| Dear Neil: Rhianna and I traveled 1500 miles to attended the 15th Annual Bridge School Benefit Concert at the Shoreline Ampitheatre in beautifu Mountain View California. We were by no means diassapointed! It was totally avante garde at it's best! As usual, California in October equals warm, sunny, breezy afternoons and very cool nights. We attended Saturday's concert with the aforementioned conditions. It was truely an exhilirating expeience to say the least! All I can say Neil, is it was great and well worth the price of admission! The kids onstage looked as if they were having the time of their lives as well as the people that played. Your choice of musicians is beyond words: A heterogeneous blend of site and sound!I was really impressed because it introduces younger people to music that some wouldn't normally gravitate too. Jill Sobule was very detailed about her novelty song, "I Kissed a Girl". She is an excellent musician and has a wonderous sense of humor!. Ben Harper was as funky and soulful as ever with his acoustical wanderings. His renedition of Marvin Gaye's "Sexual Healing" was different. Billy Idol - What can you say about Billy? God broke the mold:)? My 24 year old daughter really enjoyed what she entitles "the college version" of the 'old' song "Mony, Mony" (the lyrics I will not repeat! :) He really rocked the night away! Mine of course was on the more meaningful side - "For What It's Worth" - makes you think in these days and times... Tracy Chapman made a big impression on my daughter's discerning musical tastes. Although, she has heard Tracy in the past from "The Bridge School CD" she never really heard her until that night. Then it was, "I've got to have Tracy's CD's." , and that was that. R.E.M really knows how to jam. Alternative? Punk Rock? Who knows but they are talented! My favorite pick of the evening was "Losing My Religion" - again me on the soulful search. Dave Matthews is soooo sweet (that is the only adjective, as corny as it may sound, that I can think of). He just does a magificient job of playing a musical instrument and singing at the same time. The audience loved him. Rhianna's and my favorite pick of course was his rendition of Bob Dylan's classic, "All Along The Watchtower". Pearl Jam was a piece de resistance! What more can I say? "Last Kiss" was our favorite! And you, Neil, Crazy Horse, your sister Astrid and your wife Pegi were surperb! I have so many favorites it's hard to know where to start. We were really touched by "Imagine". I tried to explain to my daughter that "Neil and his entourage had a message" and that message was "peace". We need to make beaucoup efforts in striving for peace. Well Neil, my time is short; Again I thank you for your efforts in bringing both music and meaning into this world. See you in Denver at the CSN&Y concert. Sincerely, Mary W. from the Great Lakota Nation |