With or without religion, you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion.
The good life, as I conceive it, is a happy life. I do not mean that if you are good you will be happy - I mean that if you are happy you will be good.
Too much sanity may be madness and the maddest of all, to see life as it is and not as it should be.
I enjoy paying taxes. With them I buy civilization.
August 01, 2007 - 6:48 p.m.
This is my third entry about FRFF and I'm finally going to start writing about the music. Today's entry will be on the official program, tomorrow's will be about The Budgiedome performances. After the horizontal rule I'll write about my musical adventures last night and this afternoon.
I went into this Festival thinking it was the worst lineup that Falcon Ridge every had. I was so happy to find out that I was wrong. For the first time in years I discovered new artists that I love. The schedule wasn't perfect. There were still too many repeat performers and the new artists weren't given prime spots but it still was an improvement.
On Thursday night, the poorest attended of the Festival, I made two discoveries; The Glengarry Bhoys and the Lovell Sisters.
The Glengarry Bhoys are a Celtic band out of Ontario. They bring the same energy to their music as Natalie MacMaster and Ashley MacIsaac. As I'm a sucker for Celtic music and woman fiddlers It isn't surprising that I love them. They first caught my attention as I walked down to the Main Stage and they were playing the bagpipe. Did I mention that I’m also a sucker for the Great Highland Pipes? Miranda, the fiddler not only fiddles but like Natalie MacMaster also step dances. They were a jolt of pure adrenaline. I've heard that they can be difficult on a personal level but if you like Celtic music don't miss them.
The Lovell Sisters are three teenagers from Atlanta with classical training that a few years ago discovered Bluegrass. They pretty much charmed everybody that saw them. They are beautiful, they are talented and they are a lot of fun. My only criticism would be their cheerful rendition of Fulsom Prison Blues. They aren't exactly Johnny Cash. Other than that they were right on. I'm putting money on them hitting it big. See when they are playing near you and check them out. I have my tickets to see them at Joe's Pub.
The Thursday night headliner was Marshall Crenshaw. Marshall is extremely talented but not someone I really connect with. I probably should have sat through his set but instead I went up to Budgiedome to set up for the late night music. A great many people seemed to feel the same way as a good portion of the festivalgoers pulled up their tarps before his set. Anne really needs to book a better draw for Thursday next year.
Friday afternoon was the emerging artists showcase. I rarely sit through much of that. I listen from the Budgiedome and as I walk past the area except when people I really want to hear are playing. The clear favorite for next year's most wanted is the insanely talented Anthony Da Costa. He is 16-years-old and is already is already and accomplished musician and songwriter. He knows every song every written. He writes brilliant stuff ranging from the silly to the profound. He plays the guitar like a demon. In the interest of objectivity I should mention his father drafted me onto his publicity team. I have press kits to hand out and I'm not afraid to use them. He is special. I'll be writing more about him in the Budgiedome entry.
The other people I voted for were Zoë Mulford and Sandy Cash. Zoë I knew from SMAF. She's a friend of Iain Campbell Smith's. She grows on me every time I see her. She is never too earnest, she has a nice light touch. Sandy caught me out of the blue. I heard her as I was walking to the WFUV pavilion. I was so taken by her that I went backstage and invited her to play the Budgiedome. Thank you Red Molly for the press pass that let me backstage.
I was going to skip it but I ended up going to the Beatles workshop with The Strangelings, Marshall Crenshaw, Tracy Grammer w/Jim Henry, The Rowan Brothers, Nerissa and Katrina Nields, Richard Shindell, Lucy Kaplansky, The Dust Poets, Annie Wenz, and Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers. I was glad I went. Sure they've done it before but the Beatles are so much fun. Pete and Maura are great at getting everyone to sing along.
Saturday was my busiest day musically. I started early with the 10 AM The Grass is Blue workshop with The Rowan Brothers, Red Molly, and the Lovell Sisters. I couldn't really resist that lineup. I got a seat right down front and took lots of pictures. I deserve special praise for taking pictures of the Rowen Brothers even with six gorgeous woman on stage with them.
I of course couldn't miss the Most Wanted Song Swap with Red Molly, Pat Wictor with Cheryl Prashker, and Ellis. Pat and the Red Molly girls not only great musicians but also good friends of mine. I didn't know Ellis at the time and had only seen her perform at the Falcon Ridge Preview Tour. She holds her own in that tough competition and that's saying something.
I heard some of Mary Gauthier and wish I could have seen more of her. She is a great performer and songwriter. Unfortunately you can't hear everyone at a festival.
I missed her to see the Snacks; the name The Strangelings use when performing a kids show. As the core of the Strangelings is The Kennedys I knew this would be great. I ran into Lisa there and was soon joined by LORi the Steve. Lori went onstage to dance to Air Guitar. Steve somehow resisted the invitation from the irresistible Chris Thompson. I climbed onboard the Peace Train as we danced around the Family Tent. You really can't not have fun at a Kids show with Pete and Maura.
We sprinted from there to see the Dust Poets who are supposed to have a Früvous Vibe to them. Neither Lori nor I saw it. I talked to Cheryl Prashker and she said they really are funny and witty and crazy. Maybe we need to see them in a more intimate setting.
Our next stop was the vaguely named Just Give Me Some Truth workshop. Nobody seemed to know what it was about. I thought they'd play the John Lennon song of that title but they never did. That didn't stop it from being good though. The lineup was Terry Kitchen, Annie Wenz, The Strangelings, Richard Shindell, Lucy Kaplansky, The Stephen Kellogg Six, Mary Gauthier, Eilen Jewell, and Tracy Grammer with Jim Henry. Notice that I tried to not miss the Strangelings.
That evening had good performers who have played Falcon Ridge often. Dar Williams gave one of her best FRFF performances. She was really on. When she does Iowa and everyone takes out their cell phones or something that gives off light and illuminates the hillside it is always special. This time she told us to put our lights away. She then brought out her son and asked us to show our lights. That was pure magic. Lori and I were awash in peace, love, and understanding.
Next was Eddie from Ohio. EFO had played FRFF every year I've been there, 9 years in a row. I enjoyed them but don't get the kick out of them that I used to.
I skipped Lowen & Navarro to set up the Budgiedome. There was no way I was missing the final act of the evening, The Strangelings.
The Strangelings are a folk Super Group consisting of Pete and Maura Kennedy, Chris Thompson, Rebecca Hall and Ken Anderson, Cheryl Prashker and starting Thursday night Eric Lee. Eric is a fiddler that they just met on the hill while on the way to the GFP and the Budgiedome. He is now a permanent member of the band. By chance we were sitting right next to Eric's friends. We were as enthusiastic in our cheering as they were.
I cannot say enough about that performance. It was as great a musical experience as I've ever had. I will remember it the rest of my life. I had heard the Strangelings as a quartet but this was far greater. The songs by the Kennedys felt like they had always been written for a large band. The evoked Fairport Convention but instead of just Sandy Denny they had three amazing singers, Maura, Chris, and Rebecca; and their voices blended beautifully. They are an act that breaks boundaries. It was a folk festival but what they played wasn't folk. With the electric sitar, electric guitars and full drum kit they rocked out. One musician that object to band with drums said, "I’m not supposed to like this stuff but I can't help it. I do." I am quitting my job and Lori is leaving her family so we can follow the Stangelings in concert.
As usual on Sunday I couldn’t listen to that much music. I was too busy breaking down my camp. I really wish I could do that more efficiently. I can hear the main stage from our camp but it is hard to concentrate on it.
I did manage to get up early enough for the Gospel Wakeup Call. It featured the Stangelings so I couldn't miss it. That was not the best scheduling as they were on stage till 12:20 the night before it was a bit much expecting them to play again at 11 AM. Cheryl was up even later playing the Budgiedome with Pat Wictor. They probably didn't finish till about 2:30 if not later. As usual some of the gospel made me uncomfortable with its religious content but it is worth it for the inspirational material of the Kennedys which is pretty much devoid of religion. I cannot feel anything but elation while listening to Stand.
The next music I caught was the Blues is Still the News workshop with Mia Dyson, the Rowen Brothers, and Pat Wictor with Cheryl Prashker and Abbie Gardner.
Abbie wasn't on the schedule so it was a pleasant surprise to see her. I love the blues and don't hear it enough so I really appreciated this workshop. Mia was my last discovery of the festival. She blew everybody away with her performance. You could see the other performers on stage felt the same revelation that I did.
The Festival finale was Arlo. Arlo is wonderful but sometimes one show is much like another. This time I heard five songs I hadn't heard him do before. Of course even when he repeats himself he is worth it. He is as entertaining a performer as you'll every find. He is a consummate musician and is as funny as all hell. He is also amazingly charming. He's someone you just want to sit and have dinner with. He reiterated one of my favorite pieces of wisdom. "There are two kinds of people in the world, those that give a damn and those that don’t." He has become friends with those that cared even though they disagreed on specific issues and is not so friendly with those that don’t even though they had been allies. It is a great truth.
Wow this entry is really long. I was going to write about what I did last night and this afternoon but I'll save that for tomorrow. It was more good music so make sure to come back and read it.
the Batnoses are in First Place by 3 points. I'm starting to sweat.
The International Jewish Banking Conspiracy - October 07, 2008
On the Road to Westchester County - October 06, 2008
Inside the Madison Square Studio - October 05, 2008
I'm a Bosniac and I'm debating like I've never debated before - October 03, 2008
Islands in the Stream of Consciousness - October 02, 2008
Email me: GordonLew at gmail
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 License. Horvendile August 01, 2007
