The Household Gods Rock the Playhouse for Glenn
Jessie and i walked down to the Ojai Playhouse last night (so grateful we live close enough to do that!), arriving a few minutes after 5:30 to deposit our $40 - two 20's marked with PEACE, LOVE, & HEALTH - into the full fishbowl of medical fund collections for Glenn Emmanuel. Music was already floating out of the propped-open auditorium doors, where The Household Gods had already begun their benefit set with a beautifully-lyric'd song that i missed the title of.
There were maybe 50 people in the theater - sitting in small groups or alone - of all ages, and all seemed to be enjoying the music by nodding, clapping, or singing along with the Gods' master-full set, punctuated by instrument-switching and playful banter between songs. If you've never heard the Gods (this was my second time), you're missing an exceptional piece of cultural Ojai and uniquely arranged covers of songs you know and love, as well as exposure to new favorites you didn't know you had.
Special for me were their hauntingly beautiful interpretations of the Beach Boys' "God Only Knows" (which we learned after the show tugged directly at the heart of Cheri Mason, Glenn's partner) and "In My Room", and a Dylan tune that i dont care about the title of because of my strongly held belief that Bob's songs sound better when done by anyone but himself. Louis Armstrong's "Potatohead Blues" was a joyfully fun instrumental romp featuring Charlie Bosson playing the violin solos on his guitar in a masterfully organic way that Jessie said can never be duplicated by robots. The gentlemen also did great justice to Tom Petty's "Free Fallin", forced rhymes and all.
Jim Lashly, J.B. White, Charlie Bosson, and Peter Bellwood: gifts to music, to our Valley, and to Glenn Emmanuel for whom they donated their time and talents. Like Cheri said afterward, there's no place like Ojai for this kind of community support. And if there's healing in music, then we all left in better health than we arrived.
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Comments (9)
Sorry I missed it but your report is second best. Isn't today the BIG day?
Comment #1 Posted by: Dennis Leary | July 21, 2007 12:14 PM
My prayers are with your friend, Glenn, and partner.
Comment #2 Posted by: Dana and Alyeska | July 21, 2007 02:49 PM
thanks Dennis...and if by "BIG day" you mean our baby's due date, then you're right! the little one was doing cartwheels and flips during the Household Gods' concert...it's a music lover for sure! Jessie's actually working today...her last shift for four months. we're soon to be saturated with life energy, and i'm going to be mindful to send some Glenn's way.
Comment #3 Posted by: evan | July 21, 2007 06:24 PM
What is the report on Glenn's health? I sure miss seeing him around town.
Comment #4 Posted by: heather | July 23, 2007 12:15 PM
I understand he has now passed away. I'm sorry I never got to know him.
Comment #5 Posted by: Dana and Alyeska | July 25, 2007 11:45 AM
Really, have we lost Glenn? I will try to get confirmation. My deep condolences to his wife, friends and family.
Comment #6 Posted by: Tyler | July 25, 2007 11:51 AM
Tyler, OVNs current issue with picture of Glenn. Says he passed away Monday about 6pm.
Comment #7 Posted by: Dana and Alyeska | July 25, 2007 12:07 PM
i heard today (still second-hand, no confirmation) that Glenn is gone. it weighs heavy on my heart and wet in my eyes. my child will be born any day...if Glenn was making room by leaving, he's left quite the unfillable space.
the following is from the song "If I Could" by Jack Johnson:
Down the middle drops one more
Grain of sand
They say that
New life makes losing life easier to understand
Words are kind
They helped ease the mind
Of this, my old friend
And though you gotta go
We'll keep a piece of your soul
One comes out
One comes in
Comment #8 Posted by: evan | July 25, 2007 03:06 PM
Oh my. Glenn's cancer took his life so quickly. He was one of the very first people I met in Ojai. I will miss him. My heart goes out to those of you who were closer to him - Cheri, his sons, close friends. Ojai has lost a quirky, loving, searching piece of itself. He was a landmark unto himself.
Comment #9 Posted by: heather | July 25, 2007 03:08 PM