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
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