// Coupla more concert reports, and a bit more... 
// Enjoy...[BP]

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Subject: NN: Lenoir, NC show.. 
   From: Myblumoonshining@aol.com 
   Date: Mon, 6 May 2002 20:15:43 EDT 

Hey guys! I have not posted in a couple of years...I've been staying at home
with my son (Griffith) since he was born and just don't have time anymore.
Anyway, I was at the show Saturday night and like everyone else, I was
somewhat disappointed in the awkwardness of it all. But by the end of the
evening, I was floating above the clouds. My husband and I went back to our
hotel room (Comfort Inn) and what do you know...but Miss Nanci comes walking
in behind us. I actually got to meet her and tell her my son's name is
Griffith. As silly as it sounds, this has been such a dream to me and I
cannot believe it has happened!! : ) She was very nice, pleasant and
BEAUTIFUL!! But also very sick! I felt terrible for her because of the bad
experience she had that night but she said with a crackly voice and a smile
on her face "Tell Griff hello!"  WHAT A NIGHT!!!!! 

Myblumoonshining in NC!!
Keana Bean

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Subject: NN: Nanci in Lenoir 
   From: "Joanne Crotts" (jtcrotts@hotmail.com> 
   Date: Mon, 06 May 2002 16:52:23 -0400 

Just my humble opinion...

Nanci played at the Broyhill Center in Lenoir on Saturday night.  As she
took the stage I was a little concerned that the keyboard player appeared to
be Edgar Winter rather than the predictable James Hooker.  After a splendid
Speed of the Sound of Loneliness, Nanci explained the mystery.  Hooker was
off to see his daughter married in Wisconsin.  Filling in was Michael
Hamm(ond?) from Donna Summer's band.  With that she dedicated Two for the
Road to the happy couple.

As the last chords from this number faded, a loud male voice from the
audience shouted, "Check the House Mics!   The back-up singer isn't on!"
This seemed to startle Nanci who first murmured thanks, then said, "I don't
handle light or sound from up here.  I only make music" then she added, "And
I don't come to your work and shout at you!"  A small pause and she stalked
off the stage.

Well, the audience held its breath and the band looked visibly awkward.
Nearly two minutes passed before a serious looking Nanci reappeared and the
band started into Clock Without Hands.  By song's end Nanci seemed more
relaxed, managed to smile and things got better after that.

Nanci performed a lot from the latest album and from Flyer and a few
classics: I'm Not Driving these Wheels, Hard Life.  She told lucid and
enlightening introductory stories for each song.

Interesting facts I learned: Nanci is friends with Donna Summer; Nanci
enjoys the work of Janet Jackson. 

I wouldn't rank this as my best viewing of Nanci. The 1.5-hour set seemed
solid and professional but maybe lacking a little spirit. Admittedly, she
was suffering from allergies clogging her nose and roughing up her throat.
A friend of mine who saw her for the first time thought she was great so the
magic is still there.

Nanci looked great-chestnut hair in soft shoulder length curls, a daring
dash of crimson lipstick. She wore a peacock blue scarf, a knee length gauzy
skirt in blue and black tones with a black top.

To me the message that emerged is that many of Nanci's
mentors/friends/relatives have died this past year: Waylon, Harlan, von
Ronk, both grandmothers...clearly, it's been a difficult time for her in my
estimation.

Anyway, even in "bad" voice Nanci sounds better than most.  Support live
music!  Send good karma her way, send it everyone's way while you're at it!

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Subject: NN: RE: Rough night for Nanci in Lenoir, North Carolina 
   From: "Ken Stiffler" (ksmsc@kmsx.net> 
   Date: Mon, 6 May 2002 17:39:04 -0400 

Thanks for the [concert] updates.

I had a ticket to see Nanci in Lenoir. However, I was in Alexandria the
night before, to see Nerissa and Katryna Nields along with The Kennedys
(great show), and had discovered that Lynn Miles and Eric Taylor were
playing Saturday night at The Point in Bryn Mawr, PA - the same evening
Nanci was playing in Lenoir.

I've already seen Nanci five times, and had never seen Eric or Lynn, though
I like them both and have wanted to see them. But then again, I haven't seen
Nanci in about three years, and, after all, this is *Nanci*.

After adding up a bunch of pros and cons, including that the extra $12
ticket price for Eric and Lynn was offset by about $12/$13 worth of gas for
the extra miles to see Nanci, I went with the "new and different" choice.

Lynn was a pleasant surprise. I did not really expect her to be as good in a
live setting as on her CDs. She proved me wrong. Using a single acoustic
guitar, she manages to convey much of the drive and energy that is provided
by drums and lead electric guitar on her records.

Eric was much as I expected, since his CDs have the acoustic guitar as the
prominent instrument. Right from the rhythmic, spoken intro to Dean
Moriarty, I was enthralled.

Unfortunately, The Point started out only about half full for Lynn and when
Eric began his first song, people started leaving. By the time he finished
an hour later, there were only about twenty of us left.

I guess this shouldn't be too much of a surprise, since The Point is part of
the northeast folk circuit - and Eric's music doesn't fit that category, by
any means.

But I think it's a terrible shame that people aren't more willing to
*listen*. If you just take the time to pay attention to the lyrics, you
discover that these songs are more like short stories than anyone else
you're likely to hear. Bob Dylan is a good example of someone who has always
been good at adding little details to songs. Details that don't necessarily
advance the "plot" or "theme" of the song, but give the song depth and
resonance. Well, Eric is MUCH better at that. Very much like a good short
story writer. Though Bob (and, for example, Guy Clark) are
better at assembling a catchier melody and, therefore, a catchier song, this
is not to say that Eric's songs are unmelodic. There is enough melody and/or
beat to each song to provide a good setting for the story he is telling. But
going to hear Eric is closer to going to hear a prose writer reading from
their work than it is to going to hear a "pop" band. 

But the enjoyment of listening to well written stories set to music is
something that, to me, is well worth seeking out. If you walk into a pub
expecting to dance or hear someone describing your own personal angst, then
you're going to be disappointed sitting down to hear an Eric Taylor. But if
you make the effort to really *listen* to what you're hearing, you may find
that resonance seeping right down into your bones.

For those who live in the northeast, here's Eric's upcoming schedule over
the next two weeks:

May 10 - A State of Bean - Ludlow, VT
May 13, 14, 15 - The Good Times Café - Hinesburg, VT
May 16 - Club Passim - Cambridge, MA
May 17 - Happy Endings - Syracuse, NY
May 18 - New Moon Coffeehouse - Haverhill, MA

If you live near one of these venues and like good storytelling music - and
what Nanci fan doesn't?  :)  - do yourself a favor and check him out.

Anyway, enough of my ranting.

Though I'm sure that Nanci on a bad night is still worth seeing, the thought
that she had a rough night makes me feel even better about my decision.

Ken

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Subject: NN: Re: Rough Nanci in Lenoir 
   From: BMiller224@aol.com 
   Date: Mon, 06 May 2002 19:53:14 -0400 

Maybe Nanci should borrow a piece of Garth Brooks' act and adapt it to her
needs. If someone in the audience says something she doesn't like, instead
of snapping back at 
them, she could just pick up a guitar and smash it on the stage.

Or, she could borrow a trick from Dickie Chapelle (of "Pearl's Eye View").
If she gets irritated during the show, she could whip out a Vietcong flag
and stomp on it 
for a while. Works for me.

Bruce Miller
Oakland CA

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Subject: NN: Kate Campbell in New England 
   Date: Mon, 06 May 2002 21:00:31 -0400 
   From: "Patti Schrull" (starsbloom@gbla.com> 

Hello all,

I know this is late, but Kate Campbell (Godde bless her) is doing a benefit
concert for the New England Youth Theatre (with which Kirsten, child of the
ninety's for those who remember, has performed several times) in
Brattleboro, Vermont, just over the border on 91, on this Saturday May 11th
at 8:00 pm. Tickets can be reserved ahead at 802-254-1133, but tickets will
also be at the door. Great cause, great concert, wonderful performer with a
big heart!!

blessings,
patti schrull

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Subject: NN: Nanci critics 
   From: "Frieda Reece" (friedalreece@hotmail.com> 
   Date: Tue, 07 May 2002 12:17:57 +0000 

I'm sorry to read about how Nanci was not too well at a couple of her
concerts, and agree that if I have paid good money for the ticket then I
expect a good concert - but what's a performer to do? We all have off days
when we struggle in to work and just go through the motions - at least Nanci
didn't just cancel the show. Dare I say that I wonder if some of you
American fans are perhaps a bit spoilt?   You seem to have so many Nanci
concerts to go to, whilst here in Manchester UK (not just Hemel Hempstead)
we wait years for a visit from Nanci and would be glad to have even a
concert where Nanci was not at her very best. I can't help thinking she is
still worth hearing even then.

Now I will just crawl away under a stone and let you react to that one!

Frieda.

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Subject: NN: Otis Blackwell 
   From: "Panchyshyn,Roman" (panchysr@oclc.org> 
   Date: Tue, 7 May 2002 08:35:44 -0400  

>From the AP

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Otis Blackwell, who wrote dozens of hit songs,
including "Don't Be Cruel" for Elvis Presley, died Monday of a heart attack.
He was 70. 

Blackwell wrote more than 1,000 songs that were recorded by performers such
as Ray Charles, Billy Joel, The Who, James Taylor, Otis Redding, Peggy Lee
and Jerry Lee Lewis. 

Some of Blackwell's other credits include "Great Balls of Fire" and
"Breathless," both recorded by Lewis; "Handy Man" by Taylor; "Fever" by Lee;
"Daddy Rolling Stone" by The Who; and "Return to Sender" and "All Shook Up,"
each recorded by Presley. 

Blackwell was credited with writing songs that sold more than 185 million
copies. 

Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., Blackwell grew up wanting to be a singer. While
recording songs for a small company in New York City, he was asked to write
songs as well. 

Blackwell often sang the songs himself before they were recorded, and some
music historians believe his style influenced Presley's. 

Roman from Ohio

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Subject: NN: Roots Music Plays in Atlanta 
   Date: Tue, 07 May 2002 09:44:31 -0400 
   From: "Steve Robertson" (stever@mindspring.com> 

This is for anyone within traveling distance of Atlanta. The Alliance
Theatre is staging "Woody Guthrie's American Song" starting May 9. Here's a
description:

"May 9th - June 9th - The Alliance Theatre Company presents Woody Guthrie's
American Song at the Woodruff Arts Center in Atlanta, GA. This rousing
musical chronicles the life of American legend Woody Guthrie and stars
Atlanta favorites Rebekah Baty, Jahi Kearse, Tom Key, Bernardine Mitchell,
and "Rev" Jeff Mosier. 

The band for the show is the Boxcar Ramblers featuring Curtis Jones, Jeff
Midkiff, Darrell Muller, and Rick Taylor. 

Features such uplifting songs as This Land is Your Land, The Reuben James,
and Bound for Glory. 

Performances are at 8 p.m. Tues - Fri.; Sat 2:30 and 8 p.m.; Sun. 2:30 and
7:30 p.m. 

Tickets are $19 - $50. Call 404.733.5000 or visit www.alliancetheatre.org
for more information."

During the same period, this play is running in the Atlanta suburb of
Marietta:

"May 15th - June 23rd - "Fair and Tender Ladies" at the THEATRE IN THE
SQUARE. Marietta, Ga. "Fair and Tender Ladies", adapted from the Lee Smith
novel is a Southern Appalachian mountain woman's recountance of her vibrant
life laced with music and memory. Tells of a life in a time and place where
hardship and heartache lived side by side with beauty and love. There are
over 20 newly composed songs that tell the powerful story and are played in
traditional or Appalachian style with a 3 piece band.  

Performances are at 8 p.m. Tues - Sat; Sun. at 2:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. and a
midweek Matinee on Wed.
2:30 p.m.  Tickets are $17 - $27.  Call 770-422-8369 for more information."

both of these descriptions are from the e-mail newsletter "Atlanta Bluegrass
and Acoustic Music Happenings"
http://members.aol.com/pickinhour/index.html

The Alliance Theatre (the one with the Woody Guthrie play) has made it
possible for readers of the free newsletter "Fiddlin' Around" to *buy one
ticket, get one free* for performances between May 9 and May 26. Atlanta
area residents can find out where to pick up a copy here:
http://www.starchart.com/Distributors/distributors.html

If anyone outside Atlanta is interested in visiting to take in these plays,
send me your mailing address (backchannel) and I'll mail you a copy of
"Fiddlin' Around."
-- 
>From the Georgia Pines,
Steve Robertson
====================================
_________Fiddlin' Around____________
The Journal of American Roots Music
          on the web at
      http://www.starchart.com/
====================================

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Subject: NN: Dixie Chicks, Bluegrass, Allergies 
   Date: Wed, 8 May 2002 06:39:58 -0700 (PDT)  
   From: "Michael Wilt" (handofgrace@yahoo.com>

Griffsters,

Just catching up on the Dixie Chicks/bluegrass
controversy in the digest; Petop wrote:

>>They sure went out of their way to disavow their
first recordings and former members at the time "Wide
Open Spaces" began to break.((

A couple years ago I watched a rerun of the Chicks'
"Wide Open Spaces" appearance on Austin City Limits.
The hour-long set included about 10 minutes of
straight-up bluegrass; one of them commented that it
was great to be on ACL because they don't get to play
that stuff in concert anymore. Between lawsuits and
magazine article comments, it seems to me the only
thing worth concluding is that we are a litigious,
gossipy society.

On the topic of concerts and allergies, this Spring
affliction is not new with Nanci. I have a tape of her
in England from several years back in which blooming
vegetation so effected her that Lee Satterfield had to
take over and sing Nanci's high notes. Sounds like she
oughta arrange her tours to stay ahead of the bloom. 

(Perhaps it's no excuse for loss of composure, but if
a headful of running snot can cause the likes of us to
take a sick day from cubicle life, I can only imagine
how it might mess up the night of someone whose job is
to sing for two hours.)

Michael "in late-bloomin' Minnesota" Wilt


=====
Michael Wilt
handofgrace@yahoo.com

"These days your face in my memory
is in a folded hand of grace
against these times." -- Nanci Griffith

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