// Concert reports from Birchmere, and announcement of an upcoming 
// concert. We look at the muisc of John Prine, and discuss DVDs.
// And we end with a review of a CD by a NanciNetter!
// Enjoy...[BP]

_________________________________________________________________


Subject: NN: Oh, What a Night - Long
   Date: Tue, 21 Mar 2000 19:51:42 -0500 (EST)
   From: Catelaw@aol.com

Hey Y'all,

So sorry to hear that some of the earlier shows were cancelled :( and almost 
hate to post this, but Nanci's fine and was in great form at the Birchmere in 
Alexandria, VA last night.  Anyone going to the Birchmere tonight or tomorrow 
who wants to be surprised should not read this.

It was a full moon, but too cloudy, cold and drizzly to see it.  The 
weekend's weather had been unsettled and raw as my husband and I visited 
Arlington National Cemetery and the Viet Nam Wall, taking shelter on Sunday 
afternoon in the splendor of the mineral and gem exhibit on display at the 
Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. The unusually warm winter produced a 
rare confluence of blooming things: brilliant yellow forsythia, ghostly 
Bradford pear trees and appropriately, berm after berm of daffodils planted 
in honor of Lyndon and Lady Bird Johnson.  The famed cherry trees were also 
in full bloom; the second earliest peak weekend in recorded history.  Lord, I 
am a lucky woman.  Thanks, Nanci. Thanks, Guy.

Finally it was time to leave for the big show, thinking certainly if we got 
there half an hour before the box office opened at 5:00, we'd be first in 
line, but nay.  There were folks who had been there since 2:30 and it was 
COLD outside and windy.  The Birchmere has 500 seats at tables, and the line 
is to get your seating number.  They open the dining/music hall at 6:00 and 
call parties one at a time, so that the lower your number, the better your 
choice of tables.  We were about 40 deep in the line and ended up with number 
23 and seats on the front row, right edge of the stage, 15 feet or so from 
Nanci and Guy when each performed.  

Guy Clark fashion report:  wild, bushy hair, expressive, mischevious, 
timeless face, black, constantly tapping cowboy boots, faded Wranglers, white 
shirt, tan vest, all Texan, all the time.

Guy and Verlon Thompson came out pretty close to 7:30 and played until almost 
9pm.  Both of them seemed just purely giddy. There were some Guy Clark fans 
there but most folks had come to see Nanci; it didn't take long for them to 
fall under Guy's spell.   He doesn't use a set list, but seemed to have a 
general plan; unlike the Variety Playhouse here in Atlanta, the Birchmere has 
signs on every table requiring absolute silence while musicians are on the 
stage, preventing Guy from taking his usual requests from the crowd.  He 
opened with Cold Dog Soup and followed it with The Cape.  The he talked a 
little bit about Cold Dog Soup and said they'd finally learned three or four 
songs of it, "the trouble with making a new record is having to go back and 
learn the songs..." as a segue into Ain't No Trouble to Me.  Next was L.A. 
Freeway, during which he paused to tell the story of his boring landlord and 
the grapefruit tree to which he attributes the tune.  After singing and 
telling his way through Texas-1947 and Boats to Build, someone in the crowd 
got brave and yelled for Immigrant Eyes.

Verlon and Guy both played the lights out on a rousing version of Sis Draper, 
which Guy called the Imaginary Fiddle Song because we'd have to imagine the 
fiddle.  They plowed on through three or four more standards including 
Homegrown Tomatoes when Guy decided it was time for Verlon to sing and Verlon 
decided it was time to tell the audience that he and Guy and just returned 
from doing a quick overnight show in the Netherlands, and claimed they'd been 
"Amsterdamed."  Guy said they called it something else in Texas, having to do 
with ducks and rakes and hunting.  Verlon did his Greasy Bend, OK -- Ouachita 
River -- Daweeita's Mandolin song followed by another called "I'm a Lucky 
Dog," which included a pretty good Johnny Cash impression and story.  Verlon 
hadn't been hanging with Guy all these years for nothing.  Guy closed his set 
with Let Him Roll.

Standing ovation.  Not the last one.

Endless, 20 minute intermission and finally, time for Ms. Nanci.

NG fashion report: the thinnest woman I have ever seen.  She was wearing  
gold metallic capri pants and a black knit top with one of the blue silk 
Cambodian scarves wrapped around her neck.  And of course, the ubiquitous 
black flats.  First thing she said was how cold it was for the first day of 
spring and how she'd had her socks on until right when she had to come on 
stage.  Said she would have left them on, but didn't think we'd like white 
athletic socks with those flats.  I was trying to picture it, but then she 
launched into "Speed of the Sound of Loneliness" and the socks were 
forgotten.  She was simply luminous, and with all that blue and black, when 
the blue spots hit her, it would almost knock your eyes out.

She was accompanied by the "Blue Moon Combo," consisting of Pat McInerny, Ron 
De la Vega, and the sartorially splendid and hatless James Hooker.  One of 
the true highlights of the show for us was the gorgeous duet she and Hooker 
did of Gulf Coast Highway -- both were in superb voice.  Nanci seemed to be 
having a great time and enjoying this tour.  At the outset, as she was 
describing what was to come, she said it was going to be "one old bag with a 
bag full of fun."  It certainly was a bag full of fun, but I didn't see any 
old bag on that stage and I was CLOSE.  Another very high point was a 
beautiful version of Tecumseh Valley that she dedicated to Guy.  Nanci ran 
through several of her standards before bringing out the Kennedys to 
accompany her on Across the Great Divide, inviting the audience to sing 
along.  And of course, she plugged the Kennedys and their "Evolver" CD.  
Among the standards was a very wistful version of Not My Way Home, which she 
described as "MY favorite song, even it if isn't anyone else's."  Wonder if 
she saw the poll?

She also talked about singing with the Lubbock symphony and was comically 
miffed when someone in the audience snorted, asserting that Lubbock does 
indeed have a symphony. 

As Ron mentioned in his report, "Travelin' Through This Part of You" is a 
heartfelt and "just Nanci" piece of music -- it stood me still.  She made 
several references to her trip to southeast Asia and talked about waking up 
in the middle of the night to write the song -- this is the kind of lyric and 
poetry that I'd love to hear more of.  Like someone posted recently -- just 
nine more and call it a CD!  She's a wonderful advocate for the landmine 
cause -- VERY passionate about it.  And she was unusually open about not 
truly understanding an important part of Eric Taylor until she had taken that 
journey.  A rare glimpse into a private soul.

Verlon came back out to join the group and the audience for The Hammer Song.  
He and Pat kept picking at each other and Nanci kept threatening them, "Don't 
make me come back there, boys..."  Guy joined the group and he and Nanci 
duetted on She Ain't Goin' Nowhere, Do Re Mi, and Dublin Blues (major giant 
huge big league sigh>, with Guy taking the lead and Nanci the harmony.  The 
show ended with It's a Hard Life, Nanci singing the lead, of course, and 
Verlon and Guy providing powerful harmonies.

Standing ovation.  Not the last one.

The magical evening ended with the encore "Old Friends," which began with 
each band member performing a solo or duet and having an individual moment to 
shine and ended with Nanci and Guy sharing a single microphone, singing "Old 
Friends" and looking at each other with the purest love of friendship, 
transcending the room to a beautiful place of musical carpe diem.   

Standing ovation.  Lights up.  Whiter Shade of Pale. 

Cate, was I dreaming?  back in Atlanta

_________________________________________________________________


Subject: NN: Nanci and Guy at Birchmere
   Date: Tue, 21 Mar 2000 10:45:05 -0500
   From: "Neill, Ron" (RNeill@Calfee.com>

Just delurking for a quick note:  if you are anywhere within . . . well I
was 400 miles away . . . striking distance of the Birchmere (in Alexandria,
VA), jump on your steed and head there for what has to be as good a Nanci
venue and concert as there has ever been.

Guy Clark opens (with Cold Dog Soup) and then proceeds to do almost an hour
and a half set, probably half of the numbers requested from the audience [at
one point Guy said "you don't think I have a set list for this, do you?"].
Then Nanci arrives for a set of equal length that includes guest appearances
by The Kennedys as well as another half dozen numbers with Guy at the end of
the show.

Most interesting portion was perhaps her introduction of a new song written
while she was in Saigon this winter, touring for the Vietnam Veterans
organization that is trying to eliminate land mines and aid their victims.
Anyway, she talks about her marriage to Eric Taylor in the intro and says
something like "in addition to me [Nanci]" the biggest stress on that
marriage was the Vietnam war.  She then goes on to extol the bravery of
Vietnam veterans both then and in their work on land mine removal, etc.  I
wish I could remember some of the lyrics (it begins with a line like
'travelin' through you'), but will never forget the moving intro and can't
wait to get a commercial version.

Back to the beginning:  Nanci and Guy stay at the Birchmere tonight (Tues)
and tomorrow as well.  If I didn't have 400 miles to travel, would be back
both nights!

                                                 Ron

_________________________________________________________________


Subject: NN: Nanci @ the Birchmere 3/21/00
   Date: Wed, 22 Mar 2000 00:51:46 -0500
   From: "John Cochran" (jcochran@co.loudoun.va.us>

Here is the set list for Nanci at the Birchmere, Tuesday, March 21, 2000:

Speed of the Sound of Loneliness
Love at the Five and Dime
These Days
Trouble in the Fields
Tecumseh Valley
Flyer
This is Not My Way Home
Gulf Coast Highway
Outbound Plane
Travellin' through This Part of You (a tribute to Viet Nam vets)
Across the Great Divide
Hammer Song
She Ain't Going Nowhere
Do Re Mi
Oh Mama (Ain't That Texas Cookin Good)
It's a Hard Life Wherever You Go
encore:
Spanish Steps (I wish I was in Austin, drinking mad dog margaritas, etc)
Old Friends

If this isn't the NanciNet, would you please forward it to the right
person...thanks!
JDC

_________________________________________________________________


Subject: NN: Starry Night
   Date: Mon, 20 Mar 2000 23:46:47 EST
   From: BMBSPIRIT@cs.com

To all the loyal NG fans,and I have been one for many years, I'm afraid I 
have to agree with James Troiano. The performance with Don McLean was far 
from her best and though most of you may disagree , not every night can be 
stellar. When she is on,and she has been on every time I have seen her live, 
you go home wishing wholeheartedly that you were a personal friend of hers . 
I know I do. I wouldn't want to introduce someone new to Nanci's music 
through that show.
  I forget who commented on my story of crashing the private party at the 
Whitney Museum in NYC to see Nanci, but the answer is BMBSPIRIT is a man. 
While I am rambling, was anyone at the concert in Tarrytown on Friday night? 
And ,if you were, did you see the guy up front that was standing up and 
clapping out of sync to every song, ballads included. Goodnight all.
                                                     Bernie

_________________________________________________________________


Subject: NN: Nanci's Goin' to the Dogs
   Date: Tue, 21 Mar 2000 07:38:05 -0500
   From: Bucky (bucky@aye.com>

Nanci and the BMO will be going to the dogs, cats, elephants, lions,
tigers, and the whole damn menagerie on July 15, 2000 in Louisville,
KY.  The Louisville Orchestra's
"Roarchestra" series has booked our favorite artist to an outdoor
concert on a Saturday evening at the Louisville Zoo. The BMO will ride
shotgun for the affair.

Tickets should go on sale soon at the Kentucky Center for the
Arts(http://www.kca.org),
but there not offered yet.  Last years series tix's went for just
$12.00, a great bargain for the frugal fans of folk.  Gates should open
at 6:30 giving you 2 hrs to rush to the band shell and claim your space.
More info should be posted at the Louisville Orchestra web site;
(http://www.louisvilleorchestra.org/season/roar01.htm)

The Louisville Zoo is a pleasant setting, close to I-264, at 1100
Trevilian Way, Louisville, KY.  Check out the site map at;
(http://www.louisvillezoo.org/map.htm).  Those two hours before the
concert is ample time to take in most of the Zoo's attractions that may
remain open.  Pack a picnic basket, it's part of the evening's charm. 
And pray for a clear, dry weather forecast.  Should be a fun event.

_________________________________________________________________


Subject: Re: NN: Nanci's Goin' to the Dogs
   Date: Tue, 21 Mar 2000 22:20:48 -0800
   From: snownobile@earthlink.net

Hello Bucky and All:

    I tried to thank you earlier for all the information, but it kept
getting returned.  It sounds like a great show.  Please keep us posted on
any information.  We can hardly wait.  We like to camp, can you suggest any
campgrounds in that area?

   Also, thanks to all the reviews, it makes me feel like I was there.  I
can't wait for my turn.  Thanks to all of you on the NN, it's a great place
to be!

        Kathy

_________________________________________________________________


Subject: NN: A couple of jewels
   Date: Mon, 20 Mar 2000 21:23:19 -0600
   From: Ed Maier (evmaier@dhc.net>

I knew Nanci used to tour with John Prine years back, but
I was unfamiliar with John. This is probably some kind of
a sin for a folkie. Anyhow, I found John's album "Pink
Cadillac" in my favorite used CD store and bought it. It
strikes me as very unusual. Doesn't seem to fit with any
other folk types I'm familiar with. Sort of a souped-up
Bob Dylan is the closest association I can make out. I
like it; I'll keep it. Is this album atypical of what 
Prine does?

The other jewel was a copy of Mary Black's "Shine". So
far, this is the best used album I've bought this year.
So much music, so little time. (grin>

Took a three day weekend and just got back from Bossier 
City, LA, and had a blast. They had a very good sixties 
rock band in the bar, and the usual fantastic food in 
the Horseshoe Casino restaurants. Next Friday we're 
driving up to Sherman, TX, to catch Cory Sipper at the 
college, and then we're driving down to Austin to spent 
the weekend on Sixth Street for out thirty-fourth 
anniversary.

Life is sweet,
Ed Maier
Arlington, TX

_________________________________________________________________


Subject: Re: NN: A couple of jewels
   Date: Tue, 21 Mar 2000 08:38:18 -0500
   From: Steve Robertson (stever@mindspring.com>

Ed Maier wrote:
> 
> I knew Nanci used to tour with John Prine years back, but
> I was unfamiliar with John. This is probably some kind of
> a sin for a folkie. Anyhow, I found John's album "Pink
> Cadillac" in my favorite used CD store and bought it. It
> strikes me as very unusual. Doesn't seem to fit with any
> other folk types I'm familiar with. Sort of a souped-up
> Bob Dylan is the closest association I can make out. I
> like it; I'll keep it. Is this album atypical of what
> Prine does?
> 

>From the liner notes to "The John Prine Anthology":

"So what did he do next? He made a party record, the the unapolgetically
raucous "Pink Cadillac". ' I wanted to do something noisy,' Prine
explains,' something like if you had a buddy with a band and you walked
into his house and you could hear 'em practicing in the basement'".

So I think the answer to your question is that "Pink Cadillac" is not
typical of Prine's work. It was an attempt to do something radically
different. He even brought in Sam Phillips as co-producer to give it
that authentic rockabilly feel. But John, like Nanci, is talented enough
to move between folk and rock without sacrificing quality.

Hidin' Out in the Georgia Pines-
Wishin' It Would Rain,
Steve Robertson

_________________________________________________________________


Subject: Re: NN: A couple of jewels
   Date: Tue, 21 Mar 2000 10:15:59 EST
   From: Petop@aol.com

evmaier@dhc.net writes:

(( Anyhow, I found John's album "Pink
 Cadillac" in my favorite used CD store and bought it.... . Is this album 
atypical of what Prine does? >>

   Yes. Up until he recorded that album, Prine was considered basically a 
folk artist, but "Pink Cadillac" came out of left field--a rockabilly album 
recorded at Memphis' Sun Studios and produced by none other than Sam Phillips 
himself. (Consider that his previous album, the far superior "Bruised 
Orange," had been produced by Steve Goodman.)
   The next time you're browsing the used record store, the John Prine album 
you should be hoping to find is his eponymous first album--it's still his 
best. Almost as good are "Sweet Revenge," the aforementioned "Bruised Orange" 
and "The Missing Years." I can also recommend his first "Live" album (not to 
be confused with a later effort called "Live on Tour.").

_________________________________________________________________


Subject: NN: A couple of jewels
   Date: Wed, 22 Mar 2000 18:04:08 -0500
   From: "tom's mail" (tprieto@columbus.rr.com>

there is always the cheating way, to buy his 2 disc anthology!!!!!

_________________________________________________________________


Subject: NN: Joni orchestral tour
   Date: Tue, 21 Mar 2000 23:21:38 EST
   From: Halesbop@aol.com

Nanci isn't the only folk icon hitting the road with symphony accompaniment 
this year.
-----------

>From CDNOW news:

Joni Mitchell Taps Orchestras For Tour
March 21, 2000, 1:05 pm PT

Joni Mitchell 
Legendary artist Joni Mitchell is enlisting local symphony orchestras for her 
upcoming tour. The 11-city trek kicks off May 12 at the Greek Theatre in Los 
Angeles. More dates may be added. 

The live orchestras will help Mitchell recreate the ambience of her latest 
release, Both Sides Now. The album, which features reworks of the title track 
and 1972's "A Case of You," as well as covers of standards including "Stormy 
Weather," was recorded with the 71-piece London Symphony orchestra. Both 
Sides Now comes out Tuesday (March 21) on Reprise Records. 

Joni Mitchell tour dates are as follows: 

May 12, Los Angeles, Greek Theatre 
May 13, Concord, Calif., Concord Pavilion 
May 17, West Palm Beach, Fla., Mars Music Amphitheatre 
May 19, Atlanta, Chastain Park Amphitheatre 
May 22-23, New York, Madison Square Garden 
May 25, Columbia, Md., Merriweather Post 
May 27, Wallingford, Conn., Oakdale Theatre 
May 28, Boston, Fleet Center 
May 30, Rosemont, Ill., Rosemont Theatre 
May 31, Clarkston, Mich., Pine Knob Music Theatre 
June 2, Philadelphia, E-Center 
-------------------
--Steve

_________________________________________________________________


Subject: NN: Nanci on DVD
   Date: Tue, 21 Mar 2000 08:12:51 -0600
   From: Mary Wood Littleton (littlmw@auburn.edu>

Hello Nanciphiles:

Forgive me if this has been discussed, but I just saw that Nanci's first
DVD (audio only) is being released on May 9th.  When, oh when, will we get
a DVD version of a live performance -- or even a collection of videos?
Couldn't they easily and inexpensively make a DVD of the OVOR concert?

Here's hoping . . .

Mary Wood Littleton

_________________________________________________________________


Subject: Re: NN: Nanci on DVD
   Date: Tue, 21 Mar 2000 10:20:05 EST
   From: Petop@aol.com

littlmw@auburn.edu writes:

(( but I just saw that Nanci's first
 DVD (audio only) is being released on May 9th. >>

Since DVD stands for Digital Video Disc, isn't an audio only DVD an oxymoron? 
Just thought I'd ask.

_________________________________________________________________


Subject: Re: NN: Nanci on DVD
   Date: Tue, 21 Mar 2000 16:38:07 +0100
   From: "Hans Janssen" (hans.janssen@zeelandnet.nl>

> Since DVD stands for Digital Video Disc, isn't an audio only DVD an
> oxymoron? Just thought I'd ask.

The official name for the DVD is: Digital Versatile Disc, and in the years
that is was announced, but never came it stood for: Delayed Very Delayed.

met vriendelijke groeten,

Hans Janssen.
http://tradefolk.da.ru/

_________________________________________________________________


Subject: Re: NN: Nanci on DVD
   Date: Tue, 21 Mar 2000 17:26:38 +0100
   From: Georg (gvallest@c2i.net>

>Since DVD stands for Digital Video Disc, isn't an audio only DVD an
oxymoron? 
>Just thought I'd ask.

Originally DVD used to be that, but now it is changed to Digital Versatile
Disc, to keep the name, but cover for the different usage as audio or data.

Georg

_________________________________________________________________


Subject: Re: NN: Nanci on DVD
   Date: Tue, 21 Mar 2000 16:39:17 EST
   From: Petop@aol.com

gvallest@c2i.net writes:

(( Originally DVD used to be that, but now it is changed to Digital Versatile
 Disc, to keep the name, but cover for the different usage as audio or data.
  >>

Very interesting. So then what's the difference between an audio only DVD and 
a CD?

_________________________________________________________________


Subject: Re: NN: Nanci on DVD
   Date: Tue, 21 Mar 2000 15:50:35 -0600
   From: "Tina Shackleford" (tshack@sprynet.com>


>Very interesting. So then what's the difference between an audio only DVD
>and a CD?

I'd say ... $10 - $15?

_________________________________________________________________


Subject: Re: NN: Nanci on DVD
   Date: Tue, 21 Mar 2000 14:19:16 -0800
   From: Ron Crain (ron@arken.net>

>Very interesting. So then what's the difference between an audio only DVD
>and a CD?

I would also suspect that since the DVD requires a different wavelength
laser to read the data, then the DVD would not be able to work in a
standard CD Player which we all have.

I only have a DVD connected to my main TV - and I'm NOT going to use it to
listen to some music - this sounds like a poor marketing plan to me.

Ron Crain
http://www.arken.net

_________________________________________________________________


Subject: Re: NN: Nanci on DVD
   Date: Tue, 21 Mar 2000 19:49:28 -0500
   From: Mike Chesman (chesman@preferred.com>

>I just saw that Nanci's first
>DVD (audio only) is being released on May 9th.

How long can you hold your breath???

This audio DVD for "Last Of The True Believers" was first announced with a
release date of November 1999.  Some sites were already taking preorders.
Then the date was upped to February 2000 and that also came and went.  Now
we're hearing May but I've also heard June.  My order's been in limbo since
before Thanksgiving.

The sampling rate of DVD audio is much higher (96KHZ versus 44.1KHZ for
regular CDs for those that care)  This translates into better sound that can
easily be appreciated on a modestly good system (not on some boom box).
Most folks aren't going to get excited about it but for the audiophiles out
there it makes sense.  How many folks ran out to buy the audiophile pressing
of "Storms" on vinyl?  It sounds significantly better than the regular LP
version and in many ways sounds superior to the CD.  The LOTTB DVD may also
be mixed into Dolby surround sound which could be interesting even though it
obviously was not originally recorded for that format.  This is just
something for audionuts (myself included) to enjoy and I'm thrilled that
someone decided that Nanci's music would be a good showcase for the format.
Leave it to MCA to beat out her current company with Nanci's first DVD
release...  but if Elektra woke up they could get the Other Voices and Other
Voices, Too videos out there and beat MCA to the punch.  MCA could
counterattack with the OFSE video...  could even entice us by including some
of the songs cut from the original realease... then we the fans would win on
all fronts.

Mike 

_________________________________________________________________


Subject: RE: NN: Nanci on DVD - diff between CD and DVD
   Date: Tue, 21 Mar 2000 18:02:11 -0500
   From: "Pollock, Stuart (S.J.)" (spolloc2@ford.com>

Liked the $10-$15 answer best but there is also the greater packing density.

DVD are multi (dual I think) layer thingies so the capacity is roughly
doubled plus I believe they can also be double sided.

There are some excellent sites out there that cover the DVD's spec's should
you want to read up on it. I found a few a while back with an Alta Vista
search on +DVD +specification but after about 2 minutes reading I fell
asleep, hehehehe.

ttfn

stuart

_________________________________________________________________


Subject: Re: NN: Oh, What a Night - Long
   Date: Tue, 21 Mar 2000 21:59:54 EST
   From: VickiStein@aol.com

Catelaw and all ~

Hi Cate, Hi Y'all!

A toast to Cate, she writes the absolute best reviews I have read, setting 
the stage with the ambiance of the evening (tepid weather, standing in line), 
to the fashion report (which I love) and then a splendid tale of the 
concert....thank yooouuu so much!  I could picture the evening, and it does 
sound wonderful!   How fortunate to have a front row seat!  Makes me "mint" 
with envy!  A fabulous night!  Thank you for writing a great review!  Thank 
you, Cate, for the inspiration.  

And now I am REALLY looking forward to Nanci at Interlochen.  

Cheers to all,

Vicki

_________________________________________________________________


Subject: NN: Steve Goldberger's CD
   Date: Tue, 21 Mar 2000 08:02:41 -0500
   From: James_Troiano@umit.maine.edu (James Troiano)

Hi folks: I just received Nancinetter  Steve Goldberger's CD "Come From
The Heart." It is a terrific live recording of some marvelous songs
including two of my Nanci favorites Fly by Night and Last of the True
Believers. They are two of Nanci's best and Steve does a wonderful job.
I always loved Fly by Night and wished to hear Nanci iperform it live,
but never did. Steve's performance  allows me know how it would sound
live.  I think that particular song could have been as popular as
Outbound Plane if it had received radio play. Thank you Steve and Nanci
for some great music. Jim Troiano

_________________________________________________________________

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