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| Review from his Royal Festival Hall gig.
We live in an era of rock and pop where no one really means it when they say goodbye, where "farewell" inevitably turns into "coo-eee, remember us?" when the price is right. Given the current climate, there is something slightly strange about attending a gig that really does have an air of finality about it. Earlier this year, Glen Campbell announced that he was suffering from Alzheimer's disease and that his current album, Ghost on the Canvas, and its accompanying tour would be his last.
The journalists who have met him recently seem a little taken aback by how faded Campbell's memories already are, which means it is hard to approach the show without a degree of concern. His eyes seldom stray from the three autocues on stage and he mocks his waning ability to banter between songs – "I used to stand up here and tell jokes, but I forgot 'em all" – but whatever else Alzhemier's may have done to him, it doesn't seem to have affected his voice, nor indeed his guitar playing. Midway through opener Gentle On My Mind he gives an excited cry of "I'm gonna take one!" then reels off an incredible solo, something he does again and again: his playing is dexterous, fluid and effortless, a reminder that, before the hits, he was one of the legendary LA session musicians the Wrecking Crew.
He occasionally seems surprised when his band – including his sons and daughter – prompt him as to what he is going to sing next. "Really?" he frowns. "That?" Then his face invariably softens into a delighted grin: "Well, that's a great song." He has a point. Galveston, By the Time I Get to Phoenix, Southern Nights, Rhinestone Cowboy, Dreams of an Everyday Housewife: his back catalogue is like a masterclass in beautiful, economical pop songwriting, every melody perfectly formed, not a surplus note or word.
The show never feels like an exercise in showy rage-against-the-dying-of-the-light bravado, nor in lachrymose heart-string-tugging. Perhaps that's because, as he sings in A Better Place, one of a couple of new songs that touch on his circumstances, "the world's been good to me". By anyone's standards, he's lived a life in full: four wives, eight kids, untold hellraising and what may be the greatest love song ever written in his back catalogue. Tonight, Wichita Lineman sounds as astonishing as ever, the gorgeous, aching guitar solo Campbell added himself instead of a third verse a demonstration of how perfectly his relationship with songwriter Jimmy Webb worked. Or perhaps it's because, occasionally fluffed lines and all, Campbell just doesn't cut a sad figure on stage. He looks like he's having the time of his life, albeit for the last time. |
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Location: south east Michigan | THAT is an interesting, well written review. I don't think you'll ever read something like that from the critics on this side of the pond. |
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Location: Tuscany, Italy | Thanks Schroeder .... |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | I wish his tour would take him somewhere close, but that's what I get for living in the sticks. I'll just have to settle for the album. |
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Location: New Hartford CT | Really enjoyed your review, thanks. Some members here have a great night to look forward to.
Sounds like Glen is handling this with style. |
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Location: N.E. Pa | Schroeder, what a terrific read! So well written and so many wonderful thoughts. I know I couldn't have said it any better. Thank you! |
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Location: Orlando, FL | Great review Schroeder! Thanks for sharing. |
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Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Very well-written Schroeder. Thanks much for sharing your thoughts with us. |
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Location: south east Michigan | I don't think Schroeder wrote it.
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Much less has any thoughts. |
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| My apologies for failing to give credit to The Guardian newspaper.
Glad you all enjoyed it.
As a matter of interest M.I.T. last year declared The Guardian the English language newspaper requiring the highest standard of literacy of its readers.
It has close links with The New York Times in editorials exchange, but is way more liberal.
I've made a note of your comment Slippy Boy. |
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Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Ditto what Brad said.
But great review, and thanks for sharing. |
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Location: nashville | Thanks for the review really has me jazzed to see Glen at the Ryman in a few days. |
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Location: Seymour, Tennessee | I sure can't wait for Dec 15th to get here.
I've wanted to see him for so long and finally getting the chance is making the wait unbearable :) |
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Location: Flahdaw | Originally posted by schroeder:
It has close links with The New York Times in editorials exchange, but is way more liberal. YIKES!!! |
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Location: Brisbane Australia | Hey Clive, thanks for sharing
It has obviously been coming on for a while......he was a bit vague and used the autocue when we saw him here in Oz in 09.
At one stage he said to his band.....what key are we in?......someone replied A and away he went, didn't miss a note
He was gracious and charming when Deb an I met him and he signed the Bluebird for me......great memories.
AJ |
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| What seems to me to be absolutely fascinating is that he is fluffing the odd line, needing an auto cue for the words, needs to be reminded of the set list, but needs no help at all with his chord/musical memory nor his ability to improvise with the best. Somebody should be studying GC - because it is amazing how the music seems far more resistant to the Alzheimer's than word related stuff.
With a very close family history of Alzheimer's I really grab on to the idea that I could be pretty much out of it but still able to sit and play a guitar (however badly) for as long as they let me.
Go Glenn! |
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Location: SoCal | Schro', in a lot of the articles I've read, his doctor talks about how music stys with you when all else goes. It's also been pointed out (and I'm sure this is one of the reasons for the tour) is that staying as active as possible slows down the disease.... |
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Location: south east Michigan | The nursing home where my mother was would bring in musicians two or three times a month. It was quite a site to see. My Mom had not known who I was for a number of years and yet she sang right along to "My Wild Irish Rose".
And it wasn't just her. That room, for a short time, became full of life again. |
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Location: Flahdaw | I have a songbook with over 100 songs....words only. I remember all the chords and changes and riffs. Just can't remember the words. |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | That's really amazing DB.
When I got back from the GuildFest, I ended up with the flu and didn't pick up a guitar for a week and then played catchup with all the neglected things around the house. Didn't play for over 2 weeks.
The other night I decided to play for a while and couldn't remember the chords or the words to about half of the songs I tried. |
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Location: San Francisco, CA | Great review! Thanks!
6 |
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Location: Chicago | Eloquent and heartfelt. Thanks. |
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Glen Campbell in London