Music Video of the Week: Larry Carlson

CONTACT THE STAR PEOPLE from Larry Carlson on Vimeo.

"Contact the Star People"
Larry Carlson

A new Larry Carlson song/video! YAY!!!

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If I were to release a Bambo Syndicate album of my most recent compositions it would be called "Woke Up Dead", and THIS would be the cover art...

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Springsteen at the BOK Center in Tulsa, 4/7/09

When I first heard that Bruce Springsteen was playing a show in Tulsa I was ecstatic. But it turned out to be short-lived, as I could not find transportation. I won't drive after dark anymore because my eyesight has degenerated to the point where the bright lights of the oncoming cars are too much to handle. I tried to hook up with some friends who I figured would definitely be going. They opted out, though, discouraged by the concert being held on a weeknight...personally, had I been in their shoes, I certainly would not have let that stop me. We're talking about BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN here. He may never swing through Oklahoma again. So I didn't bother buying a ticket...which I probably couldn't have anyway...I didn't have an extra hundred bucks to blow.

I have a friend who bought a couple, though. I figured he was going to ask some lucky girl to the show (that's one hell of a great date, no?). I later learned that he was planning on taking a close relative. As it turned out, however, an unfortunate set of circumstances prevented him from going at all, and I wound up with both of his tickets (which were choice seats he'd bought from an Internet site for $200 apiece). All I had to do was procure transportation and I figured that would be easy enough...I mean, the deal would be "Free Springsteen ticket for a ride to Tulsa and back".

I thought about who I could ask...my wife didn't want to go for the same reason as my friend: it was a work night. It was a school night for my son, so he was out (wouldn't have mattered, seeing as how he's 14 and can't drive a car yet!). After considering a few people I decided that the one person I knew who would enjoy the show as much as myself was my brother, Charles. So I rang him up, told him I had a Springsteen ticket for him if he would drive. It didn't take much persuading, as you might guess.

We made it to Tulsa and it wasn't too hard locating the BOK Center. We got to the general vicinity and there was no way I could miss it. Wow! An incredible structure, to say the least. It stands out from the rest of Tulsa's skyline in a major way. A very contemporary design, the architecture is magnificent. It's pretty awesome on the inside, too. Strange to say, but I'd go to just about any event held there just to enjoy the building.

The crowd was huge...I did, however, notice one thing...of all the many, many people I saw, I don't remember that ANY of them were black. I don't know what that means, or if it means anything...I don't know why Springsteen's music wouldn't appeal to any race, creed, religion, gender, etc. and etc. and etc....but it was most definitely a Caucasian majority. Most were around my age, maybe a little older. That, however, was to be expected. Nevertheless there were a LOT of teens, several really old folks, and not a few young 'uns with their dads and moms.

The show didn't sell out, and the only reason I can think of for that is the Tuesday night slot. Even that isn't a good excuse and I was a little embarrassed that Oklahoma didn't put in a better showing for the Boss. Still, sell-out or no, the crowd was HUGE. I've never been in an arena before and this was a real treat for me. The roar of the crowd and the sheer numbers...I loved it. I am going to have to make plans to go to the BOK as often as I can. I don't even care if all I can get are the cheap, upper level seats. In fact, I think I would really like being up so high in the stadium, because the crowd is almost as fun to watch as the show.

Springsteen put on an incredible performance. I don't have to tell you that. The sound left a lot to be desired during the first 45 minutes to an hour. Feedback squall on a couple of occassions and this is just too professional a show to have something like that happen. It all came together soon enough, though. The set list was a very good one...I can't complain. I liked the new songs more that I thought I would. "The Wrestler", which I hadn't heard yet, truly blew me away. It is destined to be one of his greater songs. The lights and stage set up were very tastefully and well done. And our seats weren't so gar off that we couldn't see the expession on Bruce's face.

All in all a wonderful evening that will go down as one of the best concerts I've ever been to.

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Music Videos of the Week: Bruce Springsteen @ BOK Center, Tulsa Ok, 4/7/09

I don't know how long these videos will stay up on YouTube because Columbia records is quite possessive of Springsteen media, but it was only natural that I would choose these clips of the concert I attended last night as the "Music Video of the Week". In this case, we'll make it Music VideoS of the week.

I'll probably write more about the concert experience soon, but for now I hope you'll enjoy these fairly high quality excerpts from the first Oklahoma show Bruce Springsteen has done since 1976.

"The Rising"/"Born to Run"
Bruce Springsteen


"The Wrestler"
Bruce Springsteen


"Dancing in the Dark"
Bruce Springsteen


"I'm on Fire"
Bruce Springsteen

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I have really been in the mood to write, but my damn wrist is still hurting. Not as much as it was a few days ago but enough to where I can tell it will flare back up if I type a lot. I thought, for awhile, that it might be carpal tunnel. Who knows, it may be. But it seems to be more on the back of the hand and the pinky finger than the wrist. The ring finger hurts, too, and I have no doubt it's because I have to press the backspace key so much. Hell, that could be the whole problem, right there. Could be posture, hand placement, just plain inexperience with keyboarding. Who knows? I guess it would be best if I let it rest for a while longer.

I did want to tell you that I watched the "new" Charlie Kaufman film, "Synechode New York" (new to DVD). I rented it on the strength of Kaufman and Philip Seymour Hoffman, both of whom have rarely disappointed. It's a very difficult, demanding movie. I kept waiting for some kind of resolution, a point where everything came together and made it all make sense...but I don't that really happens in this film. To an extent it does, but there's too much going on to make for a tidy ending. I wasn't sure I liked it, even up to about the 2/3rds mark. But when it was over I decided I should see it again before coming to any definitive viewpoint. I'm inclined to say that, yes, I really do like it. And I have a feeling I will really enjoy it by the time the second screening is over. Might even like to own it. Fuckin' Charlie Kaufman. Why is he so good?

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Music Video of the Week: The Wedding Present

"Brassneck"
The Wedding Present

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