Saturday, April 19, 2008

that one bit of geography i lack

I'm not where it's at.

I own two Del Amitri albums: Twisted and Hatful of Rain. The first was purchased in cassette form, the second in CD. I had planned to buy the first in CD to replace the cassette, but discovered the second in the process and opted for the package deal of hits. Sadly, I was not aware before this that they had a large enough body of work from which to create such a culmination.

So, while I'm not one of those been a fan since the dawn of time people, I do love Del Amitri.

I saw Justin Currie perform on Thursday night. I have to say that I was a little taken aback by the age of the crowd. I wasn't expecting to see so many patches of gray hair. This is not at all a negative reaction, but more of a realization that my musical tastes—music that was current in my teens and 20s—plant me within a cohort that...is no longer in its teens and twenties. Alas, I am not a young pup.

The performance was great—just Justin and one accompanist on the keyboard and accordion who reminded me of a petite and slightly hip Dwight Schrute. They had an odd but entertaining dynamic. Justin is amazingly talented as a performer and songwriter. And he's cute. And Scottish. Best of all, though, he—with his skinny tie and pompadour—didn't seem to take himself too seriously.

He performed his new stuff which I loved. It's mellow and, I have to assume, the result of many a heart break given and received. He was also very generous with the number of Del Amitri songs he played. The crowd was happy. The two brothers sharing the table with us were long-time, die hard fans. One had been to eight of their shows in the 90s, and proposed to his wife at one of them. When Justin sang "Tell Her This", that same guy turned around to us and, beaming, said "If I had panties, I'd throw them on the stage!" I had no idea there was such a following.

But then, I've never quite had my finger on the pulse of my generation. I just got my hand on my heart, I know no better location. [again.]

Before leaving, I purchased the new CD. I don't know if that makes me a dinosaur. If it does, I'm at peace with that. I'll be in good company until we die off.

3 comments:

Leila said...

if you're a dinosaur then I'm extinct: I never even heard of Del Amitri. Nice though, I like it, though I imagine after a while it would run into so much other music of its ilk. What stands music apart? Sometimes simply the experience of it. And now, just searching and listening, it's not finding purchase. (Hey, I hardly ever get to "purchase" that word like that!)

Leila said...

no no no so much for cut and edit. should read:
I hardly ever get to use "purchase" like that.
grrrr

erin said...

gold star to you for vocabulary and usage!

there is a ton of music I should know about but don't. Ray LaMontagne was new to me. I'm waaaay behind on the MP3 scene (not for lack of want) and all of the spontaneous discoveries that come with it--why I thought of your post. still relying on CDs, but I do like getting to know a whole album.

yes to the experience. context/associations are huge. the live experience makes a big difference. this was definitely not my date's musical taste, but the performance and performers made a good impression.