“Music is the universal language of mankind.”
I am behind closed doors and shut windows. My house is a fortress against the heat and humidity. If I happen to step outside, I feel overwhelmed by the heat, but mostly by comparison to the wonderfully cool house. The breeze is stirring the oak tree leaves, but it isn’t strong enough to keep the house cool as the day becomes afternoon. The afternoons are pure misery.
Last night was a delight. I went to the Payomet Performing Arts Center, a small, perfect venue. We sat in the cheap seats, but the tent is so small you can see the stage from anywhere, and we were mostly outside so there was a lovely breeze. We saw Ladysmith Black Mambazo. I don’t think I stopped smiling during the whole performance. It was wonderful. Their voices mingled in the most amazing harmony as they sang a cappella. Their hand gestures helped translate the words of their native language. They danced and kicked their legs as high as their heads. They sometimes did it over and over. I figured they must be exhausted at the end of each performance. The first time I had heard them was on Paul Simon’s Graceland album. Last night they sang Diamonds on the Souls of Her Shoes and Homeless, songs from that album. My friends were a bit hesitant to come because they had never heard of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, but they were fans by the end and thanked me for suggesting they come, but I figured the ice coffee and the blueberry dessert they brought were thanks enough.
It seemed a bit strange for me to be coming home at eleven. Usually I am watching the news or a movie and thinking about going to bed but last night was different. I was glad for an evening spent listening to great music and being with my friends who made the everything even better.
Today is a quiet day.
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July 7, 2016 at 12:19 pm
I saw them when I was at U. Mass in the late 1980’s. They were wonderful. I didn’t realize they were still performing. Glad you enjoyed it!
July 7, 2016 at 12:52 pm
Erin,
They date from 1960 and have been playing straight through. They add new members. The oldest among them started singing with the group in 1969. The newest has been with them only a couple of years. They have concerts in the US through the middle of July.
It was a great concert.
July 7, 2016 at 1:03 pm
Hi Kat,
It’s almost inconceivable to me that there are people who don’t know Ladysmith Black Mambazo. 🙂
My house was a fortress of cold yesterday, too. It took a while to figure out the AC unit again. I hit the on button and it dings and lights come on but nothing happens. Then I have to hit the on button again to make it go. It’s like “Oh! You mean you want me to RUN? Okay.”
After a few readjustments with the buttons, I got the setting I prefer and all was comfy.
Today is reasonable so far. It’s only 71ºF here now and partly sunny. I’ll take it. But I ordered another tower fan from Amazon just in case.
Enjoy the day.
July 7, 2016 at 1:15 pm
Hi Caryn,
I could introduce you to two of them.
I left the AC on last night, and it was comfortable sleeping. When I watched the weather last night, the forecast was for humidity today so I figured I’d just keep it going. Gracie went out for only a bit and came back in panting. That was enough for me to sit in AC.
If I get company, I’lll have to replace the fan in the guest room. It stopped working some time ago.
Stay cool and have a great day!
July 7, 2016 at 1:43 pm
We’re having a rather nice day here, it started with cold temperature and fog, it ends with warm temperature, sunshine and a strong breeze that keeps the flies away 🙂
I think I would have liked to be there too, too little things like that here in the Swedish countryside and I’mm too lazy to drive to any bigger city 🙂
Have a great day!
Christer.
July 7, 2016 at 5:56 pm
Christer,
I’m glad your breeze is shooing away the flies. They are annoying at best.
In the summer, there are many theaters open here, far fewer in the winter. I have another play tomorrow night. This is a big week for me.
Sometimes I feel like going to Boston, but I think it too far for me even though I used to drive there all the time.
Enjoy the rest of the day!
July 7, 2016 at 2:26 pm
Reads like a great concert and evening and I’m glad you enjoyed it. Wonderful music and an excellent chorus and I hope I can see them live too some day.
No rain today for a change and time to mow the lawn. Unfortunately the wild rabbits in our garden prefer our old thorny gooseberry bush instead of grass. Ready for soccer 🙂
July 7, 2016 at 4:23 pm
Birgit – Watching in Paris – fabulous game, both really going at it
July 7, 2016 at 5:18 pm
Hedley, well, no win without goals 😉 Yes, it was fun to watch.
Go France and bring joy to Hedley!
July 7, 2016 at 6:00 pm
Birgit,
They were great. I was amazed to find out the group was started in 1960. One of the singers last night had joined in 1969. He did not do the head kicks, and I totally understand why.
We are just so dry. Parts of the state are even in drought condition. The cape is just below that designation. There were some storms today but none of them got down here.
Nothing around here to eat grass, but I don’t mow it anyway!
July 7, 2016 at 9:14 pm
The first time I saw them was on the TV in the 1960s on the Ed Sullivan show. At least I think it was the Ed Sullivan show. They were excellent.
Here the temperature still has remained below triple digits. AC here is a necessity 24/7 from April through October. It’s the price we pay for living on the same latitude as the Sahara desert. 🙂 The rewards are no State Income Tax, open carry and lots of low paying jobs. When Trump is elected President there will be a lot of jobs along the Rio Grande building the wall. I wonder how many undocumented workers will be hired by the contractors. 🙂 Having Ted Cruz as one of our Senators provides comic relief.
Everyone has to live somewhere and we get very little snow. 🙂
July 7, 2016 at 9:41 pm
Bob,
They still are excellent. They are wonderful.
It got to 90˚ in Boston the other day. It was the second 90˚ of the summer. We haven’t gotten that hot because of the ocean. It is the humidity which gets to me so I turn on the AC.
We do have a state income tax, but I don’t pay any on my retirement. When I did, I always got some back.
We have Elizabeth Warren, Hillary’s pit bull.
I love living here even with a snowy winter.
July 8, 2016 at 8:40 pm
LBM is on my bucket list…
It’s hot here as well…just laying low.
Very glad you enjoyed!
Waving,
Coleen
July 8, 2016 at 10:49 pm
Coleen,
It is a great item to have on your bucket list!
Tonight is bordering on cold, unlike the last two nights.
Waving and keeping warm!!