From: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org (ecto-digest) To: ecto-digest@smoe.org Subject: ecto-digest V9 #81 Reply-To: ecto@smoe.org Sender: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk ecto-digest Monday, March 24 2003 Volume 09 : Number 081 Today's Subjects: ----------------- Re: US-Canadian border (Fwd: Veda News) ["Stuart Craig" ] RE: Vienna / Terami - Global Village Cafe 3/21 ["Phillip Hudson" Subject: Re: US-Canadian border (Fwd: Veda News) My wife and I are Canadians living in Massachusetts. We have had a couple of problems with the INS in the last few months relating to our work permits. The renewals of both of our work visa's (TNs) were initially turned down. They were much pickier about the details of our applications this year than even in the months following Sept. 11th. Visiting the US or Canada only requires proof of US or Canadian citizenship as you say, but *working* as a performer is a seperate matter. This, not mere entry, but obtaining permission to tour in a country where they don't have citizenship, sounds like the problem faced by the Nields. Stu >From: Michael Curry >To: ecto@smoe.org >Subject: US-Canadian border (Fwd: Veda News) >Date: Sat, 22 Mar 2003 11:29:51 -0500 > >At 09:40 PM 3/21/03 -0500, meredith wrote: > > > >Of course, this is all assuming the rules don't change again, suddenly >and > >without warning. :P (Nerissa and Katryna Nields were unable to cross >the > >border into Canada this morning, because all of a sudden you need more >than > >just a driver's license and birth certificate to get in. They had to > >cancel their entire Canadian mini-tour. Eeek.) > > According to all of the official sites (US and Canadian), with updates >since the war started, and associated news articles from papers in Buffalo >and Detroit (where I'll be crossing next week) over the past few days, you >still just need the driver's licence (or other government issued photo ID) >and birth certificate if you're a US citizen. So, I don't know hat the >heck happened to the Nields. Has anyone here on ecto crossed the border >recently, >and can report on their own experience? > > > >Michael _________________________________________________________________ Add photos to your e-mail with MSN 8. Get 2 months FREE*. http://join.msn.com/?page=features/featuredemail ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 23 Mar 2003 07:08:28 -0600 (CST) From: "Mitchell A. Pravatiner" Subject: Border It could be that persons going into a country to engage in business activities (which would, in effect, include professional performers) would require special visas. It could also be that Canada, feeling beleagured by the perceived economic power of other countries in general and the US in particular, may have unusually rigorous visa requirements in this regard. Mitch ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 23 Mar 2003 08:41:09 -0800 From: "Phillip Hudson" Subject: RE: Vienna / Terami - Global Village Cafe 3/21 What else can I add to Bill's review except a few choice adjectives like 'transcendental' and 'riveting' ? Well, plenty, but as most of you have probably heard many descriptions of both performers' music, I'll talk about some other aspects of the show instead. In truth, Terami and Vienna are both amongst my very small group of 'extremely favorite' artists, so they could have both been up there banging out "Oh Suzanna" on banjo and tub bass, and I would still have been deliriously happy. As it was, they left the banjos out (oh well, maybe next time?) and lavished upon us two very powerful and passionate sets performed on their chosen instrument. The audience, an SRO house, was incredibly silent, an almost church-like, anticipatory atmosphere during the songs. I recall during some of the most inspired peaks in both performances, that I was actually forgetting to breathe, but I don't think I was alone, judging by the way the whole room seemed to exhale simultaneously at the end of some of the songs. Standing outside, one could probably have watched the windows bulge out momentarily. The fact that the place had a full bar made this (the silence, not the window-bulging) even more amazing, noting other venues like the Hotel Utah, where parts of Vienna's performance there were often drowned out by some raucous activity at the bar. A very thoughtful touch is the Cafe's policy to serve food and beverages only before the sets or during breaks, and (thank you so much!) no screaming espresso machines during the music. The result was like being in a small, quiet theater. The halogen drop lights above the small stage (accidentally) reflected a full-size image of the keyboard onto the ceiling above the performers, so you could actually see what their hands were doing. Both Vienna and Terami spoke openly about their songs and experiences between songs, something I greatly enjoy at a show. It's nice to learn more about a song you love; how it came about, or by whom it was inspired, and being offered little insights and peeks into the writers' lives. Both performers are extremely gifted at speaking both candidly and openly, just like a living room conversation with some good friends. The conversations were largely humorous, both women sharing a witty, wry and modest sense of humor, and even when they turned to more serious topics there was no discomfort on their part, or the audience's, just a greater feeling of empathy and understanding for the person and the song. Vienna's story behind "Say Uncle" was especially poignant; the sudden departure of a much-beloved relative and her first experiences of bereavement as a young adult, leaving the song unfinished until she could add parts of the music played at her uncle's funeral service into the middle break. She also offered lovely insights into "Lullaby for a Stormy Night", telling us it was written for herself at age 17, and that "Anna Rose" is now twelve years old. Terami's story of a friend who decoupaged a favorite chair, covering it to "heal the bruise" of an abusive relationship was also very touching and revealing ( the song name momentarily escapes me; it's late/early right now). These experiences are the little diamonds and nuggets we don't get just by listening to the album or reading the liner notes, or even the reviews. You just have to be there. Fortunately for many of us, they are both on tour right now. Go see them if you can. Phil http://www.viennateng.com/high/music/shows.html http://www.terami.com/shows.htm ------------------------------ End of ecto-digest V9 #81 *************************