant frame, massivearms bulging beneath a muscle shirt, and a crude, crooked rendering of a cross on his right cheek. I couldn't tell if it was a tatoo or if he let one of his grandchildren draw on his face. Amidst a short stream of fans angling for photos and hand shakes, I asked him his opinion on hip-hop artists sampling his music, to which he answered (with some help from his publicist) that he considered it a compliment. "It's what the young people are into right now," he said. He shared his experience working with New Orleans rapper B.G., a former heroin addict who collaborated with the group on a song about addiction. He explained how he wrote it down right there on the spot, which impressed the veteran soul singer. On stage, the brothers delivered a pulsating performance that was no frills. They ran through their set list like a well-oiled, rhythim-blessed blues machine. I watched from the side of the stage as a large portion of the crowd waved white napkins and towels during one of their songs. It looked like a bunch of handkerchief propellers twisting in the air. After the show, I got to talk to another performer, Chicago poet Patricia Smith, who was in town to watch the show with her husband. Smith is one of my personal favorites, and the opportunity to buy her a drink and hang out for a few minutes was definitely a blessing. Sunday was a nice end to a hype weekend. I got a few lessons on the blues and where it's coming from, where it's at, and where it's going down. posted by Marc Cabrera at 6/27/2005 04:42:00 PM Sunday, June 26, 2005
Blues Fest Insecurity
Security at the festival sure has been doing its job.
As I made my way to the front gate, I saw a large side gate that was swung wide open, with a lone guard manning his post. I asked if I could go through (since I had the all-access pass and all) and I was DENIED! Talk about getting moded. I felt I was back in junior high, getting rejected for a slow dance at the after-school dance. On the main stage, most of the security guards kept it real cool. I even recognized a few from a poetry slam I performed at a month ago. I'm thinking everything is all good as I'm standing on the grounds, stage right, when a female guard with piercing green eyes (which I had complimented the previous night) approached with a serious look on her grill. "Could you please step over there," she asked in a no-nonsense tone. "Yeah, sure," I complied, despite the presence of several other people standing in the area where she was asking me to move away from. I then took literally one step to the left, which was more than sufficient. I guess she just didn't want to stand anywhere near me. Later on, I spotted the same crazy lady in the extra-large joke glasses as the previous night. I laughed as I watched her sway back and forth during the Billy Preston performance. I lean over to the wound-up security guard and ask her "You think that lady might be Flavor Flav's momma?" She gave me a look of bewilderment, shrugging her shoulders as if she didn't have an answer for me. I inform her that I was joking. I guess I'm not as funn as I thought I was. I get over my comedic faux pas and focus my attention on Preston, who is just working the crowd. Black,white, Latino, everyone gets up out of their seat at his command. He rolled through renditions of "It's Alright" and "Georgia on My Mind" as if the soul of Brother Ray Charles was living inside of Preston's mouth. Then he took everyone to church, stomping through an organ solo of "Amazing Grace" before hitting the crowd with the Sam Cooke classic "A Change is Gonna Come." It was enough to make an athiest catch the holy ghost. I looked over at the security guard that wouldn't laugh at my lame jokes. She was holding her daughter in her arms, nodding her head and smiling. Oh well, I thought to myself. I guess some folks are harder to impress than others. posted by Marc Cabrera at 6/26/2005 12:37:00 PM Saturday, June 25, 2005
Friday Night People Watching Awards
Forget a platinum chain, the coolest thing I will ever sport around my neck is an all access press pass. No iced out medallion is going get me backstage at the 70s Soul Jam." That's what's up.
Now, for me, Friday night's soul concert wasn't so much about seeing the show as it was about being the show. Folks came out in an array of fine-tailored suits and gowns, looking cleaner than a deacon on Sunday morning. The people watching alone was just as good as the show. So, in honor of the people in attendance on Friday night (the show within the show), I'm handing out the following awards in recognition of the folks who couldn't keep my eyes off of: Coolest looking person of the night: Now, this was a tough one. Several people were vying for the title throughout the evening, including: the fly lady in the camoflauge outfit with matching cowboy hat, covering a mop of curls (my co-workers and I couldn't get enough of her ability to coordinate); the Chi-Lites, replete in bright red zoot suits with matching fedoras; and the sister in the cheetah print faux mink with matching cowboy hat (the key word of the evening, co-orr-dinn-atte). But the prize went to the cool breeze dressed in a black silk suit, covered with a full-length black mink coat, silver dress socks, and white on black wingtips. He sported thick Gucci shades at dusk, and topped it off with a black felt hat that commanded respect. I hope one day I can look that cool (but I doubt it) Missed Opportunity of the night: Jimmy "JJ" Walker, 70s icon and star of the endearing television show 'Good Times' (hangin' in a chow line!) was walking around the grounds between acts, apparently to get some air. Seeing that as my cue to approach with the whole "Reporter on the scene" schtick, I strutted in his direction and was just about to hand over my player card, when the somewhat frustrated comedian barked half-jokingly "Man, y'all think I got time for this kind of stuff. I ain't got no time." I played it off and continued walking, putting my business card back into my jacket pocket. I thought Rerun was a lot funnier on the show anyways. Strangest sight of the night: The old woman in a white coat with an American flag bow tacked onto her back, complimented by a pair of joke sun glasses and a worn fishermans hat. She floated around the grounds carrying a pair of oversized fly swatters, for no apparent reason. A close inspection of her hat revealed a rather quirky button: "I'm an alcoholic. In case of emergency, pick me up off the floor and buy me a martini." Subversive hip-hop moment of the night: Well, it wasn't that subversive, but when the lead singer of the Delfonics started scatting "Hot boys in the House," during their rendition of "La La means I Love You," well, I was a little dumb founded. Later on, said "that was for all the young folks out there." During their rendition of "Have You Seen Here," the lead singer implored the crowd to throw their hands in the air, requesting that everyone who was down with the 'Fonics say "Oh Yeah!" I did as I was told (gotta respect your elders). Warm and Fuzzy moment of the night: Again during their performance of "La La..." I took a moment to call my girl and let her hear the song. As the crowd sang along, I raised the phone up near a speaker. She loved it. I loved it. The crowd loved it. But you know what I really love? That's right, all-access baby! posted by Marc Cabrera at 6/25/2005 11:59:00 AM Thursday, June 23, 2005
Six Degrees of blues and hip-hop
One look at the lineup for the 2005 Monterey Blues festival, and it posted by Marc Cabrera at 6/23/2005 05:27:00 PM
|
|
About Realcities Network | About Knight Ridder | Terms of Use & Privacy Statement Copyright 2004 Knight Ridder. All rights reserved. Any copying, redistribution or retransmission of any of the contents of this service without the express written consent of Knight Ridder is expressly prohibited. |