From: owner-jangle-poets-digest@smoe.org (jangle-poets-digest) To: jangle-poets-digest@smoe.org Subject: jangle-poets-digest V9 #38 Reply-To: jangle-poets@smoe.org Sender: owner-jangle-poets-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-jangle-poets-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk jangle-poets-digest Monday, April 9 2007 Volume 09 : Number 038 Today's Subjects: ----------------- Re: [JP] t-shirts [Nieldsforever@aol.com] [JP] The Strangelings, Part I of III - Acoustic Cafe 4/7/07 [Nieldsforeve] [JP] The Strangelings, Part II of III - An Unsung Hero (Greg Knight) [Nie] [JP] The Strangelings, Part III of III - My FRFF Faith Is Shaken [Nieldsf] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 8 Apr 2007 12:05:47 EDT From: Nieldsforever@aol.com Subject: Re: [JP] t-shirts In a message dated 4/7/2007 10:11:54 PM Eastern Daylight Time, jpasse@email.uncc.edu writes: > >I don't quite understand the intricacies of festival invitations. It's such > a > >shame that FRFF, which I dearly love, could be so foolish in failing to > invite > >its most passionate and talented advocates. > I don't understand it either. I'm going to comment on this in part III of my 3-part review of The Strangelings. In Part III I'm going to "play nice" -- unlike the Dixie Chicks who say they aren't ready to do that -- but here and only here I'm taking off the gloves. This moment which may never come again is perhaps the only chance festival audiences will get to see the Kennedys brainchild The Strangelings with their pals Chris & Meredith Thompson. I've barely returned from the Strangelings show in Bridgeport, and let me tell you, many, many people in the folk community will want to see what I saw last night. If the "Life Is Large" flame goes out this year, it may be The Strangelings' strange fire that goes out, maybe for good. I can understand nay-sayers' concerns about TK's overexposure at the festival, jamming with TN, with Gandalf Murphy, or guerilla-folk style in the Midway in front of their immensely successful Vintage Clothing booth. People envy that success, and want the Kennedys "out." "Wait your turn, like most everyone else, do as you're told, and by all means, "SHUT UP" with your positive vibes and your FR-embodying gung ho spirit. If we really want the FR spirit, it can be purveyed to us by Katryna Nields, Tracy Grammer, or Eddie From Ohio, who we are sure not to miss at the festival, since they're there not just nearly every year like TK, but every year, without exception." But even if this kind of sniping of the Kennedys were justified -- which IMO it is not-- perhaps, this jibe may not apply at all to a completely different configuration -- The Strangelings. Make yourselves known to the Powers-That-Be, if you so desire. Don't just vent in cyberspace, accomplishing nothing. Like a mind on drugs, The Strangelings is a terrible thing to waste. Falc _Ridge@aol.com_ (mailto:Ridge@aol.com) I'm not in the least bit affiliated with TK, so I don't have to parrot the party line, as others might. So if you strongly disagree with my making this last-ditch effort to salvage The Strangelings at FR, as the Emperor says in Star Wars to Luke Skywalker -- "Give Me Your Hate." Now accepting hate mail at this email address. Even if this is a backfire fiasco by way of attempt, it does not seem likely that TK will be "uninvited" next year as well for FRFF's 20th Anniversary. Vote today Jangle-Poets, or forever hold your peace. Bruce Check out the Kennedys' Official Home Page: http://www.KennedysMusic.com/ Fab photos, the Official tour diary, dashboard Buddha haiku, groovy merchandise...what more could you ask for? ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 8 Apr 2007 17:41:59 EDT From: Nieldsforever@aol.com Subject: [JP] The Strangelings, Part I of III - Acoustic Cafe 4/7/07 Last night's Strangelings show featured the unveiling of their second suite in the second half of the show, and featured the release of the DVD called "The Strangelings: The Nuah Suite," which is their first suite, as recorded at PACE in Easthampton, MA in January. Here is the track listing of the new DVD "The Nuah Suite" -- Nuah Harvest Moon Tanglewood Tree Didn't It Rain Wildest Sea Sarabande in B Minor (Bach) Wayfaring Stranger Chaconne in D Minor (Bach) A Soalin Matty Groves My Lagan Love Anna & the Magic Gown Sirens A Bend in the River The Strangelings are Maura Kennedy (vocals, electric sitar), Chris Thompson (vocals, acoustic guitar), Meredith Thompson (vocals, flute, percussion), and Pete Kennedy (vocals, electric sitar). Here's what they played 4/7/07 at the Acoustic Cafe in Bridgeport, CT -- Nuah Tanglewood Tree Didn't It Rain Wildest Sea Wayfaring Stranger A Soalin Matty Groves Air Anna & the Magic Gown Sirens Nuah (reprise) Rite of Spring (Pete instr. intro) The Mountain Johnny Come Down to Hilo (traditional) Scarborough Fair / Canticle (w/ flute) Season of the Witch Guinevere White Bird (w/ flute) Down Down Down (3-part vocal harmony) The Coo Coo (C&M sang verses 2 & 4) The Mountain (reprise w/ Sumerian ending, as done at the Dave Carter Tribute in 2002 at FRFF) Bend in the River (encore) As at PACE, the show was recorded with 2 video cameras by Maura, so hopefully we may see a 2nd Strangelings DVD made available in the future, documenting the second suite. End of Part I of III. Part II of III is "An Unsung Hero (Greg Knight)" and Part III of III is "My FRFF Faith is Shaken." Check out the Kennedys' Official Home Page: http://www.KennedysMusic.com/ Fab photos, the Official tour diary, dashboard Buddha haiku, groovy merchandise...what more could you ask for? ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 8 Apr 2007 17:42:36 EDT From: Nieldsforever@aol.com Subject: [JP] The Strangelings, Part II of III - An Unsung Hero (Greg Knight) You've heard the expression -- "Behind every great man, there is a great woman." Men often owe their success to women. But it sometimes works the other way, as well -- "Behind every great woman, there is a great man." The great man contributing to the success of Meredith (Thompson) Knight was at last night's Acoustic Cafe Strangelings show, her husband, Greg Knight. Greg has been completely in the shadows and behind the scenes up till now, and I wanted more people to know how important he has been to Meredith, and indirectly to the NE folk music scene as well. "Romance without finance is a nuisance -- " How many great artists have foundered for lack of adequate promotion! No matter how wonderful the music, with insufficient funding, even the best of them can wind up singing the blues - -- "The Thrill Is Gone." Greg Knight, like the Bob Seger song, has always been there for Chris & Meredith, "Like a Rock." Meredith has often described him as "not a musician, but a music supporter." And that he is! It was great seeing him last night, far, far from his home in the Boston area, supporting his wife's band, The Strangelings. I can't say how many C&M shows I've been at where Greg has had to sacrifice his enjoyment of the music, to take care of 2-year-old Carter, their first boy. (Meredith is expecting a second in May.) So financial assistance, funding, and moral support doesn't go far enough to account for the level of commitment Greg has shown to his wife's musical career. He has also had to be babysitter during shows, for about 2 years! Even music supporters deserve and need our support. There must be many stories, just like Greg Knight's, of "women behind their men," or "men behind their women" in the music world, unsung heros, lending invaluable assistance just when it's needed most, a labor of love in the shadows, laboring behind the scenes in obscurity, but making a tremendous difference in making someone else's way a much easier one. End of Part II of III. Part I of III is "Acoustic Cafe 4/7/07" and Part III of III is "My FRFF Faith Is Shaken." Check out the Kennedys' Official Home Page: http://www.KennedysMusic.com/ Fab photos, the Official tour diary, dashboard Buddha haiku, groovy merchandise...what more could you ask for? ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 8 Apr 2007 17:43:23 EDT From: Nieldsforever@aol.com Subject: [JP] The Strangelings, Part III of III - My FRFF Faith Is Shaken Dylan Thomas wrote the immortal words -- "Do not go gentle into that good night... Rage, rage against the dying of the light." I must admit that my FRFF faith is shaken. Word from the Kennedys list is that The Kennedys have not been invited to FRFF and will not play for a second year in a row. In past years, Pete & Maura have "sucked it up," and graciously consented to help out their pals and fellow musicians, The Nields, Gandalf Murphy, Eddie From Ohio. But it's just not the same as getting a mainstage appearance, doing one's own songs for one's own fans. How many acts bring the entire FRFF community to its feet, the way TK did at the Gospel Wakeup Call on the song "Stand"? This year, it sounds like P&M will be laying low, hoping to avoid scenes that have mistakenly led some people to think that TK are "at the festival" every year, and should step aside so that others may get the chance to perform. I don't know of anyone who deserves to be on the mainstage of FRFF more than TK, and I don't know of anyone, the Nields included, who embody the spirit of the festival any better than P&M. They're a class act, and this should've been their year. (Every year should be their year.) I can can only hope that the bridges haven't been burned, and that The Strangelings might yet find a slot, however slender, to play at this year's Falcon Ridge. The Strangelings are this year's "folk supergroup," a bit like Cry Cry Cry, only without the immense star power of a Dar Williams. The Strangelings have a unique look and a unique sound, and are already turning heads every place they play. And if not this year at FRFF -- why not next year? "Do not go gentle into that good night... Rage, rage against the dying of the light." End of Part III of III. Part I of III is "Acoustic Cafe 4/7/07" and Part II of III is "An Unsung Hero (Greg Knight)." Check out the Kennedys' Official Home Page: http://www.KennedysMusic.com/ Fab photos, the Official tour diary, dashboard Buddha haiku, groovy merchandise...what more could you ask for? ------------------------------ End of jangle-poets-digest V9 #38 *********************************