...and I’m kinda doubting the planet’s gonna miss us much...
...but I'm thinking right now of one of the few true miracles of today's technology...rising above petty concerns with its awe-inspiring amalgamation of essential utility and general really really goodness...if, at times, horribly misused...even for ghastly and near-unspeakable atrocities (particularly during the 80’s)...nonetheless, a modern wonder and sign of the highest capabilities and dreams of the human species...
...of course I’m talking about the electric guitar...
...heard about that yoga & music festival out in California...at first thought it sounded cool...like a yoga Woodstock...sadhana and rock n’ roll swirling together like chocolate and peanut butter...
...then, lookin’ at pictures, gotta say it just looked a bit too...yogic...too peaceful...just too fuckin’ healthy...
...don’t get me wrong, I’m totally into the yoga thing...the inner peace thing...the living healthy thing...the meditation and asana thing...but, wonderful as it is to spend time at yoga retreats and ashrams...it's not exactly rock n' roll...
...then, lookin’ at pictures, gotta say it just looked a bit too...yogic...too peaceful...just too fuckin’ healthy...
...don’t get me wrong, I’m totally into the yoga thing...the inner peace thing...the living healthy thing...the meditation and asana thing...but, wonderful as it is to spend time at yoga retreats and ashrams...it's not exactly rock n' roll...
...which is okay...it probably shouldn't be...but still can’t help thinkin’ there’s gotta be a place for danger...recklessness...dancing with chaos...it’s better to burn out than it is to rust...let fury have the hour, anger can be power...even honey, I’m the world’s forgotten boy, the one who’s searchin’, searchin’ to destroy... *
...but, maybe that's just me...
*Neil Young, Joe Strummer, Iggy Pop, respectively...
...in memory of Les Paul, 1915-2009...
17 comments:
Very funny. Except for in Detroit, where post-yoga sometimes still includes bouts of heavy drinking, the mixing of yoga and electric guitar would seem to be . . . slouching towards Bethlehem? working at cross-purposes? Moderating that which is best at high volume? Look out, honey, we're using technolgy . . .
At my studio we had a summer solstice party and practiced with a live electric cello..it was yoga...and rock and roll
It's not just you, drjay. A rock festival should be totally unfettered...a place to let loose, feel the music, go crazy, whatever.
Cinnamon Pop Tarts, seriously? Geesh, you and my dad...
Seriously, Les Paul died? BOO that.
Although electric guitar is beyond my skills, I LOVE anything with soul, with passion. Sometimes that translates into heavier music (like tool)...
And sometimes, I put on something heavier for my home practice music.
Music, especially passionate music (no matter the genre) has its' place in yoga. Well my yoga anyway. I don't see why it couldn't in yours too! :) Without passion, what are we?
I know,it's only rock n roll, but I like it,like it, yes I do
As a yoga teacher and practitioner of 20+ years, I have to say there is more dharma in Hendrix, and I keep my Gibson near the front door in case of a fire or natural disaster. I do yoga because I have to, but rock & roll is my religion. Thanks for a great post -
"...and some castles made of sand/fall into the sea --- eeeventually," Jimi. Now that's good dharma! Peace, kitty.
I've always thought that as long as we're living in duality, we might as well explore it a little while we have the chance, but having said that, I don't think Yogastock would attract me either.
Yogasstock wouldn't do it for me ... I prefer the high energy of a traditional rock and roll and sex and ... well, you get the drill.
I'm sure I have something to say about this:
Les Paul: Amazing.
Cinnamon Pop Tarts: Yuck.
Yoga + Rock-n-roll: Noisy.
I wish I had seen Les Paul live. I used to have a tape of Les Paul with Mary Ford that I listened to a lot.
The last time I tried a Pop Tart it tasted like sugary cardboard, but i used to really dig 'em.
Music in yoga class, or even sometimes while practicing at home can be okay, but sometimes it's just noisy, and I'd rather do without it.
Rock as a separate and lawless entity is holy.
Rock'n'roll is meant to be cathartic!
"If there aint no moshing it's not my revolution"...Bird
inner peace definitely isn't rock and roll. but maybe rock and roll can lead to the knowledge necessary to find inner peace. otherwise, how do you describe the feeling you get after you listen to Hendrix?
I think peace is more greatly appreciated & experienced if intersperced amidst more exciting thing. As the pagans (& others,) would say, you can't have the good w/o the bad.
Hey Jay,
I have always been the type of person who has straddled the polar opposites in life. For example, I can talk to a bunch of academics at the APA conference and I also have no problem talking the low down with some fairly hard core inmates in a maximum security prison. My life has always been about extremes (interesting how you and Svasti's latest posts are kind of related). I think in appreciating both extremes, one CAN find that balance. After all, on a see saw, there is always that momentary balance as the upside meets the low!
I enjoyed this post very much--I also appreciated the mention of Woodstock, which I have been immersed in all weekend. We were up in Maine and brought the old film of Woodstock with us--and we also listened to 'Back to the Garden' on NPR, which was highly entertaining.
Take care,
Melinda
My stepfather played a Les Paul, it's like part of my childhood died.
Again.
naw, its not just you Dr. Jay. Some of us just got to have our "guitar licks' from time to time. I think I always will. It's a great release to rock out and "jam" or "headbang" or whatever you want to call it..it's always been great therapy for me. I'm sure it has been for a lot of people..plus it's just damn fun! Excuse my french.
By they way there is a great book by Iggy Pop...or someone wrote about him..I saw it at Barns and Noble..it looked very interesting. He has always been so "raw" and I can't believe he is still around with the kind of life he led. Also a good book written by (oh my I lost my train of though can't remember his name!) the lead singer of the Chile peppers (this group which I saw years ago on some jazz show way before they were famous and i said to my then husband oh they will become very famous down the road)well this is is also a very good book you might want to check it out. Sorry don't know the name.
Well, rambled on long enough.
"Rock on"!
Rhi
Used to see Les Paul & Mary Ford on TV all the time when I was a kid. Never knew he invented the electric guitar. Fascinating-he and his wife seemed so 50s.
My wife was at the original Woodstock. She didn't have a good time-the first two days all it did was rain. Woodstock represented the high watermark of 60s optimism. After that, the deluge-the Great Disillusionment began.
"she started listening to that fine fine music, yes her life was saved by Rock n' roll, yes rock n' roll...sweet Jane..:o)
Sorry had that song stuck in my head just couldn't resist..now I feel better.
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