This year for my birthday, my brother and sister-in-law gave me tix to see Lyle Lovett at beautiful
Ravinia Festival. The last couple of years they have gone with us but this year it was just the two tix. I, of course, took my wonderful wife Gina and on Saturday evening we enjoyed a wonderful performance from Lyle and his Large Band.
We've seen Lyle Lovett a bunch of times (I think last night was the seventh) going back to 1992 at Red Rocks in Colorado. Lyle always backs himself with outstanding musicians and the shows are top notch.
His Large Band is aptly named and features horns, strings, backup singers, and other multi-instrumentalists. He is such an unselfish band leader, constantly giving his supporting musicians the chance to step up and solo, and always introducing them by name many times throughout the show.
Lyle gets lumped into being a country artist but that is denying the unmistakable rock, pop, jazz, gospel and big band influence as well. He is all of those things really. If you insist on genretization, we'll just say he is in the Lyle Lovett genre and leave it at that.
It's funny how different a Lyle Lovett show is from other bands that we enjoy, like
Gov't Mule who we are going to see this evening. Where performances by Gov't Mule or
The Allman Brothers Band are largely improvisational, Lyle Lovett shows seem to be impeccably rehearsed. I imagine trying to synchronize 18 folks on stage would make improvisation difficult. The only hint of unrehearsed content seems to be Lyle's between song banter, which is often hilarious.
So if you have never been to or heard of Ravinia Festival, it's a unique outdoor theater with both a pavilion and lawn area. What makes the lawn area unique is that it isn't a raised hill sort of thing, it's really just a flat area off to the side where you can sit and listen to the show. It's really just a picnic area that happens to be next to a concert pavilion. You bring your own chairs, tables, food, and such and hopefully the weather cooperates. They've got speakers placed around so you can hear the show, well usually - more about that soon.
There is something liberating about not being in a position to watch the performance and not fearing being in anyone's way. Not that it wouldn't be great to be up close to see what's happening, but it is a different way of enjoying the show.
Gina and I got there about 6pm and set up our area. Some chicken from the store, snacks, water, a candle, we were all set.
It's pretty much a free for all on the lawn. You claim your ground and others wander around trying to fill in the empty spaces with their own stuff. We were enjoying the lovely weather and such when a group of folks filled in next to us. I'll call them the rude people.
They weren't rude when they first sat down, they were actually quite friendly. I was concerned about having a large group sitting next to us as past experience has led me to believe that they will ultimately be loud during the show, but I thought it unfair to judge them, gave them the benefit of the doubt, and ultimately regretted it.
When the show started, it was still light out but most everyone had been there long enough to finish their meals and to have had a chance to do some catching up. I expected folks to sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.
But this group would have no such thing. They chatted, they laughed, they shrieked. They stopped to occasionally applaud when a song they may have been familiar with started, only to resume their inane conversations.
"Oh - I love this song - blah! blah! blah!"
I've never really understood this. A group of 10 at $20 /per plus parking, plus food, to sit at a concert and ignore the show that is happening around them. Why not stay home and listen to the CD and let us enjoy the show.
One woman was particularly loud.
OH MY GOD!!! OH MY GOD!!!
I guess they didn't see the sign.
Crowd noise is particularly annoying during a show like this when the band does a lot of quiet songs like Lyle does. I love his voice and want to hear every nuance of every note, not the shrieking of the folks sitting next to me, oblivious to everyone else around them.
But we still had a wonderful time, and look forward to going again next year.
SB
Big Thanks to Steve Hopson Photography at stevehopson.com for the Lyle Lovett Photo I found at Wikimedia.
I discovered Lyle by accident when the mail-order CD catalog sent me Joshua Judges Ruth instead of the Allman Brothers album I ordered. I liked it so I kept it, and refer to it occasionally. Not sure how he'd sound with a big band though; what I've heard can be quite personal and I enjoy the intimacy of the smaller productions. Still, summer picnics in the park with live music, Rock on! And stuff that loud woman's BBQ chicken leg down her throat next time.
BTW, I think I identified the lepidoptera in your front porch. I was going to post some more info, but the cat seems to think I'm spamming.
Joshua Judges Ruth is great but I also very highly recommend I Love Everybody, one of my faves.
His band isn't big - it's large
Are you having trouble commenting on Gina's Blog? Error messages?
Here's what I wanted to post:
http://www.silkmoths.bizland.com/scerisyi.htm
If my identifcation was correct, this page will tell you about the little neon green eggs and how to rear them,(if you want to of course). They probably won't survive long on fake foliage
I hope your Gov't Mule show is more enjoyable!
The Mule show was indeed very enjoyable - but more coming about that soon!!
SB
Be sure to check out my recent BYOBO for a good primer to get you started.
SB
Thanks for stopping by and for your comment - good to see you around.
Nice!
It's a great photo btw...
SB