From: owner-mad-mission-digest@smoe.org (mad-mission-digest) To: mad-mission-digest@smoe.org Subject: mad-mission-digest V6 #193 Reply-To: mad-mission@smoe.org Sender: owner-mad-mission-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-mad-mission-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk * If you ever wish to unsubscribe, send an email to * mad-mission-digest-request@smoe.org * with ONLY the word unsubscribe in the body of the email * . * For the latest information on Patty's tour dates, go to: * http://www.pattygriffin.net/PattyInConcert.html * OR * go to http://www.atorecords.com * . * PLEASE :) when you reply to this digest to send a post TO the list, * change the subject to reflect what your post is about. A subject * of Re: mad-mission-digest V6 #___ gives readers no clue * as to what your message is about. mad-mission-digest Tuesday, May 14 2002 Volume 06 : Number 193 Today's Subjects: ----------------- MM: Portland ["Don Henn" ] MM: Pulse ["Don Henn" ] MM: my patty week ["Wendell and Linda Boyer" ] MM: Rams Head I ["Don Henn" ] MM: Evil G on Wamfest, Toshi, being dissed by Patty and other rantings [] MM: Rams Head II ["Don Henn" ] MM: Birchmere ["Don Henn" ] MM: Keswick ["Don Henn" ] MM: Charlotte ["Don Henn" ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 13 May 2002 14:50:07 -0400 From: "Don Henn" Subject: MM: Portland MMers , Managed to find all of my set lists , but my memory is shot due to sensory overload , & half of my notes don't make any sense , being up to 3 weeks removed. The "dark side" must have been rallying it's forces against me while I was on the road. From the time I got home until I left , routine tasks took much longer than usual , & new problems cropped up everytime I turned around. Left Pgh about 4 hours later than I expected , & ran into slowdowns & obstacles on the road. Mercury was not only in retrograde , it seemed to be in a tailspin. Finally , after entering MA , the kinder , gentler spirits lifted me and set me down softly at the venue , right in front of Matt & his wife. Set List : Mil Besos Chief Rain Long Ride Home Be Careful Flaming Red / Patty & Doug Poor Man's House / solo Forgiveness / solo Making Pies Carry Me Mad Mission Ruby's Arms Nobody's Crying Encore Tomorrow Night / Patty & Doug Let Him Fly / Patty & Doug Top of the World With a few days rest , & the encouragement of her homies in Maine , Patty was on top of her game. Have to rate it as my favorite show of the tour. Not only knockout versions of "Ruby's Arms" & "Nobody's Crying" , but a "blow me away" version of "Forgiveness" also. I've mentioned before that the encore seemed anticlimactic after hearing RA and/or NC. Not so this time. Maybe it's just that I'm recovering from those songs more quickly , but her sensual delivery of the encore songs was as good as I've heard. She & Doug got spontaneous applause throughout , & Doug's excellent solo at the end of TOTW seemed a fitting climax to a great set. Condolences to Patty & all others who felt the loss of her friend , make- up artist Kevyn Aucoin Night and I go quietly We go softly Screaming all the way Patty Griffin "Night" Don ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 13 May 2002 18:21:14 -0400 From: "Don Henn" Subject: MM: Pulse MMers , A few tidbits that I picked up from Tower Records' Pulse magazine in Somerville , and haven't seen posted yet. ************************************************* Patty Griffin is a perceptive , impassioned Cambridge folkie whose songs seem etched out of a well of Dustbowl pain & despair. Her albums , Living With Ghosts and Flaming Red were chock full of lucid character studies , ( "Change" ) , & rocking anthems , ( "Tony" ) ; Griffin could also conjure a haunting , twilight mood with her spectral guitar playing & sparse arrangements. But ! While 1000 Kisses shows an instrumentally pared-down Griffin still working sad stories , one track , "Mil Besos" , is a beautiful Cuban ballad , complete with romantic guitars , percussion , accordian & a deliciously powerful Griffin vocal. A remarkable performance , this should encourage the usually introverted Griffin to do an entire album of Buena Vista Social Club songs , as her wailing voice & soulful delivery , would give her , & the music , an entirely new audience. Patty Griffin goes from strength to strength , still with the ability to surprise. ~Ken Micalleff ******************************************************** With her voice and her songs , she sheds light on the shadow places , tells the stories of the quietest among us , and breaks every heart in the room with her knowledge of love and its fallout. ~Mary Chapin Carpenter ******************************************************* In a phrase that I'm sure Patty will like , the Boston "Arts/Weekender mag says she will front a "chamber quartet" at the Somerville. Do your dance on my head Heavy steps of the dead Patty Griffin "Falling Down" Don ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 13 May 2002 18:50:47 -0500 From: "Wendell and Linda Boyer" Subject: MM: my patty week hello all, this is jhesi boyer at my parents' house. i've really had quite a week! tuesday i saw Patty on stage in concert for the very first time. (!!!) i dare say, it was nearly a spiritual experience. the Belcourt in Nashville is one of my favorite theatres, and she just blew me away. i was a little worried that i simply wouldn't be able to sit still through Chief or Mil Besos, that my bones would feel the song and would simply have to boogie. luckily, i made it through. barely. the Kiss on the Lips club was present, as someone mentioned before. like the Nashville newbie i am, i simply had to revel in the fact that Emmylou was a couple rows behind me, and Julie Miller rushed past me in the lobby. i met Don, Sanders, Kevin, and Jennifer. these are some GREAT folks. they invited me to Atlanta to see Patty there again the next day, and since i could think of no reason not to, Off We Went. listening to bootlegs and burning Luckies with Don and Kevin was one of the more interesting road trips of my short life. plus, i got to ride shotgun. ;) Patty seemed to be singing a little more emotionally that night, and we found out after the show that a close friend of hers had passed away. i was particularly struck by a funny look on her face as she sang "I remember where I was/when the word came about you/ it was a day much like today..." she absolutely broke my heart with Ruby's Arms, which i was gunning to hear a second night in a row. so like i told Don, i was batting a thousand. :) emotionally drained after two nights of perfect music in a row, (i don't know how you Pattyheads do it!) i finally got to bed about 5am, then woke up the next day to move into a new apartment. the day after that, i flew home to wisconsin, and here i sit for a week. i have been away from my computer, and i would GREATLY APPRECIATE if someone would forward me any reviews of these two shows that i have missed. oh, and if you're one of the couple people who's discs i still have, don't worry, they're on their way soon. and anyone who's bothered to read this far and is interested in a copy of Silver Bell, let me know, i may have a few ideas. :) thanks again to Don for the extreme generosity he offered me. thanks to Sanders for the ticket, to Kevin for the worldly stories, and to Jennifer for the backseat company. I had a blast! with affection, jhesi ps. can anyone tell me what Mike meant when he said i have a porn star name? hmmm..... pps. hey Sanders, would you email me at this address soon? ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 13 May 2002 20:25:30 -0400 From: "Don Henn" Subject: MM: Rams Head I MMers , Attended with Dave , Mr. FlamingRed himself. Got lucky in that the "Happy Hour" snack was tacos. Love them tacos ! Set list : Mil Besos Long Ride Home Rain Chief Stolen Car Flaming Red / Patty & Doug Florida / solo Poor Man's house / solo Be Careful Making Pies Ruby's Arms Mad Mission Nobody's Crying Encore Let Him Fly / Patty & Doug Tomorrow Night Sweet Lorraine I think that "Tomorrow Night" was just Patty & Doug too , but I was apparently having problems b/c my ink color changed in the middle of my note. I'm sure that more of my notes during the tour are incomplete b/c it's difficult to write in the dark w/o missing a lot of the music. "Stolen Car" was great to hear , but it left me wistful for the version from last years Rams Head show , after which I uttered , "take me now Lord , I'm ready to go. " After FR , someone requested "Making Cakes & Pies". Patty seemed amused , & said "who said that" , & announced that she had just gotten a request for "Making Cakes & Pies". A lighter moment. "Florida" is still growing on me. She was about to go into PMH when a fan asked for it , & she stopped & explained how she inherited a stubborn , contrary nature from her father , & has to go against persuasion. Right after Dave suggested anything BUT PMH , the familiar guitar strains started. I had forgotten her confused intro to "Be Careful" at Wamfest until she mentioned it as she introduced it again. Then she wandered a little again & said " there's another really bad intro to this song." After LHF , during the encore , someone in the audience was moved to offer Patty better sleeping arrangements than her bus , but she explained that they were staying in Annapolis , & she had a much better bed than the one on the bus. Ever tactful , Patty then thanked him for his concern : ) Another top- of-the-line show from THE top-of-the-line performer. "Ruby's Arms" & "Nobody's Crying" in the same set always makes for a great show. Isn't it hard sometimes Isn't it lonely How I still hang around here There's nothing to hold me Patty Griffin "Florida" Don ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 13 May 2002 19:27:12 -0400 From: "Gary Jacques" Subject: MM: Evil G on Wamfest, Toshi, being dissed by Patty and other rantings Don, Toshi rocks! Saw her at Newport two years ago and the Tin Angel in Philly a month or so ago. But screw that and the lesbians for a moment. In addition to Patty not playing Ruby's arms which everyone is raving about at the Keswick show in Philly, she also deprived the Evil One of my latest favorite Nobodys Cryin, which I asked her to do for me when we spoke at the Tower records appearance and CD signing. If Patty Griffin can't mange to play one stinking song for Evil when he requests it well... well.... hummm, I guess I'll just have to live with it. LOL! But deep down, I'm seriously hurt. I have shelved the 1000 kisses cd and refuse to listen to it, or recommend it to anyone for 6 hours. Hey Diane! Did your husband fix the computer yet? It's been like a month since you told me you would send my photo. LOL! Just kidding. take your time. Meanwhile, I'm really digging What You Are on Silver Bell. I miss Frank the Bass player. My big toe on my right foot is killing me. And while not a cat person, Harvey my new 1 year old Yellow lab agrees on this point, the cat posts don't really bother me that much. Probably because my good friend and neighbor, Vicki, once was complaining about her cat and I told her to have it killed. She cried. I don't joke about peoples pets after that. I think that covers my bitching for today. EG > MMers , > > Or , as Toshi Reagan called it , Dykefest. > Much of it overtly & outrageously homosexual. > The "Evil One" would haved loved it , as he has > a self-professed soft spot ( no pun intended : ) > for his lesbian friends. Not the greatest Patty > show I've ever attended b/c there was a lot of > talking & singing along , but it was a lot of fun. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 13 May 2002 21:35:59 -0400 From: "Don Henn" Subject: MM: Rams Head II MMers , Attended with Karla , the Mayor of Glenside PA. Didn't get lucky with Karla the way I did with Dave , tho'. Mussels were the "Happy Hour" snack : ( I was talking to Karla about Brian's boots when we saw him across the street. Karla , ever the shrinking violet , yelled across the street , "Brian ! where are your boots ? " after he shrugged his response , she yelled , "you're going to wear them tonight aren't you ? " Getting his assent , we moved on. When he showed up on stage with them , she let out with "Yeah ! , got the boots baby ! " He & Doug both got a big smile from that. Set list : Mil Besos Chief Rain Long Ride Home Flaming Red / Patty & Doug Falling Down So Long Change Be Careful Making Pies Ruby's Arms Sweet Lorraine Nobody's Crying Encore Let Him Fly / Patty & Doug Mad Mission Mary Another great show near the best of the tour. Not only KO versions of RA & NC , but the same for "Falling Down" , which I don't hear very often. Plus ! 2 more songs that Patty doesn't do much lately , "So Long" & "Change". "So Long" was great , with the accordian slow & quiet , supporting instead of competing with , Patty's vocals. "Change" was dynamic as always. Before FR started , I mentioned to Karla that a lot of fans never heard the bluesy opening b/c there's always a lot of reaction when they recognize the words , & realize that it's FR. The reserved crowd at the Rams Head listening room made a liar out of me ; there wasn't a peep until the guitar rhythm picked up. The previous day , when I stood for the encore , no one in front of me was standing , & I turned around. I was the onliest one on my feet ! Didn't deter me from being first up after the encore finished , or this night , though. I mentioned last year that the front section didn't stand up for that show. Must be an awfully blase crowd that frequents there. Don't have any songs marked solo , & I seem to recall that there was one night that Patty did none. Not sure though , could be a mistake On to Birchmere. You can only stand up for so long Stand up for so long So long , then you're gone So long Patty Griffin "So Long" Don ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 13 May 2002 23:09:07 -0400 From: "Don Henn" Subject: MM: Birchmere MMers , A road trip with Dave , his friend Holly , & the amazing Darcie's very own mother , Diane. The most exciting part of the trip was from the 7/11 to Popeye's. Thought it was a straight shot , & never noticed that stupid curb. Dave noticed , but assumed I did too. Slammed down on the frame with a thud.Then just took the back wheels over it too , instead of trying to back up. I must have really instilled a lot of confidence in the ladies for the drive back , hitting the DC beltway & the interstates in the dark at 70mph. I think I have to do that every 5 or 10 years to remind myself that driving takes a high , CONSTANT level of concentration. Set list : Mil Besos Chief Rain Long Ride Home Stolen Car Flaming Red / Patty & Doug Florida / Patty & Doug Poor Man's House Tony Be Careful Making Pies Ruby's Arms Mad Mission Nobody's Crying Encore Let Him Fly / Patty & Doug Tomorrow Night / Patty & Doug Top of the World Don't have any notes or specific memories of the show other than the Birchmere had Really Good Pizza , and that it was an excellent show. Can't say if it was the traumatic curb experience or possibly , the distracting company. Met Gretchen before the show , who said we all looked tired. I disagreed , saying it wasn't us , but her. She was so radiant & bubbly that everyone else must have looked as if they were in a coma. Saw her again after the show , & she seemed cooled down & relaxed , as if she........... um ......er ....... had a good time ! Yeah , that's the ticket ! Met another young lady who was also in an excited state. Talking fast & intensely , saying that Michael's pitch was off , but as soon as Patty joined him , with her perfect f---ing pitch , she pulled him into the right pitch. I had no clue about Michael's pitch , he sounded fine to me , but he does seem to sound better when singing with Patty. She was so sure of herself that I had to take her word for it. Saw her again after the show too , & she was in such a state that it took her boyfriend awhile to calm her down. I recall an old review that said Patty's music was "more pleasant than powerful". Oh , really ? Strange how hard it rains now Rows and rows of big dark clouds But I'm holding on Underneath this shroud Patty Griffin "Rain" Don ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 14 May 2002 00:08:36 -0400 From: "Don Henn" Subject: MM: Keswick MMers , Big crowd at the Keswick Tavern as Dave related. Excellent show despite the lack of "Ruby's Arms" & "Nobody's Crying". "Moses" , "Falling Down" , & "Goodbye" picked up the slack. Set list : Chief Rain Long Ride Home Making Pies Moses / solo Florida / Patty & Doug Flaming Red / Patty & Doug Falling Down Tony Goodbye Mad Mission Be Careful Encore Racin' in the Streets / solo Let Him Fly / Patty & Doug Mary Encore II Mil Besos "Moses " was outstanding. The vocals seemed different , but as good as any version I've heard. "Falling Down" showed Patty's plaintive , soul- piercing vocals as well as any song I've heard her do. Again , the great vocals in "Goodbye". Just a little annoyed that Patty doesn't finish the song with her vocals trailing off. "Racin' in the Streets" seemed to reach me more than usual , with Patty's vocal rhythms closer to what I remember. Overall , the vocals & music seemed to be getting more consistently complementary as time goes on. And I wonder where you are And if the pain ends when you die Patty Griffin "Goodbye" Don ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 14 May 2002 01:07:27 -0400 From: "Don Henn" Subject: MM: Charlotte MMers , Charlotte doesn't seem to be a big Patty town. Got there an hour early , came back 30 minutes later , & was still first in line by 10 minutes.Had a problem with will-call , so I paid the door price to get a good seat. Was a little torn between folding chairs in the first orchestra row below the stage , or first row at stage level a little further back. With 2 openers , I opted for the tables & more comfortable chairs. Went back to will-call between acts & was pleasantly surprised that they took my word for it , & refunded my door admission. Said they had some problem with ticket vendors. Set list : Chief Rain Long Ride Home Making Pies Be Careful Flaming Red / Patty & Doug Poor Man's House / solo Florida / Patty & Doug Mil Besos Mad Mission Ruby's Arms Encore Let Him Fly / Patty & Doug Dirty Old Town / Patty & Michael Fracasso Top of the World Sat with a gentleman who came to see Patty on the strength of her Conan appearance. I told him about my Patty-Deadhead status , & he couldn't seem to understand. I still think he didn't quite believe me. Patty & the ensemble got a big response ( as usual ) in the middle of "Chief" as she finished the most intense part of the vocals , & the music picked up again. They were with her after that. After FR , Patty mentioned ( as before ) that one of the bandleaders duties was to watch her capo ( wrong again ) , but this time she said he was "damn good" at it. "Ruby's Arms" made the night for me , but the big surprise was when Michael joined her for "Dirty Old Town" during the encore. Apparently , Michael had been scheduled to open , but for some reason ( change of venue ? ) was replaced by the 2 others. Patty , of course , has the big heart , & got him on stage for a song with her. I've been remiss in not mentioning Michael's duets with Patty before now. DOT is an excellent song ( not Michael's ) that Michael does well , but the addition of Patty's voice definitely takes it to another level. She joined him on one of his songs ( Save Her Love ) at least once , where she has a bigger role. It's an excellent song w/o Patty , but when she joins in , it reaches the level of most of her own set. Ever since I saw them do it together , ( In Cleveland , I think ) I keep watching for her to come out when he starts it. If I were to decide , I would have Patty & the ensemble finish most sets with Doug's TOTW solo. Great ending. I wish I had known you Wish I had shown you All of the things I Was on the inside But I'd pretend to be sleeping When you'd come in in the morning To whisper goodbye Go to work in the rain I don't know why Don't know why Patty Griffin "Top of the World" Don ------------------------------ End of mad-mission-digest V6 #193 *********************************