From: owner-jangle-poets-digest@smoe.org (jangle-poets-digest) To: jangle-poets-digest@smoe.org Subject: jangle-poets-digest V11 #4 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, February 8 2010 Volume 11 : Number 004 Today's Subjects: ----------------- [JP] Kennedys / Mike & Ruthy 2/6/10 Newmarket NH [kpalmatier@aol.com] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 07 Feb 2010 23:31:58 -0500 From: kpalmatier@aol.com Subject: [JP] Kennedys / Mike & Ruthy 2/6/10 Newmarket NH Mike & Ruthy (the duo of Michael Merenda and Ruth Ungar Merenda) had come highly recommended to me from Rebecca Hall & Ken Anderson of Hungrytown. So when I found out that they were practically a last-minute addition last night, opening for the Kennedys at Stone Church in Newmarket NH, I was very excited about the opportunity to see them up-close and in person. I was even more excited when Mike & Ruthy (on banjo and fiddle, respectively) joined the Kennedys onstage for 2 songs, "The Coo Coo" and "Matty Groves," just jamming, playing without any rehearsal. "Rehearsal is overrated," Maura Kennedy explained. This combo had all the makings of another folk supergroup. They were really great together. There have been other great-sounding Kennedys collaborations before. The Kennedys duo + Chris & Meredith Thompson duo = the first Strangelings group, what I call the Strangelings Mach I. The idea was to feature 3-part women's harmony vocals, and besides the guitar playing of Pete, Maura, and Chris, Meredith added flute and percussion. The Kennedys duo + Hungrytown duo + Christina Thompson Lively = the second Strangelings group or Strangelings Mach II, who recorded the album "Season of the Witch," first available at Falcon Ridge 2007, and recorded prior to first Cheryl Prashker and then Eric Lee joining the band. Both "The Coo Coo" and "Matty Groves" are on "Season of the Witch." Rebecca Hall replaced Meredith on the women's 3-part harmony vocals, and she did some lead vocals as well. Rebecca & Ken added another guitar and a bass to the ensemble. Cheryl and Eric added percussion and fiddle, respectively. The Kennedys duo + Red Molly trio = the so-called Red Kennedys. They've performed together before, and they're playing a show together again soon, in March. This combo offered many possibilities for women's harmony vocals, added the potential for at least 2 more guitars alongside Pete & Maura's, along with Abbie Gardner's dobro. The Kennedys duo + Mike & Ruthy duo = (insert name here). Mike & Ruthy both sing and play guitar, but last night they were jamming with the Kennedys on banjo and fiddle, respectively. "It's not every day that stars collide..." That's a very apt line that covers a lot of bases, and is quite apropos in this context I think, from Maura Kennedy's solo song "Make It Last." About last night -- Mike & Ruthy -- Rise Something's Got a Hold on Me Coopers (fiddle tune) Covered Beg & Borrow Winder Slide (instrumental) Cool of the Day All the Time Kennedys -- Life Is Large River of Fallen Stars I Found a Road 9th Street Billy Breathe Midnight Ghost Sun Burns Gold Chains Shadows With the Lonely Troika (from Prokofiev's "Lieutenant Kije") Rhapsody in Blue Coo Coo (w/ Mike & Ruthy) Matty Groves (w/ Mike & Ruthy) Wall of Death Chimes of Freedom Easy People (on my set list I wrote "Easy Dude") Fortune Teller Road Alabama Rain (incorporating Beethoven's 5th, Stairway to Heaven, House of the Rising Sun, Bouree, and ending with Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring) 8 Miles High w/ Michael Merenda (banjo) of Mike & Ruthy I was pleasantly surprised by Mike & Ruthy, and I'm in a constant state of wonder and amazement by the Kennedys. Keep on putting on great shows, keep on stoking the fires of wonder and amazement, and I'll keep coming! 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? ------------------------------ End of jangle-poets-digest V11 #4 *********************************