Peter Paul & Mary - last night

[stusegal]

We were lucky to catch Peter Paul & Mary at the State Theater last night. I first remember them from my teens, when they were leading the Peace March in Washington, and they were marching with Dr. King - and their songs like "Blowin" In The Wind" were essentially the musical soundtrack of the protests.

As you can see from the photo, they don't look quite the same as you may remember - a tall willowy blond with long flowing hair and bangs, bookended by tall darkhaired men with goatees. Yes, they're older, and yes they're sitting, and yes (what you may not be able to discern in the photo) Mary Travers is on oxygen.

In '04 Mary was diagnosed with leukemia, since then has had a bone marrow transplant, and though fortunate to be alive has suffered damage to her lungs, thus the oxygen. And at 73, still has the gumption and guts to perform. OK, she is no longer has that iconic long blonde hair that flowed with every twist of her neck, but what she does have is readily apparent on songs like "If I Had A Hammer", where her voice just shines.

It was great to see them, and great to see how they were able to still work together and perform so well, given challenges that might easily prevent most people from going on the road at all.

So we got to hear, "Puff The Magic Dragon", "Leavin' On A Jet Plane", "If I Had A Hammer", "Where Have All The Flowers Gone" and two and a half hours of other stuff, and I got to sing "This Land Is Your Land" with them (well, actually me and about 2,500 other people).

It was really bittersweet to see them, all now in their 70's, Mary struggling with her health - if you can find a way, see them soon.

Comments

[lauriemann.livejournal.com]

I listened to their albums all the time when I was a kid (my dad was a fan). Interesting Mary needs to be on oxygen but can still sing. I wouldn't have expected that.

[stu-segal.livejournal.com]

Yes, I was first surprised that she was in a wheelchair and hooked up to oxygen, and was then surprised that she could sing.

But I think about others who I would have also doubted could still sing - Al Jolson when older, Elvis after abusing his body so, Johnny Cash as an old man, Judy Garland, . . . the stories about Bobby Darin running backstage for oxygen between his numbers (of course, he died soon after). I guess when you have that much talent . . .

Unfortunate for you they're not coming near Pittsburgh (summer tour - http://www.peterpaulandmary.com/tour/f-tour-summer.htm); but based on what we saw, I wonder how they're going to get through their summer tour.

[gilraen2.livejournal.com]

they were certainly the role models of my generation. i saw them on stage two or three times, and mary travers on her own a couple of times. i think i'll just savor the memory.

[stu-segal.livejournal.com]

Yes, I have the "savor the memory" approach with certain groups. Like the Rolling Stones, who I saw in '66 when they were very young, unspoiled and unpretentious - and who I now refuse to see because they've become such sad bizarre caricatures of themselselves.

But PP&M don't project that kind of negativity. Even at their age and infirmity they still project being the true professionals and the real people that they always have been.