75 Years Ago Today

History ushered in the mantra of change and hope: "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself". Three quarters of century ago, Franklin Delano Roosevelt became the thirty-second president of the United States and helped create a political party that sought to help those that historically have been held down. FDR helped restore the power of a presidency and government in the eyes of most Americans as well as steer the nation towards a century of leadership and example. He may not have been the best president nor the single example of a political savior; however, as we are rapt in the primary season, we continue to seek hope and leadership in political candidates that, while never being perfect, have the opportunity to create inspirational change and new vision for the nation. Whether any of the candidates have it, what needs to happen this fall is the same that took place seventy five years ago last November. We need a leader with a great vision or at least a greater vision than the president who sought to preserve status quo at the expense of the nation and its future.

In an act of self indulgence, I picked up the newly-remastered The Song Remains the Same, in name, to show my students. Truly lame, as I hit the 1970s, Led Zeppelin reins supreme over the decade. The class is a half-hour into the film and it's fantastic. The picture and sound quality are top-notch. To hear the audience cheering throughout the songs make one feel like one is in the MSG in the Spring of '73. I was elsewhere getting ready to make my grand appearance - though I was there in spirit. Tomorrow, the Rain Song, TSRTS, No Quarter, Stairway. It'll be a good first period.

Bruce - The Seeger Sessions
Jack Johnson - In Between Dreams
James Taylor - October Road

I don't think I wrote about last night - two fantastic shows on PBS on two legendary musicians, important for different reasons. The first was a documentary on Pete Seeger, the true VOICE of the PEOPLE for the 20th century - from the 1930s to today, Seeger continues to show singers that the message IS bigger than the messenger. Of course, the Boss was included in the documentary and of course he delivered some of the more poignant words of Seeger's music and the power of music and message. He also aimed and fired at the Bush Administration in a comparison to Seeger's HUAC days where the powers of authoritarian regimes can and do kill with relish voices they disagree with.
The second show was on JT himself. The One Man Band concert that we all can pick up at our local struggling Starbucks. Worth it to see James solo but an hour doesn't deliver exactly what an incredible performance James really puts on. I've seen him twice and while that's nowhere the record number of my friend Chris at over twenty, I've enjoyed the two and a half-hour performances that I've seen. James is great and consistently solid. Solo, however, he demonstrates an uncanny ability to make his band irrelevant. Similar to another East Coast singer songwriter I love...