Post by darkstar on Sept 21, 2005 14:48:59 GMT
From Get Underground.com Columns and Articles
Jim Carroll and Ray Manzarek
[ the road of excess ] - 02.02.02 - by: Ryan
It’s been nearly six years since I first saw Jim Carroll read. The first time was in Ann Arbor, while he was on a book tour for Void of Course - his last release. Four years later, our paths crossed once again. This time at the Bottom Line in New York. Carroll came on stage in his standard issue heavily worn black jeans, leather jacket and black button-down. He immediatly began to tell the story of how his piece, "The First Time I Shot a Deer," ended up in GQ.
And although I had read the piece in GQ weeks earlier, it took on a whole new meaning after hearing the words spill out of his mouth like water. And although he had a bit of a cold - having to retreat to the side of the stage between poems to blow his nose, take a sip of water or “take an antihisimine” - he was alert and brought life to many of the poems in Void of Course. He read "Jukebox," about an old 45 jukebox that gets placed in a graveyard as a headstone so visitors can drop in a coin and dance and several simply titled “poem.” But the highlight of Carroll’s fairly short set was the reading and detailed explanation of the first time he saw someone get a high-colonic. His friend, whom he paid $100 to get the procedure, actually had one of those little green, plastic army guys stuck inside of him for nearly 35 years! After relaying the intimate details of what came flowing out of his friend's ass, he retreated backstage.
Then Ray Manzarek came out to a hearty applause. Although his “speeches” came out more like press releases, the highly self-promoting Manzarek evened the score by playing some Doors tunes on the grand piano sitting at the corner of the stage. He started out with the last song Jim Morrison ever recorded, "Riders on the Storm." Riders was played brilliantly - the highs sounded like rain pattering down on a windshield, the bass was as chilling as ever. The music to Riders, and nearly all of the Doors songs, are certainly able to stand up on their own as masterpieces.
Manzarek, displaying his brilliance and talent on the piano, played several other Doors tunes interspersed with stories about Jim, their early days, how the band got started and stories about his psychedelic past. And although the management flashed lights on stage, dropped notes on the piano and waved their arms to let him know it was time to wrap up, Manzarek paid no mind and continued. He gave a brief synopsis of his new book, The Poet in Exile, which answers the big if: What if Jim was still alive and staged his whole death? Although it’s a work of fiction, it is clearly designed to keep his memory alive. Finally, at nearly 10:20(the next show was supposed to be at 10:30)Manzarek wrapped up with "Light My Fire," with the audience singing lead vocals. This was indeed a rare and inspiring moment for all Doors fans. Truly, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. How many people can say they sang lead vocals on "Light My Fire" with Ray Manzarek at the piano.
www.getunderground.com/underground/columns/article.cfm?Article_ID=197
Jim Carroll and Ray Manzarek
[ the road of excess ] - 02.02.02 - by: Ryan
It’s been nearly six years since I first saw Jim Carroll read. The first time was in Ann Arbor, while he was on a book tour for Void of Course - his last release. Four years later, our paths crossed once again. This time at the Bottom Line in New York. Carroll came on stage in his standard issue heavily worn black jeans, leather jacket and black button-down. He immediatly began to tell the story of how his piece, "The First Time I Shot a Deer," ended up in GQ.
And although I had read the piece in GQ weeks earlier, it took on a whole new meaning after hearing the words spill out of his mouth like water. And although he had a bit of a cold - having to retreat to the side of the stage between poems to blow his nose, take a sip of water or “take an antihisimine” - he was alert and brought life to many of the poems in Void of Course. He read "Jukebox," about an old 45 jukebox that gets placed in a graveyard as a headstone so visitors can drop in a coin and dance and several simply titled “poem.” But the highlight of Carroll’s fairly short set was the reading and detailed explanation of the first time he saw someone get a high-colonic. His friend, whom he paid $100 to get the procedure, actually had one of those little green, plastic army guys stuck inside of him for nearly 35 years! After relaying the intimate details of what came flowing out of his friend's ass, he retreated backstage.
Then Ray Manzarek came out to a hearty applause. Although his “speeches” came out more like press releases, the highly self-promoting Manzarek evened the score by playing some Doors tunes on the grand piano sitting at the corner of the stage. He started out with the last song Jim Morrison ever recorded, "Riders on the Storm." Riders was played brilliantly - the highs sounded like rain pattering down on a windshield, the bass was as chilling as ever. The music to Riders, and nearly all of the Doors songs, are certainly able to stand up on their own as masterpieces.
Manzarek, displaying his brilliance and talent on the piano, played several other Doors tunes interspersed with stories about Jim, their early days, how the band got started and stories about his psychedelic past. And although the management flashed lights on stage, dropped notes on the piano and waved their arms to let him know it was time to wrap up, Manzarek paid no mind and continued. He gave a brief synopsis of his new book, The Poet in Exile, which answers the big if: What if Jim was still alive and staged his whole death? Although it’s a work of fiction, it is clearly designed to keep his memory alive. Finally, at nearly 10:20(the next show was supposed to be at 10:30)Manzarek wrapped up with "Light My Fire," with the audience singing lead vocals. This was indeed a rare and inspiring moment for all Doors fans. Truly, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. How many people can say they sang lead vocals on "Light My Fire" with Ray Manzarek at the piano.
www.getunderground.com/underground/columns/article.cfm?Article_ID=197