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Mojave magic in Pioneertown concert
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| Eric Burdon, lead singer of the Animals, performs a Lanois-influenced version of "House of the Rising Sun," the song Burdon made famous in 1964. |
By Sara Munro / Hi-Desert Star
On route to Florida to meet up with the Dave Matthews Band for a series of stadium concerts at the end of the month, world-renowned producer and musician Daniel Lanois stopped in to play at Pappy and Harriet's Monday night. Fans and fellow musicians from the Morongo Basin and as far away as Los Angeles packed the Pioneertown Palace to hear the multi-Grammy-winning producer whose credits include albums with Bob Dylan, U2 and Peter Gabriel.
"A majority of people came to see Daniel Lanois, not just to experience live music. He is a serious draw. People feel very strongly about him," said co-owner Linda Krantz.
His music evokes a sense of space with beautiful texturing and depth, and his mastery of the pedal steel portrays an invisible world. Just as fans were drawn to him and his music, Lanois was compelled to play at the off-the-beaten-trail, roadhouse-style tavern that shares its quiet desert domicile with the coyotes, jack rabbits and piņon pine.
"I found the place to be fantastic and spiritual. There is evidence of tranquility that you never hear in the city," said Lanois in a pre-sound check interview. "That sense of mortality is visible. It's good to be reminded we will not be here forever."
A photo of the late Fred Drake was posted on the wall behind the stage, signalling a reverential or spiritual quality to the gathering, while perpetuating his legacy. Several years ago Lanois spent about six months at the Drake's Joshua Tree recording studio, Rancho de la Luna.
Lanois also referred to the mystique of the Mojave, the "little bit of Joshua Tree mythology" permeating the music world, and a growing interest of recording artists to tap into it.
"This place is developing a reputation," said Lanois.
Speaking of the influence of the past, Lanois said, "I have never liked the disposable aspects of our culture. As musicians, we listen to what people have done in the past, and enrich the culture by coming up with something new."
During the show, Lanois demonstrated his sensitivity to that mythology and his reverence for those who have gone before, when he raised a bit of anticipation in the crowd.
"The Tree is a crossroads," he said as he invited "Eric" to the stage while he and his accompaniment from the L.A.-based Mother Superior, started picking out the opening chords to "House of the Rising Sun." A few suspenseful moments later, Eric Burdon lead singer from the Animals, emerged from the crowd, making his way carefully through technical equipment and the limbs of audience members snugged up against the stage, to perform a Lanois-influenced version of the Depression era folk song he made famous in 1964.
Lanois invited the audience to travel with him on a musical journey they couldn't refuse. At the end of the show, the persistent, determined chanting of the audience, a group unified by a sacrament of musical brilliance, beckoned him back for another number as if one in some kind of cosmic prayer. For his last number, a mantra called "Joy," he invited vocalist Sky Edwards of Morcheeba to sing along. Both those on the stage and before it sang a song that seemed to spill directly from a collective soul.
After the show Lanois sat outside at a picnic table where folks offered a gift, remembered a friend or just said thanks for a great show.
"We all have hidden emotions that are ready to open," said Lanois. "The job of music is to open up a door."
On Monday night, that's exactly what happened.
"A majority of people came to see Daniel Lanois, not just to experience live music. He is a serious draw. People feel very strongly about him," said co-owner Linda Krantz.
His music evokes a sense of space with beautiful texturing and depth, and his mastery of the pedal steel portrays an invisible world. Just as fans were drawn to him and his music, Lanois was compelled to play at the off-the-beaten-trail, roadhouse-style tavern that shares its quiet desert domicile with the coyotes, jack rabbits and piņon pine.
"I found the place to be fantastic and spiritual. There is evidence of tranquility that you never hear in the city," said Lanois in a pre-sound check interview. "That sense of mortality is visible. It's good to be reminded we will not be here forever."
A photo of the late Fred Drake was posted on the wall behind the stage, signalling a reverential or spiritual quality to the gathering, while perpetuating his legacy. Several years ago Lanois spent about six months at the Drake's Joshua Tree recording studio, Rancho de la Luna.
Lanois also referred to the mystique of the Mojave, the "little bit of Joshua Tree mythology" permeating the music world, and a growing interest of recording artists to tap into it.
"This place is developing a reputation," said Lanois.
Speaking of the influence of the past, Lanois said, "I have never liked the disposable aspects of our culture. As musicians, we listen to what people have done in the past, and enrich the culture by coming up with something new."
During the show, Lanois demonstrated his sensitivity to that mythology and his reverence for those who have gone before, when he raised a bit of anticipation in the crowd.
"The Tree is a crossroads," he said as he invited "Eric" to the stage while he and his accompaniment from the L.A.-based Mother Superior, started picking out the opening chords to "House of the Rising Sun." A few suspenseful moments later, Eric Burdon lead singer from the Animals, emerged from the crowd, making his way carefully through technical equipment and the limbs of audience members snugged up against the stage, to perform a Lanois-influenced version of the Depression era folk song he made famous in 1964.
Lanois invited the audience to travel with him on a musical journey they couldn't refuse. At the end of the show, the persistent, determined chanting of the audience, a group unified by a sacrament of musical brilliance, beckoned him back for another number as if one in some kind of cosmic prayer. For his last number, a mantra called "Joy," he invited vocalist Sky Edwards of Morcheeba to sing along. Both those on the stage and before it sang a song that seemed to spill directly from a collective soul.
After the show Lanois sat outside at a picnic table where folks offered a gift, remembered a friend or just said thanks for a great show.
"We all have hidden emotions that are ready to open," said Lanois. "The job of music is to open up a door."
On Monday night, that's exactly what happened.
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| Summer desert discoverers migrate uphill |
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