Monthly Archives: November 2012

Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band in Vancouver, B.C.

I’m still excited about seeing Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band in concert on Monday night at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, B.C. It was a big treat to myself and at some expense to go, but of course in the end it was totally worth it.

I’ve been a fan since probably the “Born to Run” album in 1975 and have seen him numerous times over his long career; the first time being in 1981 at the L.A. Forum. A friend of mine urged me to go this time saying you never know how much longer the E Street Band will be touring. So with that thought in mind I had to go, and of course I wasn’t disappointed. It was just so excellent a show, I don’t know where to begin.

Bruce played songs off of every album and kept his set list spontaneous and fresh, often taking requests from signs in the audience. He has always mingled with his fans and let people participate, but this time it was more than ever. He used a stage that went far into and around the floor to sing and dance and get people into it. He even crowd-surfed all the way back to the main stage at one point, which isn’t bad for a 63-year-old.

I still don’t know how he does it all. The energy, the songs, the passion! He plays nonstop for hours and is in his element every step of the way. I don’t think he’s ever let a fan down. Maybe he didn’t play “Atlantic City” or “The River” or “Born in the USA,” but he plays so many great songs that you’re blown away more than you could ever know.

If I try to think of a personal highlight to the show, there’s almost too many to single out. Was it when he pulled an 80-year-old onstage to dance with him during “Dancing in the Dark”? Or was it when a young girl in the audience sang with him on “Waitin’ on a Sunny Day”? Or was it the touching tribute he gave to deceased band members Clarence Clemons and Danny Federici? Or was it when he sang “Racing in the Street,” “Because the Night,” or his signature song “Born to Run”? Or was it any of the rest of his fantastic songs? I was pretty thrilled during the whole three plus hours, a tingling bunch of adrenaline dancing to every moment.

I didn’t even have a ticket before the show but wound up scalping and got a close seat diagonal to the stage. It was amazing. I could see the Man so closely, his face, his expressions, his sweat, the band. He seemed to be having a total ball, as was I. So if you get a chance to see the E Street Band even these days, don’t pass it up, even if it’s out of town. He plays a fair share of both the new and the old. So it’s just right. And the band is as good as ever, with special recognition to Mighty Max on the drums for putting it all on the line and to Jake Clemons for playing the sax just like his dad used to. Below are the songs Bruce sang in order – if you can handle them.

Set list:

Shackled and Drawn
Out in the Street
Hungry Heart
We Take Care of Our Own
Wrecking Ball
Death to My Hometown
My City of Ruins
Spirit in the Night
Does This Bus Stop at 82nd Street?
Red Headed Woman
Streets of Fire
Because the Night
She’s the One
Cover Me
Darlington County
Waitin’ on a Sunny Day
Raise Your Hand
The Rising
Badlands
Land of Hope and Dreams
* * *
Racing in the Street
Radio Nowhere
Born to Run
Dancing in the Dark
Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town
Tenth Avenue Freeze-out
Continue reading

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Ender’s Game

A member of my book club picked “Ender’s Game” to discuss this week, which surprised some of us. Not many of us typically read science-fiction, and this novel came out in 1985; it was expanded from a 1977 short story. Was it really something we could get into?

Still I was curious. Apparently most guys I know seem to have read “Ender’s Game,” which won the Nebula and Hugo awards when it came out, and it is being released as a movie in 2013, with Harrison Ford, Abigail Breslin, Ben Kingsley and Viola Davis among others. It’s quite a cast. So I was willing to check out the book to see if it was more than just fodder for teenage boys.

The novel is set in the future after humans have fought two conflicts in space against an insect-like alien creature referred to as “buggers.” It’s about a young, gifted boy, Ender Wiggin, who is taken away from his family on Earth to train for the next war against the buggers at the exclusive Battle School, located in Earth’s orbit. He leaves behind a malevolent brother, Peter, and his beloved sister, Valentine, who he wont see for years.

At Battle School, Ender excels in military tactics amid the non-gravity atmosphere and leads his squad to victory in war games against the rest. He dominates the game but struggles with how his superiors manipulate his life and tip the playing field against him to groom him to be the ultimate leader. The pressures that he is the one to lead the forces to save Earth weigh on him, and he fears he’s like his brother, capable of hurting others.

After a grueling few years, he’s promoted to Command School, where a former war hero, Mazer Rackham, trains him using a war simulator. Soon Ender is commanding fleets on the simulator, practicing all-out war against the alien buggers. The simulations ramp up until his final test, which is like no other. What follows is an abrupt twist at the novel’s end that took me a bit by surprise.

Essentially, it’s a novel that involves becoming a leader, and what makes a good one. There’s a lot of war games and practice in it. I guess that’s why the U.S. Marine Corps has required the book in the past on its reading list. But it also raises ethical and moral questions about the military and waging war or obliteration.

“Ender’s Game” took me a while to get through, but I found it a surprisingly decent read, even though it’s not something I would normally pick up. It’s reading that’s a bit geared to young adult males, but it’s also semi-thought-provoking sci-fi, which is worth picking up every once in a blue while. Continue reading

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Lincoln

Being a history fan, I jumped at the chance to see Steven Spielberg’s film “Lincoln” and I’m glad I did. I knew it was partly based on Doris Kearns Goodwin’s 2005 book “Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln,” which I haven’t read yet but know it’s about the president and three political opponents he chose for his Cabinet. The book details how Lincoln over time was able to win over his administration and turn rivals into allies.

I was curious to see how the film would portray the 16th president, who in the annals of history is often deemed larger than life. Could it even be done? It was hard to imagine it wouldn’t be just another sentimental Hollywood biopic. But I was pleasantly surprised. The screenplay and the performance by Daniel Day-Lewis as Lincoln are terrific and keep it from falling into those pitfalls. It humanizes Lincoln perhaps more than we’ve seen before on film. He’s not merely the man who makes great speeches and stands aloof in his black top-hat, depressed by the ravages of the Civil War. In the film, he’s a father, husband, storyteller, jokester and a man who meets with his rivals and the common people. He’s under extraordinary stress from different directions but manages to rise to the tasks before him.

Still it’s a film that might not appeal to everyone because it contains a lot of dialogue and not a lot of physical action onscreen. It focuses on just the last few months of Lincoln’s life in 1865 when he’s trying to pass the 13th Amendment, banning slavery, through the House of Representatives. There’s bickering among his Cabinet and fierce division over it between Republicans and Democrats on the Hill. (It reminds one of today’s deep divisions.) Lincoln is taking a huge risk to pass the amendment, which could prolong the war which he wants to end. Despite this, he plunges forward. The film hinges on whether Lincoln’s “team” can get enough votes to pass it. The pressures and ramifications appear enormous. The film’s like watching democracy in motion with both its positives and warts.

For those who like history films, it’s quite an entertaining ride. The cast of Cabinet members, Lincoln’s family, politicians and soldiers is large with exquisite actors playing each role, none better than Daniel Day-Lewis as Lincoln though. He’s amazing. The costumes and sets are top-notch and breathe life into the Civil War, as if you were there. It’s Spielberg after all.

I did wonder how historically accurate the film is. For instance, did the screenplay rely on actual congressional record or White House transcripts and documents for the dialogue and debate? Or was it improvised for story’s sake? It’s quite amazing how it unfolds. It’s true Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed the slaves in 1863, and followed up with his support of the 13th Amendment in 1865 before the war’s end, which he was pushing for as well. It took considerable fortitude to do, and is a good reason why Lincoln is so admired. I plan to check out Doris Kearns Goodwin’s book and others perhaps to find out more. All in all, the film does a great job, giving a vivid account of a pivotal event in U.S. history and is one that should not be missed. Continue reading

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Waging Heavy Peace

Although the early ’80s were a time of a lot of gushy pop and new wave music, I recall relying on Springsteen, Neil Young, and the Pretenders to see me through high school. Back then, I was only able to bring a select group of treasured vinyl records off with me to boarding school. Among these were Neil Young’s 1977 three-record set “Decade,” which had 35 of his greatest songs up until that point, and “Live Rust,” his double-LP live album released in 1979, which is a fantastic concert recording of 16 of his classic songs.

Holy smokes I played these two albums into the ground in high school. They blew me away. Neil wrote and played songs with such soul and genius. As the years went on though, I didn’t follow his music as closely (he’s been so prolific with various artistic departures), but there have been a few albums I’ve liked. More recently his 2007 release of “Live at Massey Hall: 1971” awed and reminded me of the classic Neil.

I wasn’t about to miss his memoir “Waging Heavy Peace” to get a glimpse behind his trove of amazing songs and his long history in rock. Heaven knows, there’s been an explosion of rock star memoirs these past few years with books from Bob Dylan, Patti Smith, Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, and now Pete Townshend too. Admittedly, I’m a sucker for these memoirs. Oh to get a glimpse behind the lives of such musical heroes!

As far as Neil’s memoir goes, it’s got a bit of everything in it and is not in any chronological order (a passage about 1965 could well be followed by something that happened in 1995). He writes about his life seemingly as things come to him, about memories or ideas or his family and friends, or his bands and music, or what he’s currently up to. It’s all quite down to earth, conversational and seemingly earnest. He seems like an old, affable hippie who’s seen and done a lot of things and is trying to become a better person in later life, where he’d once perhaps been quite difficult or prickly. Neil’s always been known to be his own person with own artistic direction and has quit bands or fired musicians wherever he felt it necessary.

He talks a tad about this in the book, his regrets of things he’s done but mostly the memoir is filled with heartfelt gratitude towards his very close family, friends and musical collaborators. He speaks of those who’ve been with him with a lot of admiration. There’s hardly a bad word about anyone or any acrimony in the book. And his love for his wife and kids, two of whom have physical disabilities is quite touching.

What surprised me I guess is to learn that Neil had polio as a child and also has suffered from epilepsy. But despite that, he’s always been highly productive and involved in various projects. I didn’t realize he was an inventor of sorts, making parts for model trains, converting a car (the LincVolt) to use cleaner power technology, and creating a device to hear music with a higher quality of sound. Part of his book sounds a bit like an infomercial, plugging his innovations. They’re interesting ideas no doubt, and his passion for his hobbies seems real and consuming. I was a bit amazed by all of the various projects he’s involved in, and how productive he is; he doesn’t seem to be slowing down any. In fact, he’s in concert with his band Crazy Horse this week in our town. (How coincidental!)

I enjoyed his memoir quite a bit. It’s both humorous and touching at times and a bit different. In it, he sporadically touches on the various pieces of his life: from his Canadian upbringing to his start in music, his hitting it big in L.A., bands and touring, his life at his California ranch, his hobbies and film projects, and his place in Hawaii. I think Neil’s muse as an amazing songwriter comes through in it. There’s some insight into songs and albums, but I almost wish there were more of this and less of some of the other ramblings. I’m still wondering about “Heart of Gold” and “After the Gold Rush.” But apparently Neil will be writing another book or so he mentions. I guess 498 pages of “Waging Heavy Peace” was not enough for him! So stayed tuned. Continue reading

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Mountain Book & Film Festival

The Sunday Salon.com

I’m in Banff this weekend taking in the world-renown mountain book and film festival here, which always has an amazing array of adventure, exploration and nature footage. This year is no exception as I’ve seen an awe-inspiring slide-video presentation by Austrian mountain climber Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner about her 2011 trek up the north side of K2, the last peak in her quest to climb the world’s 14 highest peaks of more than 8,000 meters.

Prior to this film festival, I didn’t really know much about Gerlinde, but her climbing feats are nothing short of heroic. As if scaling Everest and the other highest mountains weren’t enough, she does it without using any supplementary oxygen or high-altitude porters. She goes with her own team but is totally reliant on her own energy to get her to the top of each mountain. It’s mind-boggling! Just think: no oxygen, or porters! She’s truly in elite company to be able to do this. Surely after climbing the 14 highest peaks over 14 years, she deserves to be National Geographic’s Adventurer of the Year for 2012.

I’ve also seen a neat film here called “Crossing the Ice” about two Australians (Cas and Jonesy) who trek unsupported from the coast of Antarctica to the South Pole and back, pulling all their own food and gear on skis, and living to tell their tale with great determination, humor and humility despite the harshest of conditions. The plot thickens as a Norwegian is attempting the same record-breaking feat at the same time, initiating an informal race that echoes the 1912 race to the South Pole between Britain’s Robert Scott and Norway’s Roald Amundsen. But this time the ending is quite different. The film is an uplifting and touching experience of comradeship over struggles that are hard to even fathom.

Another cool event I’ve seen here, has been a slide presentation by anthropologist and ethnobotanistWade Davis who recently completed his book of 12 years in the making called “Into the Silence: The Great War, Mallory, and the Conquest of Everest,” which seems quite fascinating. It’s an in-depth look at the men who mounted the first expeditions on Everest in the 1920s and their backgrounds, which were all affected by the toll of WWI. Taking risks and facing death were something most of these men had already long experienced.

And then there’s “Bear 71,” a 20-minute web documentary about a grizzly bear who was collared at age three in Banff National Park and followed during her life via cameras throughout the park until she was tragically killed by a train. This illuminating webdoc raises various questions and issues and is worth watching here.

Today I’m going to see another round of films on this last day of the festival. For those interested in really cool adventure and nature films, you might be able to catch the best from the Banff Mountain Film Festival as it travels around to places in North America. If you do, I’m sure you will be glad you did. Continue reading

Posted in Books, Movies | 12 Comments