For Those About to Rock

I recently entered an online contest to win tickets to see the Cowboy Junkies (still one of the great band names out there). It made me think about the time I saw them at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco, right after the Trinity Session album came out (1988). They were great, and as an added bonus I sat next to Sean Penn, who I didn't recognize at first, (he came in after the lights went down). He proceeded to chain-smoke through out the show, have a few drinks, he also had a burger (no I did not keep the pickle). For the contest, they were looking for your favorite song of theirs, but I thought I would win because I had the most interesting story. I didn't. Some guy mentioned he saw them in a church in Germany. The Great American Music Hall used to be a brothel during the Barbary Coast days in S.F. So, you've got a brothel, Sean Penn, and me, in my mind, that beats a German church every time.

Honestly, I didn't really even want to go anyway. Honestly. O.K. If I won the tickets I would have gone, but I wasn't going to spend money on the experience. That's just me. Whoever won, enjoy! It was part of the Louisville Orchestra Pops series. I've never been to one of those, but I am more than a little skeptical of the concept. They bring a "Rock" band and smooth off some of the rough edges by having them play with the Orchestra. I like the Cowboy Junkies, but I'm not sure I want to see anyone under those conditions. It's old folks music. What happened, did the Manhattan Transfer cancel, was Vicki Carr too edgy?, they couldn't decide between Helen Reddy and Petula Clark? If you're going to bring in a rock band, go all the way. Get somebody that can still rock, like the Dead Kennedys. I'd pay to see Jello and Co. tear it up with the Louisville Orchestra. What self respecting rock purist wouldn't spend good money to see the Dead Kennedys play with the Orchestra. I can see it now, "BB&T and Yum Brands present an evening with the the Dead Kennedys, under the direction of conductor Bob Bernhardt, hear the Dead Kennedys classics like you've never heard them before! Maestro Bernhardt reaches new heights with his version of "Too Drunk to Fuck" (LEO Weekly). "California uber alles" will never sound the same again!" (The Voice Tribune). Also, enter to win tickets to a special Yum Brands sponsored after-party, where you can hang out with Jello Biafra, East Bay Ray, Klaus Flouride, and selected members of the Woodwind section of the L.O., who will be signing pieces of blood-soaked broken glass at the soon to be opened, KFC themed "Bucket of Blood" Nightclub on 4th St. Live! (Employees of the City of Louisville and the Cordish Co. are not eligible to win).

Now that's rock and roll.