I discovered Warren Zevon, in of all places, the library. Warren is considered by many to be the most literate of rock songwriters, so it should be no surprise that I found his self titled album, sometime in the late spring of 1976 propped up in the album bin in what we now call the YA section of the Pacoima Branch library. I often wonder just how it got there. The woman who was the "Teen" librarian might have been hip, or maybe the label sent it out to all the libraries in the system, I have no way of knowing but on that day I picked it up and flipped it over. I read the notes on the back and saw names of musicians I knew and loved- most notably, I suppose was Jackson Browne, whose music I had discovered a few summers before.
I checked it out and took it home. From the first notes of Frank and Jesse James, I was hooked.
I saw Warren several times in concert. I saw him at the Roxy, and at the legendary Universal Amphitheatre Concert where he went beyond curfew. It was an open-air venue at the time and they had a STRICT 11pm shut down but the crowd was screaming for more. He stalked onto the stage, growling "turn the house lights off! Turn the f-ing house lights off" when they remained he marched over to the piano, Sat down with a flourish and played "Desperados under the eaves" in the bright light.
I remember seeing him and Waddy, at either Jackson Browne's NYE Concert 1977-78, The group was playing the song and they had a werewolf mask and were chasing each other, grabbing it and running- an elaborate game of Capture the Flag. Fun times and fun memories.
Last Night, We went to a Tribute Concert at the beautiful United Artist Theater in downtown LA Built in 1927, the gorgeous Rococo style theater is a wonder to behold. Beautifully redone, dazzling and welcoming at the same time.
I made the mistake of buying seats in the second balcony. I am somewhat disabled and last night's climb up two flights of marble stairs really did me in. The stairways have large carved wooden railings that I clung to every step of the way up and down. They DO have an elevator, but it was out of service and they were waiting for a tech to show up ( I know ALL about THAT!) Shout out to House Manager Eric, for trying- he offered us tickets on the ground floor, but only had two but there were three of us, so climb I did.
The show opened with Jordan Zevon singing "When Johnny strikes up the band" a song I always thought would be a perfect opening tune. Jordan reminds me of his dad. He is a wonderful musician in his own right. Somewhere I own- or owned- a copy of his CD "Insides Out" which may or may not have made it out of the house the last time I moved (IYKYK)
Artists after artists came forward to sing one of Warren's songs and to talk about what he meant to them According to other concertgoers who were keeping track the group did 31 songs.
Standout for me:
The performance of the little know tune "Follow Me" Warren was in a duo with High School classmate Violet Santangelo and it was a minor hit in 1966. While I did not keep track, exactly, I THINK there was at least one song from "wanted Dead or Alive" but I can't be sure.
I loves seeing the Second Generation Rock "children" as well. Inara George, Chris Stills and Shooter Jennings. Shooter was a revelation- I am having a senior moment here as I CANNOT remember the song he did! He did mention that Desperados Under Eaves" changed his life but he did something else. The song was beautifully done.
There were a lot of technical difficulties. Lots of them. Marshall Crenshaw, in particular seemed to have trouble with his guitar and it resulted in something that sounded weird.
The guy who did one of my favorite Zevon tunes (sorry I can't remember his name"), "My Sh*ts F-ed up" was a HECK of a piano player but plowed through the song with the grace of a bulldozer. To me , he missed the nuances of the sardonic masterpiece.
I had quite forgotten what a lovely voice Susan Cowsill has. She did a wonderful version of Mohammed's radio- a song she said Jackson brought her when she was 15.
I loved the stories that people told before singing their song. I wonder what Jorge Calderón did that Warren had to bail him out of jail before they met ( the MC told that story that Warren's wife sent him to get him out of jail.
So many wonderful stories.
Other standout moments Included:
Jordan talking about trying to get his dad to play with his bandmates, then launching into "Monkey Wash, donkey rinse with them AND the recording of Warren singing. I love that particular new live technique- My OTHER favorite band , America, does that with the late Dan Peek. It is moving and joyful all at the same time
Jorge Calderón standing alone in the spotlight near the end of the show, working his way with great emotion through "Keep my in your heart"
Jackson Browne singing "don't let us get sick", a song he has been doing in his own shows- or did the last time I saw him. The last time I saw him do it about a year or so ago, this rather talkative guy behind me, who was trying to impress his date, said loudly "that is an old English folk song ( I had had enough of him talking and just KNEW he would talk through the whole set) I turned and hissed at him WARREN ZEVON! He ( as my daughter says) stayed quiet after that.
The show was also a fundraiser for Asbestos Awareness and the Ed Asner Family Center.
The crowd were singing their best AH-HOOOs to end the show. I went downstairs to avoid having to navigate crowds- my disability was on full display and I am proud to say I did not swear (much) as I eased myself down two flights. My friend and I stood at the back of the house for "Send Lawyers, Guns and Money" a phase I OFTEN use at work. We scooted out as soon as it was over. Note to self- do NOT park at a parking garage that says it closes! My husband had to leave to rescue the car, because the lot was closing- the show went well past 11:30 and I didn't want to have to figure out how to get home!
Reflecting this morning, I was glad I went, happy to hear so many songs I knew by heart. They talk about Zevon's legacy. For me the music, beginning with the wildness and ending with painful raw beauty holds sway. To quote from W.H Auden "when a just man dies, lamentation and praise, sorrow and joy are one"
That says more than I ever could.
