| Rock 'n' roll is here to stay | |
| Date | April 07, 2010 |
| Section(s) | Generations |
| Byline | By LINDSEY ADKISON The Brunswick News |
|
The Rolling Stones said best: "It's only rock 'n' roll, but I like it."
The lyric is short, simple and dead-on. Several generations have agreed on
it.
Rock 'n' roll is something that has transcended time and space. It started
with the likes of Buddy Holly and Little Richard.
After them came The Beatles and then Led Zeppelin.
While many think that young adults today don't appreciate their parents'
music, that's simply not the case.
Like many children whose parents came of age with the Woodstock Generation,
Jessica Holloway has a thing for classic rock. It has played a huge role in the
life of the 28-year-old St. Simons Island resident.
"I was raised by a hippie-turned-pastor father, so we had all these great
influences, like The Doors, The Beatles, The Stones," she said.
But that wasn't the only type of music that Holloway picked up at home.
In addition to rock 'n' roll, she listened to gospel and folk music.
"We also listened to John Prine, as well. And other good folk music, like Bob
Dylan. There was just a huge variety," she said.
The mix helped Holloway come into her own as a musician. She plays the
keyboard and sings with the local group Marshland Groove. Her performance style
mimics her musical upbringing. That is, it mixes a little bit of everything.
"The huge variety totally influenced the way I play music. I call it
'eclectic soul.' That's the best way I can describe it. It's my parents kind of
music with a bluesy, Bonnie Raitt-ish feel to it. But I try to take a song and
make it mine," she said.
While she brings her individual style to her work, she thinks that old-school
rock will continue to influence musicians.
"I don't think that classic rock will ever die. It was the first of its kind.
No one had see anything like that before. All of the pop music now is just a
version of a classic," she said.
Jared Kuykendall agrees. The lead singer of the local band Honey Blue says
all music is an evolution.
"No one has come out with a completely new type of music. It all draws from
previous generations. So I would have to say there isn't a gap. The music of
today is just an evolution of our parents'," he said. "Mainstream and
non-mainstream musicians have influences from the generations of artists prior
to them."
He also thinks that pinning down the "music of today" is easier said that
done.
"There are what I would refer to as 'MTV artists,' like Lady Gaga, Kanye
West, and The Black Eyed Peas," he said.
"But there are artists that have a strong following that aren't a part of the
mainstream. Some that I personally listen to are Wilco, The Avett Brothers, and
Blitzen Trapper. Because of the Internet, bands whose sound does not fit in with
those on mainstream radio and television have another way to find an audience."
Kuykendall and Honey Blue have a lot of different influences. They draw from
alt-country acts like Ryan Adams, Wilco, The Old 97's and The Jayhawks.
But the group also relies heavily on the standard classic rock bands like The
Beatles, Rolling Stones and Neil Young.
"The Beatles and Neil Young are the two artists that my parents listened to
that are the biggest influence on me. I can remember listening to 'The White
Album' when I was 7 or 8 years old. At the same time I was listening to more
recent artists, like MC Hammer and Michael Jackson," Kuykendall said.
"The bands of my parents' generation have had a more lasting influence. I
still listen to those albums today. The kind of music that was popular when I
was younger only held my interest for a few years."
| |
Saturday, April 6, 2013
Rock and Roll is Here to Stay
Boomers Reflect on Icon
| Baby boomers contemplate meaning of a rock icon's milestone | |
| Date | June 27, 2012 |
| Section(s) | Generations |
| Byline | By LINDSEY ADKISON The Brunswick News |
|
Marcia Marinello was a teenager when she first laid eyes on a baby-faced Paul
McCartney and the rest of the Fab Four. The year was 1964.
Marinello, then growing up in Illinois, went to one of the Beatles' first
American concerts, at the Arie Crown Theater in Chicago. It is still a vivid
memory for the Darien resident.
"There were about 13,000 screaming kids. We were all pretty close to the
stage. That time was fairly early in their career, and it was their first U.S.
tour. Everyone sang the songs with them," she said.
But Marinello had the rare opportunity to see the greatest rock band in
history perform live not just once, but twice. She also took in their show in
1965 at Comiskey Park, then the home of the Chicago White Sox. It was a lucky
thing, as the road-weary group put an end to touring in 1966.
Marinello remembers the show being considerably larger than the first.
"There were probably 50,000 kids or more at that concert. They did have big
screens up, but the screams were so loud, nobody really heard anything. The
atmosphere was so electric, you didn't need to hear very well. We were all so
caught up in the moment," she said.
"I went with a group of girls, and we all baked cakes and brought them to the
concert for the Beatles to eat. We were so naive. I had binoculars with me to
see the stage better, and I remember almost being strangled by my younger cousin
who just had to see Ringo close up."
At the time Marinello and her pals took in the show, all of the Beatles were
in their early 20s. John Lennon and Ringo Starr - the elder members - were both
24 in 1964. McCartney was 22, and George Harrison was 21. Fast forward 48 years,
and two of the Beatles have died. Lennon was murdered in 1980 and Harrison died
of cancer in 2001.
The other two Beatles are now in their 70s. In fact, McCartney just marked
his 70th birthday June 18. Ringo Starr will ring in his 72nd on July 7.
For many baby boomers like Marinello, the fact the Beatles are officially
senior citizens is still a bit surreal. It seems especially hard to accept that
McCartney, who was branded the "cute Beatle," is now an "old man."
"It's hard to believe he is 70, since he looks so good and certainly acts
like a younger person," she said.
It is true McCartney, and Starr, for that matter, have continued to rock well
into what could have been their retirement years. But Marinello feels they are
just shining examples of a generation that refuses to be defined by conventional
stereotypes.
"Growing up in the '60s was such a different experience from what our parents
and grandparents went through. I remember participating in the protests, whether
it was for civil rights, saving the whales, ending the war or equality for
women," she said.
"What sobers me up is when I look back and start counting how many years ago
all that took place. I think most boomers are young at heart. If I don't look in
the mirror, I don't really think about my age. I still have a lot of living to
do."
That is a view shared by many boomers, a demographic of the post-World War II
baby boom between the years 1946 and 1964. Many don't feel or even look their
ages.
Local musician Eddie Pickett is one boomer who thinks staying active is the
best way to outsmart Father Time.
In his case, Pickett says music has kept him young.
"When I actually stop and take time to reflect on my life and actual age in
years, it can be sobering. But in my mind, and especially in terms of my musical
journey, I don't feel like I am really getting older. Â In fact, I actually
become more excited to think of what my next musical experience will entail.
That makes me feel young," he said. Â
He feels the same is likely true for McCartney.
"When I think of his age, in terms of actual years, it is hard to believe.
Where did time go? However, when I listen to his musical talent and his timeless
tunes, I lose sense of time. The music never stops. It continues on and still
keeps growing," Pickett said.
It can be argued the power of musical creativity can stave off the aging
process. Many musicians, even very wealthy rockers like members of the Rolling
Stones, the Who and Aerosmith, have chosen to continue to live in the spotlight
rather than fade into obscurity. Pickett can understand that. He feels music
helps to reinvigorate both performers and fans.
"The whole lifestyle of creating, performing, self expression, must have a
positive impact on your life and spirituality. Audiences are typically younger
at larger venues and the exuberance of the crowd has to have an impact on the
performer," he said.
"The crowds are also dotted with baby boomers - who have quite possibly never
grown up. Â The atmosphere relating to music is refreshing and rejuvenating -
downright rejoicing. How could it not make one feel young at heart?"
Sharon Proudfoot, a younger boomer, is another who rarely dwells on her
numerical age. But McCartney's recent birthday did force her to remember it.
"It's hard for me to think of him as 70 because my parents are in their 70s.
I listen to Beatles' and Paul McCartney & Wings' music all of the time.
I guess, unless I am playing it myself, I am finding it on an oldies station.
That should give me a clue," she said.
Staying engaged and active, like McCartney, has helped many of the baby
boomer generation stay fit - both physically and mentally. It's something
Proudfoot says she sees a lot in the Golden Isles.
"We have so many retirees or people who have left big-city life for
resort-community life. They're active and involved. Our community is fortunate
to have these folks," she said.
And it's something she tries to do herself by connecting with youngsters.
"I teach preschool Sunday School and work with children and youth at my
church, First Baptist Church St. Simons Island, and they definitely keep me
young - forcing me to keep up with their interests and language," she said.
Staying busy and active could be the trick that's keeping the children of the
'60s so hip. And it's something Sir Paul McCartney has done with his trademark
style and grace.
"His music is timeless and I think it's helping him stay that way, too,"
Proudfoot said.
| |
Paying Tribute to the Beatles
| Artists inspired for Beatles tribute | |
| Date | September 29, 2011 |
| Section(s) | Our Town |
| Byline | By LINDSEY ADKISON The Brunswick News |
|
Lois Henry remembers that electric night in 1964 when the Beatles debuted on
the Ed Sullivan Show. Ever since, she's been an avid fan.
"I think that we liked their long hair and the fact that our parents didn't
like their long hair," she said.
When Henry had children of her own, she shared the love of the group with
them.
"My children have always been music fans and especially Beatles' fans. I
really like that," she said.
There are many families with the same story. The Fab Four has continued to
captivate audiences of various ages throughout the decades. In fact, it's this
interest that still surrounds the band that intrigued members of the Golden
Isles Arts and Humanities Association. Many of its members are just as
fascinated with the group.
That's why it decided to kick off the 2011-2012 Performing Arts Series with a
big fete honoring the Lads from Liverpool. There will be an art exhibit, titled
the "Magical Mystery Tour," featuring works of artists inspired by the Beatles.
When the association put out a call for artists months ago, Henry couldn't
resist. The owner of Color Me Happy in downtown Brunswick created a plate with
her interpretation of John Lennon's self portrait along with her favorite quote.
"It's my favorite John Lennon quote but also just my overall favorite - 'life
is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans,'" she said. "So I
wrote that on the plate."
Like Henry, Ian Kaszans couldn't wait to create something for the show.
"My dad was a big Beatles fan, so I can remember the upbeat music throughout
my childhood," he said. "As an artist, I am inspired by different opportunities
to create images. The 'Magical Mystery Tour' exhibit allowed me to focus on the
era and message of the Beatles, and to create three different ideas in three
different mediums."
Kaszans has submitted an illustration, a mixed media wood carving and a
watercolor painting. For all three, Kaszans was able to create bold images with
plenty of 1960s-esque inspiration.
In addition to Henry and Kaszans, the exhibit will feature an eclectic array
of more than 30 artistic interpretations by artists of all ages. Rob Nixon
expects a huge variety.
"Local artist Anne Goodstein submitted a collage based on the song 'She's
Leaving Home' from the Sgt. Peppers album, and her company, H2O Creative Group,
is doing a photo reminiscent of the Abbey Road cover," Nixon said.
"Painter Lanny Brewster has created a landscape inspired by 'Lucy in the Sky
with Diamonds.' Athens-based musician Rob McMaken with the group Dromedary,
which has played at the Ritz and elsewhere in Brunswick a number of times,
contributed a photo montage of his 2-year-old son Finnegan, who one day put
together an impromptu shrine to the Beatles in his room."
There will be 10 to 15 pieces from the art class at Brunswick High School, as
well. In fact, Nixon himself felt compelled to get in on the exhibit. He created
a mock-up of a paperback book that is a takeoff on the song "Paperback Writer"
referencing different Beatles songs, either in lyrics or titles.
The exhibit is not the only way GIAHA is paying homage to the biggest band of
all time. On Oct. 7, the same night as the gallery opening, the group will play
host to the tribute band Yesterday.
The response has big huge, he said.
"We've been getting a lot of calls and drop-ins for tickets, even before
publicity has gotten out there very widely. So word of mouth has already caught
on big. It looks like this is going to be a very popular show, so we're advising
people to get their tickets early," he said.
That's because the staying power of the Beatles will likely bring in a huge
crowd eager to celebrate the band's legacy.
"The Beatles remain the most influential and best-known group of all time,
and their appeal cuts across generations. People who were around in the '60s
still love them, and there have been new generations since then who love the
music and everything the Beatles represented," Nixon said. "It's not just
nostalgia - it's music that is still very much alive and fresh for people all
over the world."
Check it out
* Beatles Night in downtown Brunswick will begin with an opening reception
for the Magical Mystery Tour art exhibit from 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 7 at the Ritz
Theatre, 1530 Newcastle St., Brunswick. The pieces will be on display from 10
a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday through
Oct. 29. Admission to the exhibit is free.
* The celebration continues with Yesterday: A Tribute to The Beatles at 8
p.m. Oct. 7 at the Ritz. Tickets are $15 to $25 adults and $10-$20 seniors,
depending on member status and date of purchase. For those 18 and under tickets
are $5. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 262-6934 or visit
www.goldenislesarts.org.
| |
Will you Still Need Me, Will you Still Feed Me?
| When I'm 64 | |
| Date | September 15, 2010 |
| Section(s) | Generations |
| Byline | By LINDSEY ADKISON The Brunswick News |
| Paul McCartney was 15 years old when he started playing around with the music
and lyrics to the Beatles' hit "When I'm Sixty-Four." It was meant to be a
salute to his musician father (who was actually only 54 when the song was
written) and his 1920s-era cabaret style.
The younger "narrator" in the song envisions an idyllic life growing old with
his love. He seeks a long-term promise of commitment and wants reassurance that
she will still "need him" when he's 64. When McCartney penned those now iconic
verses more than four decades ago, 64 seemed far away and a distant expectation.
But time has a way of changing things. McCartney, himself, is now 68, and
even though he's led a charmed life, it certainly hasn't been perfect.
He lost his first wife, Linda, to cancer. Two of his Beatles band mates have
died, one violently. He went through a messy divorce from Heather Mills a few
years back.
Of course, he still has plenty of money and fame. But it just goes to show
that life is never predictable. Even all the wealth in the world can't guarantee
happiness.
Like McCartney, others who grew up with the song are reaching their 64th
years. The oldest of the baby boomers, who were 21 years old when the Beatles
released "When I'm Sixty-Four" in 1967 on their "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts
Club Band" album, this year are, in fact, 64.
Like the former Beatle himself, many have taken twists and turns on the road
of life. Now they have a different take on the classic tune than they did when
they were younger.
Gary Share, owner of City Music is not quite 64, but he is a self-proclaimed
Beatles fanatic. The song has a special meaning for him now.
"I remember when Paul McCartney turned 64. I thought that it was pretty cool.
He's still singing that song. I think it's cool that he's still singing that
song. I'm sure when he wrote it, he never thought he'd be singing it at that
age," Share said.
He's also noticed that his view on the song has changed, too. There is one
line in particular that strikes him differently: "Grandchildren on your knee."
"It's neat the way your views change on things. When, in the song, he's
talking about having the grandchildren on your knee ... I've got seven
grandchildren now and one on the way," he said.
"That's become more important to me. Those are the real gifts in life, much
more important than things. Things change as you get older."
Lanny Grammar, who teaches drums and percussion, feels the same. His daughter
will have his first grandchild in the spring. He thinks that the song is a
timeless testament to the aging process.
"It really is timeless and it transcends all the decades. It's still a great
song and a great message. I mean, let's face it, 'will you still need me when
I'm 64?'"
Doug Lampkin's views on the song have changed since he first heard it in
1967.
"I was 17 or 18 when it came out, and I was living in Virginia. It was a hip
place to be. Virginia Beach was one of the hippest places on the East Coast," he
said.
"I was playing in a rock band, so that song had some weight on me. At the
time, I honestly didn't think I'd live that long."
Lampkin and his wife Patrice own Murphy's Tavern on St. Simons Island. Now he
is 62 and will reach the milestone in just two years.
"It was more light-hearted when I was younger. I loved the song, but I never
related to it back then," he said. "I can definitely relate to it a lot more
now. It gives you a nostalgic look back now."
Think about it
Some lyrics of "When I'm Sixty-Four" to ponder:
* "When I get older losing my hair,/Many years from now./Will you still be
sending me a Valentine/Birthday greetings bottle of wine."
* "... Will you still need me, will you still feed me,/When I'm sixty-four."
* "You'll be older too,/And if you say the word,/I could stay with you."
* "... We shall scrimp and save/Grandchildren on your knee."
| |
Seniors Face Uncertain Future
| Facing an uncertain future | |
| Date | March 24, 2010 |
| Section(s) | Generations |
| Byline | By LINDSEY ADKISON The Brunswick News |
|
Like millions of others (or about 25 percent of the nation's population),
she is in foreign territory.
"My parents never worried that Medicare or Social Security would not be there
for them when they reached the age of 65 and older. That's all I think about,"
she said.
Davis is also concerned about her children and grandchildren.
"My father always said that each generation would see a brighter future than
the one before. Today that is not true. I worry terribly for my children and
grandchildren. The debts that have been placed on them by our government are
enormous," Davis said.
There is also the trouble of retirement funds for the boomers themselves.
Many of those persons born between 1946 and 1964 are hoping to exit the work
force in the near future. But a recession-sparked volatile economy has left
Davis questioning whether she and her peers will be able to retire.
"There is little return on the money that we saved for our future and the
future of our children. Instead of being able to enjoy retirement and the
remaining years of our life, we will be living frugally to make sure we will not
become a burden on our children. Right now, it looks as if our children's
generation will be swapping diapers for Depends. What a legacy," she said.
But it is possible to retire in a difficult financial climate. Mike and Joy
Elliott have recently done it. Of course, it took a lot of work.
"Joy and I planned our retirement and saved before the economy went bad. We
were hurt during the initial downturn of the stock market. However, we have
recovered as the market has recovered," Mike Eliliott said.
"We did not do something stupid like pull all our money out. We had some big
losses that will never recover, such as Lehman Brothers. We have worked hard to
be debt free."
But the Elliots have definitely noticed the effect the economy is having on
other baby boomers.
"Many will be working much longer, which will continue to hurt younger
earners and cause the economy to remain stagnate. Older workers will not be
buying goods. They will be eliminating debt. They must recover the value lost in
the (stock) market," he said.
"They will save whatever is not required for subsistence or debt reduction.
If their plan was to have a big house and use real estate appreciation for their
savings, they will not retire for many years."
Boomers across the nation are doing just that.
Ed Van Herik, a spokesperson for the American Association of Retired Persons,
said the organization is seeing a large number of boomers holding off on
retirement or re-entering the work force.
"Retirement investments have suffered heavily, although some have seen it
come back. It was a significant amount (of money) that was lost," he said.
"All of the elements came together to create a series of situations that
caused a number of baby boomers to postpone retirement or rethink what
retirement means.
"It is not uncommon today to hear people say they'll be working longer or
taking a look at other options, like working a part-time job."
| |
Remembering the First Passover
| Passover | |
| Date | March 23, 2013 |
| Section(s) | Religion |
| Byline | By LINDSEY ADKISON The Brunswick News |
|
"This is where you put the matzah. There is a separate plate for the
matzah," she said, gesturing to a square plate. "And on this plate, you have a
boiled egg, a lamb bone, haroseth which is apple and nuts, bitter herbs,
horseradish."
She continued listing the items as she moved around the plate, naming each
item. "Everything has its place and it's all symbolic," Simpson said.
It's all part of the Seder (which means "order" in Hebrew) service which
accompanies one of the most important days in Judaism - Passover. Beginning
Monday, Simpson and Jews around the world will mark the week-long celebration
which commemorates the Hebrews exodus out of Egypt. It will begin at sundown,
with the Passover Seder.
For Simpson and other members of Temple Beth Tefiloh in Brunswick, the meal
will be a time to reflect on the story of their ancestors. The Seder is a ritual
performed by a community or by generations of a family.
Simpson says that a visiting rabbi, Rabbi Marshal Klaven, and student rabbi
Matt Zerwekh, representatives of the Southern Institute of Jewish Life, will
conduct the service when they arrive in Brunswick as a park of their Passover
pilgrimage.
"They are going throughout the South, visiting temples that don't have a
resident rabbi," she said. "So this year, we will have a community seder."
During the service, they will continue the practice that has been a tradition
dating back thousands of years. And the items involved in the service help to
underscore the history and trials of the Hebrew people.
Simpson says everything used - from the matzah or unleven bread to the
parsley or bitter herbs - has a meaning. Each item is used to reinforce the
story of Moses and the Exodus.
Approximately 3,300 years ago, as told in the first 15 chapters of the Book
of Exodus, Moses was a prince among the Egyptians after being rescued from the
Nile by a princess. He was really the son of a Hebrew slave girl who placed him
in a basket, sending him downstream and hopefully to a better life. Once Moses
grew up, he observed the harsh treatment of the Hebrews under Egyptian rule and
learned of his true origin. Then, Moses decided to join the Hebrew slaves.
God favored Moses and chose him to lead the Hebrews out of bondage. God sent
nine plagues on the land of Egypt. When the Pharaoh still refused to let the
Hebrews leave, God sent the 10th plague - the death of the first born son of all
Egyptians. To avoid falling victim to the Angel of Death, God commanded Moses
and the Hebrews to slaughter and eat a roasted paschal lamb which symbolizes the
Passover sacrifice. God also instructed the Hebrews to spread the blood of the
paschal lamb on the door posts and on the beam above the door of their houses.
This was a signal to the angels to pass over the Hebrews' homes.
Since then, Jews have marked this event at the Passover Seder. For the first
half of the Seder, each participant will only need a plate and a wine glass. At
the head of the table is a Seder plate containing various symbolic foods that
will be eaten or pointed out during the course of the Seder.
Other parts of the meal include dishes of salt water used to represent tears
of the Hebrews. Each member also has a Haggadah, a small book explaining the
course of the dinner. Candles are also used and a door is commonly left open to
welcome in the prophet Elijah.
All of these aspects, Simpson says, help to reinforce the important story of
faith.
"It gives us a chance every year to honor our history and remember where we
came from," she said.
* Lifestyle Editor Lindsey Adkison writes about
lifestyle topics. Contact her at ladkison@thebrunswicknews.com, on Facebook or
at 265-8320, ext. 316.
Breakout:
What's on a seder plate?
* Maror and Chazeret: two types of bitter herbs, symbolizing the bitterness
and harshness of the slavery. For maror, many people use freshly grated
horseradish or whole horseradish root. Chazeret is typically romaine lettuce,
whose roots are bitter-tasting.
* Charoset: This is sweet, brown, pebbly paste of fruits and nuts,
representing the mortar used by the Jewish slaves to build the storehouses of
Egypt.
* Karpas: A vegetable other than bitter herbs, usually parsley but sometimes
something such as celery or cooked potato.
* Zeroa: A roasted lamb or goat bone, symbolizing the korban Pesach (Pesach
sacrifice), which was a lamb's blood used during the 10th plague.
* Beitzah: A hard boiled egg, symbolizing the korban chagigah (festival
sacrifice) that was offered in the Temple in Jerusalem and was then eaten as
part of the meal on Seder night.
| |
What to do When Tragedy Strikes
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