perfectly good guitar

[]
posted by tom / March 05, 2004 /

In celebration of Charles' birthday his folks treated him, Jon and me to tickets to see John Hiatt's last night of four sold-out performances at the Birchmere. I can never tell how many people know who John Hiatt is -- everybody's heard at least a couple of his songs, but he probably wasn't the one singing them. He seems destined to be one of those guys, like Warren Zevon, that will only get the credit he deserves when he's about to kick the bucket. Mark my words, we'll all be listening to a Hiatt medley sometime around the 2020 Grammies (most likely performed by Justin Diaz-Timberlake Jr. and MC ICanPutTheWordFuckInMyNameNow).

The show was great. I'd never seen him in concert before -- it was just him, with only an acoustic guitar and harmonica to defend himself. At least a third of the songs had completely new arrangements, and all of them were treated to some outstanding improvisation during fills and solos. You could practically see the new song ideas falling off the neck of the guitar as he whipped back and forth between jazzy digressions and anchoring, poppy major-chord stuff. Okay, I'll stop pretending like I know anything about music theory and just summarize: it was pretty great.

I'll try to avoid boring everyone with recitations of the stage banter I found so amusing in context. However, he did tell one noteworthy story about his high-school-age daughter hitting him up for tickets to go see Linkin Park. She went with some friends, who met up with a friend of theirs. The secondary friend was dead-drunk and hurt herself somehow; primary friends split to avoid trouble. Daughter goes through much personal anguish dealing with the authorities.

Anyway, I share this because as Hiatt told it, the moral of the story was that only dumb people go to Linkin Park shows. I have a feeling, though, that Jeff will take it more to mean that Linkin Park shows are a good place to meet drunk high school girls.

Comments

It'd say it's more that listening to Linkin Park is an emotional roller coaster ride... they carry you through the gamut of emotions that comprise the human condition, from terrifying low to dizzying high. If on occassion their work dabble into the macabre, the audience will embrace the affect. Let it fill them and become part of their being. And if this girl experienced "personal anguish", I doubt not that she is now a stronger, wiser person for it - better prepared to face each new day and it's unique rainbow of challenges. Really she should be thanking Chester Bennington and company. To listen to the Park is truly to stare into the eyes of God. Odd that Mr. Hiatt didn't have a similar interpretation.

Posted by: jeff on March 5, 2004 02:03 PM

Ok, so maybe the real moral of the story is that people who make up terms like "personal anguish" are dumb. But I don't think god's golden eye is about chester bennington, no matter how high his rail balance is.

Posted by: tom on March 5, 2004 03:20 PM

siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiick!

Posted by: jeff on March 5, 2004 09:43 PM

Linkin Park is just the perfect band. Great sounds and impressive lyrics

Posted by: Breyana on December 1, 2004 09:30 AM

Hey - kinda off topic, but what's the game called Chester is in? My friend wants to know.. So if anyone would be so kind to let me know - that would be great! Thanx. :)

Posted by: Sabine on June 6, 2005 01:17 PM

I don't think he's in it automatically -- the pictured image is one of the Tony Hawk Pro Skater games (not sure which one), which let you name and customize your own skater using a selection of presets for body, head, clothing, etc. It's pretty neat.

I don't think Mr. Bennington was built into the game per se -- what you see above is just somebody's personal efforts to put him in there.

Posted by: tom on June 6, 2005 01:29 PM

I've seen LP twice in concert and they're my FAVORITE band, they are incredible in condert, and their music is sooo amazing because you cxan relate to it, and becaus ethey out so much emtion into it and they music/lyrics have so much power in them. Linkin Park did help me.

Posted by: Amanda on June 10, 2005 07:32 AM

LP is my life :-)

Posted by: Papercut on June 15, 2005 04:06 AM

i love chester,he´s hot

Posted by: lpfan from brazil on June 16, 2005 02:33 PM

:P omg LP rock totally! Chester is my little cutie!! The band just totally rule!

Posted by: i_luv_chester on June 24, 2005 04:03 AM

Erm just to let you know the game is Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 and if u send me ur email i can send u every creation detail.

Yeah LP used to rock but now that their with J-Z they kinda lost it my favourite member was always Mike Shinoda though.. practiced for years rapping just like him. LP rock and i would give them a 10/10 and level 20's in my classes

Posted by: Death on July 25, 2005 04:15 PM

who here has ever met chester or mike i have!!!!!
they r so hot

Posted by: i_luv_chester_more_than_i_luve_chester_does on July 31, 2005 11:07 PM

I wanna meet chester soo bad! my buddies @ skool call me Chester's Gurl or Mrs. Bennington! lol.
has anyone ever seen Chester in a movie? He supposedly gets acting job offers b/c he's Chester from Linkin Park...i saw him in another bands music video? He played this mean guy who yelled at everybody...I thought it was kinda funny...anyway...Linkin Park ROX!!! I can't wait to get their new album next year!

PS...is anyone in the LPU? I am! look me up! my member name is insanelpmaniac

Posted by: Kaila on August 11, 2005 01:05 AM

Linkin park is perfect, perfect sound and perfect lyrics
this band just rulez!
it's the best band ever!

Posted by: Linkinparkero23 on February 21, 2006 07:06 PM

i met chester before and he is so hot sooooooo hot

Posted by: ali on February 27, 2006 11:54 PM

haha noooob with the noooob skater, do you even play online? nooooob

Posted by: on April 4, 2006 09:38 AM

escribanme chester bennigtong porfavor se lo ruego a mi e- mail bueno hasta luego chau cuidese bye...

Posted by: erick on April 6, 2006 11:52 PM

Chester Bennington is so fucking hot!!!
He is a god!!!He's songs are incredible!!!
I LOVE HIM!!!He is perfect!!!

Posted by: Martina on April 24, 2006 05:47 AM

i live in chester...hes hot!!!

Posted by: vatsal on May 17, 2006 12:13 AM

te amo chester eres la cosita mas linda, rica que hay en todo el mundo

te amo amo amo amo amo amo amo amo amo i love i love i love i love i love i love

soy tu fan y admiradora numero uno te amo

tu vos me encanta me mata en demasiado bacan, como te bistes todo de ti

Posted by: rouss on June 30, 2006 05:02 PM

i love chester te adora

fan n ° 1

linkin park la lleva 1.000.00.000.00.000.000.000.0000.000 infinitamente %


los mo xau

Posted by: rouss on June 30, 2006 05:05 PM

I love chester, te adoro

fan n° 1 del chester y mike

linkin park la lleva 1.000.000.000.000.000.000.000.000.000.000.infinitamente %
atte ROUSS

Posted by: rouss on June 30, 2006 05:19 PM

I'm love ChesTer.I'm Thai.THis year I'm 14.Will Linkin Park have a New allbum.I'm wait...........
I'm want to Listen.ChesTer is My life.

Posted by: Pon[G] on July 5, 2006 04:31 AM

Yeah, is sure is fine, but i dont just love him because he is hot, his talents are what really attract me to him, he has such an amazing voice and great personality, so does mike shinoda, come to think about, all of the linkin park band are amazingly talented.

Posted by: christina on September 4, 2006 06:32 AM

yeah chester is very hot,he has an amazing voice and his songs are incredible.i love him ever ever ever.lp is my life

Posted by: Anja on October 22, 2006 01:11 PM

Yeahh ,I LOVE LINKIN PARK ,they're just soooooo INCREDIBLE that makes me speechless !

I love Chester ,soooo in love T_T Ilove love love love with the "LOVE" cabled !!!!! He is SUCH AN ANGEL ,with pure voice and when he's screaming he's like a "fallen" angel >

Posted by: Fullmoon_91 on November 4, 2006 04:28 AM

linkin parkis beeeeest!!!!!!i love them sooooo much!!!!!!!!they roooock!!!!!!!!chester is best,i love him very much!!!!!!!

Posted by: bart simpson!!!! on November 15, 2006 01:00 PM

LP is da best band ever, they go from underground rap 2 Hardcore metal in bout 2 secs flat. i luv both so its great

Posted by: BESSIE on December 5, 2006 06:20 AM

i love linkin park, I tatuaje de linkin park en el pie

Posted by: fernando de España on December 5, 2006 12:17 PM

chester six admire very cool ... you remember six figooo... no matter . i tell my friends you are cool

Posted by: ammiratrice n°1 on January 21, 2008 12:27 PM

i't really i'm italian girl i'm alessia and.... I love you chester (c.c.b) you are figo .. remember

Posted by: ammiratrice n°1 on January 22, 2008 12:49 PM

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