Friday, September 27, 2013

Buck 65 9-26-13

Yesterday I drove many miles across a barren landscape to see a man with a word and a beat. I am not a regular at hip-hop clubs but taking exception here  to have the experience. I first heard of Buck 65 on the internet listening to CBC radio and thought “wow this white guy is throwing down about 50cent´ and then the …banjo while rapping about poverty and drug addiction. Totally unique and true artistry, just what a poet does, reflects upon the socio-political environment , in his case the province of Nova Scotia and Eastern Canada.

 Central/Eastern Oregon highway 97 in fall is a brown and dreary place on a cloudy day. The four-hour drive on mostly two-lane roads was broken by frequent stops to alleviate Toetoe Martin’s(picture) anxiety on her very first road trip.

I had tweeted to Buck 65 about attending the 9-26-13 show at the Annex in Bend, OR.  I had planned to see him two years ago @ the Doug Fir Lounge.  He was to play in PDX and cancelled that part of tour. This time I had a rehearsal on the night he played in PDX so Bend was my only choice.

Propane is now Kamen Pink.
I arrived too early (like 2 hours old man in the club syndrome) and got to know the bartender and asked about maybe playing a little flute. The sound man said, “that’s up to Buck.” I left it at that, ate my cookie, drank another latte, and watched the opening acts.

 (insert videos here) The first guy (Driftwood Insomnia) link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7ph7T3-Zus&feature=youtu.be  “local guy that opens for major acts,” got up and dropped about 387 f-bombs about hypocrisy, posing, and the class wars of today’s youth.  
The second  guy , Open Face Mike, had effects pedals he punched by hand. He live-mixed and looped as he rapped with amazing facility. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIqtaE_MmNE&feature=youtu.be



Mr Buck65 had taken the stage while I was outside getting my camera. His crowd was small and very  enthusiastic (cute too) and knew every song that he spit out except a few surprise bits and jabs(Coco) at his roots and life. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCaqRgJ8p3g&feature=youtu.be   I filmed and watched him perfom while playing a few riffs on the flute.  The mix was not that loud and the crowd started to react to the flute and on one tune he came over with the mic and I got to be inside with the mighty One. All those years in the practice room gave me a passport. Grace they call it. 

 Happy I could do that. Travel, see live music, and be part of the hip-hop phenomena named Buck 65. I hope the video turns out.
It was a welcome relief to forget  my mother’s  death for a while. Music is an awesome salve but it needs to be applied often and in my case, generously. I was served a generous portion of LOVE last night. That man, that thin thin man from down East, delivered.  Not sex. Better. Much better. BCM