If a movie was especially scary I used to remind myself that it was just a movie, and not something in real life. I reminded myself of the contrary experience on Tuesday when, seated in the heavens at Madison Square Garden, New York at the From the Big Apple to the Big Easy fundraising concert for Katrina victims, that, while I was watching the concert on the screen, it was happening right beneath my feet.
The last time I was exposed to a string of mega bands was at Milton Keynes in London years ago when I saw REM, Radio Head, The Cranberries and a host of others whose names I didn't know. Even though it was exciting to see Lenny Kravitz and Ry Cooder, it was Bette Midler who touched me deepest followed by Dana Krall and Elvis Costello. Elton John's three-song performance was amazing. Blues played a big part of this concert with performers like Allen Toussaint, the Neville Brothers, the Meters, Clarence "Frogman" Henry, Irma Thomas and the Dixie Cups belting out standards. Jimmy Buffett, who I'd not heard of before, was clearly a crowd favorite as was Credence Clearwater Revival's John Fogerty. Dave Matthews joined Buffett for Neil Young's "Heart of Gold and then returned to a separate concert a block away.
I was very excited to see Bill Clinton (and to note the amazing standing ovation he received from the audience). After four pissed teens wouldn't sit down in front of me, I left the concert 15 minutes early to avoid the congestion of a zillion people leaving MSG at one time. This meant that I missed seeing Simon and Garfunkel perform together on stage. Paul Simon did one of the first sets and I noted how old he was looking, but I'm very sorry to have missed them singing Bridge over troubled Water and Homeward Bound which, given the reason for the concert, must have been especially poignant.
I became spoilt after seeing so many concerts in South Africa from the luxury of the press enclosure that I was annoyed at having such poor seats. I berated myself for purchasing the cheapest tickets, although the best seats were being sold for $5000 which must have included oral sex with a former president!
I'm enjoying the concert much more now. Every time I relay my experience and hear "You were there!" exclaimed in my direction, my pleasure grows. Testament that like most consumers, I too have to be reminded that I'm enjoying myself. So much so that the vicarious pleasure has ricocheted into me having had the time of my life.