I met Art Garfunkel tonight after the Macomb County, MI concert
Darren
I just got back from a concert at the Macomb Center for the Performing
Arts in Clinton Twp, MI. This time it was to see Art Garfunkel,
formialy of "Simon and Garfunkel."
Sometimes when I see a concert I post a story about it in some of my
favorite and or relevant-to-the-subject newsgroups. Sometimes others
who were at the same show or saw a gig on the same tour will reply and
I also get to save the memories for my upcoming "Concerts That I Have
been to" website. :)
I hope that you do not mind me posting this here. The NGs that I am
posting this at are my favorite musical NGs. :)
Also, please excuse the bad spelling. It is late at night and I just
got back from the gig about three hours ago.
On the way to the Garfunkel show, somewhere a few miles south of
Flint, I was pulled over by the Michigan State Police. I asked what
was wrong and the trooper asked, or more accurately yelled, why was I
"sitting" in the left lane while going "66 to 68 mph" and wouldn't let
him pass. Absolutely dumbfounded, I told him that I thought that the
speed limit was 70 and my speed indicator said I was going 70.
He then asked for my licence, regristration and my proof of insurance
so I went into the glove compartment and took my time looking. I
found a vintage 1920s real photo postcard of Clara Bow that I had been
looking for then I turned up the insurance proof. I gave that to him
and started to look for the regrestration and found it. Before I had
the chance to give it to him he had taken off back to the squad car.
"Ass hole," I said to myself.
The peace maker came back and gave me back my licence and insurance
stuff and told me to keep out of the left lane and told me that my
licence plate was obstructed. He left and I said "SORRY!" but before
he got into his police car he kicked my rear bumper, I presume, to
knock the snow off my licence plate that I thought was already gone
before I left home.
Before I knew it, the state Police vehicle took off like a bat out of
hell and violated at least three speed laws.
I have been pulled over a several times by the Police for stupid
reasons ever since I got my first car but this is the only time I had
ever been pulled over for going 66 - 68 mph on a 70mph highway!
Back to my story about the concert. In short, Art Garfunkel was great
and remarkably sounded almost just like he did in the 60s and 70s. He
did a 90 min show and still has his remarkable vocal abilities and
musical sencibilities intact.
He did all of the favorite Simon & G tunes that I always hear on the
radio and a bunch that I have never heard before. It was a great
journey through the musical world of Art Garfunkel. :)
After the concert was over I took it upon myself to stand out in the
very cold weather for about an hour or more for a chance to say hello
to Art and perhaps get an autograph.
It was, and still is, FREEZING outside and I was about to go into the
parking lot and get my truck to park it nearer to the building so I
could stay warm in it until Art got out but I figured that if I did
that I may miss him so I stayed near the building with the others.
There was a group of young teeaged girls from Canada and three other
guys whos age ranged from late 20s to late 30s who were also waiting
for Art. We chatted a few words but I became too cold too soon to say
much.
One guy who I talked with told me he got Chuck Berry's autograph and
we started to talk about the rock and rollers that we have met. I was
shivering like a mad man although I was wearing my winter coat with a
hooded sweatshirt under it.
At one point I told him that I liked Art Garfunkel's music but was not
a big enough fan to be really excited to see him in concert. I went
on and said that the reason why I go to these shows sometimes is just
to see certain performers before they get too old to perform anymore
and as a result in the future I will end up regreting not seeing them
when I had the chance.
I missed out on seeing Johnny Cash when he was in Flint a couple of
years ago. It turned out unexpectedly to be his last concert! Since
then I get tickets to almost everything that catches my interest but
is not too expensive. I would like to see all of the Rock and Country
greats before the retire from the biz.
Most of the time I end up being surprised at how really great a lot of
these older musicians still are. The Everly Brothers and Loretta Lynn
provided me with the most pleasant surprises. They still have "it!"
One of the girls overheard me saying this and yelled "Don't say that!"
as if I placed the thought in her mind that her biggest idol, Art
Garfunkel, will eventually grow older and die.
I used to think the same pure thoughts about the immortal members of
the Beatles when I was a kid.
These girls from Canada were HUGE fans and none of them were over 19!
:) It was nice to see younger people becoming deeply emotional about
music that most their age won't listen to.
Well, eventually Garfunkel's band members and entorage began to filter
out of the building. One guy, who I think may have been a legendary,
long time Paul Simon and Garfunkel collaborator stood outside with us
in the cold chatting away with everyone. I was too cold to speak,
however, so I just smiled. The freezing air bit me hard!
After he left and a long time later a lady came out and said that Art,
his wife and kid were having a bite to eat and it would be a while.
By then I am thinking, "This is the last time that I will stand out in
the cold like this for an autograph." The previous time was a year
ago when I met Don Rickles (a very gracious gentelman) and then
literially caught his flu!
It seemed like hours later, even thought it was probably a few
minuets, a young guy came out of the back door of the venue. The
Garfunkel fan who I was exchanging stories about other Rock and Roll
Hall Of Famers I had met told me that the guy was Art's manager and
that sometimes is used as Art's mouth peice because somethines Art
does not like to deal with fans who want to say hello and get
autographs.
The guy came up to the group of us and said something like "Art will
be out in a few minuets. If there are any of you who have cameras I
ask that you don't shoot pictures becuase Art is not in the
photographing mood tonight."
I thought, "No problem. My camera will most likely freeze up when if
I tried to take one anyway."
Moments later, there were a lot of "moments later" tonight, a woman
motioned us to the door and said that we could wait inside for Art.
We all filed into the toasty warm foyer of the building and soon
enought, there was Art. He was wearing a bluish-grey winter coat and
a knitted snow cap. He looked like he was ready for some cold air! :)
To his right was the dressing room where his wife was standing and
waiting for hubby to get through with the fans so they could leave.
She didn't seem like she wanted to be there for long, IMHO. :)
I was standing near the end of the line as I was the slowest to move
into the venue. The girls talked to Art at length. As a matter of
fact everyone has a conversation with Art. He was surprisingly warm
and chatty. He asked us what song we thought was the best that night
and answered musical type questions.
One guy who borrowed my pocket knife to open the wrap on his new CD so
Art could sign it was asked "where did you get this from." and he
said "I got it from people who were selling them in the lobby." Art
smiled and said something that it was great that he got it there.
Next Art looked at me. It was my turn and all I said was "Hi." Art
paused and said hello and signed the program. I gave him my thanks
with a nice smile and backed away headed for the door as others began
to speak to Art. I was still freezing, althought I was in the heated
building. I couldn't feel my toes!
At first I thought that when he paused to return my greetings he was
looking at me like I was a germ but as I rode home I realised that he
was most likely waiting for me to start a conversation with him! I
was the only one there who didn't say much. I do not do very well
when I am cold and at that point the only thing I was interested in
was heading home.
I got home and placed the autograph that Art gave me on the fireplace
mantel an act that I know for which I will be bitched at when I get up
tomorrow becuase my parents hate this kind of "shit."
"Take care of your G** D*mn shit! I don't want your garbage laying
all around here!"
Now you all can see why I like to go to a lot of concerts. :(
Has anyone here seen a recent Art Garfunkel show? What was it like
for you? :)
Have a nice day, :)
Darren
--------------------
Visit my favorite newsgroups...
Alt.Elvis.King
Alt.Movies.Silent
Alt.Music.Alanis
Alt.Music.Alanis.Morissette
WhoMe
>hell and violated at least three speed laws.
1) He IS a police officer
2) He probably pulled you over because of the obstructed license plate.
Bill
"It will destroy your family, your happy home is gone
No one can protect you from it once you turn it on."
-- Bob Dylan
T.V. Talkin' Song
WhoMe
you SHOULD have pulled over.
Darren
WhoMe wrote:
> >the state Police vehicle took off like a bat out of
> >hell and violated at least three speed laws.
>
> 1) He IS a police officer
>
That does not make it right for him to drive reclessly. the most recless
divers that I have ever seen were officers of the law. I many can site
situations that I have seen. One includes passing traffic on a bridge
going over 40 mph where you cannot see who is coming up on the other side
of the road.
> 2) He probably pulled you over because of the obstructed license plate.
You may be corrcet on that one. I believed that I had cleaned that off.
Perhaps some snow had settled on it before I left. i couln't have been
that badly covered however.
Darren
> divers that I have ever seen were officers of the law.
I am in no way talking about when their sirens are on. I am talking about
when they are just driving down the neighborhood streets unsafely while off
duty or on the beat.
Darren
WhoMe wrote:
> 3) Did you happen to notice blue flashing lights in your mirror? If you did,
> you SHOULD have pulled over.
>
> Bill
Damn. I should have explained this more throughly or even left it out of the
post.
He did not flash his lights at me ANY time UNTIL AFTER I was able to cross into
the middle lane.
When I was driving down the highway I was in that lane for no more than 20
seconds waiting to traffic to part when I was passing someone and some cars
slowed down and closed up my space that I wanted to go to. Seconds later I saw
that police in back of me and decided not to accelate past 70 in fear of getting
a ticket. I got blocked in. When I finially was able to get into the second
lane that was when I was pulled over.
David Wilkenfeld
I liked your story about Art. I've been to many concerts in life, and I'm
happy that I've seen just about every act I've been interested in. I have
great memories from many concerts. My first was Bob Dylan in 1974. In 1989,
I sat front row for Paul McCartney. That was my biggest thrill! I made such
a fool of myself that Paul himself kept looking over at me and smiling and
pointing. After the show, his film crew asked me what I was doing the next
morning. It seems they were making a movie of the concert tour that would
feature the fans. I told him I was playing ball hockey the next morning. So,
at 6:00AM, on Sunday morning, Paul McCartney's film crew showed up at my
house, and filmed my day. The movie is called "Get Back" and I'm in there,
getting dressed and playing ball hockey while Paul sings Good Day Sunshine!
I'm rambling, but I thought I'd share
Dave
Darren wrote in message <3889E7EC...@sprynet.com>...
>
>
>WhoMe wrote:
>
>> 3) Did you happen to notice blue flashing lights in your mirror? If you
did,
>> you SHOULD have pulled over.
>>
>> Bill
>
>Damn. I should have explained this more throughly or even left it out of
the
>post.
>
>He did not flash his lights at me ANY time UNTIL AFTER I was able to cross
into
>the middle lane.
>
>When I was driving down the highway I was in that lane for no more than 20
>seconds waiting to traffic to part when I was passing someone and some cars
>slowed down and closed up my space that I wanted to go to. Seconds later I
saw
>that police in back of me and decided not to accelate past 70 in fear of
getting
>a ticket. I got blocked in. When I finially was able to get into the
second
>lane that was when I was pulled over.
>
Joey Berger
wrote:
>> That does not make it right for him to drive reclessly. the most recless
>> divers that I have ever seen were officers of the law.
>
>I am in no way talking about when their sirens are on. I am talking about
>when they are just driving down the neighborhood streets unsafely while off
>duty or on the beat.
>
>Have a nice day, :)
>
I like when they flick the lights on only to go through a red light,
and then flick 'em off. You wonder why people assume cops don't
practice what they enforce.
>
>
>Darren
>--------------------
>Visit my favorite newsgroups...
>Alt.Elvis.King
>Alt.Movies.Silent
>Alt.Music.Alanis
>Alt.Music.Alanis.Morissette
>
Joey Berger
pa...@simon.org
icq:14315467 AOLim: simondmb
Lasers In The Jungle: http://paul.simon.org
WhoMe
>> divers that I have ever seen were officers of the law.
>
>I am in no way talking about when their sirens are on. I am talking about
>when they are just driving down the neighborhood streets unsafely while off
>duty or on the beat.
>
Frequently, especially in neighborhood situations, they will be making a run
without sirens, so as not to alert a perpetrator...
Darren
David Wilkenfeld wrote:
> Darren, don't mind Bill, he just likes to pick on people.
>
> I liked your story about Art. I've been to many concerts in life, and I'm
> happy that I've seen just about every act I've been interested in. I have
> great memories from many concerts. My first was Bob Dylan in 1974. In 1989,
> I sat front row for Paul McCartney. That was my biggest thrill! I made such
> a fool of myself that Paul himself kept looking over at me and smiling and
> pointing. After the show, his film crew asked me what I was doing the next
> morning. It seems they were making a movie of the concert tour that would
> feature the fans. I told him I was playing ball hockey the next morning. So,
> at 6:00AM, on Sunday morning, Paul McCartney's film crew showed up at my
> house, and filmed my day. The movie is called "Get Back" and I'm in there,
> getting dressed and playing ball hockey while Paul sings Good Day Sunshine!
>
> I'm rambling, but I thought I'd share
>
> Dave
Dave,
Wow that is a great story! :)
That beats my being on the new SHERYL CROW: ROCKIN' THE GLOBE LIVE home video
and VH-1's HARDROCK LIVE show. :)
Darren
> and then flick 'em off. You wonder why people assume cops don't
> practice what they enforce.
Precicely!
Hey, I am gladn that there is SOME positive post in this thread. I cross posted
my original post at the Beach Boys, Elvis, Who, Rolling Stones, and Byrds ngs
and it seem that a lot of people think that they and police are perfect drivers
and citizens.
I am glad that I found this ng AFTER I made the original post because if the
original thread was here alt.music.paul-simon would have ended up with a lot
crappy posts from trash mouthed, "Type A" personaility drivers.
WhoMe
>> and then flick 'em off. You wonder why people assume cops don't
>> practice what they enforce.
>
>Precicely!
...and you do not know WHY they do that, do you???
Dswhitman
the reason you think Art Garnfunkel can still sing...
Darren
> How old is this guy and why is he still living with his parents. Maybe thats
> the reason you think Art Garnfunkel can still sing...
Ds dimwhitman,
I'm prety damn young and have some student loans that I am trying to pay off.
Thanks to my eBay auctions I will be clear and free to move out in a month or
two.
The reason why I think Garfunkel can still sing is simply becuase I was in the
1st row and about 20 feet from the speakers. I also found someone who recorded
this concert on MD and that stands as testament that he still sings well and
almost sounds like he did in the 1970s.
Enought said.
jmiant
Dswhitman <dswh...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20000125085204...@ng-cj1.aol.com...