La Musica
A Troubadour Indeed
Beware, this is a dense one. I wasn’t planning to write anything before my upcoming trip to Europa. Partly malaise, partly uninspired- what’s a growing boy to do?
When I originally made this Substack, I used “Troubadour Krogstad” as a working title until I thought of something better… it doesn’t look like I can change the name now, as I see it glaring at me in the URL. To live up to the name, a troubadour I must be (a favorite word Tenacious D’s “History,” maybe also in Chaucer’s “The Canterbury Tales” #HighSchoolEnglish).
As a follow up to my last post- there are several updates worth mentioning. Thank the lord, I finally finished Plato’s Republic. What a chore! Its too long, me wanting to bang my head into something sturdy after each 2-3 page increment. Now that that painful ordeal is over, I am free to read something better. I’ve just begun Anthony Bourdain’s “A Cook’s Tour,” which I am thoroughly enjoying. Anthony, less his unfortunate end, lived for years surrounded by what I want as well, described as “Good food, good company, exotic ambiance, and an element of adventure.”
I began reading this after needing a break from Paramahansa Yogananda’s “Autobiography of a Yogi,” a book my dad read junior year of HS, introducing me to the yogi when I was around the same age. I have gotten a lot out of meditating at the yogi’s Self Realization Lake Shrine in the Palisades, telling people how your brain feels like it has taken a bath and is cleansed by the time you leave. I am all for mindfulness & spirituality. However, the yogi comes across as an untrustworthy narrator in his autobiography. When you tell me yogis practicing kriya yoga can learn to levitate, rejuvenate arms that were previously severed, produce body doubles (think Luke Skywalker, episode 9), and not eat, I have a problem, many problems. The law of Conservation of Mass has not yet made itself known to Hinduism. I find it interesting that Paramahansa and the other yogis are Hindu, a religion that makes claims, as religions do, of certain truths. And so, miracles are performed by Hindus, lending credence to their beliefs. Christians also claim miracles have been performed, showing the truth of their own religion. However, Christianity and Hinduism are mutually exclusive; they can’t both be true! And yet, people are disregarding Newtonian physics in each; flying, resurrecting, multiplying food, the whole nine yards. It’s more plausible, of course, that the laws of physics are not being suspended for either religion, much less, solely in ways that reinforce their existing beliefs. All that to say, my admiration for Paramahansa’s teachings have decreased a wee bit.
Second Update: I have made myself marginally less useless in the kitchen. Some Chef Joel highlights include grilled lobster tail cooked in a spiced butter sauce & southern smothered pork chops. We just celebrated Mardi Gras- I made fried catfish po’ boys, grilled oysters, and decorated a king cake ordered straight from the horse’s mouth, as they say.
If I do not own a house in New Orleans by this time next year, please know my sorrow will be great.
Trois: I have my April trip booked & half planned. With a layover in NY (I ponied up for the laydown seats on JetBlue Mint. Thank you Amex), I’m off to Madrid to be amongst my ancestral people. I’ll spend several days there before taking a train to Seville. Once I’ve had my fill of Spain, I’ll fly to Edinburgh, and take a train to Inverness in the Scottish Highlands and proceed to be cold. My parents will join me in Inverness, staying in an OG BnB, taking a tour of the Isle of Skye, and partaking in other ne’er-do-well activities. I’ll then fly to London and eat some scones with clotted cream and jam. Throughout, I’m excited to stay in hostels of varying comfort, to get the real backpacking experience.
Now for August, I either want to go to Indonesia & Thailand- for the beach, Buddha, noodles, temples, Thai boxing- or I kinda might wanna go to Peru (Cusco maybe?). Who knows.
Quatrième: I moved from Culver City to Santa Monica. Not gonna lie, life could be worse.
The good world citizen that I am, I am not a big fan of Russia right now. Hypothetically, one can donate to charities that help the Ukrainian military. The below Ukrainian 155mm howitzer shell with a Lord Farquad quote from Shrek: I have nothing to do with that…
The Lord (Shiva & Ganesh, mind you) knows I digress. Music et al below:
2023 was a year of music. The problem with loving classic rock is that most of the artists I want to see are either dead, deathly, not performing, and/or, septuagenarians. In order, to the best of my memory, I saw the below in the last year-ish:
Joe Satriani: The Orpheum, 25th birthday
The only rock show that has ever started on time. Less hair than in the 80s, Joe still shreds. A two-hour instrumental only rock show ain’t everybody’s cup of tea. I liked.
Chicago: The Greek Theatre
I only knew 3-5 Chicago songs before seeing them with my parents, including one of my favorite songs, “Questions 67 & 68.” Only three of the n original members are still part of the band, including two of the 3 iconic brass section. It’s hard to imagine you’d want to perform many of the same songs for 50 years, but having the opportunity to is quite the accomplishment. I’d like to see another group try to do rock, jazz, brass fusion, and have people want to listen to it more than once. My dad said beforehand that he’s not much of a fan of Chicago, but I think it might be due to their mushy 80s ballads. Their 70s material is one huned 💯
The Jason Bonham Led Zeppelin Experience: The Greek, 26th birthday
If you were the son of Led Zeppelin’s drummer, I wouldn’t blame you for building a career playing his music. Unfortunately, Jason Bonham is not quite as good as his dad. Maybe technically as sound, but he lacks the distinctive sound (and mustache and bucket hat). BUT, the show was still really good. My only other complaint, maybe a big one, was that the singer, trying to sing in Robert Plant’s register, had to sing in falsetto the entire time, which does not sound good. It would be better to have a singer that naturally sings in a higher register. Ah well.
Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me: The Greek
Not music, but- I have been listening to NPR’s Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me since I was single digits years old: sitting in a rear seat of the OG family Toyota Sienna, driving past UCLA coming home from church. I have waited most of my life for Wait Wait to come to LA- the show a staple in Chicago. There’s a lot to unpack (“unpack” being in my top 5 most hated corporate words) with this show, but this is not an NPR apologist blog. Though, I would die for Bill Kurtis. Those who know, know.
Sammy Hagar and the Circle: The Cabo Wabo, Cabo San Lucas
This deserves a post of its own. I’ll be as succinct as possible:
Two nights at the JW, free with Bonvoy points. Incredible view, super villain lair. So much amazing Mexican food. Tequila tasting hour, talked with non-insane Texans. Free margaritas for Bonvoy happy hour. $35USD sunscreen, risked melanoma to spite the hotel. Sammy Hagar’s 76th Birthday Bash at his Cabo Wabo. Incredible. Lots of decibels. Jason Bonham is the drummer. So much fun. Lots of boomers.
I don’t need to see him again, but since he announced a tour with Joe Satriani, now I have to in August :/
Yes: The Wiltern
Yes is a unique & amazing group. Unlike much of Western pop music, which often progresses like ABABCB -verse, chorus, verse, chorus, breakdown/interlude, chorus- Yes wrote many songs that are pretty linear. Some of their best songs instead resemble what classical music’s structures are, with successive movements, a one-way journey.
Their music is also far more intricate than much of classic rock, with a standout organ/keyboardist & bassist, often not the highlight of rock. Maybe an understatement… Rick Wakeman is perhaps the best keyboardist & pianist in 20th century popular music.
The only original member still in the group is the guitarist, Steve Howe. So, it’s a stretch to say that the group is still Yes. A perfect example of The Ship of Theseus; at what point is Yes not Yes when its members are replaced? Steve Howe is quite the guy though; a frail looking 70 something year old; he quickly changes between 2 or 3 different guitars, what looks to be a medieval lute, opening the show playing a pedal steel guitar. The man must weigh no more than 100 pounds. Very happy to see him in the flesh while he’s still at it.
Queen & Adam Lambert: BMO Stadium
Part of Hammer to Fall ^
Like the Sammy Hagar show, this deserves its own post. No way I’m doing that though, I can’t do it justice. Brian May still rocks the same hair. Adam Lambert is as flamboyant as Freddie Mercury, as powerful a singer. I have several main thoughts:
Ever since I saw them in 2019, I knew my parents HAD to see them.
This was perhaps the best concert I have ever been to. You feel in the presence of living legends, or at least I did. You feel a part of an all immersive, maybe even emotional experience (cringe). You feel like you’re witnessing and part of something special.
The Queen theatrical & pyrotechnic budget is near infinite dollars.
Lastly, LA winters are no joke man. Here’s a recent picture of the Dr. and me. Not seen is my anxiety while my dad uses both hands & both eyes to take pictures on a two-way bike path.
Adios until I’m back from wherever I’m going.