My ears, my mind, and my heart were treated to a very special gift last night. I went to see Mohsen Namjoo in his first concert on his US tour. In my lifetime, having been fortunate enough to have had many artist friends, I have been treated to many first night performances on stage. There is something electrifying about the level of excitement of artists and organizers on an “opening night.” Artists who have practiced and rehearsed sometimes for months come out in their as yet new costumes to share their ambitions and their dreams and their art with the world which has on that night sent out 100, 500, or 3,000 representatives to go see that performance and go tell everybody else about it. On an opening night, some things which have not been caught during the rehearsals may also go wrong, creating temporary mayhem and confusion which is soon sorted out, giving the audience the delight of having been privy to them! [See photo essay]
So much has been said about Mohsen Namjoo and his music and the not-so-quiet revolution he has started on the Iranian music front. His effect on me has been spellbinding. The traditional Iranian music lover in me connects to Namjoo’s expert knowledge of that music, and the rebel inside me who never grows up devours the unorthodox way in which he approaches the marriage of Persian music and poetry. He shocks me and then quickly disarms me. He sings those unpredictable and changing melodies, and I find myself growing more willing to dare, keeping up with his courage.
I was surprised and happy to know that Beyond Persia had actually pulled off getting Namjoo to US a few weeks ago. I couldn’t wait to go see him perform. The night before the concert, I had the good fortune of meeting Namjoo at my friends, Shadi and Ardalan Payvar’s home in San Francisco. The impression I developed of him was one of a very quiet and somewhat shy man, full of observation with few outward words. His humble and down-to-earth demeanor was touching. Just before he said good-bye to leave that night, I said to him “Mr. Namjoo, I wish you success on your concert tomorrow night. I’ll be in the audience, sending you good vibes!” He said to me: “Please do. I will need them.”
I showed up to his opening concert in San Francisco with a large group of my friends and family last night. The thing that had me confused about the concept of this concert in the discussions I had had with my friends, was the “solo” in “Mohsen Namjoo Solo.” I was thinking how could he get up on that stage all alone and play the music we had customarily heard on his CD’s with a music band, backup singers, and what seemed like a lot of overlaying audio effects.
I wasn’t prepared to be shocked and disarmed by Namjoo again! Sure enough, he was solo! It was just him and his multiple string instruments on that cavernous stage at San Francisco’s remarkable Palace of Fine Arts. So simple, so austere, so solo! In retrospect, what did I expect? That the Namjoo we have seen on video clips many times, with those compassionate and satirical lyrics, with his simultaneously simple and complex outlook to the world, would show up with a huge glittering band and backup singers in a sequined suit?!! There were no big, boring introductions, no one else vying to steal his spotlight, no opening words from him…he just started singing for us.
For the thousandth time, Namjoo’s music made me think, laugh, and cry–nothing new there. Namjoo, himself, however, is now etched in my memory as one of the most original and awesome live performers I have ever seen. He delivered many of his memorable songs with passion and energy. He is remarkable in that he also delivered what I had previously thought to be “overlaying special effects” all by himself during the songs! The audience was reacting to him in unusual ways, too. Some people were singing along. Some “Namjoo Heads” were loud and boisterous in the anticipation for his famous pace changes and punch lines, cheering him on. Were those embarrassed chuckles I heard from the audience when he delivered some of his lyrics? I had never been to a performance where the audience loved the artist and laughed during his performance at the same time! There it was, that element of shock and disarm and surrender, a familiar reaction to Namjoo’s music.
For those of you who might be fortunate enough to catch one of his upcoming concerts in Washington DC, New York, San Diego, and Los Angeles, I just have one small insight. Though he appears solo, there is nothing solo in Namjoo’s performance. For every single one of the people in the audience were on that stage with him, singing, thinking, understanding, and enjoying his music. Don’t miss it!
* Namjoo’s music page on Iranian.com: http://iranian.com/main/music/namjoo-mohsen
* Aah keh intor video clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hpg_PXhsrs
* Top photo by Jahanshah Javid. See photo essay
* Visit: http://nazykaviani.blogspot.com/
