Hello friends, Rob here.
IMPORTANT NEWS: Despite what you may have heard from certain disreputable sources (such as our own twitter account), The Revivalists are NOT playing at Tipitina’s this Friday. It’s Flowtribe and To Be Continued Brass Band and you should definitely go see them because it is going to be both spectacular and free.
Anyway.
Okay Pensacola, we get it. You guys know how to party. Now stop buying me shots. Stop keeping me up until six in the morning.
Actually, don’t stop. Don’t ever, ever stop.
This was quite a Pensacola for us. By now, we all pretty much know the Pensacola weekend drill, and this wasn’t really a break from the norm, but for some reason Pensacola was extra rowdy (even by their standards) this weekend.
It didn’t help that George’s girlfriend (yes, and co-founder of The Revivaltits!) Bertha brought a great contingent of New Orleans friends to celebrate her birthday. They rented out a nice party house right on the barrier island and shared much awesome with us. Fireworks, stray dogs, and complicated drinks until sunrise. It can’t be beat.
In other news, Ed and I had the absolute pleasure of sitting Papa Grows Funk for their weekly Monday funkfest at the Maple Leaf. Not only was it a pleasure and a learning experience in its own right (Jason Mingledorff is the man), but personally I was also very honored to be able to join them in paying tribute to the late Clarence Clemons with a rendition of “Tenth Avenue Freeze Out.”
Speaking of which, I’d love to write something florid about The Big Man’s numerous contributions to rock and awesome, but to be perfectly honest, I’ve been having a bit of trouble writing anything worth reading today (which is why this entry took until a little past midnight to finish). I will, however, say this: Clarence Clemons would often say more with five long, growling notes than most saxophonists (myself very much included) can with a four-minute solo filled with quick runs and peaks and valleys and all sorts of harmonic cleverness. He could play with such profound joy or sadness that it was impossible not to be moved by his sound. Bruce Springsteen is the heart of the E Street Band, but The Big Man was its soul.
I’d say more, but if you don’t know who Clarence Clemons was, I’d just as soon have him tell you in his own words (skip to about the four minute mark if you’re impatient and context doesn’t matter to you):
And if you happen to find yourself saying, “oh, that sax player from the Lady Gaga video died?” then you can pretty much just never talk to me again.
I am, however, willing to forgive “the main future guy from ‘Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure.’”
Rest in peace, Big Man.
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Rob,
what a beautiful tribute to Clarence Clemmons. He was both the heart and soul of that band and will be sorely missed. I assume you know the hit he did with Jackson Browne “You are a Friend of Mine”. If not, check it out and eat well on road! Love, mamakins F
Clarence was truly an amazing sax player. It was always great seeing the E Street in concert and the absolute synergy Bruce and Clarence had.