July 4th 2002

Hey, get out your Red White and Blue! It’s the 4^th and I have decided that it is my patriotic duty to party like a rock star, laugh like a hyena, and feast like a king. Snowy has left me alone for the week but she made sure Jimmy the Jag was available to baby-sit. Alextasy has also stepped up to the plate to make sure I don’t have to spend a minute alone over the holiday. Jimmy rolled into town late Tuesday just in time to see The Who.

Golden Gate Park

Jimmy the Jag

Alextasy

Jim and I were weaned on The Who back in Albany, NY. I had turned him on to Tommy and Who’s Next over 20 years ago, more on that later, in his parents basement. We were teenagers and the sonic assaults that Pete and Roger created back then still hold water today. Over the past 10-15 years The Who have gone on a number of “Farewell” tours and they continue to release and re-release their material with new arrangements. Most notable is the “Pete Townshend: Music From Lifehouse” DVD. I have this in extra heavy rotation at the compound. Pete along with the London Chamber Orchestra perform the “Lifehouse” concept rock opera. Many of the songs from this project became the album Who’s Next. In this new format the songs take on a new life.

The sudden death of John saddens me and gave me another taste of mortality. The rock heroes of my youth were now dying of natural causes. Jim is quick to point out that rock stars have a different age scale than say you or me. It works like dog years; you have to factor the years of abuse and of course of Keith Richards is the far end of the scale. He only proves the point since every population has an old dog that defies the odds and defines the far end of the scale. Anywho, the show was amazing. Simply it was just amazing. Pete strapped on his electric and never leg go. From Substitute to Amazing Journey he thrashed, massaged, and cuddled his axe with a passion not seen since the footage at the end of “The Kids Are Alright”. The loss of John was twice mentioned by Roger who only said he was taking it day by day. Dressed in black the band filled the Shoreline Amphitheater and tested its new JBL sound system for almost 3 hours.

Jim and Margarethe shared this evening under the stars with me. The weather was perfect and Margarethe had showed up early and staked out an excellent spot on the lawn for all of us. She also scored major praise from the fans by stocking her backpack with Skittles and Chips Ahoy (Special Mutant Chunk Style) Cookies. The Counting Crows opened the show, the crowd hardly noticed but I was really excited. Adam could hardly speak and it was really sad to see a band this good perform so poorly. Adam thinks they have a new album coming out next week and maybe here’s a song from it. Since it seemed the rest of the set would be lack luster Jim and I left the safety of the blanket island to have a smoke and buy some $8 water, must be really really good water. While Jim navigated the concession line I stood and smoked at the top of the hill. A smiling earth friendly waif drifted towards me so I of course said hello and began to bounce. She was pretty and responded well to bouncing. She laughed and said that she felt there was a reason we were meeting. I said of course there is so talk with me. By the time Jim returned he thought I had run into a friend here at the concert. Shannon and I were laughing and talking about The Who and other great bands. California continues to show me how cool people can be, and how pretty too. I had Shannon interested in ushering a show or perhaps hanging out since she lives around the corner from me here in Mountain View.

We all spent rest of the Crows lame set chatting up a storm. Jim was working to help my mojo in a “See a Brother, Help a Brother” kind of way. In his zeal to assist he fired an errant round into the mix, but like a good pilot once a round is fired you have to follow it up to ensure a kill. “Sean turned me on to The Who 25 year’s ago.” then “Yeah we were 12.” hung in the air. Fortunately this was only a training exercise and live rounds were not issued. In my mind I was praying “Please don’t pull out a calculator and do the math for her.” Moonbeam didn’t flinch, the rounds had no effect but be sure we would debrief once back on the flight deck.

As quickly as she appeared Moonbeam (our new name for Shannon) vanished into the crowd, we would see her again. Margarethe held the island safely so all was in order for The Who. It was just becoming dark and the band took the stage to the appreciation of the sold out crowd. Each song sounded fresh and clean but with a note sadness. No more Boris the Spider or My Wife. Pete played as if inspired, we could not believe how good Pete was and how much it was like the sound of his youthful fury. Amplifiers did get knocked over but now it’s because Pete gets a little dizzy after doing a windmill spin kick, not because he’s trying to. But hey I forgot to open the screen door earlier this summer. Snowy saw it too, my nose had a cross hatch for a few minutes. Anywho, the warm summer air was full of grand and gracious guitar riffs. The most poignant part of the show came at the end of the encores. I don’t know who else caught it but here’s what I saw. Pete and Roger walked to center stage and joined arms. With Roger extending his arm to the spot where John would have walked to and he looked at the empty spot I almost cried. It was only the second show since his death and his reflex was to reach for John so the three could bow and close the show. Once Roger realized that John wasn’t there he withdrew his arm and put his head on Pete’s shoulder.

In the recent past my friends have been amazing in so many ways. I tried to imagine how I would feel if I lost one them and then maybe I might understand how my heroes felt. The idea of losing any of my friends punched me so hard I did tear before I regained my legs. For a moment in time we were all just people who appreciated the music and shared in their loss. It was as if I now was part of the history of my favorite band. More of my dreams coming true? I have to be careful out here in paradise, everything I wish for keeps coming true, maybe not when I expect it to but it happens none the less. More to come as the weekend unfolds. Alextasy, Andy, Jimmy the Jag, and I are all going clubbing in SF tonight. It is the farewell party for Club Townshend so stayed tuned.

San Francisco

Enjoy your Summer and be on the look out for the next chapter of Leftcoastlove in paradise.

Peace--sean--

Club Townsend Closing Party!!!
Friday, July 5, 2002 (9 PM - 8 AM)
177 Townsend Street, San Francisco
Entire Club (Club Townsend & King St. Garage) Adjoined!!

Chadwick, Xavier, Andy Wasserman and the entire ELECTRIC family invite you to take part in an evening of epic proportions.

"The Closing Party of the Legendary Club Townsend"

Please join us on Friday July 5, 2002 as we celebrate the "Final Night" of one of the biggest, best and most highly recognized night clubs in San Francisco history!! For this special evening, ELECTRIC @ Club Townsend celebrates its' Two Year Anniversary and will band together with Loveworks hosting their ever-famous, early 90's favorite… "Love Garage" inside the King St. Garage.

Both rooms/entire club (Townsend & King St. Garage) will be adjoined for you to wander, listen and dance freely throughout the night. Be part of history & come celebrate in thanking Club Townsend for 14 amazing years. Please join us, on this "final night", as we bid farewell to this San Francisco Underground Legend...