Have you ever watched professional ice-skaters in intense competition? As I drove away from the triple-header event, hosted by Society Promotions at Vineyard of Gainesville, featuring the haunting stylistics of Ricky Kendall and The Spooky Divide, a jam-packed art show featuring the art of Evan McIntyre, Mike McVicar, Ricky Kendall and Delmaris Villafane, and the final performance of a Gainesville favorite, Officer Flossie, I was reminded of Ice-skating competitions I had seen in the Winter Olympics a few years ago.
the works of Evan McIntyre, Mike McVicar, Ricky Kendall, and Delmaris Villafane at Vineyard
Aug. 23, 2008
32 Photos
This was Society Promotions first event and came off with a feel of preparation and style. The air-conditioned auditorium at Vineyard was set up like a very large living room. Well, if your living room is well staffed with delightful volunteers including a doorman, has a stage, with great sound and cool lighting, its own drink station serving delectable’s from VOLTA coffee and teas, and a table to purchase CD’s, buttons and other cool swag surrounding your couches.
photos from a show at Vineyard
Aug. 23, 2008
22 Photos
After Officer Flossie got our hearts thumping and tried to melt our face with their unique style guests crowded into The Gallery where original art, and refreshments were served up with class. Closing out the evening was Ricky Kendall and The Spooky Divide who enchanted us with a sophisticated performance of original works.
Final show at Vineyard
Aug. 23, 2008
26 Photos
So, what’s this got to do with ice-skaters?
While in intense competition these world-best skaters are tense. They skate as if their future and their reputation depends on it. Invariably, some fall hard on their… ice. But this wasn’t it. It was later, after the competition, that reminded me of the final show of Officer Flossie. After the intensity, after the stress of competition, after the eyes of the judges were no longer hunting for deductions, these skaters would skate in exhibitions. It was here that the real beauty, the relaxed yet exactness of true artistry seemed to flow from the same skaters that bounced a few times earlier in the evening.
Officer Flossie was like these skaters. I was not at their first show, but was able to slip into closed practices over the last few years and have enjoyed immensely the intensity and pure fun they have always put into their musical performances. They are (were) intense performers. With their unique style, wide-ranging guitar riffs, pronounced beats, and always thoughtful and sometimes thought provoking lyrics, Officer Flossie would have been special enough. Add to that the ‘what will they do next’ (staged) stage antics such as serving salad to a guest, shaving off someone’s hair, or having this strange man (and close friend) pop up on stage to dance as if his joints (and his mind) might be less than secured in place, and you have the true experience of Officer Flossie.
How they remind me of Ice-skating exhibitions was at this last show. Yes, they were still intense, yes there were still antics on stage, and yes, the music and lyrics were still thought provoking and downright FUN. There was, however, a more relaxed feel to this performance. Like the ice-skaters - everything was there and more. The performance did not have the harsh edge of a band trying as hard as they could to win fans, but a calm confidence (yes, even while bass player David Cromer was perched on the monitors howling into the microphone) that seemed to allow a new level of artistry and beauty to this performance. My favorite performance by far.
In short, having watched these guys on and off over the years; watching them in closed practices while they worked out an original song together, while performing on stage with all caution thrown to the wind, and in this final performance, I am glad to have known them. I will hang on to the CD’s and play them every-so-often to lift my spirits and remind me what a wonderful band these guys were.
Farewell Flossie.
- Barney, staff writer
Posts