I don’t know if I’ve ever mentioned Cordelia’s Dad, but they are on the great bands of the 90s. Not just because I saw a bazillion of their shows and actually had the honor of playing with them a bunch of times, including a short tour of the southern states. And here’s what really rocks – they are still playing. Not a lot, unfortunately, but once in a while. In fact, last year they did a show in Northampton, MA, and recorded it. Last Friday they released that recording as a double live CD. We went to the CD release. It was lovely…just lovely.

It was, without a doubt, one of the best performances of theirs I had seen. And that is saying a lot as I’ve seen many. In fact, as I listen to the CDs, I am impressed and do enjoy it, but it just doesn’t compare. I don’t know. Maybe it has the sound of digital recorders in people’s pockets – probably an unavoidable reality of live recording. But the energy of the live performance – the sweat and occasional (and welcome) mistakes, the pudgy ponytail guy dancing in front of the stage…it all makes the live show such a special experience.

Will the text-happy, You-tube and Facebook generation ever understand the power and intimacy and true, unique creativity of the Dad?