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' anada "Woodrow, a Pile of Sticks" 07 feb '
' 285 by Oregano 2001 '
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"I don't know, Stoney, it just doesn't seem like a sign, I think she
was just being polite," said Jimmy as he and Stoney sat in the hallway
outside the school library killing time before the bell telling them lunch
was over.
Stoney asked, "Tell me it all, leave no detail unturned."
"Okay," said Jimmy, "I was talking to Mr. Becker in the hallway after
English..."
"Why were you doing that?" Stoney asked.
"Mr. Becker recommended a good science fiction book to me, he said
there are actually science fiction books that are well-written when he saw
me reading a Roger Zelazney book," said Jimmy, "but that is beside the
point. So I was talking to Mr. Becker and then there was Shauna, she came
up and talked to Mr. Becker and I was there, and before she talked to Mr.
Becker she put out her hand and said 'Hi, I'm Shauna, I've seen you around.'
Like everyone in school doesn't know who she is. Man she is so perfect,"
added Jimmy.
"Did you shake her hand or did you stand there like an idiot? Did
you ask her to go to Nathan's after school for french fries?" Stoney said.
"I did shake her hand, but I think she was just trying to be
friendly, if she liked me it would be a more obvious sign... I think... she
has got me all... I don't know... something." Jimmy looked visably
bewildered.
"Dude, that is exactly the kind of sign that girls give. She gave
you a big green light and you didn't take advantage, you have to act fast or
the chance will be gone, the green light might still be on for a second
chance, she might think you were just trying to play it cool in front of Mr.
Becker, but don't let it slip. Don't be like Canned Heat."
Jimmy winced, here comes the big speech, he thought, but he asked
anyway, "What is Canned Heat, I hope this is not some weird '70s thing like
the Pet Rock that your dad spazzes about all the time."
"Nope," replied Stoney, "it was a rock band in the '60s that went
nowhere."
"Even worse, bad classic rock, as if good classic rock is not bad
enough," Jimmy said with a smile.
"Now is not the time for me to school you into the proper music, you
are going to let Shauna get away, just like Canned Heat let the Monterey
Music Festival get away from them," Stoney said forcefully.
"I am listening," said Jimmy, "But make it quick, and this better be
relevant."
"Picture this," said Stoney, "1967 and there is this huge music
festival in California, the first big one of its kind, no Woodstock, no
Lollapalooza before it to guide the way, no one knows how to do this, it was
put together there first and they were inventing the rules. Anyway all
sorts of bands were invited, most are obscure now and only a handful became
superstars."
"Dull as dishwater," replied Jimmy, "The '60s sucked, all hype, get
to a point."
"Canned Heat came on on the first day, they were a promising act and
here was a venue for them to shine. But here is the deal, there was no one
putting pressure on them to perform well. No one said, 'lads, here is your
big break' so when they went on they must have been figuring they were
getting paid anyway, and this festival was a laid back kind of event, not
the big thing festivals are these days, and so they did a very average set,
almost sleep walked through it. The crowd was polite and clapped when they
were done and I bet their manager said 'god job lads.' but it was no big
deal to them or to the fans, they broke up a few years later and it was no
big deal, no regrets, they just didn't manage to break out and make a name
for themselves like they thought they could. They all found other jobs and
lived normal and pleasant lives."
"Okay," said Jimmy, "what is the point, you are saying that if I let
this go, things will be okay for me, that is not anything I could not figure
out for myself."
Stoney raised a finger in the air, "Ahh, but we are forgetting Otis
Redding." Stoney paused to make Jimmy listen more intently, "Otis came on
in the third day, he was a soul singer, he was invited because kids our age
dabbled in soul music, but it was kind of like how Swing music was a few
years ago, it was fun little kicks, but nothing serious, nothing you'd
listen to two years later. Nothing much was expected of Otis Redding and he
was not even geting paid to be there, just airfare and a hotel room. He
could have done the same thing Canned Heat did, he could have walked through
the set and the kids would say, 'Ahh that was pleasant, I am a fan of this
soul music,' but the next day it would be forgotten."
"Continue on," said Jimmy, now paying close attention.
"Otis Redding did not just do a good show, he blew everyone away.
Listen to the CD and the crowd is polite as he comes on stage, they welcome
him like they are all knowledgeable of soul music. Then he starts into
"Shake" and suddenly the crowd is really quiet, like they are stunned, there
is a real force on stage in front of them and then soon there are a few
cheers and then, BAM, the place comes alive, I picture people jumping around
dancing when I hear that song, and Otis he is on fire, he gives everything
he has and the band picks up on this and they are blowing a storm and the
whole event suddenly changes, he changed the entire Monterey Pop Festival
right there. He continues on with his set and when he talks a little
between songs and you can hear him out of breath and you can almost hear the
sweat and that he is holding nothing back.
"Based on that performance, soul music became a vital part of
American music and changed the way rock music was performed, it was now okay
with people like us to listen to, and Otis Redding became a legend, riding
high until he died in a plane crash a few years later."
Jimmy was listening with his mouth open, "Wow, that must have been
something."
Stoney continued, "There is the thing here, Jimmy, here is the point.
You can be Canned Heat and nothing would be regretted with Shauna, you'd
just write it off as her maybe not being interested, nothing really lost,
things would pass by, just sort of coast along. But on the other hand you
can take this small opening, this rare opportunity and be Otis Redding. Win
over Shauna, make your stand. She gave you the opening, now you have to
turn it into a date, into something wonderful."
Jimmy seemed a little dubious, but enthused, "I will, I can make this
happen, " he said.
[`'`'`]
Two days later Jimmy ran into Stoney at Settler's CDs. "I saw Shauna
yesterday," Jimmy said, "and I went up to her and talked to her, even though
I was so nervous I was shaking."
"Yeah?" asked Stoney, "and what happened?"
"Canned Heat, baby, totally Canned Heat."
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` anada285 by Oregano (c) 2001 anada e'zine `
