Morning Has Broken - The Night Has Spoken.........

The Cahoots affair was chaotic - wall to wall people walking here and there; the meal was fabulous, the coversation even better -and the anticipation was very high. ToniB, Tori, Flame were exhausted, but how deep and true their devotion! NHChris, Joanne, Melissa, Edydie(she looks younger!), Bev, Iris, NHAnne were there, helping to make an "instant family"of us all. Beautiful, lovely, caring sensitive indivduals who made a Sports bar feel "warm and safe," like a home.........
..The the lines at the Verizon; I was struck again,like I was 22 years ago, by the friendliness and politeness of the Neil fans. Again, outside of some church gatherings, very unusual and very special - we are a "family" in truth!! They proved it.....

..Soon, we're seated at the Verizon; Jeanie and I are directly across from where Linda Press stands, directly behind the huge American flag. We have a complete view of the stage and where the band will be. People are still coming in, and the anticipation is almost thick enough to cut with a knife. The announcement is made when the lights dim....then the spotlights caresses everyone..up from under the stage ascends a platform....and Neil is here, in all his glory, standing tall and sure, lit like an angel. The music builds, the applause almost drowns out everything, and the first clear power heartfelt lines of America begins.. We are all caught, captivated, surrounded, engulfed by that presence, that performer, that distinctively passionate voice that rings out clear and true. All 10,000 plus people are welded together as one by the finest confessional craftsman of our time.....
From the first note of America to the last note of BLTSS we enter a 2 hour plus experience of exhileration, being touched, being moved, be transported to a time filled with an expansion of meaning and potentiality that, personally, I've never quite felt before. He is generous beyond measure in what he gives of himself to each of us sitting, or standing, or dancing there. We're beyond ticking of the clock time - we are experiencing a time enlarged and expanded - filled with joy, love, laughter, healing and hope. He walks all around the stage - giving generous time to those sitting behind him. The lighting is magnificently handled and meshes artfully and beautifully to the song he performs........
"Solitary Man, " "Cheery, Cherry," "Sweet Caroline," "The Boat That I Row," Money Talks, and others are performed with a passion and conviction that makes them as fresh and contemporary as this morning's newspaper headlines. OMG -how does one performer do it? He sings to all, and yet it seems often that he is singing to me! Strange! Magical! Beautiful! Awesome..." As a former concertmaster, the new strings add a beautiful, rich undertone, at least to me. For all of us, each of us, whether tall or short, male or female, ugly or beautiful, black or white or whatever - by that caring, vulnerable gift of song and his presentation, we"re all special, cared for, appreciated and loved. Glory Be...!!
Those lonely have a friend, those hurt and heartbroken have a healer, those downtrodden have a friend, and in a very special unique poetical way, we are in a church, temple, mosque - a sanctuary where we are touched and moved at the very center of our being, whatever our state might be. A "religious experience?" Yes, I think. At least a "spiritual experience?" Absolutely. Anyone anywhere, where ever they come from; if they have any sensitivity at all, they are touched, moved and enriched. Either that,or they are made out of brick and stone.
He stood to sing IAIS, and I've never experience it with such vulnerability, sensitivity, honesty, or power. The BLTSS encore was as powerful and brilliantly done as any song I've ever heard performed by anyone anywhere. He was Brother Love, and what he expressed is absolutely true.
Yes, Linda and Neil performed "Flowers;" and I confess that I liked it more than I had expected. I still would like to hear it done just by himself - he brings a certain raw edged emphasis to it that I enjoy.
Was it worth the wait? Absolutely. It'll remain a glittering treasure in my heart for as long as I live. Am I concerned with the Setlist. Not really. It was an intergenerational experience - ayoung boy, about 13, not too far from me, knew every lyric. The "girl" was 70 years young. Beautiful touch, in a concert that was truly, every moment, A Beautiful Noise. (There's a poem coming out of here sometime...I hope)
Morning Has Broken - The Night Has Spoken........