By Jimmy “Hambone” Hamilton
“Stop, hey, what’s that sound? Everybody look what’s goin’ down!”
Crosby Stills Nash and Young blasted out those immortal words almost 40 years ago during a time of intense musical revolution.
The doo-wop 50’s had given way to the sugary pop of the early to mid 60’s. Finally, just when the youth of America could stomach no more “Yummy yummy yummy, I’ve got love in my tummy,” popular music started growing a social conscience.
All of the sudden, giving a damn was cool. Music that stood for something escaped the coffee houses and took to the streets. Hair started growing and minds started expanding. Even the Beatles quit wanting to hold your hand, and asked us to Come Together. And did we ever!
We came together in clubs and theatres. We came together in giant sports arenas. We camped out in fields by the thousands as the beautiful sound washed over our dirty smiling faces. You truly had to be there.
So what’s that got to do with today? Just some more flashback hooey from another burned out old geezer? Maybe so. Or maybe, just maybe, it’s the tiny little spark that kindles the flame of a brand new music revolution; one that’s fueled by a new generation of young people with fresh ideas and passions.
Wow …..excuse me while I breathe into a paper sack for a minute. My zeal was getting ahead of my rear end a little bit. (As it so often does)
Sure, you look around at the current St. Joe music scene and say …. well, fair enough, I guess you say, “What music scene?” OK, you may have a point, but just because there’s not much of a music scene here today, DOESN’T MEAN WE CAN’T HAVE ONE!!!!
I see a day in the not too distant future where local clubs offer a variety of quality live music every night of the week. Where the best local bands return from tours around the country to play sold out homecoming shows at the Rendezvous. Where up and coming regional acts fill the HiHo to overflow capacity.
I see a day when every time a BIG group announces an upcoming national tour, we’ll know they’re coming here, because St. Joe will be known in the industry for jamming the Civic Arena for name acts.
What’s old Hambone smokin’ you want to know? Sure, “It’s all part of my Rock and Roll Fantasy”. I admit it. But it doesn’t have to stay a fantasy. In fact, we have the power to make it a reality. We just have to make a few changes.
For starters, get off the couch and go support your local rock bands and musicians. Check The Regular Joe’s Calendar, go online or ask a friend. See whose playing where, turn off season whatever of The Real Life, and go have a real life of your own! Turn off your damn I-pod, take the earbuds out and experience music as a group activity for a change.
Take a night off from playing Rock and Roll Hero and go see some real, in the flesh, Rock and Roll Heroes. Pay the damn covercharge! “Ain’t nothin’ like the real thing, baby.” By all means, clap. “Jump, shout, let it all out.” Holler for more if you want. Buy a beverage and tip your waitress or bartender, they work hard for the money. A relatively low price buys you a one of a kind night out, filled with people, entertainment and possibilities.
Use a designated driver or call a cab if you need to.
Important. When you go back to work or school, ask all your friends, “Where were you?” “It was awesome!”
Even more important. Next week, do it again and take your friends with you.
That’s really all there is to it. Before you know it local bands are doing well enough to quit their jobs waiting tables to play full time. They get tighter and tighter until pretty soon a band you know gets signed and goes big time.
Club owners see the benefit of booking the best talent and are willing to pay a fair price to get it. The word gets out and better bands want to play here.
St. Joe develops a reputation for a kick ass music scene and the big touring acts add us as a must stop destination.
Then, in the summer, The Regular Joe puts on the first “JoeStock” out at Horseshoe Lake. A whole weekend of camping, Peace, Love, and Rock ‘n Roll. I can see it all now. There I am on stage with the microphone. “Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome to the stage…Lynard Skynard! Or maybe the Red Hot Chili Peppers,…or hell, maybe Hannah Montana, I don’t know. But listen, I’m telling ya, I can see it!
“Well you can say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one. I hope someday you will join us, and the world will live as one.”
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