My thoughts on the Lowen and Navarro show at the Park West this past
Saturday night...
I wasn't planning on going to this show. Did I want to? Of course.
But a prior commitment loomed over my head and as tempted as I was to
change my plans, I didn't. I did the grown up thing and decided I
wasn't going to buy a ticket.
That all changed when my brother and my hopefully someday sister in law
bought me a ticket for my birthday. Way cool, considering my brother
had only recently given in to my endless L&N recommendations. I had
mixed emotions about attending the show. I hadn't seen L&N since Eric
was diagnosed with ALS. I was afraid they wouldn't be, well, them. I
was afraid I would get all emotional. After all, their music is a big
part of the soundtrack of my life. I was excited; deep down inside I
knew that they wouldn't be playing unless they could.
I knew I was right the day before the Chicago show when they played
"Good Things" live on WXRT. Even at 6:30 in the morning, they sounded
amazing. To say that their interpretaton of the song blew me away
would be an understatement.
And Saturday night, they continued to blow me away. Nick Kitsos
played drums. Paris Delane from Sonia Dada, Alice Peacock and Michael
(sigh!) McDermott joined them on stage. Eric and Dan were on, I mean
really, really on. As good as I have ever seen them. They brought the
house down relatively early in the show when Paris joined them for
"Just to See You." They paid tribute to the BoDeans, both through
spoken word and song (Good Things, once again). I was thrilled to hear
that "Into the Mystic" will be on their covers CD.
Setlist was heavy on new material, which was OK. I hadn't really
warmed up to their latest release, and the show gave me a new
appreciation for the newer songs. But when they dusted the old stuff
off, wow, how they dusted it off. Michael McDermott and his harmonica
joined them for "Walking on a Wire". And he was looking damn
fine...you gotta love an added bonus like that.
And I didn't even cry...until Paris recited one of his original poems,
titled I Am that I am what I am (or something along those lines). I
can't remember much about it, other than it was completely beautiful.
All of their guests joined them for a TFA version of "We Belong".
Right in front of us. As soon as I figured out what was going on, I
kicked off my heels, ran down a mini flight of stairs and found myself
thisclose to Paris and Michael. Dan's Spanish vocal left me on ain a
puddle on the floor once again, although I wonder if perhaps that this
time, my proximity to Mr McDermott may have contributed.
It was a magical, almost surreal evening. I can only hope that if I am
ever dealt a blow like the one Eric Lowen received, that I can face it
with the dignity and grace that he has.
Debbie
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