I found myself in deep reverie a few nights ago when Blondie played the ACL Moody Theater at the W Hotel in Austin, TX. Yeah it was a slamming show, loud and filled with familiar music, dramatic moves, guitar parts and everything else you would expect. I have to say that Debbie Harry looks damn good for 66. But I was melancholy thinking about New York in the 80s, and friends who are gone from the planet. It was a weird time in New York, what with the AIDS epidemic sweeping the city and a certain amount of denial about it all, especially at the beginning. The particular person I was thinking about was a true friend who came to LA to drag me back to my life when I was ‘on the lam,’ rock and roll style, holed up at The Mondrian Hotel for six weeks. Most people won’t go that far out of their way to make things right. Debbie Harry reminds me of my friend, who died several years ago. I will miss her forever.
So many times when you meet someone and become friends, it is a mutual convenience, superficial and no more. But sometimes there is a deep connection and secrets are shared. True friendships are to be savored. They can be looked at after the fact when the person is gone with astonishment for the degree or respect and love they engendered. Today’s song is from Sean McConnell, and it should be savored as well. It is a new tune, as yet not released on CD. Beautiful, though, as it gently hangs in the air. We recorded Sean during MusicFest at Steamboat Springs in January. This is “Praise The Lord.”
-Jessie Scott