Indulge me friends. This is kind of
long.
I saw a very moving musical experiences
on Monday night. I caught the Journey of Hope benefit
concert at the Ryman, featuring Steve Earle, Emmylou Harris,
Indigo Girls, and Jackson Brown. It's an anti-death penalty benefit.
They are taking this baby on the road. I highly urge you all to attend.
You can get more information at www.journayofhope.org.
on Monday night. I caught the Journey of Hope benefit
concert at the Ryman, featuring Steve Earle, Emmylou Harris,
Indigo Girls, and Jackson Brown. It's an anti-death penalty benefit.
They are taking this baby on the road. I highly urge you all to attend.
You can get more information at www.journayofhope.org.
It was an evening filled with wonderful
surprises. And not for any
obvious reasons. I'll be the first to admit that I didn't attend this
show
because it was an anti-death penalty benefit. I went because it was
Steve and Emmy at the Ryman. The great cause was a bonus. But,
I was very moved by the people who spoke out that night.
obvious reasons. I'll be the first to admit that I didn't attend this
show
because it was an anti-death penalty benefit. I went because it was
Steve and Emmy at the Ryman. The great cause was a bonus. But,
I was very moved by the people who spoke out that night.
Steve Earle started the show with an acoustic
performance very
similar to the one he's doing with the Del McCoury band. He sounded
wonderful as always. He played a bunch of songs. I can never remember
the set lists. He spoke eloquently and passionately about
his views on the death penalty. (Though his non-death penalty banter
was the same stuff I've been hearing for a few years now. he needs
some new material) Steve talked again about his witnessing an execution
last fall. Even though I've heard Earle tell this story before, it never
fails to move me.
similar to the one he's doing with the Del McCoury band. He sounded
wonderful as always. He played a bunch of songs. I can never remember
the set lists. He spoke eloquently and passionately about
his views on the death penalty. (Though his non-death penalty banter
was the same stuff I've been hearing for a few years now. he needs
some new material) Steve talked again about his witnessing an execution
last fall. Even though I've heard Earle tell this story before, it never
fails to move me.
Steve was followed by the Indigo Girls. This was
my first surprise
of the evening. I didn't know that the Indigo
Girls were alt-country.
They had banjo! I was really impressed with their performance.
Great songs, stellar harmonies, and fine musicianship.
They had banjo! I was really impressed with their performance.
Great songs, stellar harmonies, and fine musicianship.
They remarked that they hadn't played out in
several months,
so they were kind of rusty. They sounded
perfect from where
I was sitting. A Dixie Chick and Terry Clarke helped out on
vocals for *Closer to Fine*.
The second surprise and the highlight of the
evening for me
was Sister Helen Prejean's talk (I hesitate to
call it a speech
or preaching. She doesn't do either.
Sister Helen *inspires*.).
Sister Helen's words were also eloquent, funny,
smart, touching,
and filled with common sense. She also brought
out to the
stage families of death row inmates and families of murder victims.
stage families of death row inmates and families of murder victims.
Each person came up to the mic, said the name of
their family
member, and how the details of the
murder/convictin.
Seeing the families of both murder victims and
death row
inmates holding hands on the Ryman stage was one
of the more
moving experiences of my life. Regardless of your views on the death
moving experiences of my life. Regardless of your views on the death
penalty, you'd have to have a cold, cold heart
not to be moved by such
a display of forgiveness and
compassion.
Jackson Browne played next. He played several
songs and spent about
an hour tuning his guitar. He didn't really do
much for me.
Though, seeing Browne and Earle duet on
*Cocaine* was
kind of cool.
kind of cool.
Then there was Emmylou, Emmylou, Emmylou.
Emmylou at the Ryman.
Emmylou backed by Buddy and Julie Miller at the
Ryman. It was perfection.
Emmy and Earle sang "Goodbye"
together. That has to be one of the saddest
songs ever written. The strains of sadness,
longing, and regret in Steve
and Emmy's voices bouncing off the Ryman's wall just completely broke
and Emmy's voices bouncing off the Ryman's wall just completely broke
my heart. It just added to the emotional
intensity of the evening.
The show ended with all the artists
participating in two sing-a-longs.
"Christmas in July" (an odd choice for
a group sing) and "Goodnight Irene".
This seemed to be anything but another *cause
celeb* benefit.
Everyone seemed very sincere in their
involvement.
It felt like a true grass roots effort. The
artists inspired us with
their creativity and talent. Sister Helen opened
our minds with
her passionate and humorous words. The
volunteers motivated us
through their acts of commitment and
dedication. And our hearts were
opened by the victims' and inmates' families
display of love, compassion,
and forgiveness. The journey of hope is what we
all hope that music will
accomplish. It's a perfect example of what the
music industry is capable of
at it's very best. The Ryman was filled with
people, fans and supporters,
not celebrities. It was the anti-CSRF. It's so
rare that an event like this
actually accomplishes its goal. It did give me
hope anyway.
Hope in people, hope in the music industry, hope
in general.
I urge you all to attend this event if it comes
within a day's drive of you.
marie (where's my
edge?)