Yesterday while driving from Iowa to Missouri with the rest of the band, we pulled over so that I could do a phone interview. Top of the conversation I find out that the reporter had attended the 1967 Stax tour that featured Otis Redding, Sam and Dave, Eddie Floyd, Booker T. and the M.G.’s, The Mar-Keys and more. When I first saw the recording of this concert it changed my life, my outlook on everything that I had done as a performer, and everything I wanted to do from that moment on. I had never seen such passion and soul and communion on stage before. Seeing this captured evening connected me to a part of myself I didn’t even know needed connection. It stitched together stage and life for me. It ignited my desire to have audience and performers become one during any given gig.
I had the opportunity to ask this man about details I thought I’d never have the answers for. Throughout our conversation he drew comparisons between what went down on that tour and what we do now as a band, it literally brought chills to my spine and a heightened pride of our art and mission.
Thank God for unexpected inspirations.
I’m not even sure if it was good interview but I will tell you this….it was a magical conversation.
To top the whole thing off I found this record in a store earlier today and had to have it…
Peace please,
Ty
Here’s some Sam and Dave from the 1967 Stax Tour
Well done, for a simply superb concert here in Switzerland last Saturday at Caribana. I’m listening to the “Bomb Shelter Sessions” right now, to brighten up a wet, dull Monday morning. Not sure if you know this, but the title of your album is SO appropriate for this country, as every Swiss house or apartment legally has to have its own bomb shelter (in case of nuclear attack). In theory, we are supposed to keep sensible and practical food supplies in them, but in practice, most people just store loads of bottles of Swiss wine in their bomb shelters. You might as well go out in style and have party if the end of the world is nigh… You’d better believe it!
I was that man!
Looking forward to meeting up with you in York tomorrow -the interview was great! (Published in July issue)