I had a fabulous weekend. Now, some of you may think I lead a fairly exciting life but the truth is I would rather lay around my house watching the teley (or old Star trek episodes) than anything! And usually when I am not working, I am doing just that!! But not this past weekend. I hooked up with old friends, had a great wedding gig and went to the Opera!!
Happy Halloween
I did not dress up for Halloween this year. In fact, I wasn’t gonna do anything special save for staying home. But then I got an invite to meet up with an old friend from college who happens to be dating a member of the band Urge Overkill who were playing a short set at a popular bar/club in the groovy Wicker Park neighborhood. My BFF Babs and Brady (drummer) joined me and so it was bound to be a good time.
I went to Northwestern with a couple of the founding members of Urge Overkill and travelled to NYC with them (played at CBGB’s!) in the 90’s and recorded backing vocals on two of their cd releases. They were a very popular Chicago band who achieved international popularity that was started with a grassroots following. They had a track featured in Quentin Tarentino’s super movie “Pulp Fiction” and still have an almost mythic status with some kids today. I can not explain the magic that surrounded that group. They wrote great tunes, they rocked, but had a real sense and reverence for soul, schtick and showbiz. Nash Kato (lead singer, frontman and personality) is just a unique, special presence and good buddy. They did not hit the heights like Nirvana and Pearl Jam but they were part of the equation that existed in that very exciting moment in rock music that was stirring in Wicker Park in Chicago. And I was a part of it too because of them.
Anyway, they were in town playing this gig and I dragged my ass outta the bed, off the couch to go see ’em! Brought my camera. There was a rumor that R Kelly was gonna show up and join them, but he didn’t. However, they called me up to sing “Artane” from their CD “Supersonic Storybook.” I sang backing vocals on that Cd in 1991 and Damnit! I still remembered the parts!! Big fun!
Then I stood on the busy corner of Damen & North Avenue watching all of the masses of badly costumed, very drunk and jovial partiers. Actually that was not my inclination, but it took so long to get a taxi I figured I may as well enjoy the show!
I had to perform for a wedding on Saturday. It was at the Park Hyatt and very elegant. We had an older bride (my age – first marriage – have hope girls) and an older crowd. But it was lovely. We had a ball. They really appreciated the band and the party was intimate and gorgeous. I felt honored to be a part of it. Afterwards, me & Brady (drummer) went out for a couple of cocktails with another friend and had an absolute gorgeous night.
I went to the Opera on Sunday (birthday gift from BFF Sara). I saw a production called Margaret Garner. The libretto was written by Nobel laureate Toni Morrison. The story centered around the slave Margaret, who after enduring the usual humilities, tortures and hell of slavery, escaped with her husband and small children with the hope of making it to Ohio and freedom. Upon discovery by their master and his henchmen, and after watching her husband burned alive, she decided to cut the throats of her children rather than have them taken back into slavery. This story is based upon a true character and was the basis of Morrison’s acclaimed novel: “Beloved.”
She was arrested and put on trial and the big debate was whether she should have been tried for murder, or “destruction of property” The fact that Margaret bore them was of no consequence. She was a slave, she could not own or claim anything by rights. She was in essence a non entity. I realized as I watched this opera that I haven’t thought about slavery in a while. Not that I often do, but I noted that I hadn’t really seen the depiction in so long. Man, we have come a long way – all of us.
It was an amazing spectacle as opera can be and I absolutely loved every minute of it. There were a few parts that dragged on a bit but I didn’t care and didn’t hold it against the production as a whole. Bravo! Margaret was played by the super diva Denyce Graves. All of the performances were gorgeous. The opera was performed at the Auditorium Theater in Chicago and it is a beautiful venue with frescoes and marble and gold leaf and all the opulence you can imagine at an opera house. And the seats were roomy!!
Then my dear friend Sara and I had dinner downtown just a few blocks away from the theater. It was a wonderful way to spend a Sunday evening. And Chicago is experiencing some unseasonably warm weather. Bonus!
