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Listening To Our Old Hippie Elders: Invoking Bill Graham’s Memory, Applying It Today
Hippies young and old were all decked out in their finest tie-dye t-shirts, tank tops, and do-rags in honor of the Bill Graham Memorial Foundation Concert Tuesday Night, where throw-back acts by Blues Traveler and the Spin Doctors were sandwiched by more classic 60s acts like Moonalice and Grateful Dead tribute band Dark Star Orchestra. I haven’t been to a show that featured jam band acts since my Bonnaroo days of yore, so I’d forgotten exactly what it looked like to be at Irving Plaza (Fillmore East) when the audience members are actually dancing. Of course, this type of dancing was of the quintessential jam-band, “hippie dance” variety, which, if you are unfamiliar with, I’ve taken the liberty of procuring a very informative and instructional video:
The night was notable for its age range. I bet you can’t find a hipster over 45, but guess what people, THERE ARE TONS OF OLD HIPPIES. And they’re really nice! Everyone was proud to be gathered in honor of rock promoting legend Bill Graham, and to know that their performances, and attendance was going to benefit a memorial fund designed to promote children interested in the arts and music. “This is all in honor of Bill Graham. Without him, who knows where rock music would be,” said G.E. Smith of Moonalice.
A voter registration table was manned with eager attendants asking concert goers, “Are you registered to vote?” as they browsed the merchandise booths. Apropos to the occasion, John Popper, paused after a few ridiculous, almost inhuman harmonica solos, laughed, and said to the crowd, “I wonder what Bill Graham would think of this current administration?” People cheered as they moved to the music, his words a reminder through the (slightly) dank air that the music they came to enjoy wasn’t only a cultural phenomenon thanks to its jams and festivals, but because of the political action it will always represent— regardless of what war, or what administration.
To contribute towards, or apply for a Bill Graham Memorial Foundation grant visit.
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