Re: Sweet Honey In the Rock

Bill Pringle (wrp@ks.unisys.com)
Mon, 20 Apr 1998 20:20:18 -0400 (EDT)

Message from david broida included:
> Sweet Honey in the Rock played the Academy of Music in Philadelphia
> Friday. The home of the Philadelphia Orchestra never impressed me as a
> good folk venue, but from the 2nd row I've had a change of heart. The
> 2nd row anywhere is great (thanks to my friends for getting tkts.
> early).
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
It was pretty good from rows T and U also! :^)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
> The heart and soul of their performance, for me, was Bob Marley's
> Redemption Song (his song, right?). Sweet Honey showed me once again
> that a great reggae song, done well, can stir emotions across borders,
> races, all kinds of divides.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Another great moment (that David, being in the front, missed :^) was
the beginning of the second set. There was no warning that intermission
was about to be over, and Sweet Honey just started to sing, catching a
large number of people out in the lobby.

As they filed in, they were literally dancing in the aisles, making their
way to their seats. A great moment! :^)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Sweet Honey in the Rock is a class act. Each song is delivered with
> grace, style, an appropriate introduction, and appropriate audience
> participation. They keep delivering concert after concert, 24 years
> after their founding by Bernice Johnson Reagon. And the 2nd highlight
> for me - the standing ovation Bernice received for just being introduced.
> Her audience recognizes, acknowledges and praises her for her
> contributions to our culture.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Not too many singing groups can claim a PhD curator from the Smithsonian
as their leader. :^) Sweet Honey concerts don't just entertain, they
educate. The history of many of the songs is discussed. This show was
quite different than past shows. They changed the arrangements of many
of their older songs, and even changed the words in a number of places.
Another change was that Bernice didn't really talk that much; other
members did much of the talking between songs. During the introductions,
it came out that the sign language interpreter recently got married. It
was also nice to see Carol is apparently back with the group full time.

One of the great things about seeing Sweet Honey at the Academy of Music
is the great cross-section of people in the audience. People dressed in
anything from jeans to gowns and tux's to colorful african attire, plus a
wide selection of styles in between. :^)

The last time they appeared there, we sat behind a couple who were clearly
there because it was the Academy of Music. The woman was shocked to find
out that people around her not only were willing to sing along, but many
of them actually knew the words! By the end of the evening, however,
she was clapping and swaying along with the rest of us. :^)

--
Bill Pringle
work: wrp@ks.unisys.com, school: wrp103@psu.edu
http://www.personal.psu.edu/~wrp103/