From: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org (ecto-digest) To: ecto-digest@smoe.org Subject: ecto-digest V12 #48 Reply-To: ecto@smoe.org Sender: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk ecto-digest Monday, February 20 2006 Volume 12 : Number 048 Today's Subjects: ----------------- Today's your birthday, friend... [Mike Matthews ] Dar Williams and others [Ellen Rawson ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 19 Feb 2006 03:00:03 -0500 (EST) From: Mike Matthews Subject: Today's your birthday, friend... i*i*i*i*i*i i*i*i*i*i*i *************** *****HAPPY********* **************BIRTHDAY********* *************************************************** *************************************************************************** ******************** Joel Siegfried (no Email address) ******************** *************************************************************************** -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- - -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Joel Siegfried February 19 Penguin Crossing Linda Saboe Tue February 20 1951 aimless Teresa Ross Wed February 23 1977 pisces Michael Curry Fri February 24 1967 Pisces Paula Shanks Mon February 25 1952 Pisces Brni Mojzes Fri February 26 1965 the vanishing boy Mark Bianchino Wed February 26 1964 Pisces Pamela Pociluk Fri February 28 1964 Pisces Marius Voina Mon March 03 1980 Pisces Peter Clark Thu March 04 1948 Pedestrian Tim Steele Fri March 08 1963 Pisces Matt Bittner Thu March 12 1964 Pisces kIrI Hargie Fri March 13 1970 Pisces Bob Dreano Thu March 13 1958 Pisces Randall K. Smith Sat March 15 1969 Pisces Jessica Skolnik March 16 Pisces Patrick M. Kingsley Sat March 17 1962 Yin/Yang Alan Sodoma Thu March 18 1965 LuckyLurker Richard Konrad Sat March 18 1944 Pisces Daniel Wed March 18 1959 Wednesday's Child Barry Wong Thu March 19 1970 Merlin Graham Dombkins Fri March 19 1965 Pisces Ian Young Wed March 19 1969 Squiggol Jeff Wasilko Wed March 19 1969 Pisces - -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 19 Feb 2006 06:28:42 -0800 (PST) From: Ellen Rawson Subject: Dar Williams and others Sorry, Adam, I've neglected to update here on the gigs I've attended recently. :) I started to write back to you, and then I thought I might as well write to all of Ecto! I was very, very tired after the Dar show. I managed to catch an 11.39 train home (despite running right from the Borderline, due to the just missing a tube train and having to wait a while for the next one, I missed the 11.00 PM train), and rail delays kept the 11.39 from arriving at Southampton Airport Parkway, where my car was parked, on time. I didn't reach home until 2.00 AM. That 6.00 AM alarm clock was a shocker! Discovery: Bex Marshall. She's an English blues guitarist whose voice and guitar style can be compared quite favourably to women such as Ellen McIlwaine and Susan Tedeschi. Her voice also might remind some people of Melissa Etheridge as well. Good guitar, good voice. Too bad she wasn't selling her CDs; it was a Rounder Europe merchandise table. And yes, the Rounder Europe rep was told to recommend signing this woman. Soon. Anyway, she was the local opening act and wasn't bad. Too bad the guys in the sound booth didn't realise she was starting right away and kept playing a CD in the background for the first minute or so. She didn't introduce herself until the very end. It was my first time seeing/hearing Alana Levandoski, and I have high praise for her. I left with her CD, just released in Europe, in tow. Good stuff! (What is it with Winnipeg women? We recently caught the Wailin' Jennys and their lovely harmonies as well. Two of the Jennys are from Winnipeg, with the third hailing from Montreal.) I'd seen Lynn Miles before, both in Denver and in London -- at that very Borderline club, as a matter of fact. One time at the Borderline she was on a double bill with Bill Morrissey and played to maybe 30 people. It was quite sad; she deserved a bigger and better audience. Last night was far better for her! Last night probably was the strongest Lynn Miles I'd seen thus far on either continent. Dar also was strong last night -- and MUCH better than when I saw her open for Richard Thompson in August. Back in August, she seemed visibly nervous, sang a new song that actually sounded off-key, etc. I was worried for her. I didn't get to see her then since the Lyric Hammersmith is very formal and she wasn't selling any merchandise. Here's the setlist from the Borderline.. 1. Christians and Pagans 2. Close to My Heart 3. Teen for God 4. After All (by request, and, yes, I was the one on the stool by the bar calling for it :) (Dar asked for requests, btw.) 5. Are You Out There? 6. The Blue Light of the Flame 7. Empire 8. The Babysitter's Here 9. Wilder than Her 10. Mercy of the Fallen 11. Beautiful Enemy 12. When I was a Boy Encore: February Alas, with four artists on the bill, there was only time for one encore. Dar had joined Lynn and Alana on-stage earlier for Alana's cover of Neil Young's 'Helpless'. Much better than her opening act for Richard Thompson indeed! The Borderline show was the last night on this tour, and I think they were glad to wind it up. However, I also think they were happy. All three of them commented on what it was like touring with other women instead of with men; it sounds as if they had a ball and really took care of one another. Dar also had her husband, son and mother-in-law with her. (Her mother-in-law was serving as a babysitter until she broke her leg in Amsterdam.) Perhaps having all of them with her aided her confidence. Dar does tend to sound better live than on recordings, that August gig being an exception. Other shows? We liked the Wailin' Jennys so much we caught them twice on their UK tour -- first in New Milton, in the New Forest, and last week (I was on half term) at the Borderline. The New Milton show actually was better in terms of length. The Jennys headlined a four-act show at the Borderline. (The first act apparently arrived late and missed it, and the other two acts really weren't anything to write home about: Claire Toomey's songs reminded me of the songs I wrote when I was in high school, which is rather unfortunate for her, and my husband thought Society would be better if the lead singer would just admit he wants to sing country. ;) In New Milton, there wasn't even an opening act, so we had more time, more songs, more intimacy, etc. We made it to Richard Thompson's show in Basingstoke in late January. His opening act there was Jeb Loy Nichols; I hadn't realised that Nichols had left the US for Wales a few years ago. News to me. Last night was Kodo in Basingstoke. Not Ecto at all, although there are three women in the group now. Amazing drumwork, though! Upcoming: June Tabor (Basingstoke) in April), Janis Ian (Fareham -- Gosport Folk Fest) in April. I'm not sure what else. Ellen "Literature stops in 1100. After that, it's just books." - -- JRR Tolkien ------------------------------ End of ecto-digest V12 #48 **************************