Last Thursday night was fabulous and it was all about my kids and the Neville Brothers! Let me explain a little…years and years ago I discovered Aaron Neville. His duets with Linda Ronstadt (All My Life is one) released in 1989, are still some of my favorites and way back then Aaron Neville entirely captured me. A couple of years later…after Aaron Neville had received some great response from the duets, he released a solo album, Warm My Heart. This album with its soothing southern-sounding songs and especially Aaron Neville’s voice affected me like nothing else ever had. Oh, I don’t know…it could’ve just been my age or the time of life I was in…but whatever it was, Kevin and I loved Aaron’s music. Our whole family…even our little, little kids…did!
The fact Aaron Neville was from
Almost instantly we discovered a song by the Nevilles called, Bird on a Wire…the rest is history…and, odd as it may sound, for 16 years Bird on a Wire has been sort of like our family’s theme song. We listened to it on road trips, dubbed it to a hot air ballooning video we sent to friends one Christmas, and all through our lives it has come to mean something deeply personal to each of us. Although the Neville Brothers didn’t write Bird on a Wire, they did add a lyrical and melodic bridge to the song that touches me more deeply than I can even begin to explain. (I’ll copy the lyrics below.)
So, with that tiny bit of information…which doesn’t come near to explaining how our family loves Aaron Neville and the Neville Brothers…I’ll tell you about last Thursday!
My sister-in-law Jodi got to go with Sandy, Mitch, Trent and I because Kevin was sick (don’t worry…the Neville Brothers are back in Colorado Springs on September 11th and I secretly bought tickets for me and Kevin to go…he never reads my blog so it’s safe to tell you!). Anyway, we were fortunate that mapquest gave us goofy directions to the amphitheater where the Nevilles were performing…fortunate because we were late enough to have to sit on the grass at the very base of the stage…which of course means we got to stand up right there in front! And I mean right in front!
Look…see the photo flash bleached out head to the left…that’s me! And, yes…Aaron was that close!
I’ve included a couple of other photos…me and
Here’s Jodi, Mitch and
At last, the Neville Brothers took the stage! Now, you must understand…these guys are mature! Art Neville (the eldest brother) is 71, Charles is 70, Aaron is 67, and Cyril is 60! And yet…you cannot believe the performance they give! One of my favorite visions of Aaron Neville is his performing while playing the tambourine. He’s so ultra cool, with these giant, solid as a rock forearms and cool sleeveless denim vest! It just all looks so out-of-character when you first see him, right? (Did you know he was married to his wife for almost 49 years before she died last year? You should read the article on Aaron and his wife Joel…very tender!)
In short, we all loved the concert! My kids and I “lived a dream” being so close to people who had touch our lives with such force…and didn’t even know it. The Neville Brothers ended their concert with Aaron singing, Amazing Grace. (Be sure and pause the playlist first.) It was beautiful. I’ve got a rather pixel-ish, bad sounding, little digital camera clip of it here for you. They are all deeply religious and their conviction is something you can absolutely ‘feel’ whenever they perform.
Anyway…just a little rambling about an evening last week that was epic in my life, and the lives of my kids. We hated for it to end, but it was fabulous! If you haven’t ever given Aaron Neville or the Neville Brothers a try…you should! Here are a few more photos to scroll through…just for fun!
Link to article about Aaron Neville and his wife: http://blog.nola.com/keithspera/2007/01/the_hardest_homecoming_aaron_n.html
Bird on a Wire
Like a bird on the wire,
Like a drunk in a midnight choir
I have tried in my way to be free.
Like a fish on a hook,
Like a knight from some old fashioned book
I have saved all my ribbons for thee.
If I’ve been unkind,
I hope that you can just let it, let it go by.
If I have been untrue,
I hope you know it was never to you.
Like a bird…free
There's a bird…free
Like a baby, stillborn,
Like a beast with his horn
I have torn everyone who reached out for me.
But I swear by this song
And by all that I have done wrong
I will make it all up to thee.
Don't cry no more
Don't cry…
It's completed,
Oh, it's finished,
It’s been paid for
Like a bird…free
There's a bird...free
Like a bird…free
There's a bird...free
Like a bird…free,
There's a bird…free,
Like a bird…free,
There's a bird…free,
Like a bird (free)
On the wire, (free)
Like a drunk (free)
In a midnight choir (free)
Don't cry (free)
Don't cry (free)
Like a bird free (free)
Free
Free
….
1 comments:
How fun! Great photos. I can't believe how close you must have been to have captured those.
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