LIVE MUSIC!!! Stubbs, Emos and Neverending

Ian,

Music – it has been the breath in the lungs of our family, whether it has been in worship (we always have been a ‘pro-drums’ family), recreation, family communication through made-up doggerel, or engaged with the world-class music to inspire our imagination and thoughts. This last form, our family moved from the world of the LP (still have some on your wall), to the cassette, to the CD and ultimately the concert stage has made up so much of our lives. We shared such memorable moments at live concerts. Gotta talk with you about these experiences, remind myself and be thankful.

 To be clear, concerts with you were dialogues – the band and us the audience, but you and me – you always talked my ear off with opinion, comment, background stories, and enthusiastic commentary before, during and after. It was not a time to focus on music, but on relationship. I miss our concert times together.

Live concerts started in Vacaville for our family. Our Junior High Camps at Crossroads Christian Church turned into venues for the leading Christian bands of the day:

…Switchfoot: playing “Learning to Breath” first live in our church

            …Tyrone Wells: performing in his first band from San Diego

                        …Skillet: evolving from “Hey You” to “Invincible” to “Alien Youth”

            …Justified: moving from alternative to Christian “Rage Against”

                                    …Everyday Sunday: providing jangly Christian pop and worship

 

We may have seen many other bands in CA, but the most memorable experiences were what we did together:

…Being roadies for Switchfoot, Skillet and all the others

            …Carrying amps, talking to the bands, seeing people experience God’s presence in worship and service

                        …Watching you, Caylea and Danny dance on stage to the O.C. Supertones

                                    …Locked worshiping together as Ten Shekel Shirt played CA praise

                                                …Helping Anthony find his shoe lost at the POD concert (this was with Danny!)

…Seeing Switchfoot’s signing the “Learning to Breath” poster that stayed on your wall all testify to the memories and fun.

 

Spirit West Coast offered family camping and concerts. With the Scotts we went three times – each event was memorable. The first one was Danny getting signatures from all the bands on his hat. You and Caylea fell asleep at the top of the bleachers on stage left as DC Talk, Audio Adrenaline and Jars of Clay played late into the night. The second was when we saw Skillet and you believed in Jesus in front of the big stage. A whole blog covers that expansive topic. The third trip was with Megan and introducing her to our crazy camping life, purple colored hair and hot CA summers. The campfire time, marshmallows, smores, and light sleep were combined with you, Caylea and Danny developing confidence to go off and do independent activities, get into crowds and actually come back and check in. That independence and confidence served you well.

Concerts opened us up to the unique vibe that link audience to music, the balance between a “plan” and “spontaneity.” Moving to Austin opened new options for music. In CA, we drove the agenda, but in Austin, we road the wave.

…Austin legends on Auditorium Shores – Willie on live video, Kris Kristofferson, Ruthie Foster, Bob Schneider, Bonnie Raitt, Malford Milligan, Guy Forsyth, Eric Johnson,  and others

            …Occasional show at the Cactus (would let you in when under 21 age)

                        …Remedy Drive at Great Hills Youth Camp

                                    …Pre-Stone era Aaron Ivey, Jimmy Ingram band leading worship at camp

                        …Church music was a big part – the worship at Riverbend and the Stone

            …Christmas Eve service where the Stone recorded the live tracks with Todd Agnew

                                    …Of course KIDS band with Paul. More on that in another blog

                                                …The reopening of the Backyard – Carolyn Wonderland, Gary Clark Jr. and others – we just watched each person’s fingers fly across the strings in a blues nirvana

                        …Your own concert at Antones in Jr. High – “I’m So Sick” in another blog.

                                    …Tyron Wells in the old 6^th Street upstairs club and Riverbend – what a big voice. The discussion after reminding him of playing at our church in Vacaville

…The Big Guitar show at Antone’s – Carolyn, Guy, Gary Clark, Double Trouble and then the reuniting of Eric Johnson’s Viva la Musicom band. You, Jimmy and I stood 3 ft from the tone-master weave beauty on the stage.

                                    …Mike Farris – lite up Antone’s and made church happen there! Blew everyone’s minds!

                                    …Little Emily Warfield – will have to cover this separately, but you have Beale Street, Franke’s, multiple East Side bars, Pecan Street Festival, Church on Lake Travis, Houston – so many other spots.

The most common venues for us to see music though were Stubbs and Emo’s. Both allowed under-age participants and they had “the” bands you wanted to see. I can’t certainly list them all, but here are some memories:

            …The Decemberists – it all started in Austin here, Danny came to visit for the first time raving about this band and we made a family event out of it. We were NOT disappointed – great concert. You bought “The Crane Wife” CD and burned on the old white iMac and it played most mornings throughout Jr. High at home!

…Say Anything – the first band I saw with Danny in Austin – and then we shared the music together with them. Great shows; way energetic, lyrics – well…special…

            …Seeing the Silversun Pickups – will always remember being blown away that it was a dude singing those high notes! Lazy Eye live – ‘nuff said.

                        …The screamo phase – with Devil Wears Prada batting cleanup at Stubbs after multiple demon extolling bands. The DWP witness for Jesus was strong – flat impressed me. Very tight, hard and lots of jumping, even from adults. 

                                    …Bob Barney and Naked People playing at Opas!!! Remember Mom giving you $40 for you to pick up CD’s and they were $5/apiece, I think. You were nervous and ask for the CD’s and just gave Bob all $40 for two. Big tip! He was surprised, but obviously in need of funds. Yes, your heart was always open to share.

            …Bullet for my Valentine – the opening bands sucked, really sucked – but these guys laid it down. Hard, tight and fast. You were a sweaty mess and could not stop talking for hours about music, licks, gear – soon the 7 string Schecter ended up in your collection.

                        …So many Emo’s bands – Day to Remember, Escape the Fate, As I Lay Dying, Hawthorne Heights, and on and on.

                                    …Chevelle – that was a fantastic three person thrash and burn concert. The best at Stubbs I think I saw.

            …Jars of Clay at Stubbs – first family Christian concert in Austin, with Danny! Great venue, songs and worship.

Emo’s and Stubbs usually meant Jimmy, Adam, Aaron, Andrew or a combinantion with other friends coming along. Ms. Liggy and I were usually the chaperone, although Judy Lawson sometimes came. For the big concerts, we parked using Ms. Liggy’s passes at Breckenridge Hospital and walked down Red River to Stubbs. I remember the conversations as we walked started out so “Jr. High” – well you were in Jr. High, but you guys really matured and we had great times just walking to and from concerts. Again, it was the relationships that mattered.

Emo’s was always sooooo loud. I would try to get into the music, but it was often bad (to me!) or less than desirable and characterized by screaming. But you and the boys had your shirts off and were dancing, thrashing in the mosh pit till you were drenched with sweat, panting and eager for the next band. My job was buying and supplying water. Stubb’s being outdoors was less stifling, but could be painfully loud too. Once again, sexy shirtless Ian would be dancing right next to the stage – in the middle of it all.

Though shirtless – you always wanted t-shirts. And, you often saved up your money to buy one from the good bands – Bullet my Valentine, Day to Remember (the Pinky and the Brain t-shirt) and others. If you did not buy them, you stole (or borrowed) and old from Danny his old concert t-shirts and wore them. Many of these ended up on our quilts – reminding us of those times. I remember standing behind you at the sales venue and you tested literally every shirt or trinket before deciding. Never fast at decisions, always wanting the perfect memento or gift for yourself or someone else.

Some of your last live music was without me – at ACL, parts of three years. You talked endlessly about the Killers, the Strokes, Chili Peppers, RED, Radiohead, the Used, Stevie Wonder, the Muse, Blue October, Artic Monkeys, Matisyahu, and on and on. The daily reports were filled with vivid recounting of the song sets, the groove, gear, the drums, bass, crowd responses, etc. To hear your exuberance, joy and the thrill in your voice – priceless. As noted previously in a blog, you rated the Stevie Wonder set as the greatest concert you ever saw. His mastery of the songs, dynamics, groove and lyrics coupled with a mind blowing bass player. Just perfect.

So many bands we missed live – that we would have really loved: Mumford and Sons, Cold Play, Maroon 5, Shine Down, The Black Keys, Dave Mathews Band, David Crowder, Fleet Foxes, and others. I don’t know if I can see them without you. Something is just missing. 

The Who turns 50 this year, as do I. They are no doubt finally doing their final, final, farewell tour – the last time around and this time coming to Austin. As you know, they are my favorite band – big fan and always wanted to see them live. Enjoyed playing Pinball Wizard, Sparks, I Can’t Explain, and other songs and with you. It is so hard to think about going to the concert without my concert buddy - that you will not be able to enjoy the concert with us, to talk music in detail, to be in awe of the musicianship, to shout and cheer.

My final “concert” memory was Easter 2013 at the Frank Erwin Center. Watching you worship in purity and heart – arms raised, heart pouring out, joy and tears on your face – that became the essence of concerts for me. This apparently was not your response only at the Stone. John Kelty remembered and was moved by your worship at BreakAway. He saw someone on their knees, arms outreached and sent it to us. That is how he remembered you in worship.

You taught me to not just to listen, but to engage, not just engage, but worship our great God with all we are – together. We did this each week at KIDS in the band, but at the Stone, we worshiped together, imperfect voices, imperfect people, wrapped and completed by God’s grace and energized for His Kingdom to come and will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. You are there now – in the fullness of the Kingdom, Jesus’ presence, in the heart of His will – no doubt in a live concert to end all concerts, praising the King forevermore. 

The Current said about the Decemberists’ new work: What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World:

“As I age, the soundtrack to my life seems to demand something more grounded. The matter of the world in front of me is both my toddler's morning tantrum and the massacre at Charlie Hebdo. Now, more than ever, I need music to help me manage these realities…” You going home has brought the hardness of life, its sadness, its separation and it’s terribleness into focus into home. Life is hard; tragedy is ubiquitous; we are all touched by it. But, memories, these memories remind me what a beautiful place this world has been and may be again. Life, relationships are eternal. Music and things beautiful remind me of this. John Newton said in his own notes about his hymn Amazing Grace, "O that crown, that kingdom, that eternal weight of glory! We are traveling home to God. We shall soon see Jesus, and never complain of sin, sorrow, temptation or desertion any more."

 

The pain of life, reminds me and creates in me a longing for more. But the beauty of life also creates a similar longing. As C.S. Lewis said,

“The books or the music in which we thought the beauty was located will betray us if we trust to them; it was not in them, it only came through them,and what came through them was longing. These things—the beauty, the memory of our own past—are good images of what we really desire; but if they are mistaken for the thing itself they turn into dumb idols, breaking the hearts of their worshippers. For they are not the thing itself; they are only the scent of a flower we have not found, the echo of a tune we have not heard, news from a country we have never yet visited.”

Life is about more than trinkets in time. You have discovered that, I am sure – life must be expansively defined by its Creator and weighed in value according to its Redeemer. As C.S. Lewis concluded,

“To please God… to be a real ingredient in the divine happiness… to be loved by God, not merely pitied, but delighted in as an artist delights in his work or a father in a son- it seems impossible, a weight or burden of glory which our thoughts can hardly sustain. But so it is.”

Ultimately life is about Good, Glory and God.

What a beautiful world this will be
What a glorious time to be free (Donald Fagen)

Love and miss you,

Dad