I signed up to participate in the Dow Live Earth Run for Water a few weeks ago when I learned that Rob Thomas was going to be playing after the Atlanta event. Hosted in Atlanta by the Atlanta Track Club as part of a global event to bring attention to the water crisis facing so many, the 6k walk/run is roughly the distance that many, mostly women and children, have to walk every day for water, which is often not even clean. A week or so ago, factoring in training (or the lack thereof), pollen, Crohn's, Big Bid Deadlines at work (way too much adrenaline, y'all), and the general foolishness of doing anything but, I emailed the nice race people and told them I couldn't run, but could my registration fee be a donation and I become a volunteer. I had a great time. The Track Club (and on Twitter) did a great job. The event's location downtown, Pemberton Place, was a lovely open space flanked by the World of Coca-Cola and The Georgia Aquarium, neither of which have I visited, I'm ashamed to say. It was beautiful, a perfect day, sunny but not too hot, and my brave Best Friend (partner in crime) soldiered on where I stumbled and completed the race, her first ever, in the middle of the pack.
It was a very small crowd. In fact, I felt it was poorly publicized, especially given just how huge the event was, how noble the cause, how excellent its entertainment participants, including John Legend, The Roots, Collective Soul and Melissa Etheridge. Honestly, if I wasn't stalking Rob Thomas (well, I don't know what else to call it), I would have had no idea it was happening. When I asked an organizer (from Dow) if this was to be the first Dow Live Earth Run for Water, he wouldn't say. There were a few polite protesters, and I get the irony. Dioxin (Agent Orange) in Vietnam was real, Bhopal was real. Dow has dirtied way more than its share of our planet's water, but if they want to devote their considerable resources towards raising awareness of and funds for the global water crisis, that's a good thing, and goes a long way towards repairing their tarnished reputation. I hope they stay with it, and that this event is only the first of many. If nothing else, I'm glad to have learned about one of the non-profit partners for the event, The Global Water Challenge.
Rob Thomas was great, opening with, "Atlanta, it's 10:30, but we're gonna party like it's noon." Absent his wonderful back-up singers, he laid down some interesting new takes on old favorites, including a concert favorite from his recently-released EP, "Sunday Morning New York Blue" actually sung on a Sunday morning. The video at right is of a slowed-down rendition of classic Matchbox Twenty favorite, "3 A.M." with a little Steve Miller Band "Gangster of Love" playfully tacked on at the end. The sound quality is terrible (turning it down helps), and you can't really see much, but if you're a fan, you'll enjoy hearing this version. (If I'm going to continue to do this, I'm really going to have to get better equipment. I'm sorry. Y'all deserve better.) You can purchase Thomas' music here on iTunes or here on Amazon.com. My other RT posts are here, here and here (I know, laugh at me if you will, I'm not ashamed), and here follows the setlist for today's concert:
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Finally, if y'all aren't watching Treme on HBO, fix that tonight. It's wonderful, as good as television ever gets. I know I said it in my last post, but while you're watching Treme, you should also be following the krewe of NOLA Bloggers writing about it over at Back of Town, where you'll find the most interesting Treme discussion going on anywhere. I promise.
Peace, out, y'all rock.
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