I have something to write about today so of course I slept late and couldn’t write until the afternoon. TW: This is going to be a happy entry.
Last night I went to see Renaissance with Carey. I don’t usually see legacy acts; Renaissance’s hay day was the 1970s. There is just one member of the classic lineup left; so why did I go? Renaissance is not just any band; they were the first band that I stalked. Back in in 1977 Carey had an extra ticket to see the band at Queens College. I was a student and he was an adjunct there. Can’t get more convenient than that. My favorite genre was Prog Rock, my favorite bands were Emerson Lake and Palmer and Yes. Renaissance fits right in with them. I just read the Wikipedia article on Renaissance and it said that they were particularly popular with fans of ELP and Yes. I was the right demographic.
I loved them live and that was it. Carey and I went to every show they did in the New York area. That meant about twice a year. The biggest venue we saw them at was Radio City Music Hall. It sold out. We ended up in Row Z. We kept following them as their popularity declined until playing the Bottom Line was the norm. Didn’t matter. We still loved them. We always arrived early for general admission shows and became friends with the rest of the front of the line crowd, especially Jay, the other Jay, Norman, and Linda. By the time they called the Bottom Line home Linda and I were always the first two people on the line. We’d get there half an hour before anyone else and hung out. We’d be there an hour and a half before doors opened. Musically the band peaked with Novella and Song for All Seasons; those are what I’m listening to before and as I write. There was a change of direction with Camera Camera as they tried to be New Wave. The new music was not as great as the old but was still good enough to excite us.
Lead singer Annie Haslam started touring solo. The same crowd went to see her. I always say that I’m not won over by a voice. If the first thing you tell me you like about a singer is her voice, I’ll probably not be interested. Annie is the exception, as her voice is not beautiful, it’s exceptional. She had a five-octave range and knew how to use it. She was more than a beautiful voice; she was expressive and charming. This was not just vocal gymnastics. Renaissance was almost more than her voice; it was driven just as much by John Tout’s piano and keyboards. As an ELP fan that was the first thing that won me over. Their sound was complex, fusing rock with classical music, much as ELP did.
All good things must come to the end, they started shedding members. For a while they toured as Acoustic Renaissance, with Annie, Michael Dunford on guitar, and Annie on vocals. Lead singer Annie Haslam started touring solo. The same crowd went to see her. Eventually things just fizzled out and we’d see Annie at her infrequent concerts. Then in 2009 Dunford and Annie reformed the band with a new lineup, including Rave Tesar on piano and keyboards. He had previously played in Annie’s solo shows. Carey and I started going to the shows. There was new material that was less exciting but still good. And that’s how I found myself following a legacy act. We’d see some of the old crowd at the shows, both Jays and Norman, but not all together.
It’s been about four years since we saw them last but when I saw they were at Town Hall Carey and I decided to go. It’s one of my favorite venues anywhere; a beautiful hall with great acoustics. We went with Carey’s girlfriend Barbara and our friend Charles, who we met at the front of the line at Christine Lavin shows.
I thought I saw Linda, who we haven’t seen in maybe 20 years but when I called her name she didn’t respond. During intermission I spotted her again and was closer so she couldn’t miss me. It was Linda! We also saw the Jay we were friendlier with. It was the old gang.
Annie is 72 now and her voice is not what it once was. There are times, especially in the first set she was straining. She had trouble maintaining some of the long notes. She took the pitch down on some of the high notes. I wish I could say how much, I’d guess about a fifth, but I am a terrible judge. But you know what, given the history, I still loved it. She found her form better in the second set, especially on the two big numbers, Song for All Seasons, which clocks in at 10:55 and their traditional encore, Ashes are Burning. That was 23:49 on their Live at Carnegie Hall album. It was closer to 15 minutes last night, maybe even 10. I didn’t time it, time stood still. Annie was the only original, with Rave having the second longest band tenure. That is if you don’t include Jim McCarty. The classic lineup, Annie Haslam, Michael Dunford (guitar), Jon Camp (bass), John Tout (keyboards), and Terry Sullivan (drums) was not the original. Renaissance was an offshoot of the Yardbirds. They started touring and recording in 1979, two years before Annie joined the band. That band dissolved when they still had contractual obligations to tour and Michael and Jim brought in the new crew. Jim didn’t play with the new members, but he was there last night. I suspect he has not been an active musician. He played very basic rhythm guitar on a few of the songs.
When they played at Carnegie Hall it was with the New York Philharmonic. They did a scaled down version of that last night, with a chamber orchestra, cello, viola, violins, woodwinds, brass, and percussion. That is the natural habitat of Renaissance.
Carey had to leave early but I hung out with Jay and Linda after the show. I finally got their contact information. Perhaps they’ll join me at some shows. I can particularly see them loving Jean Rohe with a band. There is a common bond. She and Renaissance perform art songs.
I almost forgot something very important, dinner! What’s wrong with me? It was a special dinner, Carey, Barbara, Charles, and I, ate at Juniors! I had my usual deli meal, a tongue sandwich and fries. But that’s not what’s special about Juniors; it’s the cheesecake. I haven’t had it in years, since I left Brooklyn. I had the chocolate moose cheesecake. The slice is huge and I’m pretty sure over 1000 calories. The question is never how many calories, but is the dish worth it? Junior’s cheesecake is. Why should I rely on my memory, according to Trip Advisor it is 1100 calories. Still worth it. It was an evening with friends, two of which I haven’t seen years, great music, and chocolate mousse cheesecake. Pretty sure that means I maxed out on goodness.
Wise Madness 