There are still about three weeks to go for 2024, but I think I just saw my surprise concert of the year. I got a call last week to work at my newest addition of venues, The Ridgefield Playhouse. I had the night open, so I accepted. I looked online to see who was playing. Mark Farner…I know Mark Farner- from Grand Funk Railroad. Should be a decent show, right? Hopefully not just another guy in his mid/late 70’s trying to relive the glory days. Lord knows there’s a bunch of them out there. I usually like to do some research on artists that I don’t know a lot about before I work a show, but because of the short notice, I didn’t get a chance. Everybody knows the great classics, We’re An American Band and I’m Your Captain, but there are always a few other songs you know, but don’t remember.
While speaking to the other security guards about the band before the show, I remembered clear as day, my parents big console stereo system/turntable that sat at the head of our living room-literally the first thing you’d see when you walked into our home in the 70’s. My parents weren’t very musical- though my mom could sing and always got compliments after church. My dad loved the music of the 50’s. They had an armful of albums stored in that big old stereo and whenever they left me home alone, I’d dig through them and crank up some tunes. I was well under ten years old, but I clearly remember my three favorites in their collection. Probably the three that didn’t seem to belong there. James Brown, Revolution Of The Mind, Grand Funk Railroad, Live Album and also had GFR’s Survival. Sure, I had my own albums to listen to- The Partridge Family- I desperately wanted to be Chris- soon after, I would want to be Peter Criss. I had a few Jackson Five albums, Bobby Sherman and of course Steve Martin, among others but you get the idea.
These albums were different. It was really the covers that got me. Album art. Don’t get me started there. Kids today are so deprived to not have great, big album covers and sleeves with pictures, liner notes and lyrics. It changed music forever when they switched to compact discs. Fine print. Tiny booklets. Little photos. Not even in the same ballpark as the fear imposed on me when I bought We Sold Our Soul For Rock And Roll as a child and unwrapped the plastic covering, opened the gatefold to reveal a creepy woman holding a cross in a coffin. It freaked me out a little. Still does, but it’s just one example of how album art is memorable and can move you.
Anyway, those Grand Funk and James Brown albums left an impression on me, both musically and visually. When I was taking to the other guards, it all came back to me. Hours of listening and staring at those albums. I’m not sure why I had never seen GFR before, but I’m glad I got to see Mark perform their hits. He put on a great show and had an awesome rhythm section. The drummer sang a few songs and the entire band sang back ups. Marks stage presence and energy was that of a twenty-six year old rock star, not a 76 year old! He is unabashedly a proud American and took a little time to speak about the state of our country and the music business, without getting specifically political. He talked about his 47 year marriage to his wife, Lisa. He noted how all of his merch was made in the US- btw, t-shirts were only 25 and 30 bucks! I’m not sure exactly why this show hit me so deeply, but it was a pleasure to work and witness it. God bless these guys who are still doing it and delivering a quality product!
Seeing and hearing these men and some women who created so many great classics that I’ve listened to for nearly 50 years is a treat that I would probably not get to experience if it weren’t for my part time jobs. The soundtrack of my life is filled with a bunch of 70’s rock tunes that have been etched into my mind forever. Someday, like the musical greats of my parents generation, they will be gone or unable to perform. Until then, I will work their shows or buy their tickets and thank them for the music and the memories they have given me.
Was this my best surprise show of the year? Maybe…maybe not. I’ve got a bunch more coming up and I can’t wait to see which one will win.
I'm better on paper... 