In this issue:
Richard T., Dar W., & Bruce C. -- Concord, NH
Re: Martin Sexton at Lansdowne
MARTIN SEXTON AND OTHERWORDLY THINGS
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Date: Sat, 20 Jun 1998 12:54:42 -0400 (EDT)
From: ABSConc@grolen.com
Subject: Richard T., Dar W., & Bruce C. -- Concord, NH
Yeah, we were lucky enough to catch one of the Richard Thompson, Dar
Williams, and Bruce Cockburn shows last night as they rode into my
little hometown of Concord, NH. I was amazed to find an opening act,
and it would dictate the inflated length of the overall show. Maya
Sharpe (sp?) opened up with about 5 songs, and it was my first time
hearing her. Very nice -- I will have to seek out her recordings.
Anybody know of her label?
It was reported earlier on this list that the first show of the run
(which from what I could fathom, is only 6 shows in length) opened up
with Bruce performing his set first, then Dar, then Richard. That order
was reversed last night much to my suprise, expecting exactly what had
been reported previously. I think everyone was rather surprised to see
Mr. Thompson first. He was in superb form, and seemed incredibly happy.
The disembodied voice that introduced Richard, said "please make
welcome -- RICHARD THOMAS!" Boo-hissss! from the crowd, but Richard
knew it was not meant for him. He came out grinning ear to ear and
blushing somewhat to say "wasn't he the guy on the Walton's?" I didn't
realize he was that immersed in American culture. Guess so. He put on
an absolutely fabulous and lengthy set. This weekend is also, for us
the 50th anniversary of the Laconia Motorcycle rally and races, so I
expected him to play the song I have an unnatural liking for -- "1952
Vincent Black Lightning." Plenty of red hair and black leather rumbling
through town all week, and quite a few accidents as is always the case.
I'm sure he plays that at every show anyhow, but I sure would have been
disappointed if he didn't drag it out. There was no way around noticing
the 'packs' of bikers on the way to Concord. The whole gang was
travelling together in a bus, and would venture another 700 miles for
the next show wherever that may be.
Dar would be second as expected, to perform her set. I've become
equally as impressed with Stephanie Winters lately ever since I was to
meet her while performing with Walter Parks during the Falcon Ridge
Preview tour recently. She has such a commanding presence that I found
myself paying more attention to her than Dar for a lot of the time. Dar
should really find herself a more benign cello-player, but why should
she settle? Stephanie is the best. I've seen Dar too many times
recently to rate this performance as one of her best, but the
between-song banter was endearing and comical as always. Bruce Cockburn
finished up the evening, playing many songs from his most recent CD.
The entire evening was so long, that we were having a hard time staying
attentive toward the end, and so many of his compositions have a
meditative quality to them. He began acoustic, then went electric and
then back again during his set. He told of how he liked to bring his
bicycle on tour with him and explore the towns he visits before his
shows. He spoke of the motorcycles and how they "were not impressed" by
him and his ride that afternoon, and also spoke of the joys of bicycle
helmets and how he came to worship them recently when he was riding with
an 8-year old friend in Vermont and had an accident on a path. When the
kid turned back to find him, he proclaimed, "Why did you stop?" Only
from the mind of a boy... Luckily Bruce's helmet saved the day, more
than can be said for many of our annual visitors who every year "Run out
of road, and run out of breath" as NH has no motorcycle helmet laws.
Bruce finished up, and they all came out to finish up with a few songs.
They all played a Dylan song together, and then round-robin'd for one
round finishing up once again with Seeger's "Turn, Turn, Turn,"in which
Dar brought Stephanie back out to "balance out the hormonal level" on
the stage. It was pushing midnight at the end, but the crowd still
beckoned for more. The lights came back up anyway. If this run is
coming nearby, it's worth the drive -- get there!
- -Jon
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Jonathan Colcord ~ The Song Swap ~and~ Music For The Mountain ~ 91.7
WNEC FM
every Sunday: Bluegrass 2-4:30 / Folk & Acoustic Music 4:30-7:00
24 Bridge Street ~ Henniker, New Hampshire ~ 03242 ~ New England College
Contributing Editor "Bluegrass Breakdown" ~ Crossroads Magazine, and
review team.
Check out past playlists now archived at:
http://folkradio.org
BROADCASTING FROM THE ONLY HENNIKER ON EARTH!!!!
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
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Date: Sat, 20 Jun 1998 20:32:38 -0400 (EDT)
From: "D . Hokanson" <hokansod@goldey.gbc.edu>
Subject: Re: Martin Sexton at Lansdowne
Thank you Cindy for the review on Marty at Lansdowne. I am going to see him
next weekend in Philly - both nights. Is anyone else from the list going?
Cindy's review makes me even more excited about seeing him. Its been
about 3 months since last seeing him (Tarrytown, NY). I know 3 songs of
the new ones - The American, Digging You, and The Beast in Me. The Other
two (Station Man, and Beginning (?)) I have not heard of (unless they are
not the titles. I hope he is gonna have the drummer with him for all the
shows -- did he say? His voice is incredible, his guitar playing is
incredible (the comment about sounding like a whole band is true--I
wouldn't have believed there was just one person playing a few times if I
had not seen it with my own eyes). People have mentioned writing not
being the best but I can't understand that -- songs like Black Sheep,
Glory Bound, Freedom of the Road (tremendous). And the new stuff is so
well written also, American, Digging You and a song called "Wasted". He
puts his heart and soul into everything and it comes out in his live show.
Seeing Marty is really an experience -- I just feel so good and uplifted
during his shows -- it is like some spiritual thing. He brings the
audience into his music, you feel what he's feeling. Its cool. Looking
forward to next weekend!!!
Donna
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Date: Sat, 20 Jun 1998 20:32:37 -0400 (EDT)
From: KGJS52B@prodigy.com (MR ROBERT S SCHIEBER)
Subject: MARTIN SEXTON AND OTHERWORDLY THINGS
In Volume 01:2427, Cindy Courtney wrote:
>I am awestruck at the immensity of his talent.
>It's enough to make you believe in a higher power, in miracles, in
gifts
>from the gods.
I feel exactly the same way.
A friend of mine, who was a 95 Kerrville finalist, gave me the proper
Sexton foreshadowing. He said, "This guy's amazing. I got his tape.
Wasn't a finalist, but he tore it up." My friend spoke with awe,
and I found out why.
First saw Martin at Folk Alliance in 1996. How could I forget
sitting in a hotel suite with him playing in front of a backdrop of
pure, white and incessant snow as seen through the window about 12
floors off of the DC blacktop? I certainly was transformed, and saw
someone and something larger, something magnificent. I was a witness.
That's how it felt.
After seeing Martin many times since then, I feel the same way.
Awestruck.
The last time I saw him was here in Nashville about two months ago.
The day of his show I had learned that my Mom had a serious, life
threatening health problem. I was assured by my Dad that I didn't
have to go home to see her or anything, so I tried, with some
difficulty, to continue through the day with life as usual, and
thought the show would do some good.
I talked to Martin a bit before he started, and he asked about her,
expressing concern. A very polite thing to do, of course. The thing
that got me, and I won't forget this, is that toward the end of his
show he did some chanting over a feedback drone. The chanting dug to
the core of existence. Back years, lifetimes, centuries.
A couple of days later, my Dad told me my Mom was improving, and that
the doctors expected a full recovery. Since synchronicity is
something I gently and firmly believe in, I will forever link Marty's
trip yonder to learning of my mother's comeback.
I've been thankful for the chance to see him as many times as I have.
No, I don't think the guy's Jesus. But he has been chosen. The
universe gave him a very, very special gift. Go see Martin.
Cheers,
Robert K. Wolf
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End of FOLK_MUSIC digest V1 #2428
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