will tinkham: On Nick Lowe and Levon Helm

Saturday, April 21, 2012

On Nick Lowe and Levon Helm

Wednesday evening I caught Nick Lowe and His Band at First Avenue. The show began with Nick and his acoustic guitar doing the fairly new "Stoplight Roses" and the Rockpile gem "Heart." Nick spoke to us between songs. Thoughtful and light-hearted, he spoke and we listened. He spoke, not like a rock star (which he ain't), but like an old pal who had been away too long. He was genuine, self-deprecating and silly throughout. Years ago, I'd seen him there with with his Cowboy Outfit and once at the Fine Line solo and one post-Rockpile show in San Francisco. It had been too long. He gave a heartfelt thanks to the recently departed Dick Clark and launched into "Cruel to Be Kind." We got his take on "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding" and, as a bonus encore, Nick's solo version of Elvis Costello's "Alison."

I spent Thursday thinking I was somehow a better person for having seen Nick Lowe again and woke up Friday to the news that Levon Helm had died. Back in 1974 ("just 18, proud and brave"), I attended my first concert: The Band at the old Civic Center, I think. Sure Robbie Robertson was the frontman, but the attraction for me was Levon Helm and his soulful, woeful voice on the drums. Again, no rock star; just a cat from Arkansas who made you feel every word he sang. The show had been advertised as "The Band and Special Guest." Early on in a wonderful show, fans rudely began chanting: "Dylan! Dylan!" Who else could the special guest be, right? Robbie calmed them with a teasing: "Maybe later" and the show rolled on, interrupted again by more Dylan chants and Robertson soothing them with: "Patience." Nonetheless, it was a fabulous show. We stuck around till the stage had been completely torn down and, of course, Dylan never showed—though I have no doubt he was backstage (yea, I'm talkin' to you, Bob!)

And so, Levon and Nick bookend my rock'n'roll experience. Not too bad. (As I write this "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" comes on Pandora. How 'bout that?) We miss you, Levon. And we'll see you next time around, Nick!

1 comment:

Mary VettelApril 21, 2012 at 10:53 AM
Didn't see Nick Lowe or The Band perform in person but I'm glad you got to experience it.
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Ordered to inspect a suspected Viet Cong tunnel in November of 1968, Private Walt Whitman von Funck crawls inside and falls in love. And rips a hole in his foot. IF I LIE IN A COMBAT ZONE finds Zow spending eight months nursing him back to health, while her brother and grandfather conduct midnight raids and accumulate prisoners, including a general. ¶ During his convalescence, Walt and Zow wed; theirs is a love story that defies race, religion and military red tape. Upon his return to Chu Lai Air Base with his pregnant wife and six prisoners, Stars and Stripes declares Walt a hero. Awards follow. And plans for a Medal of Honor ceremony with President Nixon. ¶ Till a U.S. Army doctor declares the foot wound to be self-inflicted. ¶ Hailed, then jailed—repeatedly—Walt becomes a favorite of the anti-war crowd and a thorn in Nixon's side. Walt accepts offers to speak on college campuses. Protests involving gunfire and bombings become routine. It's almost as if they are targeting him.

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Brinda Miracle (not her real name) steals out of Redding, Connecticut in the spring of 1911 in charge of an orphan train. Though an accredited nurse and teacher, Brinda is fleeing trumped-up allegations stemming from the crib death of a baby in her care as a nanny.

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THE FIRST TWO:

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Skive Magazine (Oct 2018)

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Saturday, April 21, 2012

On Nick Lowe and Levon Helm

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