Sometimes I can't stand all the beauty in the world.
Nine days ago was one of those days.
Roger Hodgson, the lead singer from Supertramp, had the audacity of visiting Portland, where he played some of the classics he wrote in the Seventies and Eighties. If you don't know what songs I'm talking about, let me just mention Give A Little Bit, Breakfast in America, The Logical Song, Dreamer, It's Raining Again, and Take The Long Way Home
The concert took place at the Oregon Zoo in front of orangutangs, leopards, and an enthusiastic crowd of aging hippies. The giraffes got so excited they tried to run up to the stage and headbutt Roger Hodgson, but he was probably protected by Babaji and a hundred other saints.
Goddammit, I don't want to admit how much I was moved by that concert. Not just because Roger Hodgsons songs were the soundtrack to my pimples, but because he is one of the most spiritual singers around.
Listening to Roger is like being in the company of an archangel of music. Like all truly great artists, Hodgson downloads songs from Heaven. I was crying when the old hippie played Hide In Your Shell, one of the most beautiful songs ever written. Equally great was Lord Is It Mine, a modern psalm. Johann Sebastian Bach probably gave it to Hodgson in a dream, and I don't think Bach regrets that!
So, Roger Hodson, I'm very impressed with you. But don't you dare come back to Portland, Oregon! Frankly, I'm not sure the giraffes and I can stand that much beauty.
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4 comments:
Oh, Peter, I know what you mean. In February when I was in California I saw the first date of Roger's Breakfast in America Tour and before the show was over I had already purchased a ticket for the next night. Seeing Roger Hodgson in concert is not just going to a show. It's a life experience that you don't forget. The warmth and intimacy at his shows is unsurpassed and what a performer! What a voice! I could listen to him for hours and still want more.
So many beautiful songs he has. I just cannot imagine his classics being performed by anyone else. To see him perform The Logical Song, Breakfast in America, Give a Little Bit, Dreamer, Take the Long Way Home, School, It's Raining Again, Fool's Overture - there's nothing like it. Plus, the songs from his solo albums that he performs are breathtaking.
Many people don't realize that although Roger and Supertramp's other co-founder shared writing credit, they actually wrote and composed separately with each singing their own respective songs. I guess this makes me a Roger Hodgson fan since all of these years I have been skipping to his songs.
Everyone should see Roger for themselves and experience what fans from around the world are raving about. Each and every media review I have read is glowing. Roger's Breakfast in America Tour finds him on his largest US tour in 30 years - 34 dates at last count! Don't let the year go by without seeing Roger in concert. Tour details are at http://www.facebook.com/RogerHodgsonOfficial.
Oh, Peter, I know what you mean. In February when I was in California I saw the first date of Roger's Breakfast in America Tour and before the show was over I had already purchased a ticket for the next night. Seeing Roger Hodgson in concert is not just going to a show. It's a life experience that you don't forget. The warmth and intimacy at his shows is unsurpassed and what a performer! What a voice! I could listen to him for hours and still want more.
So many beautiful songs he has. I just cannot imagine his classics being performed by anyone else. To see him perform The Logical Song, Breakfast in America, Give a Little Bit, Dreamer, Take the Long Way Home, School, It's Raining Again, Fool's Overture - there's nothing like it. Plus, the songs from his solo albums that he performs are breathtaking.
Many people don't realize that although Roger and Supertramp's other co-founder shared writing credit, they actually wrote and composed separately with each singing their own respective songs. I guess this makes me a Roger Hodgson fan since all of these years I have been skipping to his songs.
Everyone should see Roger for themselves and experience what fans from around the world are raving about. Each and every media review I have read is glowing. Roger's Breakfast in America Tour finds him on his largest US tour in 30 years - 34 dates at last count! Don't let the year go by without seeing Roger in concert. Tour details are at http://www.facebook.com/RogerHodgsonOfficial.
Your name may be Eleanor Rigby, but you sound as if you work for Roger, not for Paul.
But I do hope a lot of people will go and see Hodgson. He IS wonderful in concert, so all the best to you.
I was at the Portland show also Peter, I love your comments about the animals :) Wasn't it great when the lion roared during "Don't Leave Me Now"? It really sent chills down my spine! Roger's voice resonated deeply in my mind, he sounds better now than his days in Supertramp! Absolutely loved the entire show, Hide in Your Shell and Lord is it Mine were wonderful, deeply touching songs for me too. Something about the spirit of Roger's songs speaks to me, unearthing my desire for spiritual searching...I can't wait for his return to CA in September, got a feeling I'm going to be having a great fall concert season!
Come on Peter, a few more shows couldn't hurt! :) Until then, you can privately enjoy some of Roger's music from your chair by checking out his official YouTube channel, he's got a lot of gems on there!
http://www.youtube.com/MrRogerHodgson
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