January 17th
I believe Christian Kiefer said it quite well today in an interview (scroll down): (I paraphrase) "I would like to be able to say that I was there, but I don't really have much interest in standing around in a crowd of four million people." Ditto.
You see next week I am headed to Washington DC to play a show in honor of the inauguration. (see above) The show itself is on the 17th, a mere three days before the historic date. And yet, by the time the beloved Obama takes the podium, I will be back in the snowy drifts of Ontario, likely quite glad to be free of the crowds. I know that in years to come, people will say to me, "but you were there a few days before and you left?" "Yes, I left."
Nevertheless, I will almost be there. Or rather, I will be there, and then I will not. Anyway, we are indeed playing a big show which happens to be a benefit, with the proceeds going to a great organization called Bands for Lands. I'm looking forward to feeling the buzz of what will undoubtedly be a city charged with a flurry of excitement, and happy to be a part of it in some oblique way. In some regard, I suppose it is cooler in the end to have played a gig about the presidents, than it would have been to stand outside in the cold with millions of people, eating warm nuts. Or pretzels. Screaming and waving banners. Not to make light of arguably one of the most important events of my lifetime, but I have a hunch I will feel good to drive out of the city that following morning.
Tickets to the show can be bought via Live Nation or at the door.
We also have a song about Obama forthcoming for download (I think via NPR) that is most excellent if I say so. Penned by Kiefer, sung by Will Johnson of the Texas band Centromatic with appearances in some form from all three of us, it sounds a bit like R.E.M., and a bit like Christian Kiefer, and a bit like Centromatic, and a bit like...You get the idea. Anyway, I'll keep you posted of course.
Posted by jeff pitcher at January 9, 2009 08:06 PM
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