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The Ragpicker's Dream cometh true
Half my life has proved itself to be worthwhile.
Yesterday, Palace Grounds at Bangalore bore an acoustic witness to one of the most talented guitarist and songwriter of our times - Mark Knopfler. And I was so fortunate to have been an insignificant drop in that sea of humanity.
Scribbles follow ...
The setlist was bad. Trying to do "Song for Sonny Liston" in Bangalore is not wise. In general, the post Dire-Strait songs were not appreciated. I think they are better off in your car or at a dim-lit (in London Town ?) pub with your best friends around. The irony was when people were booing at "Speedway at Nazareth"... funny the same people will go gaga over Narain Kathikeyan and the entire yuppie F1 syndrome thats visiting town.
The sound was not sized right. The guitar was a full quarternote off on "The Trawlerman's song".
After a long time, I found myself at a concert all alone. I met, interestingly, this guy called Maheep Singh, who had flown into Bangalore just for this concert. Decent guy. Understands that an MK show is not Headbanger's ball -- unlike some of the bozos who infested the concert. Maheep came in from Hyderabad (though his business card says Shillong) and is a batch mate of our Ravi Bhardwaj.
The last number was an instrumental against a stage backdrop of blue tiny bulbs purporting to be the brilliant stars on a black sky. The instrumental segues made me believe that he would burst into Tunnel of Love at one time and Shangri-La at another -- but none of that happened. It was a plain instrumental. Not really that interesting. Mushy yes; emotive, no.
Chad Cromwell was smoking. I did not recognize him at first. He now has long, curly tresses. But man, was he doing some Keith Moon that night. He almost single-handedly salvaged "Song for Sonny Liston". Without that backbeat, the song wouldn't stand beyond the first 48 bars.
Rich Bennett is an awesome guitarist. And a fully-featured immensely lovable onstage joker.
Mark asked for a cup of Chai onstage to soothe his chords. And he got it. Ugly stunt. The crowd loved it.
Mark is way better at the serene studio that he is onstage. He does not have the personality to ignite a crowd -- he has to rest on his guitar to do that. And the half a donen axes that he brought on stage did a damn nice job at felling the people. Sultans of Swing, Telegraph Pole, 'Sofa away', Why Aye Man, Brothers-in Arms .... aaaaaah .. neervana. The setting was not right to appreciate the more subtle numbers like Sailing to Philadelphia (Far away from the coaly Tyne) or that folk jangle from the album Golden Heart. (Thank God he did not do Vic and Ray). And I loved the little guitar tricky-teasers that he played before breaking into Money for Nothing. Man, that had the crowd on fire. Extremely well played.
The show was a personal delight -- to catch Knopfler's guitaring so up and close on the two giant screens. The finger-picking.... Neck to Neck with Chet Atkins... Got to buy that once again. I lost the cassette.
Everyone must have missed Tunnel of Love, Your Latest Trick, Calling Elvis, Heavy Fuel and I think he should have also done Imelda and Golden Heart.
All this was possible because of Aditi -- who meticulously made sure I bought the ticket and went to the show although there was nobody to go along with. And looked after the baby. And sacrificed herself going. Today is International Women's Day.
"I can't do the talk like they talk on the TV
And I can't do a love song like the way it's meant to be
I can't do everything but I'd do anything for you
I can't do anything except be in love you"
Ashes and I had bought tickets (which Ashes later had to return) when Mark was supposed to tour the Chicago area. He goofed up on his mo'bike. Now, I realize why I had been moved to Bangalore.
"The Lord is my Shepherd,
He leadeth me in pastures green
He gave us this day,
Our daily bread and gasoline"
Half my life has proved itself to be worthwhile.
Yesterday, Palace Grounds at Bangalore bore an acoustic witness to one of the most talented guitarist and songwriter of our times - Mark Knopfler. And I was so fortunate to have been an insignificant drop in that sea of humanity.
Scribbles follow ...
The setlist was bad. Trying to do "Song for Sonny Liston" in Bangalore is not wise. In general, the post Dire-Strait songs were not appreciated. I think they are better off in your car or at a dim-lit (in London Town ?) pub with your best friends around. The irony was when people were booing at "Speedway at Nazareth"... funny the same people will go gaga over Narain Kathikeyan and the entire yuppie F1 syndrome thats visiting town.
The sound was not sized right. The guitar was a full quarternote off on "The Trawlerman's song".
After a long time, I found myself at a concert all alone. I met, interestingly, this guy called Maheep Singh, who had flown into Bangalore just for this concert. Decent guy. Understands that an MK show is not Headbanger's ball -- unlike some of the bozos who infested the concert. Maheep came in from Hyderabad (though his business card says Shillong) and is a batch mate of our Ravi Bhardwaj.
The last number was an instrumental against a stage backdrop of blue tiny bulbs purporting to be the brilliant stars on a black sky. The instrumental segues made me believe that he would burst into Tunnel of Love at one time and Shangri-La at another -- but none of that happened. It was a plain instrumental. Not really that interesting. Mushy yes; emotive, no.
Chad Cromwell was smoking. I did not recognize him at first. He now has long, curly tresses. But man, was he doing some Keith Moon that night. He almost single-handedly salvaged "Song for Sonny Liston". Without that backbeat, the song wouldn't stand beyond the first 48 bars.
Rich Bennett is an awesome guitarist. And a fully-featured immensely lovable onstage joker.
Mark asked for a cup of Chai onstage to soothe his chords. And he got it. Ugly stunt. The crowd loved it.
Mark is way better at the serene studio that he is onstage. He does not have the personality to ignite a crowd -- he has to rest on his guitar to do that. And the half a donen axes that he brought on stage did a damn nice job at felling the people. Sultans of Swing, Telegraph Pole, 'Sofa away', Why Aye Man, Brothers-in Arms .... aaaaaah .. neervana. The setting was not right to appreciate the more subtle numbers like Sailing to Philadelphia (Far away from the coaly Tyne) or that folk jangle from the album Golden Heart. (Thank God he did not do Vic and Ray). And I loved the little guitar tricky-teasers that he played before breaking into Money for Nothing. Man, that had the crowd on fire. Extremely well played.
The show was a personal delight -- to catch Knopfler's guitaring so up and close on the two giant screens. The finger-picking.... Neck to Neck with Chet Atkins... Got to buy that once again. I lost the cassette.
Everyone must have missed Tunnel of Love, Your Latest Trick, Calling Elvis, Heavy Fuel and I think he should have also done Imelda and Golden Heart.
All this was possible because of Aditi -- who meticulously made sure I bought the ticket and went to the show although there was nobody to go along with. And looked after the baby. And sacrificed herself going. Today is International Women's Day.
"I can't do the talk like they talk on the TV
And I can't do a love song like the way it's meant to be
I can't do everything but I'd do anything for you
I can't do anything except be in love you"
Ashes and I had bought tickets (which Ashes later had to return) when Mark was supposed to tour the Chicago area. He goofed up on his mo'bike. Now, I realize why I had been moved to Bangalore.
"The Lord is my Shepherd,
He leadeth me in pastures green
He gave us this day,
Our daily bread and gasoline"
Half my life has proved itself to be worthwhile.