Got some video of Tina Turner in concert in San Jose. This could be the last time I get the opportunity to see The Queen of Rock and Roll! Phenomenal show that leaves me exhausted every time. I don't know how a 69 year old can do what she does but I'm totally ok with her doing it!
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Sunday, October 19, 2008
San Francisco hears about mountaintop removal mining.
I'm out in San Francisco this week visiting Alisha and she found a viewing of a new documentary called "Burning Our Future" playing at one of the local theaters in town. It is a documentary on the effects of mountaintop removal coal mining in West Virginia and takes a harsh look at those effects. All sides are given air time, from Bill Raney, President of the West Virginia Coal Association and Governor Joe Manchin to those that claim ill effects from the process. The film is made as an advocacy film for that second group and is focused mainly on the struggles of the Gunnoe family in Boone County.
Below, you'll find a two minute trailer on the movie which sets the tone for the piece. The lady in the black t-shirt in NYC is the Gunnoe matriarch in the movie and was at the screening and did a question and answer session following the movie here. Below that you'll find a quick review by me of the movie.
My Thoughts...
Overall, I thought that the quality of the movie was high and that the director presented West Virginians as intelligent and thoughtful (which oftentimes isn't the case)and dealt with some of the realities of coal politics in Southern West Virginia well. While I despise mountaintop removal mining I'm torn as to what should be done in exchange and the movie doesn't address that issue either but it wasn't its point. The movie does oftentimes confuse several subjects and presents them as an indictment of the industry which I found unfair. In particular the movie discusses both the effects of the actual extraction of the coal and the resulting damage to water tables, land and the flooding and declining quality of the ecosystem as well as the conversation about the burning of "clean coal" as one argument. These are two totally separate conversations and should be treated as such in my opinion.
I do suggest a look at this movie to at least understand what is happening in places like McDowell, Mingo, Boone and other counties in West Virginia, southwestern Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee but also understand that the movie has a viewpoint and it wants you to agree with it. My overall thoughts....
B+ or ***(out of four) or "Thumbs Up" which ever scale you want to you.
Below, you'll find a two minute trailer on the movie which sets the tone for the piece. The lady in the black t-shirt in NYC is the Gunnoe matriarch in the movie and was at the screening and did a question and answer session following the movie here. Below that you'll find a quick review by me of the movie.
My Thoughts...
Overall, I thought that the quality of the movie was high and that the director presented West Virginians as intelligent and thoughtful (which oftentimes isn't the case)and dealt with some of the realities of coal politics in Southern West Virginia well. While I despise mountaintop removal mining I'm torn as to what should be done in exchange and the movie doesn't address that issue either but it wasn't its point. The movie does oftentimes confuse several subjects and presents them as an indictment of the industry which I found unfair. In particular the movie discusses both the effects of the actual extraction of the coal and the resulting damage to water tables, land and the flooding and declining quality of the ecosystem as well as the conversation about the burning of "clean coal" as one argument. These are two totally separate conversations and should be treated as such in my opinion.
I do suggest a look at this movie to at least understand what is happening in places like McDowell, Mingo, Boone and other counties in West Virginia, southwestern Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee but also understand that the movie has a viewpoint and it wants you to agree with it. My overall thoughts....
B+ or ***(out of four) or "Thumbs Up" which ever scale you want to you.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Tina Live!
I didn't make the video here and this was actually filmed in Kansas City and not anyplace that I've seen her perform on this tour but it is a decent video of the beginning of the show. For some perspective, the dancers are on the second level of the stage with the band on the first. When the curtains open, yes that is Tina 30ft in the air on a small hydraulic lift platform. Let me tell ya..it is a show.
This video is the "official" video from the production company doing the show. It is polished pretty nicely
And the final clip..."Nutbush City Limits" is one of the songs performed as an encore. Take a watch and remember she is 69 years old and has just performed for two hours when she throws down THIS.
This video is the "official" video from the production company doing the show. It is polished pretty nicely
And the final clip..."Nutbush City Limits" is one of the songs performed as an encore. Take a watch and remember she is 69 years old and has just performed for two hours when she throws down THIS.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Tina Turner still moves me!
I loaded the pics in the wrong order but I'll give you a brief overview. The first one is from the encore when part of the stage turns into a catwalk and swings out into the audience. She is nearly directly above me and it is wonderful! The catwalk got stuck on this particular night but Tina soldiered on and made a brief reference about it and just made it work. The second picture is also of Tina on the catwalk, the lights caught badly behind her and it is hard to make out.
Pics 3 and 4 are from Golden Eye. Many of you might remember that Tina did the theme song from the James Bond movie "Golden Eye". The circle of lights in the back rises in two pieces at the beginning of the song and comes together then Tina walks out through it, quite the experience!
The final picture is actually the first one of the night. This is the opening moment of the concert when the curtains open. Tina is 30 feet in the air in all her glory, dancers (who are actually on the second level of the stage here) and band in the back and "Steamy Windows" rips through the air. Now...not many people can OPEN a show with a song like "Steamy Windows" and no other can end it with classic romps through "Proud Mary", "River Deep, Mountain High", and "Nutbush City Limits" in succession. All in all it was a SPLENDID night and one that I'm anxious to repeat.
Tina Turner is back on tour at the age of 68! By the time the tour ends, she will be preparing to turn 70 years old! I hope that at the age of 70 I'm still able to exchange carbon dioxide for oxygen without a pump let alone put on a two and half hour throw down of a concert!
My cousin Sheri came up for the weekend and we were able to score 17th row seats for the concert here in Minneapolis. She got a room at the Marriott City Center and we had a grand ole time! The show left me breath-taken and wanting more and fortunately I can do that! I'll be heading to San Francisco this weekend to join Alisha and Jason and Gerald for another round of Tina(!) LIVE! We have floor seats again! I'll take my camera to this one and get some better pictures than from my phone. I will even try to get a couple of good videos of some of the highlights of the show. Here are a couple of pics to check out!
Pics 3 and 4 are from Golden Eye. Many of you might remember that Tina did the theme song from the James Bond movie "Golden Eye". The circle of lights in the back rises in two pieces at the beginning of the song and comes together then Tina walks out through it, quite the experience!
The final picture is actually the first one of the night. This is the opening moment of the concert when the curtains open. Tina is 30 feet in the air in all her glory, dancers (who are actually on the second level of the stage here) and band in the back and "Steamy Windows" rips through the air. Now...not many people can OPEN a show with a song like "Steamy Windows" and no other can end it with classic romps through "Proud Mary", "River Deep, Mountain High", and "Nutbush City Limits" in succession. All in all it was a SPLENDID night and one that I'm anxious to repeat.
Tina Turner is back on tour at the age of 68! By the time the tour ends, she will be preparing to turn 70 years old! I hope that at the age of 70 I'm still able to exchange carbon dioxide for oxygen without a pump let alone put on a two and half hour throw down of a concert!
My cousin Sheri came up for the weekend and we were able to score 17th row seats for the concert here in Minneapolis. She got a room at the Marriott City Center and we had a grand ole time! The show left me breath-taken and wanting more and fortunately I can do that! I'll be heading to San Francisco this weekend to join Alisha and Jason and Gerald for another round of Tina(!) LIVE! We have floor seats again! I'll take my camera to this one and get some better pictures than from my phone. I will even try to get a couple of good videos of some of the highlights of the show. Here are a couple of pics to check out!
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