//  Newport hits and misses, and news of Nanci on another CD 
//  compilation.  - MF

From: snownobile@juno.com (DONALD C SHEARER)                      
Subject: Newport Folk Festival - Pine Knob Mi                        

Was finally, after all these years going to see the all time best
performer in the whole world.  I had GREAT seats, GREAT expectations.

Listened to OVToo on the way, which even made the trip thru road
constructions and detours enjoyable.  It did not matter,  I was FINALLY
going to see Nanci in person!

All this was shattered in a matter of seconds, Nanci had cancelled due to
illness.  Any of you can imagine how bummed I am right now, along with
all the others that were there to see her.  But no matter how low we feel
right now, what matters is Nanci and her health.  If she need to cancel,
then that is what needs to be done. No one should hold this against her.

Nanci, if you are out there, you are still #1 in my book.  I enjoy  ALL
your work.  My prayers and well wishes are sent to you.
I'll catch you down the road.  Let us know how you are doing.


Kathy

_________________________________________________________________
 
From: "Kathie Bargiel" (Kbarge@wans.net>                          
Subject: More Newport Festival Concert News                          

Hi Nancinetters,
It's been awhile since I have posted to the net about Nanci, so here it is.
My girlfriend and I went to see the Newport Folk Festival in Chicago at the
World Music Theater last night. The show was great!!!! Due to the fact that
we both had to work until 3:15, we arrived at the venue around 5:00.  (start
time 3:00) We were just in time to see the Staple singers. They were
dynamic. Joan Baez was sitting the in crowd enjoying them when she decided
she had to get up and dance. The security guard tried to get her to return
to her seat. He obviously didn't know to whom he was speaking. Joan's
reply..."I don't think so," and she turned her back to him and continued to
dance.

Other's who performed at the folk festival; Rickie Lee Jones, Violent Femmes
(?), Joan Baez, who was just fantastic to say the least. She hasn't lost her
musical charm, nor has she become pro-war. She was able to get in a dig
about the recent bombings. Next came Nanci..............need I say more. She
looked very well rested, and sounded the best I've heard live. Rodney
Crowell joined her to sing I'm Still Missing You. Joan joined her for I'm
Sailing Away from OVOR 1. I came to see Nanci and was not disappointed. The
only disappointment was the shortest of her set. She, too, voiced her views
on the recent bombings, and I had to agree with her. She asked, "How can it
be a holy war. The two words do not go together." Last, but not least, John
Hiatt. After canceling several appearances, I crossed my fingers that he
would perform. It was a HOT, HUMID evening in Chicago and John came out in a
suit, complete with tie. What a trooper. He performed the longest and did
not disappoint the crowds. I could go on and on about who sang what, but I
think you need to go see the show and enjoy the great music for yourself.

Another surprise of the evening, my daughter, Kim (age 24), made her
presence known to me just before Nanci came on. She was there with a group
of her friends (new nanci converts after the show), enjoying the concert,
when she spotted me. I was surprised to see her at a folk concert. Maybe not
too surprised, my Nanci CD's started to disappear from my room a few years
ago only to be found in her CD player.

Nanci announced to the audience that her book with be out in two weeks.
That's about all from Chicago.
It's still hot, humid, and time for a swim in the lake to cool off.

Kathie

_________________________________________________________________
 
From: "The Mont" (the_mont@hotmail.com>                           
Subject: Nanci                                                       

Hello.  This is my first message to Nancinet after lurking for a
while.  I used to see Nanci play solo at a small folk club in Montreal
called the Golem.  I think I saw her there 3 or 4 times.  It must
have been from about 1982 through 1985 or 1986.  She was always
really wonderful as a solo.
The guy who ran the Golem was Mike Regenstreef (not sure if I spelled
that right).  Now he hosts the folk music radio show on CKUT radio in
Montreal and I've heard him play a lot of Nanci's songs.  He's been
playing Other Voices Too almost every week lately.  A few weeks ago
he played "He Was A Friend Of Mine" and then the next week Dave Van
Ronk was his guest on the show.  Judy Collins was also a guest a few
weeks ago.  It would be great if Nanci went on the show.  And it
would be great if she came back to Montreal to play again.

Monte

_________________________________________________________________
 
From: Graham Brown-PRESSTC (graham.brown.01@bbc.co.uk>            
Subject: Tumble & Fall                                               

Greetings from London -

I always thought Nanci's 'Tumble and Fall', which I like very much, had a
guitar arrangement just like the Everlys' 'Walk Right Back'. And then look
what turns up on OV2...

Best wishes to all,
Graham

_________________________________________________________________
 
From: Mitchell (o416@erols.com>                                   
Subject: Nanci & BMO's instruments                                   

Does anybody know anything about which makes and model instruments Nanci
and the BMO uses?  And any insight as to why?


//  Nanci plays Taylor guitars, Hooker plays Korg keyboards.  I think
//  the full endorsement info is in the OVToo liner notes.  - MF

_________________________________________________________________
 
From: c572559@showme.missouri.edu                                 
Subject: Chicago                                                     

Hello all,

Wow.  Oh wow.  What a show, from start to finish.  I'd never heard Rodney
Crowell before, or seen the Violent Femmes or Wilco live . . . these three
acts themselves made the whole affair worth the trip from mid-Missouri . .
. (bit of NanciNet heresy forthcoming: THE highlight of the evening for me
was Wilco doing "California STars"--a cut from "Mermaid Avenue"--just
ahead of NG and Joan Baez covering "Boots of Spanish Leather"). . . then
factor in the amazing Baez (her dancing notwithstanding, I got
chills from the harmonies her band strung together on the chorus of "The
Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" . . . NG joined her for a cover of "Don't
Think Twice (It's Alright)" and took the lead on the third verse) . . .
John Hiatt is apparently inexhaustible . . . NG's set was strong,
passionate, and compelling . . . but too short . . . the set list as I
recall was this:

"These Days"

"I Don't Know Where the Time Goes"

"Wall of Death"--I think I need someone who was there to interpret some
of the hand gestures which went with this one 8^)

"Boots of Spanish Leather" (w/ Joan Baez)

"I Still Miss Someone" (w/ Rodney Crowell)

"It's A Hard Life Wherever You Go"

"If I Had A Hammer" (w/ Loudon Wainwright III, the evening's MC, who
offered to "ratchet in the morning . . . ")

A smallish crowd (the venue was maybe a third full by mid-evening . . .
Marc Cohn, who played in the late afternoon, joked about the size of the
audience and then delivered an incredible set) . . . a couple of more
thoughts: I'd never seen NG perform live before last night, and I was
struck by how pleased she seemed simply to be playing and singing . . .
the word "joyous" seems fitting . . . I also was struck by the diversity
of the audience members who responded with particular enthusiasm to NG . .
. it may be hard to peg your "typical" NG fan . . .

Thom "Real, real happy about the IHOP we found near the motel" Bassett

_________________________________________________________________
 
From: kenn lippert (lippert@fyi.net>                              
Subject: Nanci once removed (peripheral Nanci content)               

Just got back from seeing and hearing Sara Hickman at Rosebud's here in
Pittsburgh.  I was introduced to Sara when she opened for Nanci on the
Flyer tour in 95 (?).

What a voice, what a guitarist, what a woman!

I won't do a full concert report here since this isn't SaraNet, but just
let me say that if you get the chance, take it.  And don't forget to bring
your guitar.  Don't be a fool and think that she is such a big star now
that you'd never get the chance to be close enough to get your guitar
signed, much less a picture with her and a big hug from the woman herself.
What a doll.

Anybody that wants a more detailed report let me know. - I got HER copy of
the set list (an advantage from sitting at the closest table to the stage),
but mine is more accurate; she stuck some things in on the spur of the
moment.

So many incredible artists, so little time.  So many CD's, even less money.

kenn "the best of times" lippert

_________________________________________________________________
 
From: "Baird, Tim" (TBaird@maysval.com>                           
Subject: Interview with Lucinda Williams                             

I was visiting Amazon.com today and ran across this pretty interesting
interview with Lucinda Williams where she tells about the difficulties
she ran into getting Car Wheels on a Gravel Road released because of
problems with her record label.  I thought many of you might be
interested.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/subst/categories/music-country/august-
18-98-williams-article/002-8492408-1676411

_________________________________________________________________
 
From: Elizabeth Keyes (elizabethkeyes@yahoo.com>                  
Subject: Nanci in Africa                                             

Hi,

I've never posted before and, compared to most on this list, I'm a
Nanci new-comer (heading on four years now). But I was struck by the
rightness of something posted a while ago by Kevin Gray about
listening to OVToo while driving around the US. I've been living in
Africa on and off for a good while, and it's absolutely amazing to me
that Nanci's music makes so much sense and seems so appropriate here,
every bit as much as it does closer to her native soil. I've been on
buses in Malawi and Mali where the mix of poverty, vivid colors, heat,
beauty and exhaust fumes all get wrapped up in the traveling
experience, and yet with Nanci singing to me through my beat-up
walkman it all comes together and she reminds me why I'm here and why
I love it as much as I do. And to say that Nanci has been, on more
than occasion, a force that "keeps me going" is no exaggeration.

You'll all be relieved to know that OVToo has at last made it to
Africa (thanks to Bill Lavery) and is being much appreciated here,
weird pronunciations very much included... =)

Elizabeth

 
_________________________________________________________________
 
From: LDay67@aol.com                                              
Subject: Solo                                                        

Hi fans of folk femmes fatale,

I just bought my copy of _Solo: Women Singer-Songwriters in Their Own Words_.
I haven't had a chance to read most of the book, but it looks like a great
coffee-table book.  It's filled with autobiographical essays and natural
black-and-white photographs of the artists whose names fill our recommendation
lists, along with a few that I'm not familiar with.  The singer-songwriters in
the book are Sarah McLachlan, Shawn Colvin, Jonatha Brooke, Cassandra Wilson,
Ani DiFranco, Mary Lou Lord, Mary-Chapin Carpenter, Suzanne Vega, Holly
Palmer, Joan Osborne, Lucy Kaplansky, Jewel, Rosanne Cash, Dionne Farris,
Sheryl Crow, Lucinda Williams, Catie Curtis, Kate Campbell, and Rosanne
Raneri.  The book is edited by Marc Woodworth, and the photography is by Emma
Dodge Hanson.  I got my copy at Borders, and I'm sure its circulation is wide
in most bookstores.

A sampler CD would have been the perfect companion to the book, but I guess
part of the purpose of the book is to encourage readers who are familiar with
some of the artists to search for the others' music themselves.  I also wonder
why Nanci Griffith wasn't included, but maybe its publication coincided too
closely with the OVToo book.

So long,
Lisa

_________________________________________________________________
 
From: ingaqotr@CTC.Net (Amy C. McKibbin)                          
Subject: Another Musac encounter                                     

Hey y'all,

Just a quick question....walking through the grocery store this afternoon,
my ear caught a familiar sound....It was Frank Christian's "Three Flights
Up" playing on the Musac, with a younger-sounding gentleman singing it.  It
was done in a slower tempo than Nanci's recording of it on OVOR-I.  Was this
Frank Christian singing it?  Who else has recorded it?  My curiosity is
peaked...

Amy "nothing better to do on a Sunday afternoon" M.


//  Sounds like Frank's version.  Nanci sings backup on it.  - MF
_________________________________________________________________
 
From: Doug Svendsen (sven@netins.net>                             
Subject: Re: Chicago                                                 

Thom and Kathie have shared the best of the Chicago show.  I just have a
couple things to add/reiterate.

Nanci and Joan on Boots of Sp. Leather was the highlight.  Two icons of folk
music, beautiful strong voices; it was wonderful, heaven, inspiring.

I feel so lucky to have been able to go to this show, especially after hearing
that Nanci canceled her Detroit appearance.  She looked great; danced, laughed
and sang with lots of enthusiasm.   The sound was really good too which
surprised me since they didn't get much time for sound checks between acts.

The set was WAY too short, but Thom did forget that she also did "This Heart"
in the middle somewhere.   If the touring schedule really does drop to
nothing, I'll be on my way to Nashville just to hang around and wait for her
to show up in some corner in some club on some fair summer evening...

Linda

_________________________________________________________________

From: "James Tucker" (JDTucker@Envirotronics.Com>                 
Subject: Re: Chicago                                                 

>"Wall of Death"--I think I need someone who was there to interpret some
>of the hand gestures which went with this one 8^)

    I only remember two, one arm up in the air, one finger pointing up for
"one more time", ("Let me ride on the wall of death one more time").

    The other, where she held her arms out in front of her and balled her
fists I took to refer to holding onto the (saftey) bar in the front of the
car on the "Wall of Death".
>
>"Boots of Spanish Leather" (w/ Joan Baez)

    THAT was fabulious!

>A smallish crowd (the venue was maybe a third full by mid-evening . . .
>Marc Cohn, who played in the late afternoon, joked about the size of the
>audience and then delivered an incredible set) . . . a couple of more
>thoughts: I'd never seen NG perform live before last night, and I was
>struck by how pleased she seemed simply to be playing and singing . . .
>the word "joyous" seems fitting . . .

It seemed to me that she was please to be there (teasing Louden Wainright as
he announced her).

>I also was struck by the diversity
>of the audience members who responded with particular enthusiasm to NG . .
>. it may be hard to peg your "typical" NG fan . . .
>
>Thom "Real, real happy about the IHOP we found near the motel" Bassett

    In three cases now, I've heard both the recorded version of a song, and
seen Nanci do it live ("Wall of Death", "It's a Hard Life Wherever You Go",
and "Mawnin' Train", and in these cases, I've preferred the live version.
There is just more *Nanci* in it!

_________________________________________________________________
 
From: "Hans Janssen" (jnssnhns@wxs.nl>                            
Subject: Joan Baez page                                              

Hello all,

On the Joan Baez page is something about Nanci at Newport and a picture from
Nanci with Joan.

http://baez.woz.org/theroadUS2.html

met vriendelijke groeten,

Hans Janssen.

_________________________________________________________________
 
From: Don Good (good@cncacc.cn.edu>                               
Subject: Nanci Pherphenalia                                          

FYI, I noticed the following NG related items at www.eBay.com (an on-line
auction): Everything's Coming Up Roses promotional CD, Blue Roses concert
program, Flyer Concert program, and Other Voices Too promo flat.

For what it's worth . . .

Don Good

_________________________________________________________________
 
From: Maryl Neff (maryl@songs.com>                                
Subject: Nanci in another compilation                                

Hello nn'ers:

Victor Mecyssne, an artist on the songs.com Web site, just forwarded this
to me. It's an excerpt from Nashville's Music Row Magazine -- I don't know
if it's from a recent or upcoming issue.

"Almanac Records and the Old Farmer's Almanac have entered into a
co-venture to
produce A Celebration Of The American Farm. The disc will be recorded in
Nashville and include performances by Victor Mecyssne, Nanci Griffith and
Maura O'Connell, John Cowan and others plus, "Prairie Spring," an
orchestral work composed by Jay Unger and Molly Mason."

I don't anything more than this, but it sounds like an interesting mix.

Maryl

 
_________________________________________________________________
 
From: Kenn Lippert (lippert@fyi.net>                              
Subject: Newport in Pittsburgh (NO Nanci content)                    

Yes that's right, the Newport Folk Festival in Pittsburgh at the Starlake
Amphitheater had NO Nanci content.  She cancelled.  I had seen a post some
time ago that she had cancelled one other stop on the tour, but when I
saw that she had made it to Chicago and how much energy she had there, I
thought she would be a go here.  John Hiatt cancelled as well, which I
understand is more the rule than the exception this tour.  Since we could
not spend all day at Starlake, we planned on arriving around 7pm to catch
Dar, Cohn, Joan Baez, Bela, Hiatt, and of course Nanci.  With the
re-shuffled schedule we only made the last one and half songs from Dar.
Got all of (John?) Cohn's set which was ok, but nothing special.  Bela
came out to join him on "Walkin' in Memphis", and they said something
about "trying this together for the first time" (it was hard to hear over
the drunks guys who kept screaming for Slayer songs).  Anyway, it sounded
like it was the first time they had done it together.  Bela started
picking around as if he didn't even know what key it was in.  He finally
found it somewhere near the last verse.  I was impressed with the
guitarist though.  One third of the way through a song where he was using
the acoustic guitar (couldn't make out the brand, miles away), he either
broke a string or blew a tuning peg.  He set it down and picked up the
Strat instead.  Unfortunately, the song used an alternative tuning that
the Strat was not privy to.  But the guy retuned on the fly without
missing more than a measure - pretty impressive.

Joan Baez was next, it was pretty much the only part of the show I really
enjoyed.  She had some insect trouble until someone from the audience
threw up some bug spray which she then proceeded to spray on everyone on
stage  (but not Dar because she eats a lot of garlic {her words}).  The
best part of the show was Joan and Dar's duet of "The Dangling
Conversation" with just their two guitars.  Their voices fit very nicely
with the Simon and Garfunkel harmony.  The quiet ending was ruined by the
drunks screaming for Slayer again.

Bela and the Flecktones finished the night. I know I am opening myself
wide for ridicule and derision, especially amongst this eclectic group,
but I just don't like modern jazz.  I just don't have that gene in me.  I
prefer songs with recognizable melodys and rhythms. I don't like electric
drum machines, and I am not all that crazy about saxaphones either,
especially when they are run through electronic effects.  I didn't
even know anybody ever put a wah-wah pedal on a sax.  The bassist was very
impressive, but I wanted to hear folk music.  I can see that Bela is very
talented, but his electric banjo just sounds like an electric guitar, he
even plays it like one.  I guess I was hoping for a little more roots and
a lot less fruit.  We didn't even stay for the whole set.  We left after
three (I guess you would call them "songs") along with most of the "crowd"
on the lawn (actually a hill of dirt and rock).

On a postive note, we got in free.  We were discussing the cancellations
with the very nice guy at the gate (he had heard that Nanci had just now
been diagnosed with thyroid cancer, that's why she cancelled), and
wondering whether it was worth $30 to see much less than we had hoped;
when he realized that we hadn't bought tickets yet and that we were just
getting lawn seats anyway, he pulled two tickets out of his pocket that
someone had dropped off because they couldn't use them.  So hats off to
the nice guy at the gate - he didn't even search my backpack.  I could've
brought in an entire picnic dinner (but didn;t of course, it is
verbotten so I didn't think to even try).  Ended up spending $20 for one
hotdog, two cokes, popcorn, one hot (actually cold, stale) pretzel, and a
Bicardi Breezer.

Listened to Nanci on the way home of course.  It is impossible to stay
within the posted speed limit when hearing "I'm Not Driving These Wheels".
Stopped at Eat 'N Park for some pie but they were all out, so I had an
dry, overdone omlet instead.  The wife had an ice cream sundae.  My
"bottomless" coffee cup was never refilled and Pam's hot tea was stone
cold.  Needless to say I did NOT over-tip.

Laid out on the deck and watched the stars for a while.  Thick, heavy,
moist air, but Cygnus, Lyra, and Aquila shown through anyway.  Could
almost make out the river of the Milkyway through Cygnus, but the lights
from K Mart make the sky pretty bright.

Glad I saw Sara Hickman Saturday.

kenn "(sigh>" lippert

_________________________________________________________________
 
From: "Avery, Debora" (AveryD@chi.osu.edu>                        
Subject: Nanci in Columbus                                           

Okay, since no one else is going to post about the performance in
Columbus, OH, I guess I will.

As per this city, the attendance was low (even though everyone who went
to the Rod Stewart concert got free tickets).  The nice thing is that I
was able to move from my lawn seat to a "real" seat!

Anyway, I missed Beausoleil and The Violent Femmes, but caught the last
of Marc Cohn.  Very nice.
Wilco was next (enjoyed, but didn't give a lot of attention -- hey, I
had just got off work and rushed to get to the place!).

Allison Krauss was excellent as usual.  Amazing that such a voice comes
out of such a little body!
Bela Fleck and the Fleck Tones.  Let's just leave that with the
statement to each his/her own.

Then came Joan.  Tears came to my eyes as soon as her barefeet hit the
stage.  I couldn't believe I was sitting there seeing and hearing this
incredible woman!  As many of you have mentioned, she has not lost a bit
of her voice.  In fact, I think it has become even richer with time.
Her set was pretty much the same as reported for the other performances.

Nanci's turn.  Dressed in black sandals, black jeans, a white t-shirt
covered by a black (what else?) lace jacket, she took the stage and a
miracle occured:  the audience was quiet.  I had just spent the last 2
sets moving from row to row trying to find a place where people where
not engaging in bar room noise level conversations.  But our Ms.
Griffith took the stage and the place fell silent.

Opening song was "Across the Great Divide."  Of course the tears were
flowing down my cheeks.  Could she do more to my aching heart?  Yes, for
the second song was "Who Knows Where the Time Goes."  I finally
understand why Nanci's music touches us:  because it touches her.  On
the the line that go something like (pardon me, but I don't know the
words yet)  "It's not my time to go,"  she was near tears.  As though
that weren't enough, she then brought out "Wall of Death."  A challenge
to the enemy using the greatest tool she owns:  her voice.  And it was
as strong as I've ever heard it.  But she looked so tired and seemed to
have trouble keeping up her energy.  I've talked with nurses here at the
hospital where I work and they say the prognosis for thyroid cancer is
excellent.  But I've been through this battle with my father-in-law, and
now matter how well the outlook, the body gets tired.  Maybe it is time
for her to take a break and rest.

I had the rest of the set written down, but have misplaced it.  It's
pretty much the same as the other festivals.  I must say though that
when she and Joan B. took the stage for "Boots of Spanish Leather," I
thought I had died and gone to heaven!

Thanks to everyone who joined us in the prayer circle Saturday.  Let's
keep up the positive/healing energy (sorry Kenn, but I can't adhere to
the empiricist definition of that word ; )

Debbie Avery

_________________________________________________________________
 
From: R R (r5356@yahoo.com>                                       
Subject: Angery & Stupid in Cincinnati                               

A message to vent.

Have you ever driven 2+ hours to see your favorite artist only to find
that the show was not only cancelled but moved back into the state
from which you just left. (GGGGRRRRRRRRR>

Had tickets to the Newport show in Indy and was pumped to see Nanc.
Surprise...They moved it to Columbus.  The ticket clerk: "dude, that
show like moved to Ohio, there was an ad in the paper" that's great
"dude" but if you live in Cincinnati that does me little good.

UPDATE YOUR WEB SITE:
Newport Fest web site had the show listed as no changes and the
Deercreek Music Center had no notice of the cancellation.  I checked
this before I left and felt comfortable that the show was on as
scheduled.
Please, webmasters if you are going to put date sensitive info on the
site please update it the when changes occur.

I just read Debbie Avery's review, thanks.  I've got a feeling I just
missed on of the last times seeing my girl.

I'm upset therefore I must fill my face with salty snacks to comfort me.

Oh, I got your blue moon....Jim


//  Must be tough for anyone to keep up with all the last-minute
//  cancellations ... always a good idea to call ahead before you
//  leave for the show.  - MF
_________________________________________________________________
 
From: "Charlie Byrne" (CByrne@MediaOne.Net>                       
Subject: Newport Folk Festival Comments - Washington DC - Sunday 16-A

"Newport Folk Festival On The Road "Comments - Washington DC - Sunday
16-Aug-1998
-------------

My wife Peggy and I were fortunate enough to be able to attend the "Newport
Folk Festival On the Road" at Merriwether Post Pavilion (between Baltimore
and Washington) on Sunday August 16th 1998.

There were a few organizational problems, but overall it was a Wonderful
Experience. Let's get over the minor problems first.

1) Tickets stated 4pm start time, but the show actually started at 3:45
(that's a first for me!). As a result we missed all of Jimmy Dale GiImore.

2) No schedules were made generally available. There were a few sheets with
the schedule posted at various locations, but this was very inconvenient,
and we didn't have a pen. For the amount of bad will that this caused, I
can't believe someone couldn't go to Kinko's and spend 50 bucks and have a
few thousand printed up. (I took one on my way out as a memento).

3) John Hiatt cancelled due to illness. (I think this was actually a
blessing because the scheduling was WAY too tight anyway). Leo Kottke was in
the original advertisements, but there was no sign of him anywhere.

4) It appeared there were a lot of problems with the stage monitors, judging
from all the musician's constant looks over to the monitor sound board. In
the recent past, Peggy and I have been to several other "quick act change"
type festivals (Furthur, HORDE, Lilith) and they did not have any such
problems. The Stage Crew at these other festivals always looked EXTREMELY
sharp (I know because we very fortunately had great seats for each). The
crew for Newport looked competent but not as sharp as the others. Strange
since I heard that both Lilith and Newport are partially handled by the same
company (Little Man Booking).

5) There was a second stage, but the acts played the same time as the Main
Stage acts. As a result, we didn't see second stage performers Rufus
Wainwright, Steve Poltz, Olu Dara, and Mark Eitzel.

Well, enough of my whining, now on to the music! (Times are scheduled, not
actual).

Jimmy Dale Gilmore 3:45-4:15
Sorry we missed him. But it wasn't a total disaster, that would have
happened only if we had missed...

Lucinda Williams 4:25-4:55
Two months ago I had only heard the name. I heard the buzz about the new CD
"Car Wheels on a Gravel Road" and so Peggy and I got it and played it for a
few weeks and loved it. So we were really looking forward to this. Lucinda
was HOT! The band was HOT! The sound was great. She played about 7 songs,
all from the new CD. Sometimes you are lucky enough to see a band when they
sound awesome and this was one of those times. Who is that lead guitarist?
Kenny Vaugan from Colorado(?) Looks like a cross between Elvis Costello and
Buddy Holly but man he smokes!!! Nashville favorite Jim Lauderdale played
rhythm guitar and vocals (we'd last seen him opening for Mary Chapin
Carpenter in Fort Lauderdale last year). Among others, we heard "Right In
Time", "Metal Firecracker", and that one chord wonder "Joy". Joan Baez's
percussionist Carol Steele joined the band on bongos for one number. If
Lucinda comes to your town, see her at all costs!

Rodney Crowell 5:00 - 5:30
I don't know his music very well (yet), and it was just him and his guitar,
so for me this was okay but not great. We were still kind of getting
organized.

Lisa Loeb 5:35 - 6:05
I like her albums and she is cute with her baby face and weird glasses. This
was a fun half/hour. Guest Dweezil Zappa played electric guitar as Lisa
strummed her acoustic hits.

Marc Cohn 6:15-6:45
I am not a huge Marc Cohn fan, and his set suffered from some sound
problems. He compounded the problem (imho) by stopping in the middle of
songs to yell at the sound men. After that it was just kind of difficult to
enjoy any more of his music.

Violent Femmes 6:55-7:25
I guess I was absent or something when they were popular, so a few weeks ago
I got a CD of theirs to see if I could figure out why they were going to be
on this bill. I still haven't, other than possibly the fact that they seem
to have a lot of liberal/leftist leanings and like to sing about them. They
were alright. Three college-age girls near us were screaming as if the
Beatles were on stage, which provided an interesting side show.

Wilco 7:40-8:20
An excellent set and they played new stuff from the Woody Guthrie album.
Jeff Tweedy was very impressive. Long-haired Max Johnston was distracting
with his constant constant chain smoking - at times it seemed that he would
only grudgingly sing harmony because it might interfere with the butt in his
mouth. But this was an outstanding set and I would see them again in a
minute.

Joan Baez 8:35-9:15
Wow! Joan looks great and sounds greater. She had a super band. Nanci
Griffith sat in on vocals for one song and you had to think that this was a
great moment to be seeing and hearing, and it sent shivers through me.
Another highlight was a song Joan did by Irish artist Sinead Lohan (?)
called "No Mermaid". A solo "Swing Low Sweet Chariot" was a beautiful. What
a treat to see this legend!

Nanci Griffith 9:30-10:10
Nanci and the Blue Moon Orchestra were in top form. Nanci's pal Frank
Christian joined the group on lead guitar. There were several old favorites
played as well as some from the new Other Voices Too CD. Nanci was very
upbeat and her voice was excellent. Rodney Crowell came out for a stunning
duet with Nanci. He stayed on and then Jimmy Dale also came out. The show
ended with everyone (and the crowd) singing "If I Had a Hammer". Nanci is a
rare treasure of American Music and we left the show talking about how lucky
we were to see such great performances.

Overall, we saw some great music that we will always remember, and I am very
happy to see reports that the organizers are already considering plans for
next year.

_________________________________________________________________
 
From: Tracy Dreslinski (tracy.dreslinski@fanucrobotics.com>       
Subject: Nanci cancelled her Michigan appearance                     

I posted this on Friday:

> I'm waiting till Saturday to buy tickets after what happened
> with the Chieftains tour. I don't think I can take the disappointment
> again if Nanci cancels her Michigan appearance.

So Saturday afternoon we're getting ready to head out to the concert and
something tells me I better call the venue and check if there have been
any last minute cancellations.  Much to my dismay, I found out Nanci had
canceled.  I asked if she had given a reason for canceling and they just
said "she's sick".

I am so disappointed to have missed seeing her perform (again), but I
sincerely  hope she's doing OK.  If rest and some time off will help her
get well then of course she has to do what's best for her.

Tracy

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