The Last Band

53 Replies
band

PHOTO PROMPT © CEAyr

The bands had played all night and I was about to fall asleep between performances, but the energy level was rising with the sun.

“Have you ever been so wet and cold in your life?” the woman next to me asked out of nowhere.

“No, nor as muddy.”

“I have mud in places I never knew existed.  It’ll take a three-day bath to get clean…”

I was about to say something inappropriate when the strains of the Star-Spangled Banner rang out in glorious distorted tones.

We both raised our cameras to get  pictures of Jimi and his Band of Gypsies.

***

Word count = 100

Friday Fictioneers is hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields.  This week’s prompt is here and uses a photo © CEAyr. Read more or join in by following the InLinkz “linky“.

 

53 thoughts on “The Last Band”

  3. Na'ama Yehuda

    A good friend of mine – who now dances with the angels – had been there. She remembered the insanity and frenzy and odd chill of Woodstock. And the mud. In places she didn’t think Mud could get. I don’t think she wanted to repeat the experience, but she did not regret it, either.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      I’ve bumped into one or two who were there, but a whole lot more that wished they were ;) Yeah, that was the impression that I got, that it was the experience of a life time,but once was enough…

      Liked by 1 person

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  4. draliman

    Saved from a slap in the face by “Jimi and his Band of Gypsies”.
    I don’t know if there’s ever been a Glastonbury Festival (the big UK one) without a good bit of mud – it wouldn’t be the same!

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      I’m sure mud is a big part of any good festival… Cool that Glastonbury has been going strong for so long, even if not this year. I think they did two repeats of Woodstock, but many years after the original. (The festivals in Newport, which are just down the road, have been going on for almost 70 years!)

      Liked by 1 person

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  5. pennygadd51

    Until I was halfway down the comments, I thought you’d been there, and I was thinking, ‘Surely he’s not old enough?’! Beautifully evoked scene from the most iconic festival ever.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      I have read about the aftermath, but I don’t remember the details right now. I know the other people in the town were not happy at all and tried to pass ordinances and such to stop it from happening again. But I’m sure the day after everyone left those fields would have been a huge, huge mess….

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  10. rochellewisoff

    Dear Trent,

    As soon as you referenced the mud I knew where we were. I always felt kind of cheated that I didn’t get to go. In retrospect, I’m not sure I would have enjoyed it…but just think of the bragging rights. ;) You had me in the moment. Good one.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      Thanks, Rochelle. When my mind jumped to Woodstock, mud was my first thought. Jimi was my second ;) I would have way, way too young, but I wish I had a time machine and could go back to it!

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  12. Nobbinmaug

    I can’t get past how gross that bathwater is going to be. It’s going to be like bathing in a mud puddle. She’s going to have to take another bath after that bath.

    That must have been an amazing experience. I don’t think any music festival will ever compare with Woodstock.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      Maybe she’ll take a 20 minute shower before her 3 day bath ;) I agree. No matter how great a concert and how great the performers they could get are, you can’t beat the mythic status of Woodstock.

      Liked by 1 person

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      I’ve been to a few outdoor concerts, but only one festival, though a relatively small one. Of course, everything is small compared to Woodstock! I don’t even want to think about the toilets there…

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      Thanks. I think everyone who was less than fifty in 1969, but at least going to be born within a year of the festival was there. Not sure, but from the tales I hear people tell, that is my guess…

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      Thanks. lol, yep, saved by the band. If you didn’t catch the references, it was Jimi Hendrix playing at Woodstock. He was the last performer on stage and did his famous version of The Star Spangled Banner as part of his show when the sun was rising.

      Liked by 1 person

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      1. notestowomen

        I just read when Jimi Hendrix appeared on the Dick Cavett Show, he explained why he played the ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ at Woodstock. He thought it was beautiful and added, “I’m an American, so I played it. They made me sing it in school, so it was a flashback.” Cavett revealed to his audience that Jimi once belonged to the 101st Airborne Division.

        Liked by 1 person

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        1. trentpmcd Post author

          A couple of years ago I read a biographic sketch, most likely on Wikipedia, so knew he was in the military. He was such an amazing musician, and that version of the Star Spangled Banner is iconic – just perfect.

          Liked by 1 person

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  19. Rowena

    Great story, Trent. Just a question for you. In America would they play the the Star-Spangled Banner at a music festival? I could almost guarantee that wouldn’t happen here in Australia, although we do have the national anthem at sporting grand finals. I got the shock of my life when they sang God Save the Queen at my friend’s 21st. Her family were very traditional. I was a uni student, creative and a bit of the left side of things and this was a different world. It’s good to be able to go with the flow.
    Best wishes,
    Rowena

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      Thanks Rowena. This is in reference to Jimi Hendix’ performance at Woodstock – three days of rain, the bands played from evening until morning. Jimi was the last one to play and played the Star Spangled Banner as the sun rose. Most people felt it was a fitting end to what’s been called the greatest concert ever and was the climax of the movie about the festival.

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      1. Rowena

        Golly. My brother played Jimi Hendrix on electric guitar for years and it’s hard to picture him playing the national anthem, but it must’ve been spectacular to see. It would’ve been unreal to be at Woodstock.

        Liked by 1 person

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        1. trentpmcd Post author

          It would have been unreal. He was such an imaginative musician. You can see videos of him performing it on Youtube, but, as with any live music, I’m sure it is nothing like being there…

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    2. trentpmcd Post author

      Oh, and Jimi was with a new band, and after the announcer said “The Experience”, Jimi’s old band, he corrected them and said, “You could call us a Band of Gypsies”, and that is the name everyone remembers, the Band of Gypsies, not the real name of the band (which I don’t remember ;) ) So that is where my last line came from, Jimi and his Band of Gypsies….

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