| No. | Title | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Better Days | |
| 2. | unknown song | "With My Baby?" |
| 3. | Goodwill | |
| 4. | Funny Fellow | |
| 5. | Small Dark Movie | |
| 6. | Treat Each Other Right | |
| 7. | Rexroth's Daughter | |
| 8. | Poor Backslider | |
| 9. | Spring Wind | |
| 10. | Blues Go Walking | |
| 11. | Preachin' the Blues (Son House) | |
| 12. | River Will Take You | |
| 13. | Hey, Baby, Hey | |
| 14. | A Christmas Memory (Truman Capote) | Performed in spoken word |
| 15. | I Shall Not Be Moved (encore) | W/ Pieta Brown |
Reviews
| Review No.: | 1 |
| Source: | VA |
| Last updated: | Saturday, March 05, 2005 |
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I know this is a little delayed, but I have been out
looking for my Christmas spirit, or doing Christmas stuff and hoping it will find me. It"s good that there a 12 days of Christmas, because I'll probably catch up eventually. It has been such a tough year for the world, and this country, and my friends, in particular, that I find myself arguing with God, or whoever a lot, which slows me down for other stuff. As Graham said, the concerts were amazing, intense, beautiful....well, just a great Christmas gift. Friday night: When I hopped on line, Graham was already there, and we could hear a sound check in progress, Rexroth's Daughter, sneaking out through the closed doors. Then, the sound of a electric guitar that had to Bo Ramsey, and then the plaintive, bluesy sound of Pieta Brown, and didn't we smile? Graham and his friend busied themselves arranging for equipment to tape the show, while we reminisced about the Boulder show last year, and agreed that it was a shame it wasn't taped, since it really was prime. We listened to the guy at the door who sometimes recites long stories in verse of the Robert Service ilk, and in due course we filed in. Graham was seated twice as close as I was, so he no doubt has a different perspective on the concert. But I was happy in the second row, where I could sprawl around while I waited for my little crew to show, which they did just as the lights dimmed. And on with the show........ Pieta gave an even better performance than she did last year. She's more poised and her singing is stronger and more varied in approach and pacing. Of course, she was well supported by Bo's guitar, and occasional backup vocals. It's kind of a challenge for anyone to open for Greg Brown, the audience can get restive pretty quickly, no matter who is up, but she really had us early in her set, and she and Bo seemed to be enjoying themselves, too. After a little break, during which time we moseyed down to the cafe in the basement, it was time for the main event. Out came Greg Brown and Bo Ramsey, and in Greg's hand, a (be still our hearts) sheaf of paper in his hand. NEW SONGS!!!!!!!!!!! And he pulled up a chair and spread his papers about in front of him, and began to play and sing while his papers periodically jumped to the floor and scattered themselves about. Considering how life has been going, a song whose hook is "I've Seen Better Days" seemed like the perfect beginning. "With My Baby" is a pretty love song of the happy and contented sort. As Graham said, nice to hear this again. " Back to the Goodwill", which has been mentioned before, had a bit of a story having to do with re-finding and still liking your former stuff. "You're a Real Funny Fellow" is a song I would hate to deserve. "We Got So Evil", you all already read the lyrics, so you know it about covers that which is making us all hold our head in our hands a good part of every week lately, sound is dark and dirty blues. Other highlights, Rexroth's Daughter, this time as sort of a reverie. Spring Wind, more beautiful then ever, even though it's December. And of course Bo, through it all, providing amazing support and, now and again, a solo that knocked us out. Alas, and also, alack, in spite of Graham, Paul and their wives best efforts, the show was not taped after all, guess they weren't allowed to plug in. so we all have to hope sometime those new songs will be performed again...... OK, now for the fashion report. I'm putting it at the bottom so all of you guys who don't care about it can stop reading now. Bo was Bo-like, in his SOP hat,boots, brown pinstripe coat and jeans. Glasses of the Buddy Holly genre, near as I could tell, because the hat was as always low over brow. Pieta: top, sleeveless black jersey with cream ribbon trim at jewel neck, crystal beads, tan jeans, brown boots. Great hair cut. Pieta's Dad? Well then, (and don't think I haven't noticed you're still reading, you scorners of the fashion report) charcoal suit, maybe a double-breasted vest over black sleeveless workout shirt, brown cool shoes, a brown fedora, artfully out of shape AND plain old glasses very practical specs, not shades. Extremely stylin' yet comfy looking....... Saturday: This night Pieta's and Bo's set was better yet again, more energetic and confident, with some lovely additions, such as My Old Dress and Pass You By. After a break, Bo and Greg on stage: Greg again performed sitting down, this time beginning with Dylan's Lovesick, a dark, driven, desperate rendition, as it should be. So, then, Hey Dog Woman (if that's the name) was an interesting follow up but I guess if you start with Lovesick you've got to lighten up or who knows what might happen, stage might explode from sheer intensity. And Dog Woman was a fun, silly, randy kind of song, including snarls, growls, barkings etc, and THAT was followed by an ethereal version of Sleeper, and a wandery performance of Think About You. My daughter was pleased as could be when Greg sang two of her favorites. And, as I mentioned before, the encore, I Shall Not Be Moved, became a singalong, which was quite fun, although I think some folks were still too mesmerized to join in very effectively, or we are just a bunch of weeny singers here in Denver. (Only other Greg Brown singalong I can remember was one year at Folksfestival during Speaking in Tongues we provided the Uhhh Uh Uh Uh Uh, Uhhhhs.....quite a privilege!) And, sad, it was over, BUT, this time, I understand, a tape was made,sooooooooo, maybe you'll get to hear all that singing, and growling and snarling etc. with your own personal ears. I'm leaving out all kinds of stuff, but perhaps Graham or Laura or anyone else who feels like it will add to the story. I would love to read it. I'll send this out and see what happens. So Merry Christmas. Hope we get what we are asking for, a sane, kind world, and lots more great music, etc. VA |
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