July 30, 2023 (Song #2038): T-4*: “This Old Guitar” by John Denver. Tonight, at the end of the third day of our 9th Newport Folk Festival (which was amazing, again), I am celebrating live music.
I remember, circa 1974, my parents telling me that they had a surprise for me. We drove into New York City to Madison Square Garden and I distinctly remember walking in the cold cement bowels of the building, seeing cages with huge, gray elephants kicking around hay and looking very out-of-place. My only thought was “ew” and I started worrying that my parents’ “surprise” was a trip to the circus; I was not excited.
But then, suddenly, we were on the floor of Madison Square Garden and I remember noticing that people all around me were yelling the names of songs. I was taught that you shouldn’t yell at performers – or anyone – in the middle of a concert, so I was confused. But, then, I caught on and asked my parents if I could yell at John Denver, too. Sure, they said (of course) and helped me up on to my chair so I could yell “THIS OLD GUITAR!” at the top of my lungs over and over again, and, guess what, folks?! HE PLAYED IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Can you imagine my joy at discovering the power of just asking for what you want?!
Our next concert was the Carpenters at Oakdale Theater and we got to see their car with the license plate: SING4U (I think?!) I’m sure the concert was great, too (I mean, it was THE CARPENTERS!) but all I remember is their license plate.
Live music is an amazing experience, and one my friends and family and I try to enjoy as much as possible. We go to the Newport Folk Festival and Tanglewood in the Berkshires every summer and try to see as many concerts during the fall, winter and spring as we can (one of our funniest memories is our kids when they were young yelling “MEXICO” at a James Taylor Concert along with a bunch of drunk 20-year old guys who were sitting nearby). Thanks, again, to my parents for lighting that flame.