WOULD GOD SEND HAZEL NUTS FROM HEAVEN TO EZRALITES IN THE WILDERNESS?
Last we spoke, I’d just left Michaul’s to rush to the Joy Theater for the first of two nights of concerts that are the centerpiece of Krewe of Rocckus. As I arrived with Pete and Vince-not-Vinnie the firefighers and Alyssa, the two attorneys, (they earlier combined their names, Melissa and Amanda, celebrity couple style in jest—not that there’s anything wrong with that!) still in pirate costume, the ticket-taker declared I was her new best friend, confessing she loved dressing like a pirate. Who knew it was a fetish?!
BTE Rocckussing Out at the Joy Theater
As we entered, Sister Hazel had already begun. Although not a Hazel Nut–the nickname given their loyal fans–I’ve respected the band since seeing them live at a festival on Mayo Island in Richmond, VA where I’d gone, ironically, to see Better Than Ezra. When Sister Hazel first hit it big I found “All For You” a little Hurricane sweet for this Sazerac sipper, but the great thing about music festivals is you come to appreciate bands you may otherwise ignore. SH won me over with solid songs and impressive chops as well as some killer covers, most unexpectedly a kicking “Gold Dust Woman.” You wouldn’t think a bald dude in black frame glasses could pull off Stevie Nicks, but Ken Block interpets it well and guitarist Ryan Newell uses it as a chance to stretch and show off along with their cover of “One Way Out.” Although we were treated to neither of these covers at the Joy, they spun a solid set of originals capped by their finest tune “Change Your Mind.” As Block tapped his temple and reminded the crowd that they held the power to change their own lives, it occurred to me this could be the theme song for My Year of Mardi Gras: “If you wanna be someone else; if you’re tired of fighting battles with yourself…change your mind.” While self-help songs often annoy me with their ‘duh!’ wisdom presented as epiphany, the catchy wordplay of this song has always resonated. It’s such a simple sentiment yet we often forget that we create our own reality and happiness. [Read more…]
