----------
Previous 4ths, I've been adamant about listening to The Band in honor of America's birthday. Of course, I am aware that 4/5ths of the group is Canadian but Levon Helm was American enough to overcompensate for the rest of them. And really, their songs express the American mindset with more depth and emotion than most other "American" rock and roll bands. Neil Young manages the same trick somehow. Since I was on foreign territory this 4th - at my girlfriend's maternal family gathering: the Barbee Family 4th of July Extravaganza at Grampa John and Gramma Katheryne's House - I didn't press it. I did manage to sneak in "I Shall Be Released (Live)" off my computer in the morning. God Bless YouTube.S.A.
The Barbee Partee was a quintessential slice of Americana. We played baseball, we ate steak, we sang "God Bless America" while the crazy uncles lit off fireworks. It was joyful, pure and a damn fine reminder of the diverse type of people this country produces - even in the confines of a single family. A personal highlight: Uncle Mike, who wore a cowboy hat, sunglasses (regardless of shade cover, especially inside) and a collared shirt designed with the stars and stripes. He cooked the steak. And told the jokes. And mocked my inability to throw a frisbee.
At the end of the night, since I had no desire to seek out a 4th of July open mic, I was happy to get the chance to play some sing-alongs with the family. Ariel - my girlfriend and my invitation to the Partee - and her sister, Grace, and I started off with "Ruby Tuesday." The family is incredibly musical (Ariel's cousin, Sam, is a sort of savant when it comes to the guitar and has a pretty impressive basement studio at home. He's 16) and when we hit that chorus the whole room shouted it out. "Mirrors" by Justin Timberlake followed, but petered out in the bridge. I stumbled through "If I Fell" by The Beatles but the room carried the tune better than I ever could. Finally, Ariel's father Aron led the group in "I've Just Seen A Face" and Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Proud Mary." I had actually learned the CCR song last week, just in case I felt I needed a 'MERICAN song for the 4th of July. Aron beat me to it, sang it wonderfully, played it well and got everybody "rolling" by the end of it. It was the perfect closer and I would have never had the guts to pull it out. Nice job, Aron.
As I was shaking hands and saying my thank-yous on the way out, Uncle Mike gripped my hand a little too tight and said, "We we're going to have you sleep in the gun room." Nervous laughter. He let go of my hand and took out a hunting knife and started picking under his finger nails. He continued, "just to show you what kind of family we are."
"Loud and clear," I said back to Uncle Mike, smiling. I've got an Uncle Mike, too. I've seen this act work on my cousin's boyfriends from the city. I'm a little too country to get frightened by 4-inch blade.
----------
I said my goodbyes to Ariel and her family this morning and left for Chicago. She has red hair now. I'm quite fond of it. And her, too. If you haven't yet heard her singing voice you should listen to song below (or this Kanye West cover):
----------
You ever heard of a Lemon Shake-Up? They are incredible. Sugary lemon drank. Mm mmm.
----------
Tomorrow: CHI-CITY MANE.
No comments:
Post a Comment