Harry Smith – Day 1

April 26, 2001

Once again, I ended up at a concert at the last minute with ridiculously cool results. I found out that the Harry Smith Project was playing on campus at UCLA and I busted my ass to go get a ticket.

I didn’t even know who Harry Smith was (I do now) but look at this guest list: Elvis Costello, Beck, Richard Thompson, Daniel Lanois, Todd Rundgren, Marianne Faithfull, David Johansen, Phillip Glass, Bill Frisell, Steve Young, Eliza Carthy, Steve Earle, Eric Mingus… it was just a freakish amount of genius on one stage. I lucked out and got a 4th row seat at the box office. I was by myself, so there was this one lone chair that nobody wanted. Yay for me!

The concert was amazing. Brilliant talent in a wonderfully intimate hall, going through what seemed to be the entire history of American folk music. The big money talent was good, but the really amazing parts were seeing some of these unknown (to me) musicians perform these unknown (to me) songs that were immediately captivating. I really wanted to run out and by CDs by Steve Young and Eliza Carthy.

Five an a half hours of haunting beauty that I’ll never be able to replicate. Well, unless I end up going again tonight. This is practically a once in a lifetime opportunity. I can get those songs, but not by those performers, and I can get those performers, but not these peformances again… EVER. There’s a certain magic to that.

BUT, BUT on to the other insane highlights of my evening.

I was using the restroom when I notice Michael Richards mugging his way in. Interesting.

Then I walk into the lobby and right there in plain sight is The Edge. Just standing there, chatting it up. I NEVER interrupt celebrities, but I was compelled.

“Um, excuse me, um, Mr… um… Edge?”
“Yes?”
“Sorry interrupt, but I saw you last night at the Pond and you had a really great show.”

“Thanks.”
“You’re welcome. Enjoy the show.”

I backed away, and turned around just soon enough to practically run over Bono, who had just stepped into the lobby. Bono’s MAYBE 5’5″, so I was looking right past him when I turned around.

“Um, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to bump into you, um, Mr… um… Bono?”
“It’s alright.”
“I saw you last night and you guys put on a killer show.”

“Thanks.”
“Bye.”
“Enjoy the show.”
“Uh… um… you too… Mr… um… Bono.”

Yes, I become Stuttering Idiot Boy around U2. Can you blame me? As I walked away I took a few deep breaths and muttered “Don’t freak out.” The usher standing next to me thought I was talking to her. She stood there clutching a pen and a copy of the Daily Bruin, visibly shaking. “But I’m REALLY starting to freak out,” she said.

And then it hit me. I am clearly in the presence of Rock Stars.

After my random brush with U2, I finished off the marathon concert. After the show, Elvis Costello sat stageside and shook hands with everyone, signing a few items. Elvis is probably my favorite solo artist, so I ran up there and tried to get in on the conversation. He was mostly saying hello and thanks to all the fans that were there. He shook my hand and told me “Thanks for coming.” It was starting to be be a bit of a mob, so I got out of there.

But in six hours I met The Edge, Bono and Elvis Costello, in addition to a wonderfully unique musical experience.

Not a bad night.

Posted in From Blown Speakers