Monday, April 09, 2007

Blind Boys of Alabama




What better way to spend the Saturday before Easter than at a Blind Boys of Alabama concert? Founded in the late 1930's at the Alabama Institute for the Negro Blind, it is now the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind. And Buster Baxtor recently visited it on the terrific PBS show Postcards from Buster.

My honey and I took the boys to the concert hall of a local music college. One of our little men started clapping literally during the 3rd bar of the first gospel song. He couldn't help himself. The other one just couldn't stop moving. Music goes through both of them.

However, there was an adult in the row behind us who had no rhythm.

None. Whatsoever.

His mistimed claps were even throwing off my kids. They would look back at him in disbelief, as if something was something terribly wrong with him. And to two boys who can sing Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Erasure and parochial school songs, there was something wrong with him.

But we focused (it was hard) and let the music in. And these elderly blind men talked about the need for world peace and an end to the wars in the Middle East.

Amen.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

What a cool Saturday!! Sounds like an excellent concert despite the dude with no rhythm :P

soccer mom in denial said...

Good goddess woman - you just had a baby! Go back to bed.

But thanks for the visit. And congrats on having a full-term baby boy!

Anonymous said...

HA! I had roomates without rhythm in college and we still make fun of them to this 20-years-later day!
Love the Blind Boys!
Love Ladysmith Black Mambazo.
You know, if you're ever in the neighborhood you are welcome to stop by. We'll have Koffie and talk....

Gunfighter said...

Sounds great, SMID!

Gunfighter said...

You know... after listening to that, I am certain that I am going to have a great day.

Alex Elliot said...

That sounds like it was so much fun!

Anonymous said...

That is a cool outing. My little guy has rhythm too. I went to see Walk the line while 8 months pregnant and he kicked to the beat of every song. I put my mom's hand on my belly and said, "I got a honky-tonk kid" The soundtrack is one of his favorites to this day. Your boys might like the shoe-shine song - Get Rhythm. http://www.hotlyrics.net/lyrics/J/Johnny_Cash/Get_Rythm.html

Kate said...

I just don't get out enough to all these cool shows. Thanks for sharing!