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The Day I Tried To Live

It’s already been a week since Chris Cornell left this plane of existence, but for some reason I’m having a difficult time coming to terms with this realization.

There have been several losses in the worldwide musical community — a startling amount, actually — since I took over this column three years ago. In fact, last year was incredibly brutal to take for those of us who harbor a deep appreciation for some of the music industry’s most influential denizens, harbingers of great intellectual and cultural progression via a medium widely recognized as a truly universal language.

And yet, when I heard the news last Thursday that Chris — frontman for influential grunge pioneers Soundgarden, as well as Temple of the Dog and Audioslave — was gone, it affected me in an unexpected way. I couldn’t get it out of my head.

I recall dedicating a column to David Bowie the week following his death in January of last year. And, while many could argue that the scope of Bowie’s influence outshines that of Cornell’s (it really depends on who you ask, and I’m sure demographic would play a big part in that conversation) this loss hurt me the most.

It hurts more than Bowie, more than Prince and more than Chris Squire, the highly talented and boundary-pushing bassist of Yes. And I’m not entirely sure why I feel that way.

I suppose it could have something to do with the fact that, unlike these other recently departed artists, Chris’s death appears to have been his own decision. Whether or not other substances were at play, he was the one who ultimately put that noose around his neck.

The other component, one that I hadn’t been aware of before, is that Chris had apparently been a longtime sufferer of chronic depression for most of his life. I suppose that could have been surmised if one took any time to sit and analyze his introspective, sometimes angst-ridden lyrics. I, however, spent all of my time listening to his music in utter amazement that a human voice could produce that kind of raw power.

But now, looking back on his music through an entirely different set of lenses, I can hear it in his words and in his voice. Maybe there was a reason behind all the emotion he conveyed through his commanding vocals.

I occasionally go through emotional doldrums myself, and over the past few weeks my mind brought me to some dark places. Perhaps it was the timing that corresponded Chris’s death and dealings with depression with my own downward thoughts.

It’s difficult for many people to separate fame and fortune from the emotional and mental toll a chemical imbalance can take on a person. A lot of people think rock stars have no reason to be depressed. The fact of the matter is that depression isn’t a choice, it’s an illness. Believe it or not, rock stars function the same as everyone else and, contrary to popular belief, are susceptible to the same things as we are — good and bad. Life, along with all of its ups and downs, happens to everybody regardless of social status.

All I know for sure is that on May 17, 2017, the world lost a great musician and a greater human; one who obviously struggled to find his way and the meaning behind it during his time spent here among us.

In 2014, 20 years after Soundgarden blew up with its most successful and critically-acclaimed album, “Superunknown,” I finally made the decision to dive headlong into the band’s discography. For a period of several months, album after album cycled through my rotation until I knew almost every song note for note.

That summer, I had the opportunity to see Soundgarden perform at the Molson Amphitheater in Toronto; and even though I was situated in the lawn area hundreds of feet from the stage and the band members looked like they may have been all of an inch tall, I was singing along at the top of my lungs as if I had a front row seat to all the action. It was an amazing show all around; so much so that I could tolerate paying 15 Canadian dollars for a 16 oz. beer. It makes for a great little footnote, after all.

I’m grateful for that excursion, and that I was able to spend a singular moment in time in the presence of one of the greatest rock singers of all time.

Thank you for the music and the memories, Chris. Rest easy, now.

And now, here’s some of what you can expect to find in the area this week.

HIGHLIGHTS

‘Rolling Hills Radio’ To Feature Bryan Bowers Tonight: WRFA-LP 107.9 FM’s “Rolling Hills Radio” will feature autoharp pioneer and Autoharp Hall of Fame inductee Bryan Bowers at the Robert H. Jackson Center’s Carl Cappa Theater tonight beginning at 6:30.

Bowers, born in Yorktown, Va., and now based in Seattle, is a nationally renowned autoharp player who is frequently credited with introducing new generations of musicians to the instrument. His innovative playing techniques, including finger picking as opposed to strumming, have helped to revolutionize the versatility of the autoharp while working strictly within the framework of traditional music. Bowers became very popular with the audience of the comedy radio program “The Dr. Demento Show” with his 1980 recording of Mike Cross’ song “The Scotsman” — which Hardley hopes Bowers will play on “Rolling Hills Radio.”

In 1993, Bowers was inducted into the Autoharp Hall of Fame. Bowers has been releasing music since 1977, and has a discography of seven studio albums. His most recent releases are 2006’s “Bristlecone Pine” and 2007’s “September in Alaska.”

Tickets still remain for tonight’s program, and are available at $10 each by calling 484-7070 or visiting reglenna.com. Doors to the live show will open at 5:30 p.m., when a pre-show reception known as “Rolling Happy Hour” will commence. The program’s live taping will begin promptly at 6:30 p.m., and a meet-and-greet will immediately follow.

JCC Uncommoners To Hold ‘Hairspray’ Auditions Wednesday: The Jamestown Community College Uncommoners theater group will hold auditions for its upcoming production of “Hairspray” on Monday and Thursday, June 1, at 7 p.m. in the Scharmann Theatre. Those interested in auditioning should prepare to perform a song from “Hairspray,” and wear comfortable clothes and shoes for the dance audition.

For more information, call 338-1153 or find “Auditions for HAIRSPRAY!” on Facebook.

Infinity Seeks Bands, Musicians For 14th Annual Local Music Showcase: Infinity Visual and Performing Arts is calling for musicians and bands to perform in its 14th annual Local Music Showcase fundraising effort on Sept. 9. The showcase is an annual event that raises funds to support youth music and arts instruction at Infinity. This year’s event will feature more than 50 live performances at more than a dozen downtown Jamestown locations over an eight-hour timespan. Those interested in performing can fill out an online application at infinityperformingarts.org. Applications must be received by July 1, and no late submissions will be accepted. The official 2017 Local Music Showcase performance schedule will be announced July 15.

For more information, call Infinity at 664-0991 or contact Stephanie Rogers at lms@infinityperformingarts.org.

HAPPENINGS

To include an upcoming show or event in this column, email gpaterniti@post-journal.com or call 487-1111, ext. 243 by Monday.

Tonight

Sean Patrick McGraw: 6 p.m., Southern Tier Brewery, 2072 Stoneman Circle in Lakewood

The Karl-Marks Show (it’s revolutionary!): 7 p.m., Good Time Saloon, 590 Fairmount Ave. in Jamestown

Comedy Open Mic: 7:30 p.m., The Q, 104 W. Second St. in Jamestown

Karaoke with DJ Xcite: 9 p.m., Bullfrog Hotel, 1414 E. Second St. in Jamestown

Karaoke with Felony Entertainment: 10 p.m., Forte, 114 E. Third St. in Jamestown

Friday

Brian Hanna: 6 p.m., The Wine Cellar, 309 N. Main St. in Jamestown

Greg Ford: 6 p.m., Lakeview Hotel, 13 Water St. in Mayville

Jules-R-Us Karaoke: 8 p.m., Lakewood Legion, 174 Chautauqua Ave. in Lakewood

Dead Broke: 9 p.m., Murdocks, 100 E. Main St. in Sherman

Karaoke with Felony Entertainment: 9 p.m., Shawbucks, 212 W. Second St. in Jamestown

Refuge: 10 p.m., Village Casino, 1 Lakeside Drive in Bemus Point

Derek Davis Trio: 10 p.m., Lakeview Hotel, 13 Water St. in Mayville

Elemantra with The Standby: 10 p.m., Mojo’s Music Bar, 104 E. Second St. in Jamestown

Dark Horse Run: 10 p.m., Bullfrog Hotel, 1414 E. Second St. in Jamestown

Saturday

The Addison Moon Band: 2 p.m., Southern Tier Brewery, 2072 Stoneman Circle in Lakewood

Bill Ward: 6 p.m., Lakeview Hotel, 13 Water St. in Mayville

Rick Magee Acoustics: 7 p.m., Ellicottville Brewing on Chautauqua, 57 Lakeside Drive in Bemus Point

The Q Comedy Night: 8 p.m., The Q, 104 W. Second St. in Jamestown

Touch of Gold: 8 p.m., Celoron Legion, 26 Jackson Ave. in Jamestown

Jules-R-Us Karaoke featuring Tami T: 9 p.m., Good Time Saloon, 590 Fairmount Ave. in Jamestown

Headbangers Ball: 10 p.m., The Q, 104 W. Second St. in Jamestown

St. Vith: 10 p.m., Mojo’s Music Bar, 104 E. Second St. in Jamestown

New Wave Nation: 10 p.m., Village Casino, 1 Lakeside Drive in Bemus Point

Afraid of Human: 10 p.m., Bullfrog Hotel, 1414 E. Second St. in Jamestown

Trip the Deuce: 10 p.m., Shawbucks, 212 W. Second St. in Jamestown

DJ Goodrich: 10 p.m., Lakeview Hotel, 13 Water St. in Mayville

Sunday

Sean Patrick McGraw: 2 p.m., Lakeview Hotel, 13 Water St. in Mayville

Willie May Blues Band: 2 p.m., The Pad, 1064 Route 394 in Kennedy

Amanda Barton and Bill Ward: 4 p.m., Hadley House, 3328 Hadley Bay Road in Stow

TPT: 7 p.m., Bemus Point Village Park

Open Jam: 9 p.m., Bullfrog Hotel, 1414 E. Second St. in Jamestown

Porcelain Busdrivers: 10 p.m., Village Casino, 1 Lakeside Drive in Bemus Point

Tuesday

“Behind Office Doors” screening: 6 p.m., Chapel Theater, 316 E. Fourth St. in Jamestown

Ryan Buzzetto: 7 p.m., Good Time Saloon, 590 Fairmount Ave. in Jamestown

Wednesday

“Gifted” screening: 7 p.m., Reg Lenna Center for the Arts, 116 E. Third St. in Jamestown

Bluegrass Jam: 7 p.m., Celoron Legion, 26 Jackson Ave. in Jamestown

Ryan Buzzetto: 7 p.m., Lakewood Legion, 174 Chautauqua Ave. in Lakewood.

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