From: owner-jangle-poets-digest@smoe.org (jangle-poets-digest) To: jangle-poets-digest@smoe.org Subject: jangle-poets-digest V9 #145 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 Tuesday, April 8 2008 Volume 09 : Number 145 Today's Subjects: ----------------- [JP] 1 year later: Fwd: Strangelings III of III - My FRFF Faith Is Shaken [Nieldsforever@aol.c] [JP] 1 year later: Fwd: Strangelings I of III - Acoustic Cafe 4/7/07 [Nie] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 7 Apr 2008 00:30:21 EDT From: Nieldsforever@aol.com Subject: [JP] 1 year later: Fwd: Strangelings III of III - My FRFF Faith Is Shaken On the occasion of the 1-year anniversary of the 4/7/07 Acoustic Cafe show, I want to shed light once again on how it appeared that we would be having neither TK nor the Strangelings at FRFF last year -- from the perspective of one year ago today. "Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning" ! "Imagine the burning embers, They glow below and above; Your sins you won't remember And all you'll find there is love. Ashes are burning brightly, The smoke can be seen from afar; So now you're seeing how far, Ashes are burning the way." - --- "Ashes Are Burning," Renaissance =============================== Strangelings 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? ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 7 Apr 2008 00:26:08 EDT From: Nieldsforever@aol.com Subject: [JP] 1 year later: Fwd: Strangelings I of III - Acoustic Cafe 4/7/07 Before Eric Lee, before Cheryl Prashker, before Rebecca Hall and Ken Anderson, there was the Strangelings show on 4/7/07. This April 7 marks the 1st anniversary of the Strangelings at the Acoustic Cafe in Bridgeport, one of the most important shows I've ever attended, right up there with the Nields' Jam For the Van in 1998 and a few other shows of great significance. 4/7/07 marked "A Bend in the River" for the fortunes of the Kennedys, Chris Thompson, and the Strangelings. Because of Anne Saunders attending the show and seeing the Strangelings at the Acoustic Cafe on that date, the stage was set for the triumphant debut of the 7-piece Strangelings band on the mainstage at FRFF later that year, leading also to their eventual triumphant return to FRFF this coming July. When these 3 reviews were written (the day after the show), the Kennedys were "in limbo" about their FRFF fate, and there was a lot of hand-wringing going on about that in certain circles at that very time. As an editorial note, the 4/7/07 Acoustic Cafe Strangelings show marked the release of the DVD "The Nuah Suite" as well as the Strangelings debuts of "Johnny Come Down to Hilo," "Scarborough Fair," "Season of the Witch," and "White Bird." And as a personal note, they were still playing "A Bend in the River" in those days! ================================ 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? ------------------------------ End of jangle-poets-digest V9 #145 **********************************