Ain't No Sense In All Your Crying - Michael Hutchence

 

But you tore a hole in space
Like a dark star, falls from grace
You burn across the sky
And I would find you wings to fly
And I would catch you
I would catch your fall

1997 was a rough year for celebrity ... Jeff Buckley, Princess Diana, and our shining star, Michael Hutchence. Almost twenty-five years on, we still awe at his wonder and talent. We were sad by his early and public demise. His daughter, Tigerlilly, has grown into a philanthropic young woman that he would be so proud of. The band, while still popular in memory, is struggling to have life after Hutch. He was more than the glue that kept the band together. He amplified the members of the band, bringing out their best with his charisma and charm. 

Much is being done to remember Michael properly, aside from tabloids and docu-dramas. His fans want to learn about the man and musician. His family wants people to remember the man they loved. It is safe to say that Michael is still miss so very dearly and that his legend grows as the years pass.

November still 22nd hangs in my heart so heavy - the day Michael's smile faded into obscurity and his legend tarnished with the actions of his final years. But still, we grieve, we mourn, and we celebrate the caramel rock god of our adolescence.

It's been 25 years since INXS lost their magnetic north. INXS exists now only in our memories...and what glorious memories they are.

Fancy dinner parties, ballerinas on the Charles Bridge, red desert sunsets, beautiful blondes, brunettes, Mad Max underworlds, and motorcycles in Hong Kong painted the video world of INXS. Live Baby Live gave us the Michael we all know. He enthralled the 74,000 fans in attendance at Wembley, making us sway back and forth like high school lovers when we heard the first notes of Never Tear Us Apart and The Stairs. He was a musician, actor, son, brother, friend, and father. What he gave to us and to his fellow band mates are incredible memories cemented forever in some of the best times of our lives. 

Again, I must thank my flat mates in Sydney for taking that very hot trek to see Michael's memorial. Who knew how many cemeteries there were in suburban Sydney. It was a nod to my past and the musical memories he gave me. I had to thank the man I crushed on for years. It was hard to think how quickly his bright star could quickly be diminished. And thank you Bono for the moment under the Brooklyn Bridge, hugging on November 22, 2004 in memory of your friend. 

In our hearts, he lives on as the charismatic lead singer. In our memories, he is the sad ending of a paparazzi nightmare. In our ears, his voice will be forever golden.  

I Just Want To Be A Guy With A Guitar - Jeff Buckley

I have no advice for anybody; except to, you know, be awake enough to see where you are at any given time, and how that is beautiful, and has poetry inside. Even places you hate ~Jeff Buckley

Jeff would have turned 50 this week and once again we celebrated his life and legacy at Arlene's Grocery. Musician Robert Urban once again brought together stellar performers who all share the same love and passion about Jeff and his talent. With all of the recent passing of legendary performers this year, many of Jeff's influences became an impromptu double celebration of  life and the love of music.

Edwin J. Blas started off the evening with All Flowers in Time as everyone began to trickle in.  Canadian musician fünyboht aka Michael A. Myszkowski gave us stirring versions of Grace's  Eternal Life and Sketches' Sky is a Landfill.

Opened Once, The Way Young Lovers Do came from Spain via Angelo Magni.

A return Tribute performer, Elijah Black performed Jeff's covers from Runaway Train, a stunning Nothing Compares 2 U,  and Border Song. 

The ladies followed with Francesca MacAaron singing Lilac Wine and Lover You Should Have Come Over. More songs from Sketches with Danielle Grabianouwski singing Morning Theft. Tracy Stark began with a Joni Mitchell classic Peoples' Parties and then gave us a chance to sing along with the song that introduced us to Jeff: Hallelujah. 

The man behind the evening, Robert Urban always treats us to covers that Jeff performed at Arlene's or Sin-e. With Bob Dylan's recent Nobel Prize, his  Just like a Woman was a perfect choice for the night, played and sung so perfectly. 

From France, we saw a band you must check out:  This is Chronicles. They were very thankful to be performing not just for an artist they were inspired by, but because one year ago, they all lost friends at the Bataclan in Paris. Before the audience could regain their breath from that statement, they went into a heavy yet soothing  Dream Brother and What Would You Say. They followed with an original, Let Me Disappear.

Tribute veterans Mike Linkens and The Jenny's were again phenomenal. Their delivery of  I Want Someone Badly and Nightmares by the Sea are classic Buckley with heavy chords and the harsh and soft voice yin yang that Jeff perfected. Their performance is always a highlight of the night.

And for his second year, Gary Lucas, Jeff's collaborator and Gods and Monsters founder told personal stories of writing and playing with Jeff. He was joined by the soulful Felice Rosser. Together Mojo Pin and Grace came to life in the venue that Jeff once played. 

 Each year, it amazes me to hear how many people are new to Jeff Buckley. Amazes me how few listened to anything other than Grace. Selfishly, I get jealous when those people do discover him. His voice, angelic and haunting, the rip tide and the gentle ebb, you want all to yourself. He sings to you and no one else. But, selflessly, the world needs a little more Jeff Buckley. 

 Leave your office
Run past your funeral
Leave your home, car
Leave your pulpit
Join us in the streets where we
Join us in the streets where we
Don't belong, don't belong
You and the stars
Throwing light

Updated: Not Playing The Game Anymore - Sgt Abraham Ford

You remember the first time you saw him on the screen, flanked by Eugene and Rosita. Sgt. Abraham Ford is the first alpha male we saw enter the Ricktatorship in a long while when he appeared in season four's Inmates. Brash,  no nonsense, and poetic in few words, he is a damaged soul.

For those familiar with the comic, I want to see Abraham's character grow - revealed - but not necessarily follow the comic story line. He lives with honor in his blood, never mentioned, but scarred probably by war and again by the loss of his family.

Why am I not satisfied with the occasional flashback, meme-worthy saying of the week #MotherDick, #Shit, or my favorite #SonOfADick, Michael Cudlitz is worthy of a character with growth potential. Characters he has played in has past major roles all have one thing in common: integrity.
His portrayal of fictional LAPD Officer John Cooper in Southland, and real-life Sergeant Denver "Bull" Randleman on the World war II series, Band of Brother's, demonstrates Cudlitz's ability to have likable tough guys. Truth is, Cudlitz plays damaged but honorable heroes  extremely well well.

Michael's portrayal of Sgt. Abraham Ford has several times illustrated the damaged goods that Ford is - PTSD, flashbacks, and stubborn to the core. He is a leader the group needs, but someone who needs to be lead at times of stubbornness - and who doesn't love Rosita for her ability to focus him and know that It isn't really Abraham when he lashes out. There is a lot about Abraham that can make take his character to the next level. We saw a glimpse of that when Abraham when against the construction crew leader, Tobin, to leave when the site was over run by walkers. Seeing that Francine would be left behind, Abraham would have none of that. It was an episode that again showed, when tasked with a mission, Abraham is a natural leader.

 UPDATED October 23, 2016
Abraham's character has not disappointed and we were able to not only learn about the pride he carries around, we learned that he is a man of respect and integrity - who also loves his Cohiba Cigars. While the Rosita and Abraham story line was also nice, it was how that story arc showed that Abraham is not a man who settles. Parallel to his development, Sasha's story showed that two characters who are so different, really are so similar. He leaves Rosita for someone that calls him on his reckless behavior, shortly after he had called her out on her attitude. Abraham met his match. His awkward at first, drunken peace sign to Sasha, that became their cute nod to each other.

In the Season 6 finale, what should have been a sign of his upcoming fate, we hear the usually forthcoming Abraham allude to settling down and starting a family with Sasha. 

Sgt. Abraham Ford: You think we could do it?
Sasha Williams: What?
Sgt. Abraham Ford: What they did, Glenn and Maggie? Just asking if you could do that. If you're doing something as big as that... if that's living.
Sasha Williams: Could you?
Sgt. Abraham Ford: Yeah. I could. Now. Just so you know.

Negan is a smart man. Abraham would not be an easy one to train. An easy choice for Lucille. And a painful one for us. I admit, I thought when the bat went up in front of Abraham, he was posturing, I missed it. But then on a second time around, I noticed Sasha's reaction, and then saw the sign. My heart broke. But then Abraham did get his last words in. 

Thank you Abraham, for your service to the family. You will never be forgotten. 

The table is set for the rest of our lives, and I hope those years to be long and fruitful. ~ Abraham Ford

And since this is a music blog -- well, let's give this hero some heavy duty, hero worthy tunes and a little justice.
                                  \m/\m/