There's loads of music to love this weekend

By KATI SCHARDL
Tallahassee Democrat

If love is in the air, spring must be right around the corner.

It could be pollen or the evil flu bug -- not love -- that's got everybody all flushed and tingly. But with St. Valentine's Day looming like a psychic iceberg on the horizon, I'm betting on love.

Cynics sneer at the holiday, and romantic idealists say true love should make every day Valentine's Day. I generally count myself among the latter, but I have to admit that the hectic pace of life in the '90s requires special days to be set aside for expressing emotion.

In a world where we're technologically connected in so many ways to so many people, our attachments tend to become institutionalized. Their luster and wonder -- the human element, with all its flaws and fluttering hope -- are dimmed somewhat in the blue glow of the computer screen.

We have the mad Roman emperor Claudius II to thank for Valentine's Day. He thought married men made sorry soldiers, so he issued an edict forbidding his subjects to marry. A Christian bishop named Valentine took pity on all the forlorn, unmarried lovers of Rome and invited couples to come to him in secret to be joined in the sacrament of marriage.

Claudius found out about this in short order and had Valentine brought before him; despite himself, the emperor was impressed by the young man's conviction and dignity.

Claudius offered Valentine his life and freedom if only he would worship the Roman gods. Valentine refused and on Feb. 24, 270 (the actual date varies from source to source), he was clubbed, stoned and then beheaded. So the modern Valentine's Day was born of blood, tears, faith and steadfastness. Those who view such stories as religious fairy tales can still celebrate the holiday. The cusp of spring -- when winter begins to loosen its icy, iron grip on the world -- has always been a time to celebrate love, that tenderest of buds. Pagans held their fertility festivals around this time of year; the Greeks celebrated their Rites of Pan and the Romans their Lupercalia. With bleak, hard winter behind them, people were in the mood to party down and get it on.

Go ye, therefore, and do likewise this weekend.

Abe's got sweet soul
Local blues impresario Dave Claytor is a man who just can't let a holiday go by without some kind of celebration, and this weekend he's dealing with a double whammy -- Abraham Lincoln's birthday and Valentine's Day. Claytor has risen to the occasion like a champion; tonight the Johnny Rawls Revue will honor the former and get folks in the mood for the latter.

Rawls, who heated things up at the Star-Spangled Blues Gathering at Claytor's club last month, serves up the blues on a sweet soul platter with a sprinkling of gospel influence. It's a sexy synthesis that's accented by Rawls' slick guitar playing and smooth singing. Rawls has a new CD, "My Turn to Win," that features the full-on brass of the Nutmeg Horns and the fat and sassy keyboard work of Roosevelt "Mad Hatter" Purifoy. It's pure, aural pleasure -- musical sweets for your sweetie.

Honor Honest Abe and get Valentine's Day weekend off to a steamy start tonight at Dave's CC Club on Sams Lane off Bradfordville Road with the Johnny Rawls Revue. The pot starts percolating at 7 with Big Daddy and Red Hot Java. Admission is $15. Call 894-0181 for information.

The Tallahasee Democrat