People call me an old soul. A granny. If they're nice, they might say "wise beyond my years".
And let's face it, I drive a 1993 Crown Victoria, own a pretty impressive collection of records, own and operate a record player, and get excited about antique stores. I eat, sleep, breathe, and practically worship Elvis Presley, whom I consider the most ridiculous, incredible rockstar in the universe, and can proudly say takes up 376 of the 1935 songs on my iPod (which, by the way, wears a pretty sweet Elvis Presley skin).
And it's not just Elvis; most of the other artists on my iPod are either dead or well on their way to the grave: Johnny Cash
Michael Jackson
Ray Charles
The Beatles
Bob Dylan
Creedence Clearwater Revival
and James Brown, to name a few. I love the soul and heart music had back in the 40s/50s/60s/70s, and will preach myself hoarse on the unmistakable difference between 'true' music and the auto-tuned, electronic chaos churned out today. I hardly ever listen to anyone too young to qualify for a AARP membership. I mean, for Pete's sake I've got Bo Diddley on my Spotify account. Look him up.
Except.
There's this band, you might've heard of 'em: Needtobreathe. Four of the most intensely passionate musicians on this earth, and also four of the most hardcore rockstars not yet putting their teeth in a jar at night. I saw them for the fourth time just a week ago, October 24th, in Omaha, Nebraska.
I'll save the (as far as I'm concerned) BEST for last. :)
First off, there's the drummer, Nate Hufford. New drummer, yes, but the drummer. I admit, I was particularly attached to Joe Stillwell, who helped build this band and was always the easiest one to talk to at meet-and-greets. But this guy Nate is something else. He gives that drumset a whole new energy until it almost seems to literally dance. He beats the music out of 'em like he's letting something out from inside himself. We never get to hear him sing, but those drums are his voice. To look at, he reminds me a lot of Waldo (as in, where's Waldo?) but he packs a serious punch and brings it hard like I was not expecting. So, welcome, sir, and congratulations on winning my appreciation.
Bass guitar time! Seth Bolt is THAT guy. You know what I mean. There's one in every band. That one band member who seems to be the reason there's an uneven ratio of girls to guys at a rock and roll show. He's, ahem, the female fan favorite. :) Which is cool, I understand, and it can't be an easy job. But seriously, this dude is not only charming, and (admittedly) good-lookin', but he's also a beast on the bass. This is the dude who made me appreciate such a underestimated instrument; I actually HEAR the bass in songs now. It doesn't hurt that the night I saw them, he played a beautiful gold instrument, which became an entirely unmatchable force in his hands. He's spellbinding to watch and both his voice and guitar skills are honey to the ears of any member of the congregation at the Church of Music.
I promise I won't take too long with this one. If I wanted, I could go on for pages about Bo Rinehart, the songwriter/banjo player/guitar player/mandolin player/drummer/backing vocalist. He's a living, breathing one-man band. He dresses like somebody combined a lumberjack, elderly Englishman, and the inventor of skinny jeans all in one. He makes a combination of elbow patches, suspenders, striped socks, and bowler hats look awesome. He sometimes sports a dapper blonde mustache. And the MUSIC. Bo Rinehart is the reason I took up the banjo, an instrument usually associated with toothless hillbillies in the Ozark Mountains who shoot and eat opossums. But he plays the banjo, and in a ROCK band, and manages to make himself and his battered/beautiful Fender five-string heard over the screaming guitars. But Bo does everything. He sings his own lyrics in that sweet high voice which never ceases to send happy chills from my spine to my toes, very nearly knocking down the microphone, the speakers, and anything/anyone else who gets in his way. You see, Bo dances. For the entirety of a three-hour show, he's jumping and leaping and kicking everywhere there's room, and some places where there's not. I love each of the band members (sorta) equally, but Bo's my favorite for that very reason. The music moves him, gets his blood pumping, makes him want to fly. What Nate lets out on his drums, Bo lets out through his crazy feet. Plus, he's an Elvis fan. :)
Bear Rinehart.
There aren't words, believe me. I might as well stop here. That's all I can say. Bear Rinehart.
No, but seriously, saying this guy can rock is like saying a tornado is windy. Lead singer, older brother to Bo Rinehart, and biggest/baddest/best guitarist/vocalist I've ever.....y'know? Like I said, there are no words. He's Bear Rinehart. He's the guy who opens his mouth and screams and it's a freight train hauling grizzly bears hitting your chest at a hundred miles an hour. Bear Rinehart passion is squeezing your eyes shut, stretching your mouth as wide as it'll go, punching yourself in the chest in time to the drumbeat, letting God voice his love through your vocal chords in a growling, snarling, Southern drawl, and rocking back and forth so fast and hard that everyone standing in the front row gets rained on with sweat. That's Bear Rinehart. He doesn't just sing, he doesn't just play guitar. He preaches. Bo's, Seth's, and Bear's boots beat the stage in time and it's thunder in a furious, fascinating, ridiculous storm. He is music, and passion, personified.
This is Needtobreathe. I managed to talk to Seth, and he sang a bit of Joe Cocker's "Feelin' Alright" while standing under my bright blue umbrella, which is covered with little green owls (It was maybe 20 degrees out, and trying really hard to decide whether it wanted to snow or rain; not normal weather for guys from South Carolina). I got to hug Bo, and I gave him a big bag of candy corn and circus peanuts (his favorites--- does anyone else eat circus peanuts??) The poor guy was soaking wet and shivering, but still stayed long enough for a quick chat and a picture, and literally made my year. I could talk Elvis and music with that guy for hours, if I was ever lucky enough to have that chance. Bear stood under my umbrella too, and talked for a bit. Let me tell you, that guy under a cute little owl umbrella was a picture. :)
My point is, Needtobreathe has become my soul music, and one of the few bands I listen to who are young, and current, and popular with people who are actually my age. I've only seen them four times, but this last time was the best by far. I love their passion, their normal-ness; it's so great to me that people with such overwhelming, crazy-awesome talent can be so sweet, so nice, so human. They are a blessing to the music world, and as long as they keep playing, I will never stop listening. Kudos to you, Bear, Bo, Seth, and Nate. YOU GUYS ROCK.
