(Personal reflections inspired by Who songs)
Song: “Substitute”
Album: Released as a single
Release Date: March,
1966
Below are
the 24 Who-related shows I have witnessed (in chronological order) and the set
lists for each. Events that I refer to
as “Who-related” include the solo efforts of the individual members of the band. The totality of my actual Who concert events stands
at a lucky thirteen, which is more likely than not to be a final tally. (** added note: This list needs to be amended, seeing as I attended the Who show at Fenway Park with my son, Peter, on Sept. 13, 2019. It was a lifetime hilite for Peter to be there with me and the Who were fantastic, including a Tommy and Quadrophenia set, as well as never before seen "Imagine a Man", and new songs "Hero Ground Zero" and "Ball and Chain" . Also at the show were Mac and my brother-in-law Paul. We spent some time in a private party looming over the Green Monster -thanks to Paul - where the Red Sox prior World Series trophy was displayed and where we got to hobnob with Peter Gammons).
Instead of
putting time this week into creative writing, my time was spent compiling the
list below by searching high and low on the web. Only one show was impossible to track a set
list for (the John Entwistle concert at the Living Room in Providence Rhode
Island in the summer of ’88 with Nancy).
Included in the compilation is bolded-red text of deep-cut Who and Pete
Townshend nuggets that were rarely performed.
I also added the names of friends and family who were in attendance with
me for each show (it may not be a perfect attendance estimate, although I’m
thinking it’s pretty darn good; however correct me if I’m wrong) and a note or
two about the event itself.
Also, I
did a little tally of all the Who songs I have witnessed more than twice at these
“Who-related” shows. My prior prediction
of the song I had heard the most proved true (“Won’t Get Fooled” at 18). Here is that summary, which I am guessing is a pretty good barometer of song ratio for all Who shows since the passing of Keith Moon: Eighteen:
“Won’t Get Fooled Again”; Seventeen:
“Behind Blue Eyes”; Fifteen: “Who
Are You”; Fourteen: “5:15”; Thirteen: “Baba O’Riley”, “Pinball
Wizard”, “My Generation”, “The Real Me”; Twelve:
“We’re Not Gonna Take It” (“See Me Feel Me”), “Love Reign O’er Me”; Ten: “My Wife”, “You Better You Bet”; Nine: “I’m One”, “Sparks”; Eight: “I Can’t Explain”, “Boris the
Spider”, “Amazing Journey”; Seven: “Substitute”,
“Eminence Front”, “The Punk and the Godfather”, “Drowned”, “Magic Bus”, “The
Kids Are Alright”; Six: “Trick of
the Light”, “Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere”, “Sea and Sand”; Five: “I Can See For Miles”, “Doctor Jimmy”, “I’ve Had Enough”, “Cut
My Hair”; Four: “Sister Disco”, “A
Little Is Enough”, “Bell Boy”, “Helpless Dancer”, “Is It In My Head”, “Dirty
Jobs”, “Quadrophenia”, “The Rock”; Three:
“Long Live Rock”, “Naked Eye”, “The Seeker”, “Pictures of Lily”, “Bargain”, “The
Acid Queen”, “I’m Free”, “Rough Boys”, “Join Together”, “Relay”; (many at two and one)
The first
Who song I ever saw live was “Substitute” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eswQl-hcvU0).
This song was always so much fun to watch the Who play, which was often
performed at or near the beginning of the set.
There was the harmonized backing vocal tandem of John Entwistle and Pete
Townshend (such an underrated component of the Who’s potency). There was the
magnificent bass solo (not so underrated). Yes, unlike many great bands, the Who could
always tap into their earliest hits for high-bar intensity.
Without
further ado, here then are the 24 Who-related set lists:
The Who: Rich Stadium, Buffalo, New York, September 26,
1982 (with
4 busses full of Canadians from Ottawa…..see “Under the Big Topo # 3” for
hilites)
Substitute, I Can't Explain , Dangerous, Sister Disco, The Quiet One, It's Hard, Eminence Front, Behind Blue Eyes, Baba O'Riley, I'm One, The Punk And The Godfather, Drowned, A Man Is A Man, Cry If You Want, Who Are You, Pinball Wizard, We’re Not Gonna Take It (See Me Feel Me), 5.15, Love Reign O'er Me, Long
Live Rock, Won't Get Fooled Again, (encore): Naked Eye, Summertime Blues, Twist and Shout
Roger Daltrey: Orpheum Theater, Boston, Massachusetts,
August 12, 1985 (with Mac, Bouv…. a great show)
Martyrs
and Madmen, Don’t Talk to Strangers, Breaking Down Paradise, Substitute,
Pictures of Lily, Under a Raging Moon, Behind Blue Eyes,
5:15, Your Time Is Gonna Come, After the Fire, Giving It All Away, Won’t Get Fooled
Again, The Pride You Hide, Move Better In the Night, Let Me Down Easy, Free Me,
Summertime Blues, C’mon Everybody
John Entwistle: The Channel, Boston, Massachusetts, November
19, 1987 (with Mac, Becca, Dave, Bouv…. very close to stage. Very cool!)
Summertime
Blues, Pinball Wizard, My Wife, 5:15, Bargain, Boris the Spider, Behind Blue
Eyes, Shakin’ All Over, My Generation, We’re Not Gonna Take It (See Me Feel Me),
Higher, Sparks, Won’t Get Fooled Again, Young Man Blues, Twist and Shout
John Entwistle: The Channel, Boston, Massachusetts, June 25,
1988
(with Fred, Mac… an extremely hot evening. Even the Ox complained)
No
set list, but I did track down a set list from a show on this tour which
consisted of the following: Stranger In A Strange Land, Love Is A Heart Attack, Bridges Under the Water, Billy, You, Trick Of the Light,
Heartache, My Wife, Boris the Spider, Suzie, Life After Love, Last Song,
(encore): Shakin’ All Over, Twist and Shout
John Entwistle: The Living Room, Providence, Rhode Island,
June 29, 1988 (with Nancy…funky place)
No
setlist: See previous entry (Entwistle at The Channel) for a taste of the
setlist
The Who: Sullivan Stadium, Foxboro, Massachusetts, July
12, 1989 (with virtually everyone…. the house party of a lifetime at Jen’s before
the show…. one of the best Who set lists
I’ve witnessed)
Overture,
It’s a Boy, 1921, Amazing Journey, Sparks, The Acid Queen, Pinball Wizard, Do
You Think It’s Alright?, Fiddle About, I’m Free, Tommy’s Holiday Camp, We’re
Not Gonna Take It (See Me Feel Me), A Friend Is a Friend, A Little Is Enough,
Face the Face, I’m a Man (Bo Diddley
cover), I Can’t Explain, Substitute, I Can See for Miles, Trick of the Light,
Boris the Spider, Who Are You, Magic Bus, Mary Ann With the Shaky Hands, Baba O’Riley, My
Generation, Secondhand Love, 5:15, Love Reign
O’er Me, My Wife, Sister Disco, Rough Boys, Join Together, You Better You Bet,
Won’t Get Fooled Again, (encore): Twist and Shout
The Who: Sullivan Stadium, Foxboro, Massachusetts, July
14, 1989 (with Kurt, Mac)
Overture,
It’s a Boy, 1921, Amazing Journey, Sparks, The Acid Queen, Pinball Wizard, Do
You Think It’s Alright?, Fiddle About, I’m Free, Tommy’s Holiday Camp, We’re
Not Gonna Take It (See Me Feel Me), I’m One, A Little Is Enough, A Friend Is a
Friend, I’m a Man (Bo Diddley cover), I
Can’t Explain, Substitute, I Can See for Miles, Trick of the Light, Boris the
Spider, Who Are You, Too Much of Anything, Magic Bus, Baba O’Riley, My
Generation, Face the Face, 5:15, Love Reign O’er Me, Love Hurts, My Wife,
Sister Disco, Rough Boys, Join Together, You Better You Bet, Behind
Blue Eyes, Won’t Get Fooled Again, Hey Joe, Dig, Summertime Blues
Pete Townshend: Great Woods, Mansfield
Massachusetts, August 9, 1993 (with Nancy, Mac, Becca, Dave, Bouv, others….
Nancy and I snuck up to the front seats.
Townshend snapped halfway through the show because of equipment
malfunction and played a riveting angry set from there)
Tommy Can
You Hear Me, Rough Boys, Let My Love Open the Door, Heart To Hang On To, Behind Blue Eyes,
Anyway Anyhow Anywhere, I’m A Boy, The Kids Are Alright, Pinball
Wizard, We’re Not Gonna Take It (See Me Feel Me), English Boy, Meher Baba M3,
Let’s Get Pretentious, Meher Baba M4, Early Morning Dreams, Magic Bus, You
Better You Bet, A Little Is Enough, I Want That Thing, Outlive the Dinosaur, Now
and Then, Don’t Try To Make Me Real, English Boy (reprise), Save It For Later,
Who Are You, Face the Face, Won’t Get Fooled Again, Let’s See Action, On the
Borderline, My Generation/Big Boss Man, Eminence Front
Roger Daltrey (John Entwistle joined for
about half of this “Daltrey Sings Townshend” show): Great Woods, Mansfield, Massachusetts,
August 28, 1994 (with Mac, John, Phil, Dave…. the only Who related show I ever went to
that did not have the appearance of being sold out…still great, and with a full
orchestra to boot)
Pete
Townshend Overture, You Better You Bet, Another Tricky Day, Baba O’Riley, After
the Fire, Relay, Amazing Journey, Pinball Wizard, Sparks, I’m Free, We’re Not
Gonna Take It (See Me Feel Me), Who Are You, The Sea Refuses No River, My Wife, Boris the
Spider, The Real Me, The Punk and the Godfather, I’m One, Drowned, Doctor
Jimmy, I’ve Had Enough, Cut My Hair, 5:15, The Rock, Love Reign O’er Me, Naked
Eye, That’s Just the Way It Is, Behind Blue Eyes, Won’t Get Fooled Again
John Entwistle: Mama Kin Music Hall, Boston
Massachusetts, January 31, 1996 (with Mac, others…..one of the best shows
I’ve ever seen, which started out with a triple-bang of rarely heard nuggets
for us latter-day Who fans)
Heaven and Hell, Had Enough, Success Story, Trick of the Light,
Bridges Under Water, The Real Me, Love Doesn’t Last, Boris the Spider, Life
After Love, Love Is a Heart Attack, Last Song, You, My Wife, Long Live Rock,
Summertime Blues, Shaking All Over
The Who: Madison Square Garden, New York, New York,
July 20, 1996 (with Nancy, Mac, Becca, Dave, Kurt, others…one of the best shows I’ve
ever seen and the first with Zak Starkey.
He was fantastic. What a memory)
I Am the
Sea, The Real Me, Quadrophenia, Cut My Hair, The Punk and the Godfather, I’m
One, The Dirty Jobs, Helpless Dancer, Is It In My Head, I’ve Had Enough, 5:15,
Sea and Sand, Drowned, Bell Boy, Doctor Jimmy, The Rock, Love Reign O’er Me,
Behind Blue Eyes, Won’t Get Fooled Again, Magic Bus, Naked
Eye
The Who:
Worcester Centrum, Worcester, Massachusetts, November 12, 1996 (with Jen, Amy, Fred,
Dale…. the family decided to join me.
Bill Weld of all people attended.
Not as intense as the Madison Square Garden show, but still solid)
I Am the
Sea, The Real Me, Quadrophenia, Cut My Hair, The Punk and the Godfather, I’m
One, The Dirty Jobs, Helpless Dancer, Is It In My Head, I’ve Had Enough, 5:15,
Sea and Sand, Drowned, Bell Boy, Doctor Jimmy, The Rock, Love Reign O’er Me,
I’m the Face, Won’t Get Fooled Again, Behind Blue Eyes, Who Are You
The Who:
Worcester Centrum, Worcester, Massachusetts, November 14, 1996 (with Kurt, Mac,
Muff)
I Am the
Sea, The Real Me, Quadrophenia, Cut My Hair, The Punk and the Godfather, I’m
One, The Dirty Jobs, Helpless Dancer, Is It In My Head, I’ve Had Enough, 5:15,
Sea and Sand, Drowned, Bell Boy, Doctor Jimmy, The Rock, Love Reign O’er Me, I’m
the Face, Won’t Get Fooled Again, Behind Blue Eyes, Who Are You
Pete Townshend: Harborlights, Boston,
Massachusetts, August 14, 1998 (with Nancy, Bouv, Mac, Dave, Becca, others….
Townshend came to peace with his Woodstock experience 30 years on, including
comments and the opening number.
Excellent show!)
On the
Road Again, A Little Is Enough, Drowned, Save It
For Later, Sensation, Anyway Anyhow Anywhere, You Better You Bet, Diamond In
the Rough, The Real Me, The Real Me
(Reprise), Zarathustra, I Am An Animal, Now And Then, Going
Up the Country, North Country Girl (On the Borderline), Let My Love Open the
Door, The Kids Are Alright, The Acid Queen, Won’t Get Fooled Again, Magic Bus, We’re
Not Gonna Take It (See Me Feel Me)
John Entwistle: The Lucky Dog, Worcester, Massachusetts, July
21, 1999 (with Kurt, Mac…. Entwistle kept getting zapped when singing into the
microphone. Finally lashed out at it and
stopped singing for a time. I had a nice
greeting and handshake with the Ox at the end of the show)
Horror
Rock, The Real Me, Success Story, Trick of the Light, Boris the Spider, I’ll
Try Again Today, Shaking All Over, Had Enough, Endless Vacation, Summertime
Blues, Young Man’s Blues
The Who: Great Woods, Mansfield,
Massachusetts, July 3, 2000 (with Mac, Dave, Becca, Amy, Paul, others… one of my favorite
Who shows of all time. It was the last
time I saw the Who with John Entwistle, who put some effort into backing vocals
early in the set)
I Can’t
Explain, Substitute, Anyway Anyhow Anywhere, I Don’t Even Know Myself, My Wife, Bargain, Relay, Baba
O’Riley, We’re Not Gonna Take It (See Me, Feel Me), I’m One, Pinball Wizard,
The Real Me, Who Are You, Magic Bus, Behind Blue Eyes, 5:15, You Better You
Bet, Won’t Get Fooled Again, (encore): The Kids Are Alright, Let’s See Action,
My Generation Blues, My Generation, Young Man Blues
John Entwistle (on the “A Walk Down Abbey
Road” tour): Fleet Pavilion, Boston,
Massachusetts, July 11, 2001 (with Nancy….. this was the last time I saw
John Entwistle. He looked weathered,
which I commented to Nancy about at the time, and even I have to admit his amp
was a bit too loud for “My Wife” and “The Real Me”…. Still a great show with
Heart, Todd Rundgren, Alan Parsons, others)
Magical
Mystery Tour, Open My Eyes (Hillsong Live cover), Eye in the Sky (Alan Parsons
cover), Crazy on You (Heart cover), My Wife, Hello It’s Me (Todd Rundgren
cover), Don’t Bother Me (Beatles cover), Biggest Part of Me (Ambrosia cover),
How Much I Feel (Ambrosia cover), Band the Drum All Day (Todd Rundgren cover),
The Real Me, Dreamboat Annie (Heart cover), Games People Play (Inner Circle
cover), Barracuda (Heart cover), My Generation, Back in the U.S.S.R., Lady
Madonna, I’m Down, The Fool on the Hill, While My Guitar Gently Weeps, Here
Comes the Sun, Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds, You’ve Got to Hide Your Love
Away, Maybe I’m Amazed, Rain, Blackbird, Everybody’s Got Something to Hide
Except For Me and My Monkey, Revolution, Day Tripper, Ticket to Ride, I Want to
Hold Your Hand, Hey Jude, Birthday, Golden Slumbers, Carry That Weight, The End
The Who: Great Woods, Mansfield, Massachusetts,
July 26, 2002 (with Mac…. First Who show after they took a break for John Entwistle’s
funeral. Pete gives a short emotional
eulogy on stage. Townshend also hovered
over his guitar as the “Birdman” for “Sparks”: Not sure I’d ever seen that before. I sang Entwistle’s high notes for “See Me
Feel Me”, a-la Woodstock)
I Can’t
Explain, Substitute, Anyway Anyhow Anywhere, Who Are You, Another Tricky Day, Relay, I Can See for
Miles, Baba O’Riley, Eminence Front, Sea and Sand, 5:15, Love Reign O’er Me,
Behind Blue Eyes, You Better You Bet, The Kids Are Alright, My Generation,
Won’t Get Fooled Again, (encore): Pinball Wizard, Amazing Journey, Sparks,
We’re Not Gonna Take It (See Me, Feel Me)
The Who: Great Woods, Mansfield, Massachusetts, May 20, 2004 (with Kurt, Mac, others….. listened to “Real Good Looking Boy”
and “Old Red Wine” all the way down and back with Kurt and his buddies from
Winchester who had not heard these songs until then)
Who Are You, Baba O’Riley, I Can’t
Explain, Long Live Rock, Behind Blue Eyes, 5:15, The Punk and the Godfather,
Love Reign O’er Me, Eminence Front, You Better You Bet, Real Good Looking Boy, Substitute, Love Ain’t for Keepin’, Magic Bus, My Generation, The Kids Are Alright, Old Red Wine, Won’t Get Fooled Again, (encore): Pinball Wizard,
Amazing Journey, Sparks, We’re Not Gonna Take It (See Me Feel Me)
The Who: Boston Garden, Boston,
Massachusetts, September 16, 2006 (with Mac, Becca, Kurt, others… excellent seats right of
stage; toured new album Endless Wire…..
hilites included “The Seeker” and “Mike Post Theme”)
I Can’t Explain, The Seeker, Anyway Anyhow Anywhere, Fragments, Who Are You, Behind
Blue Eyes, Real Good Looking Boy, Sound Round, Pick Up the Peace, Endless Wire,
We Got a Hit, They Made My Dream Come True, Mirror Door, Baba O’Riley, Eminence
Front, Black Widow’s Eyes, Mike Post Theme, You Better You Bet, My Generation, Won’t Get Fooled Again,
(encore): Pinball Wizard, Amazing Journey, Sparks, We’re Not Gonna Take It (See
Me Feel Me), Tea & Theatre
The Who: Boston Garden, Boston,
Massachusetts, October 24, 2008 (Becca, Mac, Dave….fun talking to Who fans before the show)
I Can’t Explain, The Seeker, Anyway
Anyhow Anywhere, Fragments, Who Are You, Behind Blue Eyes, Real Good Looking
Boy, Baba O’Riley, Getting in Tune, Eminence Front, Sister Disco, Sea and Sand, 5:15, Love Reign
O’er Me, My Generation, Won’t Get Fooled Again, (encore): Pinball Wizard,
Amazing Journey, Sparks, We’re Not Gonna Take It (See Me Feel Me), (encore 2):
Tea & Theatre
Roger Daltrey: House of
Blues, Boston, Massachusetts, November 8, 2009 (Nancy, Madeline, Mac, others…. Great show with Simon
Townshend & Zak Starkey)
Who Are You, Pictures of Lily, Behind
Blue Eyes, The Kids Are Alright, Tattoo, Days of Light,
Freedom Ride (Taj Mahal cover), Gimme a Stone (Levon Helm cover), Going Mobile, I’m A Man (Bo Diddley cover), My Generation, Who’s Gonna
Walk on Water?, Squeeze Box, I Can See for Miles, Young Man Blues, Baba O’Riley, Folsom
Prison Blues, Ring of Fire, Blue Red and Grey, Without Your Love
The Who: Boston Garden, Boston,
Massachusetts, November 16, 2012 (Kurt, Mac, Dave… great floor seats)
I Am the Sea, The Real Me,
Quadrophenia, Cut My Hair, The Punk and the Godfather, I’m One, The Dirty Jobs,
Helpless Dancer, Is It in My Head?, I’ve Had Enough, 5:15, Sea and Sand,
Drowned, Bell Boy, Doctor Jimmy, The Rock, Love Reign O’er Me, (encore): Who
Are You, Behind Blue Eyes, Pinball Wizard, Bab O’Riley, Won’t Get Fooled Again,
Tea & Theatre
The Who: Boston Garden, Boston,
Massachusetts, March 7, 2016 (Kurt, Becca, Dave, Mac, others… see Under the Big Top # 11 for
a full review)
Who Are You, The Seeker, The Kids Are
Alright, I Can See for Miles, My Generation, The Real Me, Pictures of Lily,
Behind Blue Eyes, Bargain, Join Together, You Better You Bet, I’m One, The Rock,
Love Reign O’er Me, Eminence Front, Amazing Journey, Sparks, Pinball Wizard,
We’re Not Gonna Take It (See Me Feel Me), Baba O’Riley, Won’t Get Fooled Again
That was
fun: Back to my deeper musings next week.
- Pete
Wednesday, August 10, 2016
Saturday, August 6, 2016
Under the Big Top # 31: “Music and Memory Revisited”
(Personal reflections inspired by Who songs)
Song: “Love, Reign o’er Me”
Album: Quadrophenia
Release Date: October, 1973
As is noted in the heading/description of this blog site, back in 2008 and 2009 I posted weekly “Gem Videos” to family and friends via email (which were eventually included here). There were 100 in all, and the intent of those entries was to write about the music videos I tracked down (mostly on YouTube) and the memories these recordings stirred within me. Entries included great songs from a whole range of musicians, many of whom were not who we would consider as mainstream artists (i.e. songs by Iris Dement, Gram Parsons, Flash and the Pan, Townes Van Zandt, Leonard Cohen, Tom Waits and Curtis Mayfield). The subsequent series’ on the Rolling Stones (“Stepping Stones”), Neil Young (“Forever Young”), and now the Who (“Under the Big Top”), are a bit different in their focus, as I dig deeper into the music of these artists who I know the most about. The url links are less of an emphasis here, but the attention to the thoughts and memories I connect with remain the same.
Not knowing where all this was going back in 2009, I included entries from the Who (as well as the Stones and Neil) in that original series. In each of these newer series, I’ve resurrected a handful of those entries in an attempt to incorporate them into the flow of my current musings, particularly when I felt the time was right (and especially with this current series). Below is the last of the Who entries from that “Gem Video” series.
The actual title of my Blog site, “Music and Memory” was based on the title of this now 7-year-old entry below, which is one of the most personal and heartfelt from that series.
Song: “Love, Reign o’er Me”
Album: Quadrophenia
Release Date: October, 1973
As is noted in the heading/description of this blog site, back in 2008 and 2009 I posted weekly “Gem Videos” to family and friends via email (which were eventually included here). There were 100 in all, and the intent of those entries was to write about the music videos I tracked down (mostly on YouTube) and the memories these recordings stirred within me. Entries included great songs from a whole range of musicians, many of whom were not who we would consider as mainstream artists (i.e. songs by Iris Dement, Gram Parsons, Flash and the Pan, Townes Van Zandt, Leonard Cohen, Tom Waits and Curtis Mayfield). The subsequent series’ on the Rolling Stones (“Stepping Stones”), Neil Young (“Forever Young”), and now the Who (“Under the Big Top”), are a bit different in their focus, as I dig deeper into the music of these artists who I know the most about. The url links are less of an emphasis here, but the attention to the thoughts and memories I connect with remain the same.
Not knowing where all this was going back in 2009, I included entries from the Who (as well as the Stones and Neil) in that original series. In each of these newer series, I’ve resurrected a handful of those entries in an attempt to incorporate them into the flow of my current musings, particularly when I felt the time was right (and especially with this current series). Below is the last of the Who entries from that “Gem Video” series.
The actual title of my Blog site, “Music and Memory” was based on the title of this now 7-year-old entry below, which is one of the most personal and heartfelt from that series.
Songs are often linked
with memories, but occasionally a song is so inextricably linked to a memory,
there is no separating the two: The memory
defines the song, and vice versa. This
week’s entry is about a powerful moment/memory in my life and the Gem of a song
that accompanies it.
Twenty one years ago today, Cousin Rebecca and great friend, Dave were married (both are on the receiving end of these weekly postings). I was there when they met, and several years later, was honored when they asked me to be their best man. It was a picture perfect wedding on a picture perfect day, and other than my own wedding, I’ve never before or since had more friends and family gathered together at one event.
At the rehearsal dinner, Becca introduced me to her nephew, Danny, saying to him: “This is the best man”. He was young and innocent enough to believe this was my real name. When he started calling me ‘Best Man’, I neglected to correct him, despite the half a dozen or so opportunities I had when he posed a question my way. How could you correct a name like that? Besides, he had it right….at least for the weekend.
The best man speech for the reception was pretty easy to come up with: When you are there to see the relationship of a cousin and close friend unfold, there is no shortage of material to compile a 2 hour toast, never mind 2 minutes. I don’t actually have the speech memorized, but will do my best to resurrect/paraphrase/embellish/idealize it here for posterity’s sake (leaving out the murmurs, throat clearings, stutters, ahems, and grunts):
“It’s remarkable to be here today to be a witness to the marriage between a great friend and an equally great cousin. I figured the best way to toast them, would be to revisit how they met over three years ago.
It started with an extended family gathering at my parents’ home, when Becca mentioned to my Mom that she was looking at options for Graduate School, including visiting universities in Canada. Mom told Becca that I would soon be heading up to Ottawa to visit school friends, and that she should talk to me about coordinating our travel plans. It was not long before Becca and I were ironing out the details.
Although excited about the prospect of having my cousin join me on a trek north of the border, I was a bit concerned: This was another side of me, the bachelor side. Not so much a problem on its own. However, my bachelor side included many fellow bachelors, particularly two who would be joining us on the road trip: Dave and Mac. I would be able to tone things down a bit on my end, but I had no control over these guys…. none whatsoever.
As we began our trip, Becca and Dave in the back, Mac in the passenger seat, me driving, things got off on the wrong foot. Mac and Dave had spent a large chunk of the night before awake and partying. The conversations were over-spiced with harsh adjectives and interjections. And one word came to mind in regards to their appearance: Disheveled. Normally I could care less (I can be as shabby as the best of them). This time it was different.
But Becca seemed to be enjoying herself. And when a misplaced donut was sat upon, there were no moments of tenseness to work through. On the contrary, abuse was slung in several directions, with accompanying laughter, and no one was offended. All seemed rather normal in terms of a road trip with Mac and Dave (of which I had much to compare to). As the trip entered Vermont things got quiet in the back seat. Crossword puzzles were being solved at record pace. This was teamwork. Something was up.
When we got to Ottawa, Becca and Dave were already very much enjoying each other’s company. This was great, because I had a lot of catching up to do with my Canadian friends and, in all honesty, I plum forgot about my cousin at times. It did not matter. Becca was in good hands. Everyone had a blast. The weekend went without a hitch. It was a top-drawer road trip. And most important, a romance began to take root.
Since then we four have been quite inseparable in regards to good times. Over the last few years, I’ve looked at Becca more as a friend than a cousin. And her relationship with Dave has become long-lasting. Now they are appropriately getting married. I wish them the best of times in their future together.”
These are the memories of a priceless day, but in terms of introducing this week’s Gem, Becca and Dave’s union is but half the story. Unfortunately, the other half was tragic, because there was one person who did not make it to the wedding, Aunt Ginger, who died in a car crash the day before. Ginger, a Dominican Nun and a beautiful person, was related to half the crowd in attendance, including the bride. Many heavy hearts were valiantly put on the shelf that day, to celebrate a blessed event. Looking back, it was quite amazing that the celebration truly overcame our common loss.
Last week I talked about appreciation, and among many other superlatives, appreciation is something Ginger had an abundance of. Ginger appreciated everything, particularly people, and however much you appreciated her it was hard to top her appreciation for you. This, I am sure, she garnered from her strong faith in God. And when you have that much appreciation for those around you, you’re well loved and admired. Her death was a very difficult blow because through her faith, she was a source of strength for everyone who knew her.
For me, I can never forget the moment of that sunny morning when I realized I could focus on the wedding while still keeping Ginger close to heart. I had already headed back home that morning to visit (and cry) with Mom, take a shower, and dress up in my tuxedo. I then picked Dave up and we connected with the old gang for breakfast. I recall Mac stepping to the plate and keeping the atmosphere upbeat, as the spirit of the moment was still escaping me.
Dave and I then took the drive up Rte. 495 to the Martha Mary Chapel at the Wayside Inn, Sudbury Massachusetts. We had the radio on, and as we drove along the rolling valley of that long stretch of highway just north of the Rte. 9 exit, The Who’s “Love Reign O’er Me” came on the radio: Not an all that common song to hear on the radio compared to other Who songs. The song, sun, valley, and cruising that stretch of road dressed to the hilt in tuxedos as groom and best man was surreal. We turned the dial way up. I listened intensely to the lyrics and music, and I was immediately locked in, suddenly ready and excited for the day ahead.
Dad was locked in too, giving the blessing (which Ginger had written) at the reception, with Mom standing by his side. It was an unforgettable moment as I recall reflecting on how close Dad was to Mom’s sister. Ginger’s brothers and sisters were also locked in, as were Becca’s entire family, particularly the bride and groom. With all that locking in, I have no doubt, Ginger was there with us.
The Who have performed “Love Reign O’er Me” frequently in concert over the years. I believe it to be one of Roger Daltrey’s favorites. The songs bridge, the weaving of the words reign vs rain, and the over-the-top vocals all contribute to the intensity of this song. Last year, when the Who were recognized at the annual Kennedy Center Honors, Bettye LaVette covered ‘Love Reign O’er Me’ and did an exceptional job. It’s her version that is captured for this week’s Gem. Below it is a still shot video with the original studio recording that gave a well needed dose of healing all those years ago. Below that is a live 1996 Who performance of the song (the first Quadrophenia show in Hyde Park, London).
Happy Anniversary, Becca and Dave! Has it really been 21 years since I was thrown into a lake wearing a tuxedo? 21 years since watching a DJ get coerced into playing Little Feat songs and little else? 21 years since the first guy in the old gang made the Big Leap? …..Yow!
Twenty one years ago today, Cousin Rebecca and great friend, Dave were married (both are on the receiving end of these weekly postings). I was there when they met, and several years later, was honored when they asked me to be their best man. It was a picture perfect wedding on a picture perfect day, and other than my own wedding, I’ve never before or since had more friends and family gathered together at one event.
At the rehearsal dinner, Becca introduced me to her nephew, Danny, saying to him: “This is the best man”. He was young and innocent enough to believe this was my real name. When he started calling me ‘Best Man’, I neglected to correct him, despite the half a dozen or so opportunities I had when he posed a question my way. How could you correct a name like that? Besides, he had it right….at least for the weekend.
The best man speech for the reception was pretty easy to come up with: When you are there to see the relationship of a cousin and close friend unfold, there is no shortage of material to compile a 2 hour toast, never mind 2 minutes. I don’t actually have the speech memorized, but will do my best to resurrect/paraphrase/embellish/idealize it here for posterity’s sake (leaving out the murmurs, throat clearings, stutters, ahems, and grunts):
“It’s remarkable to be here today to be a witness to the marriage between a great friend and an equally great cousin. I figured the best way to toast them, would be to revisit how they met over three years ago.
It started with an extended family gathering at my parents’ home, when Becca mentioned to my Mom that she was looking at options for Graduate School, including visiting universities in Canada. Mom told Becca that I would soon be heading up to Ottawa to visit school friends, and that she should talk to me about coordinating our travel plans. It was not long before Becca and I were ironing out the details.
Although excited about the prospect of having my cousin join me on a trek north of the border, I was a bit concerned: This was another side of me, the bachelor side. Not so much a problem on its own. However, my bachelor side included many fellow bachelors, particularly two who would be joining us on the road trip: Dave and Mac. I would be able to tone things down a bit on my end, but I had no control over these guys…. none whatsoever.
As we began our trip, Becca and Dave in the back, Mac in the passenger seat, me driving, things got off on the wrong foot. Mac and Dave had spent a large chunk of the night before awake and partying. The conversations were over-spiced with harsh adjectives and interjections. And one word came to mind in regards to their appearance: Disheveled. Normally I could care less (I can be as shabby as the best of them). This time it was different.
But Becca seemed to be enjoying herself. And when a misplaced donut was sat upon, there were no moments of tenseness to work through. On the contrary, abuse was slung in several directions, with accompanying laughter, and no one was offended. All seemed rather normal in terms of a road trip with Mac and Dave (of which I had much to compare to). As the trip entered Vermont things got quiet in the back seat. Crossword puzzles were being solved at record pace. This was teamwork. Something was up.
When we got to Ottawa, Becca and Dave were already very much enjoying each other’s company. This was great, because I had a lot of catching up to do with my Canadian friends and, in all honesty, I plum forgot about my cousin at times. It did not matter. Becca was in good hands. Everyone had a blast. The weekend went without a hitch. It was a top-drawer road trip. And most important, a romance began to take root.
Since then we four have been quite inseparable in regards to good times. Over the last few years, I’ve looked at Becca more as a friend than a cousin. And her relationship with Dave has become long-lasting. Now they are appropriately getting married. I wish them the best of times in their future together.”
These are the memories of a priceless day, but in terms of introducing this week’s Gem, Becca and Dave’s union is but half the story. Unfortunately, the other half was tragic, because there was one person who did not make it to the wedding, Aunt Ginger, who died in a car crash the day before. Ginger, a Dominican Nun and a beautiful person, was related to half the crowd in attendance, including the bride. Many heavy hearts were valiantly put on the shelf that day, to celebrate a blessed event. Looking back, it was quite amazing that the celebration truly overcame our common loss.
Last week I talked about appreciation, and among many other superlatives, appreciation is something Ginger had an abundance of. Ginger appreciated everything, particularly people, and however much you appreciated her it was hard to top her appreciation for you. This, I am sure, she garnered from her strong faith in God. And when you have that much appreciation for those around you, you’re well loved and admired. Her death was a very difficult blow because through her faith, she was a source of strength for everyone who knew her.
For me, I can never forget the moment of that sunny morning when I realized I could focus on the wedding while still keeping Ginger close to heart. I had already headed back home that morning to visit (and cry) with Mom, take a shower, and dress up in my tuxedo. I then picked Dave up and we connected with the old gang for breakfast. I recall Mac stepping to the plate and keeping the atmosphere upbeat, as the spirit of the moment was still escaping me.
Dave and I then took the drive up Rte. 495 to the Martha Mary Chapel at the Wayside Inn, Sudbury Massachusetts. We had the radio on, and as we drove along the rolling valley of that long stretch of highway just north of the Rte. 9 exit, The Who’s “Love Reign O’er Me” came on the radio: Not an all that common song to hear on the radio compared to other Who songs. The song, sun, valley, and cruising that stretch of road dressed to the hilt in tuxedos as groom and best man was surreal. We turned the dial way up. I listened intensely to the lyrics and music, and I was immediately locked in, suddenly ready and excited for the day ahead.
Dad was locked in too, giving the blessing (which Ginger had written) at the reception, with Mom standing by his side. It was an unforgettable moment as I recall reflecting on how close Dad was to Mom’s sister. Ginger’s brothers and sisters were also locked in, as were Becca’s entire family, particularly the bride and groom. With all that locking in, I have no doubt, Ginger was there with us.
The Who have performed “Love Reign O’er Me” frequently in concert over the years. I believe it to be one of Roger Daltrey’s favorites. The songs bridge, the weaving of the words reign vs rain, and the over-the-top vocals all contribute to the intensity of this song. Last year, when the Who were recognized at the annual Kennedy Center Honors, Bettye LaVette covered ‘Love Reign O’er Me’ and did an exceptional job. It’s her version that is captured for this week’s Gem. Below it is a still shot video with the original studio recording that gave a well needed dose of healing all those years ago. Below that is a live 1996 Who performance of the song (the first Quadrophenia show in Hyde Park, London).
Happy Anniversary, Becca and Dave! Has it really been 21 years since I was thrown into a lake wearing a tuxedo? 21 years since watching a DJ get coerced into playing Little Feat songs and little else? 21 years since the first guy in the old gang made the Big Leap? …..Yow!
There you have it.
And now it’s been 28 years.
Another seven years of great memories.
My goodness! Happy Anniversary
again to you Becca and Dave!
- Pete
- Pete
- Betty LaVette performing “Love Reign O’er Me” at the Kennedy Center Honors. I love the moment at the 1:57 mark when she rocks backward, intoxicated by the lyrics and the meaning.
- The Who performing “Love Reign O’er Me” live, 1996 (the Prince’s Trust concert that unleashed the Quadrophenia Madison Square Garden shows and eventually a Quadro tour)
- This is the magnificent Who studio version.
Friday, July 29, 2016
Under the Big Top # 30: “The Townie in All of Us”
(Personal reflections inspired by Who songs)
Song: “Come To Mama”
Album: White City
Release Date: November, 1985
Of all the albums I looked forward to in terms of release, the one that had me most in anticipation was White City. I was at the perfect point in my appreciation for the music of Pete Townshend at the time, who was relatively elusive in those days, which simply fueled his fan base for fodder of any kind. The Who were defunct for much of the 80s, which was probably a good thing considering how badly Rock music was trending that decade. Much of it seemed contrived, over the top, digital, stylized, and plastic. The medium had an aura of having sold out to big contracts, big productions, big videos, and big hair. Looking back on that period now, it still feels that way. Rock music before and after is much more grounded than it was in the Reagan years.
And so, Pete Townshend was on his own, which worked well for him in the 80s given his approach to music as a way to express honesty, often of the brutal variety. There was no democratic process to weave through as a member of a band anymore. And his dedication up to that point worked very well for him. If the Who had disbanded earlier or later, things may have been different; Townshend could have been another victim of the crassness of the era. But by sticking with the band thru the Keith Moon era, at times relying on his loyalty alone, and then giving it a brief go-of-it afterward before realizing the magic was gone, he won his wings so to speak. The payoff was an open palette and clear mindedness to do with what he pleased. Out of this came the sobriety of White City.
White City was subtitled “A Novel” (in a radio interview promoting the album Townshend stated “well, I figured if I could get away with ‘Rock Opera’…”). The record was accompanied by a one hour film drama and follow up interview with the ‘author’. Most of the songs from the album are in the movie, with a handful in their entirety (which distinguishes this soundtrack from Quadrophenia, which unfortunately pieced out sections of most songs, rather than allow them to play out). For the most part the film was disjointed, quirky and slightly bizarre (for example, a live rendition of “Face the Face” on a platform atop the deep end of the local public indoor swimming pool was choreographed by synchronized swimmers). But I loved it and I watched often (I’ve still got the VCR cartridge on my bookshelf). My goal in this entry is to get to the bottom of why. ** Side Note: The band Townshend played with in that “Face the Face” segment of the film later went on a mini tour with him and dubbed themselves appropriately as “The Deep End”.
The White City was a section of Western London that Pete Townshend grew up near (in Shepherd’s Bush) and which he strongly connected with. It was a poor neighborhood, built rapidly as post-war subdivisions in areas that were levelled by the Luftwaffe in the Battle of Britain. Townshend’s storyline focuses on a character who makes it big as a musician (a slightly fictional version of himself), coming back to write about his upbringing and also to write about a few of the people he left behind, particularly where they all were at that moment in their lives (he does not leave his character out of this analysis). It’s fascinating when you take in the album from this perspective, because you get to see a range of priorities: What matters to one person does not necessarily equate to another, particularly in relation to some of our preconceived notions of what it takes to be successful. In other words, the ‘townie’ view of staying put in the White City (as opposed to venturing out) comes thru loud and clear here.
Ah the townie view; I’ve known it well myself, having several very close friends who have been content with what they have been handed at face value. This view of staying put plays out in many ways. As with those of us who venture forth, I believe there is a certain personality trait in the townie attitude. At the risk of generalizing, I’ll reflect here on one situation that I butted up against this past week. A close associate passed away suddenly. He was a townie, which probably had an effect on his work ethic. Lance had no ambition to ‘climb the ladder’. He was content with what he could do for others in the office environment: Punch in, do your job for 8 hours, punch out. I was travelling for work when the news got to me. It was difficult to take in. Lance was the other “GIS guy” in the office. He dealt with the day-to-day in-house requests and local projects. We worked well together primarily because he knew what he was doing, which allowed me to ‘spread my wings’ to tackle the so-called big-ticket items in the region, and beyond.
When I got back to the workplace, I headed right down the hall to the office of his closest friend, Linda, who is also a townie type. The two of them ate lunch every day together and travelled to her Mom’s hometown in New Brunswick, Canada on several occasions. I asked innocently about services and what we could do to recognize Lance. Now, don’t get me wrong, we get along fine, but Linda looked at me defiantly and said there would be nothing of the sort. This was a private matter, for the immediate family only, and the USGS was not invited to participate.
Ok, I know this happens in other circles outside the townie realm but it all had an air of familiarity about it. I’ve seen this stubbornness-to-the-end before. Regardless, it was a hard pill to swallow. I mean, how do you put closure to such a situation? Do you move on as if nothing has happened; as if Lance never existed? There was a divide here that I had to overcome (I’m working on it) but of equal importance, there was a strong curiosity stirring inside me of trying to further understand the difference between Lance’s townie world and mine.
I had a lot of time this week to listen to White City, travelling north to New Brunswick for an extended Steeves Family reunion (the coincidence of travelling to New Brunswick allowed me to reflect on Lance’s and Linda’s travels there together). As with many of my Big Top focuses this year, it had been too long since I took this album in. As I drove, I recalled listening to the first single on WBCN upon its release, the aforementioned “Face the Face”, and being disappointed. It was way over the top; the drum beat heavily overdubbed; the horns not even remotely resembling Rock and Roll. But the lyrics resounded. There was something there. I could not put my finger on it then, but there was definitely something there.
The B-side, “Hiding Out”, which thank goodness was also played soon after, immediately resonated with me though. I thought “now we are on to something”. From there it was on to that radio interview which I heard a week or so later (with Tony Pigg on Infinity Broadcasting), and it was one sensational song after another: “Brilliant Blues” was magnificent, “Crashing by Design” and “I Am Secure” riveting; the title track suburb. This was coming across as an album where Pete Townshend was turning a corner; almost born again. But then again, no: I really believe this was Townshend simply building on top of an amazing resume of truth in music to that point.
One thing I absolutely need to make clear in this back and forth townie vs branching out approach to life is that neither is superior or inferior. All the townie folks I have known are very bright. It may be partly due to the fact that there’s no muddling of their thinking in terms of lofty ambition, and so there is a certain clear-headedness that permeates their day-to-day activities in ways that those of us who pursue big dreams often struggle to rediscover from our youth. On the other hand, I don’t think it can be argued, even by the townie types, that with a range of experiences comes a certain wisdom that can only be gained by venturing out and taking risks.
Still, Pete Townshend seems to emphasize in White City that despite these differences, there are so many more similarities. The song “Face the Face” is a continuation of Townshend’s never-ending insistence that we all look at ourselves in the mirror. In this tune, he’s making the case that we should never let past transgressions drag us down to the degree that we no longer pursue to our ideals. I think my townie friends would agree. “Second Hand Love” links the main townie character (Townshend describes him as Jimmy from Quadrophenia 20 years down the road) to Townshend’s own star-studded life, seeing as what at first listen appears a song about a jilted lover becomes clearer in the film as a child not getting the prime attention from his Mom that he desperately needs (which is reflective of this rock star’s upbringing). “Brilliant Blues” is about being able to look back at troubled times during a period of renewal. “Crashing by Design” is about being willing to take blame for your own bad decisions and not point fingers. “White City Fighting” is about a yearning to relive our glory days, no matter how twisted those days were (the line “to resist the temptation the gutters all threw up” sounding oh so mid-80s Dylanesque). All in all it’s a pretty straightforward Townshend concept album and much of it crosses the townie/seeker divide.
There are a few songs on White City that could only be from the star’s viewpoint: “Hiding Out” and “I Am Secure”, both wonderful tunes about observing the world around you and then recording those observations in some manner (one line contrasts the White City experience for the writer with the matter-of-fact statement that, though this be the case, “Tomorrow, I’ll walk among heroes and princes”). But even here, the townie cannot be overlooked: These folks observe and conclude as well. Most of them simply don’t feel the need to write about it.
The opening track, “Give Blood”, is a tricky one. England experienced war closely, personally, and intensely in both World Wars and this song drives at the heart of that topic: “But you may find that blood is not enough” Townshend sings (I love the line “Parade your parlor in iniquity” in reference I believe to photos in the parlor of loved ones who died in the wars). The sentiment hits across socio-economic boundaries; the townie, the rock star, and everywhere in between. In the film interview, Pete mentions that war was thankfully not an option for his generation, but seeing what their parent’s generation went through, they needed an outlet to try and express their own kind of courage, and so many turned to the honesty of Rock and Roll as a surrogate. Some like the Who ventured forth to perform it. Others like the townie characters in White City simply listened intently. The song concludes “So, give love, and keep blood between brothers”, an apt analogy to Rock and Roll idealism. ** Side Note 2: Pete Townshend’s Dad ‘Cliff’ was a saxophonist in the Royal Air Force Dance Orchestra during the war, and his orchestration of “Face the Face” may have been done this way in honor of this.
This week’s Big Top entry is the final track on the album and in the movie; “Come to Mama” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWqgS_MG7dk). This was my favorite part of the film. It touches a chord every time I listen and watch. The song is about the pitfalls of pride and tackles the relationship between the Jimmy/townie character and his wife. The couple is estranged for much of the movie, which starts with his multi-dish-smashing moment in their kitchen early on (during which the instrumental portion of “Come to Mama” plays in the background, the female character with nowhere to turn, crouching in the corner of the bedroom). But I empathize with both of them, and so when the movie ends at the ‘Deep End’ of the swimming pool (the morning after the big show by the returning rock star) and they glance at each other across the pool while the swimming-lesson kids jump in and “Come to Mama” plays out, I see it all come together (I wish I had this scene to show, but I cannot track it on YouTube). A glance turns to a smile and then laughter. This moment raises these townie characters, and gives them credence. It reaffirms my solidarity with their supposedly more insular world than mine.
The first 2.5 minutes of “Come to Mama” is instrumental (so uniquely musical that NPR used this obscure song as the opening to one of its premier programs in the late 90s); a very nice experimental piece. But for me the song becomes riveting with the lyrics, which are emitted by Pete Townshend in some of his most impassioned vocals:
His pride is like a bandage
He's wrapped in a warm cocoon
His pride is just like heroin
He's back inside the womb
His pride is like an ocean
Encircled by a reef
His pride's a hypnotic potion
His memory is a leaf
Her pride is like armor
Flaming ring of fire
Her pride is like a blindness
An ever tightening wire
Her pride is like a razor
A surgeon's purging knife
Her pride is like a censor
She's slashed out half her life
Here be the moral of the White City story (excuse me; White City Novel): Getting past our pride, fears, and insecurities. In the townie, this may manifest itself one way, as I saw this past week with the ultra-private mourning of a family to the exclusion of others who feel a need to do the same. But make no bones that in this album Pete Townshend attempts to open our eyes to the fact that these insecurities are universal; no stereotypical personality trait has a corner on this market. If over-exclusive privacy is a symptom of this crutch in the townie world, then vanity surely is the mirror image to beware of in those of us more ambitious types who venture beyond the familiar confines of our first homes. For us to avoid such pitfalls, we need to reflect back on our youthful selves, and reconnect with the townie in all of us that is there waiting to be heard again and again.
- Pete
This entry is dedicated to the memory of Lance Ostiguy, colleague and friend.
Song: “Come To Mama”
Album: White City
Release Date: November, 1985
Of all the albums I looked forward to in terms of release, the one that had me most in anticipation was White City. I was at the perfect point in my appreciation for the music of Pete Townshend at the time, who was relatively elusive in those days, which simply fueled his fan base for fodder of any kind. The Who were defunct for much of the 80s, which was probably a good thing considering how badly Rock music was trending that decade. Much of it seemed contrived, over the top, digital, stylized, and plastic. The medium had an aura of having sold out to big contracts, big productions, big videos, and big hair. Looking back on that period now, it still feels that way. Rock music before and after is much more grounded than it was in the Reagan years.
And so, Pete Townshend was on his own, which worked well for him in the 80s given his approach to music as a way to express honesty, often of the brutal variety. There was no democratic process to weave through as a member of a band anymore. And his dedication up to that point worked very well for him. If the Who had disbanded earlier or later, things may have been different; Townshend could have been another victim of the crassness of the era. But by sticking with the band thru the Keith Moon era, at times relying on his loyalty alone, and then giving it a brief go-of-it afterward before realizing the magic was gone, he won his wings so to speak. The payoff was an open palette and clear mindedness to do with what he pleased. Out of this came the sobriety of White City.
White City was subtitled “A Novel” (in a radio interview promoting the album Townshend stated “well, I figured if I could get away with ‘Rock Opera’…”). The record was accompanied by a one hour film drama and follow up interview with the ‘author’. Most of the songs from the album are in the movie, with a handful in their entirety (which distinguishes this soundtrack from Quadrophenia, which unfortunately pieced out sections of most songs, rather than allow them to play out). For the most part the film was disjointed, quirky and slightly bizarre (for example, a live rendition of “Face the Face” on a platform atop the deep end of the local public indoor swimming pool was choreographed by synchronized swimmers). But I loved it and I watched often (I’ve still got the VCR cartridge on my bookshelf). My goal in this entry is to get to the bottom of why. ** Side Note: The band Townshend played with in that “Face the Face” segment of the film later went on a mini tour with him and dubbed themselves appropriately as “The Deep End”.
The White City was a section of Western London that Pete Townshend grew up near (in Shepherd’s Bush) and which he strongly connected with. It was a poor neighborhood, built rapidly as post-war subdivisions in areas that were levelled by the Luftwaffe in the Battle of Britain. Townshend’s storyline focuses on a character who makes it big as a musician (a slightly fictional version of himself), coming back to write about his upbringing and also to write about a few of the people he left behind, particularly where they all were at that moment in their lives (he does not leave his character out of this analysis). It’s fascinating when you take in the album from this perspective, because you get to see a range of priorities: What matters to one person does not necessarily equate to another, particularly in relation to some of our preconceived notions of what it takes to be successful. In other words, the ‘townie’ view of staying put in the White City (as opposed to venturing out) comes thru loud and clear here.
Ah the townie view; I’ve known it well myself, having several very close friends who have been content with what they have been handed at face value. This view of staying put plays out in many ways. As with those of us who venture forth, I believe there is a certain personality trait in the townie attitude. At the risk of generalizing, I’ll reflect here on one situation that I butted up against this past week. A close associate passed away suddenly. He was a townie, which probably had an effect on his work ethic. Lance had no ambition to ‘climb the ladder’. He was content with what he could do for others in the office environment: Punch in, do your job for 8 hours, punch out. I was travelling for work when the news got to me. It was difficult to take in. Lance was the other “GIS guy” in the office. He dealt with the day-to-day in-house requests and local projects. We worked well together primarily because he knew what he was doing, which allowed me to ‘spread my wings’ to tackle the so-called big-ticket items in the region, and beyond.
When I got back to the workplace, I headed right down the hall to the office of his closest friend, Linda, who is also a townie type. The two of them ate lunch every day together and travelled to her Mom’s hometown in New Brunswick, Canada on several occasions. I asked innocently about services and what we could do to recognize Lance. Now, don’t get me wrong, we get along fine, but Linda looked at me defiantly and said there would be nothing of the sort. This was a private matter, for the immediate family only, and the USGS was not invited to participate.
Ok, I know this happens in other circles outside the townie realm but it all had an air of familiarity about it. I’ve seen this stubbornness-to-the-end before. Regardless, it was a hard pill to swallow. I mean, how do you put closure to such a situation? Do you move on as if nothing has happened; as if Lance never existed? There was a divide here that I had to overcome (I’m working on it) but of equal importance, there was a strong curiosity stirring inside me of trying to further understand the difference between Lance’s townie world and mine.
I had a lot of time this week to listen to White City, travelling north to New Brunswick for an extended Steeves Family reunion (the coincidence of travelling to New Brunswick allowed me to reflect on Lance’s and Linda’s travels there together). As with many of my Big Top focuses this year, it had been too long since I took this album in. As I drove, I recalled listening to the first single on WBCN upon its release, the aforementioned “Face the Face”, and being disappointed. It was way over the top; the drum beat heavily overdubbed; the horns not even remotely resembling Rock and Roll. But the lyrics resounded. There was something there. I could not put my finger on it then, but there was definitely something there.
The B-side, “Hiding Out”, which thank goodness was also played soon after, immediately resonated with me though. I thought “now we are on to something”. From there it was on to that radio interview which I heard a week or so later (with Tony Pigg on Infinity Broadcasting), and it was one sensational song after another: “Brilliant Blues” was magnificent, “Crashing by Design” and “I Am Secure” riveting; the title track suburb. This was coming across as an album where Pete Townshend was turning a corner; almost born again. But then again, no: I really believe this was Townshend simply building on top of an amazing resume of truth in music to that point.
One thing I absolutely need to make clear in this back and forth townie vs branching out approach to life is that neither is superior or inferior. All the townie folks I have known are very bright. It may be partly due to the fact that there’s no muddling of their thinking in terms of lofty ambition, and so there is a certain clear-headedness that permeates their day-to-day activities in ways that those of us who pursue big dreams often struggle to rediscover from our youth. On the other hand, I don’t think it can be argued, even by the townie types, that with a range of experiences comes a certain wisdom that can only be gained by venturing out and taking risks.
Still, Pete Townshend seems to emphasize in White City that despite these differences, there are so many more similarities. The song “Face the Face” is a continuation of Townshend’s never-ending insistence that we all look at ourselves in the mirror. In this tune, he’s making the case that we should never let past transgressions drag us down to the degree that we no longer pursue to our ideals. I think my townie friends would agree. “Second Hand Love” links the main townie character (Townshend describes him as Jimmy from Quadrophenia 20 years down the road) to Townshend’s own star-studded life, seeing as what at first listen appears a song about a jilted lover becomes clearer in the film as a child not getting the prime attention from his Mom that he desperately needs (which is reflective of this rock star’s upbringing). “Brilliant Blues” is about being able to look back at troubled times during a period of renewal. “Crashing by Design” is about being willing to take blame for your own bad decisions and not point fingers. “White City Fighting” is about a yearning to relive our glory days, no matter how twisted those days were (the line “to resist the temptation the gutters all threw up” sounding oh so mid-80s Dylanesque). All in all it’s a pretty straightforward Townshend concept album and much of it crosses the townie/seeker divide.
There are a few songs on White City that could only be from the star’s viewpoint: “Hiding Out” and “I Am Secure”, both wonderful tunes about observing the world around you and then recording those observations in some manner (one line contrasts the White City experience for the writer with the matter-of-fact statement that, though this be the case, “Tomorrow, I’ll walk among heroes and princes”). But even here, the townie cannot be overlooked: These folks observe and conclude as well. Most of them simply don’t feel the need to write about it.
The opening track, “Give Blood”, is a tricky one. England experienced war closely, personally, and intensely in both World Wars and this song drives at the heart of that topic: “But you may find that blood is not enough” Townshend sings (I love the line “Parade your parlor in iniquity” in reference I believe to photos in the parlor of loved ones who died in the wars). The sentiment hits across socio-economic boundaries; the townie, the rock star, and everywhere in between. In the film interview, Pete mentions that war was thankfully not an option for his generation, but seeing what their parent’s generation went through, they needed an outlet to try and express their own kind of courage, and so many turned to the honesty of Rock and Roll as a surrogate. Some like the Who ventured forth to perform it. Others like the townie characters in White City simply listened intently. The song concludes “So, give love, and keep blood between brothers”, an apt analogy to Rock and Roll idealism. ** Side Note 2: Pete Townshend’s Dad ‘Cliff’ was a saxophonist in the Royal Air Force Dance Orchestra during the war, and his orchestration of “Face the Face” may have been done this way in honor of this.
This week’s Big Top entry is the final track on the album and in the movie; “Come to Mama” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWqgS_MG7dk). This was my favorite part of the film. It touches a chord every time I listen and watch. The song is about the pitfalls of pride and tackles the relationship between the Jimmy/townie character and his wife. The couple is estranged for much of the movie, which starts with his multi-dish-smashing moment in their kitchen early on (during which the instrumental portion of “Come to Mama” plays in the background, the female character with nowhere to turn, crouching in the corner of the bedroom). But I empathize with both of them, and so when the movie ends at the ‘Deep End’ of the swimming pool (the morning after the big show by the returning rock star) and they glance at each other across the pool while the swimming-lesson kids jump in and “Come to Mama” plays out, I see it all come together (I wish I had this scene to show, but I cannot track it on YouTube). A glance turns to a smile and then laughter. This moment raises these townie characters, and gives them credence. It reaffirms my solidarity with their supposedly more insular world than mine.
The first 2.5 minutes of “Come to Mama” is instrumental (so uniquely musical that NPR used this obscure song as the opening to one of its premier programs in the late 90s); a very nice experimental piece. But for me the song becomes riveting with the lyrics, which are emitted by Pete Townshend in some of his most impassioned vocals:
His pride is like a bandage
He's wrapped in a warm cocoon
His pride is just like heroin
He's back inside the womb
His pride is like an ocean
Encircled by a reef
His pride's a hypnotic potion
His memory is a leaf
Her pride is like armor
Flaming ring of fire
Her pride is like a blindness
An ever tightening wire
Her pride is like a razor
A surgeon's purging knife
Her pride is like a censor
She's slashed out half her life
Here be the moral of the White City story (excuse me; White City Novel): Getting past our pride, fears, and insecurities. In the townie, this may manifest itself one way, as I saw this past week with the ultra-private mourning of a family to the exclusion of others who feel a need to do the same. But make no bones that in this album Pete Townshend attempts to open our eyes to the fact that these insecurities are universal; no stereotypical personality trait has a corner on this market. If over-exclusive privacy is a symptom of this crutch in the townie world, then vanity surely is the mirror image to beware of in those of us more ambitious types who venture beyond the familiar confines of our first homes. For us to avoid such pitfalls, we need to reflect back on our youthful selves, and reconnect with the townie in all of us that is there waiting to be heard again and again.
- Pete
This entry is dedicated to the memory of Lance Ostiguy, colleague and friend.
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