From: owner-joni-digest@smoe.org (JMDL Digest) To: joni-digest@smoe.org Subject: JMDL Digest V2014 #838 Reply-To: joni@smoe.org Sender: owner-joni-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-joni-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk Unsubscribe:mailto:joni-digest-request@smoe.org?body=unsubscribe Website:http://jonimitchell.com JMDL Digest Thursday, June 12 2014 Volume 2014 : Number 838 ========== TOPICS and authors in this Digest: -------- 'Hejira' Live at Carlsbad,Robin Adler and the Mutts of the Planet, June 1st. [Anita G Subject: 'Hejira' Live at Carlsbad,Robin Adler and the Mutts of the Planet, June 1st. It's 8771 kilometres, 5450 miles or 4736 nautical miles to travel from nearby Milton Keynes to far away San Diego. Every inch we travelled from our UK home to Carlsbad in Southern California was worthwhile to witness Robin Adler, Dave Blackburn and the Mutts of the Planet perform the extraordinary feat of playing 'Hejira' in its entirety. The compact Carlsbad Theatre, which seats 300, was perfect for the occasion. I couldn't see any empty seats. Steph and I sat about two thirds back, as centrally as possible to get the best location for the stereo sound and, at last, I was able to meet several JMDLers I had never met before and reacquaint myself with others. I was absolutely thrilled to be there! Five o' clock arrived and Dave Blackburn came on stage and talked about 'Hejira' in the context of Joni's career and events in her life around that time. I thought this worked really well and, when Dave called the band and Robin onstage, the crowd hushed and expectancy hung in the air b so, unfortunately, did some kind of hum that was coming through the pa system. I felt for Dave in that moment as one of the band members said 'The hum is back'. I could imagine all the time and effort that, earlier in the day, would have gone in to tracing some tiny electrical imbalance or earth that just wasn't quite leaping some synapse or other. Knowing how much Dave seeks perfection in all things musical, the band started to checked their leads and pedals, looking about and hoping one wiggle or other would shut the hum up. It was a tense moment and I hoped frustration wouldn't get the better of them. When Robin finally said 'Let's go', I, along with many others, breathed out. We were off! Thankfully, the hum was inaudible live as the 'Coyote' riff kicked in. The sound balance was just brilliant. Every instrument from the bass drum upwards was balanced and in sync b and when Robin came in with 'No regrets, coyote' her voice was clear, clean and sitting perfectly on top of the band. It was delightful. Robin was resplendent in white with a long short sleeved orange over jacket and matching orange shoes. Orange seemed the perfect choice of colour in chakra terms, being the colour of the sacral chakra which helps people express emotions without being overly emotional b just what was needed to sing all the songs from 'Hejira'. If you believe in such things as chakras, the orange may have supported Robin when she untypically muffed a couple of words in 'Furry Sings the Blues', but that girl just got back on that horse and came back really strongly on 'Strange Boy'. But it was 'Hejira' when everyone took off, almost as though they were unleashed. It was simply astonishing. Dave played the dark Hejira riff solidly and cleanly over Danny Campbell's expressive and subtle drums and when Kevin Hennessy's broody bass entered the equation, I knew we were into something special. And I was right. Robin ripped into every word, bringing new meaning and depth to the poetry, whilst sitting underneath, quietly and adding texture to the song was the electric guitar of Jamie Kime. Slowly and quietly, Kime's guitar began to climb up in the mix, vividly expressing granite markers, waxy candles and mortality with an overwhelming urgency that began screaming by the end. Applause at the end of his wonderful solo killed any chance I had of hearing how the band resolved into the moody ending that emerged, but I could understand the crowd's enthusiasm for his playing. It was simply stunning. 'Song for Sharon' saw the addition of three backing vocalists, Sheryl Goodman, Mo Mullins, Lisa Hightower, who were wonderfully adept and, again, I marvelled at the sound balance. Their vocals sat exactly where they should and no-one seemed to be straining. 'Black Crow' followed and was my second favourite of the afternoon, with the band winding up as they had in 'Hejira' and Robin allowing herself to do some scatting of which I would have welcomed more! 'Blue Motel Room' was Paz's favourite, saying that he was particularly taken by Dave's guitar style on the song. It was horrible when 'Refuge of the Roads' was being played, simply because the gig was almost over, but reach the end we did. As the last notes faded, the audience leapt as one to its feet and clapped and cheered. An encore or two was inevitable. An unexpected medley from 'Court and Spark' was greeted ecstatically by the crowd and even more loud cheers meant that the band had to perform another song. I personally was delighted when Robin said that she'd like to have another at 'Furry.' Harmonica player Jeffrey Joe came back on stage. I had goose bumps second time around as Jeffrey's reverbed and tasteful harmonica brough old Beale Street echoing in from the past. This gave Robin, Dave and the Mutts the cover of the song in the way they truly wanted and the way the song deserves. The whole event was a triumph. I feel it's highly unlikely I will ever have the chance to witness one of my favourite albums of all time delivered in such a unique way, with musicality, competence, passion, feel and heart. I felt so proud that, through JMDL, I know the people who have brought this all together and, I have to say, a week after the event, I am still marvelling at the achievement. Simply stunning.Somehow, the next day, Robin cooked all us JMDlers and their assorted musician friends a lasagne at her and Dave's house. We sat all day playing and singing music. I looked around the porch at one point and felt so grateful to have had the chance to be part of such an extraordinary and wonderful occasion. Along with 'thanks', the word 'privilege' still keeps crossing my mind. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 8 Jun 2014 01:19:33 +0000 (UTC) From: Anne Sandstrom Subject: Re: my CD is available on iTunes (NJC) Thanks, Anita and Randy. This was truly a labor of love. We learned so much - how to set up our studio, how to use all the equipment, etc. And just after I finished recording all my guitar tracks, I got the Lowden guitar I always wanted, got it home, recorded one track and burst into tears. It sounded so good we had to start all over again. But it was worth it. lots of love,Anne on Jun 05, 2014, Anita Tedder wrote: Yes, I second that. Good luck with it, Anne, Anita > On 5 Jun 2014, at 17:37, "Randy Remote" wrote: > > Congratulations on your new release, Anne ! > I know how much effort goes into producing a CD-I hope folks > will check it out~ > RR > >> Hello JMDLers. Just wanted to let you know that my new CD "Monochrome" is >> now available on iTunes.Look for me by name in the iTunes Store. There >> are 10 tracks, starting with Monochrome, and ending with What For. Enjoy!Anne ------------------------------ End of JMDL Digest V2014 #838 ***************************** ------- To post messages to the list,sendtojoni@smoe.org. 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