Grazing Rites

So the other day my new Hootie & The Blowfish DVD, CD, and T-shirt arrived. I sat down soon as I opened the package and watched the Live In Charleston DVD.

It’s been 10 years and they’re still the same, and deep down so am I. Soni’s still funny, Darius still deep, and they still have a toast before the show but most of all they still rock.

Some folks in the crowd look SO happy. This one woman just jumping up and down with this huge smile on her face, that’d be me. I’d call in every favor, spend any amount, break any rule - I’d be there front row center. If I was there I’d be looking like Ed Helms: WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

What would I say if I met the band? Record a cover of (What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding.

This concert was for a good cause even. They’re great role models and sing about things of depth, substance, and emotional maturity and complexity but then kick back and have the greatest fun.

The first time I saw them live it was like a religious experience, each time I watch one of their DVDs it’s like a little fuel for the soul. I think I found the band to listen to this fair… (see ‘Stop Crying Your Heart Out’)

This DVD reminds me what it’s like to be one of those people who call The Beat to request a song they already play every hour - it reminds me of going to HMV to listen to Let Her Cry each day at the listening station. No matter how many times I heard it I wanted to hear it again. Why did I like Let Her Cry so much? Because there was nothing else like
it, before or since, I don’t think anyone’s tried to steal the format.
10 years of listening to this song and they still make it fresh,
instantly connecting me to the person I was. All the likes, hopes,
fears, and dreams…they’re all still there. No matter how far I travel
or stray from the path these touchstones bring me back - like the
picture on my desk at work.

Listening to all the songs is like someone sitting in my brain poking different places to activate different parts of my personality.

And what’s the deal with the weird guitar player (Peter Holsapple) who looks like a cross between Jude Ciccolella and Tim Brazeal?

They still put 100% into their shows: entertainment, personality, and genuine emotion. You can tell these guys like the music and really enjoy playing it.

There are some fine hootie fans out there.

A message to concertgoers and fans: please don’t dance to Look Away, it just looks wrong. It’s not really a dancing song, the beat goes through too many changes and it’s just not a happy song.

Dean Felber looks ripped, shy dude spending all his time in the gym?

I Hope That I Don’t Fall In Love With You can kick James Blunt’s You’re Beautiful any day of the week.

Can you imagine what a Hootie concert would be like with Red Bull? *drools*

This makes me crave a concert: Hootie, 54*40, DM, BNL, whatever.

Man the hometown really digs ‘Hold My Hand’.

The DVD has a very abrupt ending and totally needed way more behind the scenes stuff but otherwise I definitely recommend it. However if you’re looking for your first Hootie DVD you definitely need to get Summer Camp With Trucks not just because it was the first DVD but it has way more behind the scenes stuff that really shows you what the band is like and all about. If it weren’t for Summer Camp With Trucks I doubt I would love the band or appreciate the music as much as I do.

This entry was posted on August 10, 2006 at 11:51 am and is filed under Music. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.