//  More reports from the Newport tour, a CNN article, the new Kate
//  Wolf tribute CD, and lyrics.   - MF

From: "werth1@pop.erols.com" (werth1@pop.erols.com>
Subject: Newport Festival at Merriweather

Newport at Merriweather (Columbia, MD) was an amazing musical experience. 
First high point was Rodney Crowell singing all new and very personal 
material accompanied only by his guitar.  When he started singing people 
were milling around and talking.  By the third song, you could hear a pin 
drop.  His voice is just as gorgeous and expressive as ever; his songs 
could break your heart.

Lisa Loeb sang with Dweezil Zappa (new heart-throb maybe?).  She was a 
big hit with the crowd, but all her songs are about other people messing 
up her life and her going it alone.  She should listen to Rodney a 
little.  (Beautiful voice though and she's very cute.)

Next to last was Joan Baez--my first time seeing her in concert.  Her 
voice is still incredible.  After a close-harmony rendition of "The Night 
They Drove Old Dixie Down," the crowd reaction was so "warm and 
responsive" (as she put it) that she changed the program, shooed her band 
off-stage and did "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" a capella with three key 
changes.  A truly sublime moment.

A hard act to follow, but Nanci did herself proud--as usual with big LBJ 
for the USA button (which alternated with a picture of himself) and a 
gold Texas pin.  She was energetic, enthusiastic, and in great voice.  
"Three Flights Up" was as light and airy and perfect as it's ever been.  
"It's a Hard Life" was introduced with an impassioned speech dedicating 
the song to those killed or injured in Northern Ireland by the latest 
outrage.  She closed with a political speech likening Ken Starr to Joe 
McArthy and blaming McArthy and the House UnAmerican Activity Committee 
(HUAC)for silencing Pete Seeger and the Weavers for ten years.  The 
concert closed with "If I Had a Hammer."  Interspersed were a bunch of 
songs from her new album, which she described as the country's "best kept 
musical secret."  I liked 'em all.  Right on, Nanci!

Rich Wertheimer

_________________________________________________________________
 
From: jcq@ABPEDS.ORG
Subject: Late Raleigh Newport Review

Before this gets too stale, I wanted to post a review of the Raleigh
Newport show from last Saturday.

We had planned two meeting sites, in the parking lot and inside the gates,
for NanciNetters to get together before the show. Michele and James
Ormand were in charge of the parking lot site, and they did a good job of
attracting folks with their big Clemson flag. We just happened to pull in
right behind them, so I cranked up a tape of OVOR to help attract
attention and set the mood. Paul from the UK and Caroline Mann
wandered over and joined us. They left for a while and whom should
they return with but Kelly Sanderson! I*d just seen Kelly at the Kate
Campbell concert in Black Mountain and subsequent Moonpie Jam. I knew
she*d planned on going to the Charlotte show, but didn*t expect her to
show up in Raleigh. She told me this was her first trip to NC, and since
she was on a roll, seeing much of the state, she thought she*d head on
over to the Outer Banks after the show before heading back to Memphis.
She*s a traveling woman.

Inside, I met up with Tamara. No one new came to that site, but Paul,
Caroline, Kelly, and Michele all showed up. It was great to meet and hang
out with all of you.

The festival started right on schedule with Dar Williams on the main
stage. There weren*t many people in their seats to watch her, but she
performed a terrific set of six songs:

What Do You Hear in These Sounds
If I Wrote You
The Christians and the Pagans
The Babysitter*s Here
You*re Aging Well
Are You Out There

I love the Babysitter song, so I was glad she played it. Before playing
*You*re Aging Well,* she referenced the line from the movie *Field of
Dreams,* *If you build it, they will come.* She noted that she*d had an
extra microphone set up, and she wondered aloud if anyone might join
her to sing this song. Out came Joan Baez. Not many people saw this,
but Dar and Joan harmonized beautifully. (Dar said if she*d know when
she wrote the song that Joan Baez might sing it, she*d have called it
*You*re Aging Well * No Duh!*)

Beausoleil came out next and got everyone*s pulse going. I enjoyed their
set thoroughly, but I don*t know the names of any of their songs.

I was eagerly looking forward to hearing Lucinda Williams after falling in
love with *Car Wheels on a Gravel Road.* She did not disappoint. The
only disappointing thing about her set was that they didn*t let her play for
two hours. As it was, she got about 30 minutes and six songs. They
were:

Car Wheels on a Gravel Road
Metal Firecracker
Greenville
Right in Time
Can*t Let Go
Joy
*Metal Firecracker* is a particularly strong song from the new album, and
the fact that she played that made up somewhat for the fact that she
didn*t play my favorite new song, *Lake Charles.* After she played
*Greenville,* she revealed that the song references Greenville,
Mississippi, and not one of the many other Greenvilles around the
country. Since I grew up in Greenville, MS, that made me smile. She
closed with a raucous rendition of *Joy.*

Somewhere after this, my wife and daughter came back from a drink run
waving their ticket stubs and excitedly telling me that they*d just run into
Dar Williams on the concourse and got her to sign their tickets. I was
jealous, and pouted for some time about this. But I went out later for a
beer and ran into her myself. Did I suck up? Did I gush? Hell yes, I
certainly did! I told her I loved her set, but that I wished it had been three
times longer. She was very nice. I stopped pouting.

Of the other afternoon sets, Marc Cohn got my attention. I will have to
check him out and see if I really might like him. Bela Fleck is interesting=
,
but I think not really my kind of music.

But Wilco... that*s another story! Shawn Kimbro had told me that I needed
to buy the new CD they recorded with Billy Bragg, *Mermaid Avenue,*
because of the great treatments of newly unearthed Woody Guthrie
tunes. Well, I might even like Wilco*s non-Woody Guthrie stuff, based on
what I saw Saturday. But I can tell you for certain that I like them when
they*re performing songs like *Christ for President.* Just terrific stuff!
They played almost entirely Woody Guthrie songs from *Mermaid,* and I
liked it all, so yes, Shawn, I will be buying that CD.

I*ve always admired Joan Baez, so I enjoyed her set. I most especially
enjoyed *The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down.* Kelly had told me in the
parking lot that she never thought she*d hear Joan sing that song live in
her lifetime, and that hearing it in Charlotte was a thrill. Well, I heard 
Joan sing it 22 years ago at a Rolling Thunder Review show in Hattiesburg,
MS. But it was still great to hear it again. She asked Dar to come back out
to help her sing the old Simon and Garfunkel tune *The Dangling
Conversation.* Again, they sounded great together. And the best moment
in Joan*s set came next, when she invited Nanci out to help her sing the
old Bob Dylan classic *Don*t Think Twice, It*s All Right.* Dar stayed and
harmonized with them. It was pretty cool seeing the three of them on
stage together. And Joan even did her Dylan vocal impersonation on the
last verse. She*s got him nailed.

Nanci*s set was the best of the day, and my wife and daughter thought
so, too. Here*s the set list:

Across the Great Divide
Wall of Death
These Days in an Open Book
Who Knows Where the Time Goes
Three Flights Up
Outbound Plane
Gulf Coast Highway
It*s a Hard Life
If I Had a Hammer

*Across the Great Divide* was great, as always. *Wall of Death* was
much better than on OVT, with Nanci taking the lead vocal instead of the
harmony. But as I listened to her sing this, the thought occurred to me
that maybe Nanci is thinking of a different metaphor than the one Richard
Thompson originally wrote about; that is her ongoing battles with cancer.
That thought moved me, and helped me to appreciate her version of the
song more than I had before.

I was really glad that she chose to perform *Outbound Plane.* I hadn*t
heard her do that one in years. As has been mentioned, Frank Christian
was with the BMO, and his guitar playing was outstanding, particularly
on *Three Flights Up.* Darius Rucker joined Nanci for *Gulf Coast
Highway* and *Hard Life,* and they sounded much better together than
on the BRFTM version of GCH. That guy can sing! Dar, Lyle, and others
joined Nanci for *If I Had a Hammer.* She prefaced that with her
comments about Ken Starr being another Joe McCarthy.

Nanci*s performance was exuberant, and she sang well. Besides being
a little thin, she looked great.

The absolute musical highlight of the day/evening came during Lyle
Lovett*s set when he asked Nanci to come out and join him for *Walk
Through the Bottomland.* If you*ve got Lyle*s *Pontiac* CD, you know that
Emmylou Harris sings with him on the recorded version. But Lyle
revealed that Nanci was the first one to ever join him on this one, years
ago right after he*d written it. He said he couldn*t believe then how good
she sounded. Then he amended that, and said he knew she*d sound
great, but that he couldn*t believe she was sounding that great on HIS
song. Well, the recorded version with Emmylou is good, but I am telling
you, hearing Lyle and Nanci sing this together gave me goosebumps.
What gorgeous, glorious harmonies! Ah, this one song was worth the
price of the ticket!

The rest of Lyle*s set was great, too. He did *That*s Right, You*re Not
>From Texas,* as well as *If I Had a Boat,* one of my favorites of his. And
many others I can*t remember. But as far as I*m concerned, the night was
Nanci*s.

A few random notes (yeah, like this post isn*t long enough already):

John Hiatt canceled his appearance. Our friend Ericka, who went with
us and who is a major John Hiatt fan, was severely bummed about this. I
was disappointed, too, because I*d borrowed some CDs and liked them. I
was looking forward to hearing him live. Anyway, the end result was
that they gave almost all of John Hiatt*s time to Lyle, instead of spreading
it out a little. I think Nanci may have gotten 10 minutes of it (which still
didn*t give her quite an hour). It would have been nice if this extra time
had been given to those who didn*t have much time to begin with. As it
was, Lyle*s set was way longer than anyone else*s. I like Lyle, so don*t
get me wrong, but that*s my main quibble (those of you who know me
knew it was coming!) with this format: too many high-quality artists, and
not enough time for any of them.

My other quibble is the way they did the second stage. They had it going
at the same time as the main stage, so it was impossible to see
everyone. From what I heard from others, Jimmie Dale Gilmore was
pretty much drowned out by Lucinda Williams. This is not fair to the
artists or their fans. Newport should take a cue from Lilith Fair and, if
they have second stages, coordinate them so that no stage ever
competes with another. (Just for the record, besides Jimmie Dale, Olu
Dara and Mark Eitzel performed on the second stage. I saw none of
them. I sure as heck wasn*t going to miss Dar and Lucinda.)

Anyway, despite my obligatory quibbles (hey, it wouldn*t be me without
them), I had a great time, and so did everyone I was with.

If a Newport show is coming to your area, I urge you to go.

Jeff Qualls

_________________________________________________________________
 
From: Minxx99@aol.com
Subject: Nanci at Merriwether Post in MD

I haven't posted in a while but I felt it my civic (and cyber) duty to report
on the Newport on the Road festival as heard on Sunday,August 16 in Columbia
Maryland, at the Merriwether Post Pavilion, an outdoor venue with  lawn and a
covered seating area similar to Wolf Trap but then again,not.

We got there as Rodney Crowell was going on. We had just missed Lucinda
Williams. I was given Car Wheels.. for my birthday a few weeks ago and was
looking forward to seeing her live. All you Nancinetters who praise this
album, I couldn't agree more.

Lisa Loeb played a set, then the Violent Femmes who mentioned that, in the
spirit of a folk festival, they needed to sing a protest song, and proceeded
to rail on the renaming of Washington National Airport to Ronald Reagan Natl
Airport and sang a quick tune that included lyrics like "Ronald Reagan is a
maniac" before launching into Gone Daddy Gone. Hilarious!
Wilco and Joan Baez also had their turns on stage and Nanci performed a duet
with Joan (of which I cannot recall the name).
Nanci came on as the final act. I can't remember the exact set list in order,
so anyone else who was there, please feel free to correct this!  She was in
fine form, starting with Across the Great Divide, and then Wall of Death,
which sounded much better than her album version. These Days in an Open Book
was followed by a superb Three Flights Up, which was a treat as I have never
heard her perform that in concert.She also performed Who Knows Where the Time
Goes, mentioning Sandy Denny's exotic voice as a catalyst to her becoming a
singer, and also paid homage to the Crickets with Well, Alright. She and James
did a kickin' version of Going Back to Georgia and then gave her usual speech
about no bad babies before singing Hard Life, and finished with If I had a
Hammer, referencing the McCarthy hearings and Ken Starr. Our Nance would make
a great political campaigner. 
Sorry I am not as detailed with this review as I usually am; I had just
returned from France and was a bit jet lagged, not to mention without a pen to
take better notes.

Thats all from the scandalous capital city of Washington DC
Katy
np Car Wheels on a Gravel Road
next up: OVT and then
El Corazon-Steve Earle

_________________________________________________________________

From: Miguel Antonio Gonzalez (speedygo@mindspring.com>
Subject: CNN - Nanci Griffith passing along folk songs for a new generation 

Check this out...

http://cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/Music/9808/17/nanci.griffith.ap/index.html

_________________________________________________________________
 
From: Clive Dawson (clive.dawson@amd.com>
Subject: Possible Nanci List material

Mark,

The following message from John Stewart was forwarded to me by
somebody on the John Stewart fan mailing list.  I'm assuming that if
John saw fit to share it with his fans, he wouldn't mind sharing it
with Nanci's fans.  If you agree, please send it out.

Thanks!

Clive Dawson
Austin

------- Start of forwarded message -------

From: Angelbravo@aol.com
Subject: Re: Nanci Griffith fighting cancer

Nanci called from her tour bus on Saturday and said that her cancer
was easily curable. She was in great spirits and still on the road.
Called to tell me that Hootie and the Blowfish took her last copy of
Airdream because they flipped over Armstrong.

Prayers still a must

Bravo out

_________________________________________________________________
 
From: "Broyles, Julie A." (JABroyles@lyonlyon.com>
Subject: Survey request for Kenn 'rebel rouser' Lippert

Having just joined NN during that recent hellified linguistics fray, and
having no emotional stake in it one way or the other, I sat back with a
cold one and thought, can't we all just get along?  What's a Nanci Noise
we can all agree on?  But of course -- that perfect, raucous, Texas
growl.  You know, "Come around in the daylight . . " (Lookin' for the
Time), or "I don't really care who's to blame . . " (Outbound Plane).  I
love it, and I've never heard anyone else do it with such feistiness as
Nanci.

I marvelled at the spirit of this one-of-a-kind woman when I learned the
news of her health.  After seeing her perform earlier this summer in San
Diego, I thought she was more relaxed, happy, and energized than I had
ever seen.  Surely being surrounded by her friends, doing what she
loves, and receiving so much love from audiences and friends will help
her fight this thing.  She's got the spunk . . . keep sending the love.

I don't know if anyone posted this tidbit after the San Diego concert,
but between songs one especially ardent fan stood on his seat and
hollered up to Nanci from the back something like, "I love you - You're
beautiful!"  She smiled that shy, sweet smile, dipped her head, and,
with that endearing girlishness said something like, "Why, thank yew!
My daddy doesn't even tell me that."  Much laughter and applause.  The
steady stream of enthusiasm and admiration from the audience was
wonderful.  May it help her heal each day.

Kenn, if you're interested I'll send you a list of feisty growl songs.

Julie 'flippin' bottle caps at the moon' in San Diego.

_________________________________________________________________
 
From: Tom Gill (tgill@igc.org>
Subject: Nanci on Kate Wolf tribute album due tomorrow

Have I been asleep at the switch or did I miss discussion of this or what?
This album looks like a keeper, no matter what song Nanci is doing.
Tom Gill
tgill@igc.org
Lubbock, TX

>From the Billboard web site, re recordings to be released on August
18th:
> > Other notable releases this week include (snippage)
> > and the various-artist tribute set "Treasures Left Behind:
> > Remembering Kate Wolf" (Red House), which features Lucinda Williams,
> > Kathy Mattea, Dave Alvin, and Nanci Griffith.


_________________________________________________________________
 
From: LeonBass@aol.com
Subject: DeLurk alert!

Hi, y'all!  Thought I'd delurk for a few comments.  I haven't been
contributing much, but I have followed the digest and kept up with things in
that way.  While I'm here, hi to the oldtimers.  I always enjoy the posts from
Deb, Shawn, Bill, Kenn, et. al.
I'd also like to introduce a new Nanci-related game.  A bit of background:  I
purchased Other Voices Too a couple of days after it hit the stores but had
avoided reading the digest so I could listen without hearing what others
thought about it.  I made a cassette copy without listening and took the tape
to work (no CD player there) and listened to it over and over.  
It was during the first listening that I came up with the idea for the game
(tentatively called Whines & Bitches).  It goes like this:  as you listen to a
Nanci album for the first time (or, actually, any time), make a list of every
phrase, pronunciation, lyric or musical line that you know will raise
SOMEONE's hackles, then sign on to NanciNet and see how many items on your
list are ranted about.  
Her pronunciations of 'morning' on 'You Were on My Mind' and 'seventeen' on
'Summer Wages' were definites, but I also knew that Jimmie Dale's contribution
on 'Desperados' would be given prominient press.  
Considering that the 'Other Voices' albums were conceived of to keep songs
alive by singing them, Dave Van Ronk's presence was almost mandatory, given
the fact that he has kept so many blues & folk tunes alive over the years.  I
got shivers when I heard him come in on 'He was a Friend...'; I also put a big
star next to that item on my list.
In fact, as I went over my list, I realized that a lot of what I considered
high points would be what others would complain about.  Oh well, different
strokes and all that.
Not that I don't have my own issues.  Somewhere aroung the 4th or 5th listen,
I got the feeling that Nanci was treating some of the songs a little too
reverently, 'Streets of Baltimore' in particular.  As a result, it plods
along.  There's no spark, no fun, surprising considering that John Prine is
involved; usually his wicked sense of humor comes thru on anything he sings.
Steve Earle should have sung this one.  
'Walk Right Back' also seems out of place.  It's pretty, but it's really a bit
of fluff.  'You Were on my Mind', on the other hand, works, especially with
the original/realistic lyrics, rather than the cleaned-up-for-top-40-airplay
ones that we all knew from the We Five version.
I'm a lover of harmony, so my #1 award goes to 'Try the Love', Nanci's and
Pat's voices blend so smoothly.  On the other hand, Nanci & Lucinda so far
from the perfect vocal couple that I wonder if anyone considered not including
this cut.
And speaking of harmony, putting Nanci's harmony on 'Wall of Death' out front
sure gave this tune an odd texture, don't you think?  I like it but then I'm
probably the only person on this list that hasn't heard the original or any
covers.  I did like Clive Gregson's guitar playing, as I've always been a fan
of his.  It actually overshadowed Ron Lancio's playing, and made me realize
that Ron's playing is pretty but essentially shallow.  I think it's a good
thing he moved on, and I think Nanci would be better off without Ron de La
Vega, also.  He's an okay bass player, but (speaking as a bass player who's
played in this style for 20 or so years), he's not doing anything I wouldn't
do, and Ms. Griffith deserves a lot better than me.
The recent news about Nanci's thyroid cancer put into focus some things I been
wondering about for the last year or so.  It seems that she is holding onto
things more than before, such as keeping the entire Blue Moon Orchestra
together for 2 albums, whereas she used to have Hooker and Pat on all the
albums but brought in a variety of guitar players and some amazing bass
players.  I think that her opting out of doing this is what made 'Blue Roses'
such an essentially boring album.  It may be that she is trying to keep
herself surrounded by those she is familiar with.  
The fact that she is facing another health crisis may also explain why she has
so many of her friends, influences and idols involved in OV Too, and may
account for some of her song choices.  No person is an island, and Nanci
deserves to do what she wants on what could be her final projects.
Finally, my 2 cents on Nanci's vocal inflections:  I love when she twists,
tangles & tortures a word or phrase.  Being a singer, I do it myself, usually
for no apparent without knowing why.  It's just fun, and I think that's why
Nanci does it.  She doesn't worry about what people think, and doesn't have
to.  The little snarl she put on 'Congress Avenue'  in 'So Long Ago' was
probably what set her hook in my musical soul, and I have cherished every
twang ever since.  My favorite singers are eccentrics, and include Lyle, Steve
Earle, Roger McGuinn, and Dave Van Ronk, to whom I think Kenn owes and sincere
and heartfelt apology, preferably in person and on his knees.  Shame, shame,
Kenn!
Well, know that I've stomped on a few toes and alienated most of the BMO, I
will retreat to obscurity.
Nanci, if you read this, I love you and wish you well.

LeonBass
OO==#

_________________________________________________________________
 
From: "Avery, Debora" (AveryD@chi.osu.edu>
Subject: A gathering of friends

I've played around with how to write this posting and finally came to
the conclusion to just spit it out.  We all love Nanci, and I'm sure we
all want to do something to help her through her latest battle.  I would
like to suggest a group ritual/prayer (choose the label you're most
comfortable with).  I've seen the miracles that love/support can produce
(I work at a Children's Hospital), and I believe this power transcends
time and space.

So I was thinking that this Saturday we could all stop what we're doing
and say a prayer, light a candle, send loving thoughts, whatever.  How
about 5 pm EST?  Imagine all of us coming together for a moment to send
our love out to Nanci -- 

Debbie Avery

_________________________________________________________________

From: Christina_Mills@hc-sc.gc.ca
Subject: I Wish It Would Rain lyrics

Hey Nannuit,

I think I have a candidate for the funny misheard lyrics list.  I found a
site called the International Lyrics
 Server http://www.lyrics.ch/ in case you want to check it out).  Unless
my Candian ears are mistaken,
one of the verses in IWIWR starts "Once I had a love in the Georgia
pines..." but the lyrics on that site
say, "Georgia Pans!"  If that reading is correct, please explain to me what
 the reference is.   If it's not,
it should probably go along with "gonna pack up my toothpaste and shoes" on
 the misheard lyrics
page (www.kissthisguy.com)!

Another anomaly I'll have to check when I get home --I'm pretty sure that
Rita of 5 & dime fame ended
up writing dime-store novels, but the same site has her SELLING them.
Somehow I thought Rita was
more creative.

Anyway, the reason I went to that site is that I can't get an "answer"
anymore at Poet in My Web.  Is it
gone forever?  I'd like to find the lyrics to Waltzing with the Angels to
resolve a (friendly) dispute.  Any
help greatly appreciated...

Hugs all 'round,
Chris

_________________________________________________________________
 
From: "Blake Marshall" (bmarshall@worldnet.att.net>
Subject: Re: I Wish It Would Rain lyrics

Hi Chris,

> I think I have a candidate for the funny misheard lyrics list.  I found a
> site called the International Lyrics
>  Server (http://www.lyrics.ch/ in case you want to check it out).  Unless
> my Candian ears are mistaken,
> one of the verses in IWIWR starts "Once I had a love in the Georgia
> pines..." but the lyrics on that site
> say, "Georgia Pans!"  If that reading is correct, please explain to me
what
>  the reference is.   If it's not,

It's most definitely "Georgia pines".  It's a common phrase in this part of
the country, referring to the abundant forests of pine trees.  (The Davey
Jones site has it listed as "Georgia lines". I have no idea what "lines"
that would be! )  :)

> it should probably go along with "gonna pack up my toothpaste and shoes" on
>  the misheard lyrics

LOL!!!   Davey Jones page also has this incorrect.  It's listed there as
"two step shoes".  I believe it should be "two stepping shoes", as in the
dance.

> Another anomaly I'll have to check when I get home --I'm pretty sure that
> Rita of 5 & dime fame ended
> up writing dime-store novels, but the same site has her SELLING them.
> Somehow I thought Rita was
> more creative.

The "writes" was added later by nanci. The original on LOTTB just says
"Rita's got a house to keep, dimestore novels, and a love so sweet".  On
OFSE, Nanci added "she writes dimestore novels".  She also used "writes
dimestore novels" when I saw her do that in concert.

> Anyway, the reason I went to that site is that I can't get an "answer"
> anymore at Poet in My Web.  Is it
> gone forever?  I'd like to find the lyrics to Waltzing with the Angels to
> resolve a (friendly) dispute.  Any
> help greatly appreciated...
> 

What's the dispute?  Not sure if I can help, but I'll try. :)
 
Blake

_________________________________________________________________
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