In a performance at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis, again courtesy of a friend who had tickets or I’d probably instead be at a rock show … or maybe I was at one! Seems there were some (stodgy?) types who didn’t approve of an orchestra rocking out to Beethoven, and some of these even left at intermission.
The series of microphones hanging from the ceiling seemed to be off to the right side, maybe to pick up certain instruments over others. Maybe could use a bit of help from an acquaintance I met at the old Dibbo’s when taking in a band, who was in charge of not only the sound but more importantly the theatrics such as explosions for metal concerts back in the day, by groups such as Iron Maiden. (There were rectangular wooded constructions that looked like bigger-then-refrigerator-sugar-cubes also hanging from the ceiling, I’m guessing to aid acoustics).
Also, the violinist took to virtually shredding the strings of her instrument with a bow during one furiousity, making me think of in-concert Jimmy Page in long-bygone Led Zeppelin days. Somewhat the same with the bit-gonzo cellist, who sideways and with vigor would rip away the bow from his instrument at the end of a solo, and again that brought the past to mind. My ex-girlfriend played that same instrument, and I said that I’d love to hear the sound if it was plugged into an amp. Not being a rock fan — she really hated Smoke on the Water by Deep Purple — my ex bristled at the suggestion.
There was another Zep connection. One full set for the orchestra was devoted to a single song, not unlike the treatment given to lengthy anthems in the live rock album, The Song Remains The Same.
The people there were dressed to the hilt, with little black dresses being the norm, and one of the guys even sported a braided half-mohawk, like the attendee with a landscape shaved into his buzzcut. But not everyone liked this treatment given to the real composer honored that night; think Roll Over Beethoven.
All this brought back a tidbit from an earlier such show in the Cities, where the somewhat verbose conductor told the crowd that unbefitting his current pro-Twins location, he was really a Red Sox fan. Made me think of the former supermodel hailing from River Falls, Heidi Raider, who told the writers — yes they do have them — at the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition that one of her favorite things to do when not off at a shoot at an exotic locale was to take in pro baseball at Emma’s Bar in River Falls — even though her favorites were not necessarily lingerie and heels, but the Bo-Sox.
— A crew of us were on our way up to the Hudson area from Milwaukee to take in the Twin Cities Irish Fest, when a bad accident made traffic mostly stop-and-go for 40 miles. The answer: Put in an Irish CD! It started quite somber, which made sense as we were approaching ground zero for the crash site, but then got more lighthearted, even featuring a humorous take on The Gambler by Kenny Rogers, placing the narrator in a laundromat. There were some whats-in-a-name similarities between this and the rock music to which I usually listen, Anthony Kearns (like Anthony Kiedis of the Red Hot Chili Peppers) and Percy French (like Perry Farrell of Jane’s Addiction). French made a name for himself long ago by playing for our warrior soldiers, yet another association with carnage.
By the time we neared Tomah, it became clear that we needed to take an impromptu detour, that being Hwy. 12, even though that took us miles out of our way. Still, we made better time, and as we pulled into Tomah we right away saw a sign for a tavern called Einstein’s. So it was obvious that our choice was a “no-brainer.” Could have probably taken a moment and stopped in for a brew, and still made better time than on I-94.The two acts playing the Willow River Saloon in Burkhardt this weekend both pay homage, by their choice of names, the the country or rockin’ highway song.