From: owner-mad-mission-digest@smoe.org (mad-mission-digest) To: mad-mission-digest@smoe.org Subject: mad-mission-digest V9 #94 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/PattyInConcertDB.php * 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 V8 #___ gives readers no clue * as to what your message is about. * Also, PLEASE do not quote an entire digest when you reply to the * list. Edit out anything you are not referring to. mad-mission-digest Tuesday, May 10 2005 Volume 09 : Number 094 Today's Subjects: ----------------- MM: NPG, life in a schwing ["Paul Russell" ] MM: Patty articles ["Luca, Joseph \(EHS\)" ] MM: Anyone have an extra Carrboro ticket? ["Joey Eckstrom" ] Re: MM: NPG, life in a schwing [Oldrancocas@aol.com] MM: The Orpheum - Boston ["Donald Henn" ] MM: Webster Hall - NYC ["Donald Henn" ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 09 May 2005 11:26:29 -0400 From: "Paul Russell" Subject: MM: NPG, life in a schwing hey ya. ****slightly patty related***** Okay, since like thousands of you went to this Patty Griffin shindig in Boston over the weekend, and yet no one even starts to write a review about it....at all...then I'm going to regail manly stories of my manly past. And I don't even care if I spell "regail" correctly or not. Or any other word for that matter. Just remember. It's yer fault. What happened to this group? It used to be real lively like a live well. ******not even a mention of patty griffin********* Okay, so being old and fat and lazy and living by myself or with significant others the past several years, I had absolutely forgotten the horrors of new roommates. I have recently acquired two roommates to live in a house. It's got a pool, and I brought my fully stocked bar, so those shrimp are definitely going to be boiling on the barby. FLA can be nice sometimes. Just when you think one thing shocks you, something comes along and does it right again within a week. Situation one: I was sitting around in the morning drinking some tea, getting ready to start the day. The usual early morning stuff. When the owner of the house comes in and has just awaken. Everything's fine right? Well, he says something about making coffee. Which neither registers here nor there. Then he opens two drawers muttering something about a can opener. But it didn't dawn on me that he couldn't find a can opener until he TOOK MY PARRING KNIFE OUT AND STARTED OPENING A FREAKING TIN CAN WITH IT. Previously, I had used that knife for things like tomatoes, limes for the Coronas, etc. When I realized it was actually my knife being used for this (I studied the blade and handle and I was like "that's gotta be my knife) I scrambled around looking for my own can opener. Meanwhile he's sawing away telling me not to worry about the can opener. I could hear the screams from the knife (help me!). What the heck is he telling me not to worry for??? It's my knife that he's SAWING METAL with. By the time I found the can opener and shoved it in front of his face, he was about 80% done with sawing off the top of his can of coffee. Looking down at the jagged tin can, I just sighed. He actually looked at my can opener (while continuing to saw) and studied it for a second. Then he says "You pay too much for that" and continues to saw away. What???????? Okay whatever. Situation two: Okay so you pass a few days thinking that was pretty shocking and that's it right? No way! I've got another for you. The OTHER roommate and I were sitting around the kitchen and it was like the evening hours, you know? He's mixing some sort of weird healthfood concoction because he's on this totally organic/natural craze. Hey, to each his own. I don't care about that. So, he's done eating strawberries by dipping them in FREAKING FLAXSEED OIL which I had originally thought was honey.... but no it wasn't. And now he's making some sort of weirdo drink. No alcohol at all. I couldn't fathom it. How does one go through the day without some sort of nipping on down to the pub?? Oh but get this, this is where it gets interesting. He's mixing the drink with a spoon (he's using one of my spoons by the way....we have our own different drawers but we can use each other's stuff). Okay so then he licks the spoon clean while he's talking to me face-to-face. Big ol tongue doing a one-up, then a one-down the spoon. Slurp slurp. Tastey. Then he goes to the sink and rinses that bad boy off. Then he PUTS IT BACK INTO MY DRAWER WITH THE OTHER SPOONS. No soap. No sanitization. That huge-ass tongue of his must be pretty freakin sterile. Uh, note to self: When using my utensils, be sure to pick the third or fourth down, then treat the ones on top as used and wash them to be on the safe side. I had assumed that once that college thing was behind you, roommates wouldn't do things like this. How wrong I was. These people are older than I am, so they must be pretty ding darn old. Okay, back to your regularly scheduled program. Peace, love, and vegetable rights. Paul *************************************** * * She said you got too many notes in your * song, far too many notes in your song, son. * Never occurred to me, to just write the C. * Just tryin to find the beat. Wouldn't it be * sweet? If I could just find the beat. * * --"See it Clear" by David Dundero * *************************************** ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 9 May 2005 15:27:25 -0400 From: "Luca, Joseph \(EHS\)" Subject: MM: Patty articles Howdy--- I found (finally) a review of Patty's Boston show. It's from the Herald, and it's available here: http://theedge.bostonherald.com/musicNews/view.bg?articleid=82157 There was also a preview article from last week: http://theedge.bostonherald.com/musicNews/view.bg?articleid=81844 Re the show: I thought that Patty was in an excellent mood, and seemed very happy and confident and playful. As Don and others had reported following earlier shows, it was delightful to see Patty dancing around...it seemed a wonderful juxtaposition from other tours where she seemed so much shyer... I loved that "Ruby's Arms" made it, and as the opener, no less. What I found kind of odd was that there was not even one song from LWG or FR. What she played was lovely---it was wonderful to hear so many new songs---and she was in fine voice. Anyone else find it odd that she didn't reach back farther than SB? My other complaint was the sound---I was sitting about 12 rows back, in the center orchestra, and found that Patty was overshadowed by the band, particularly the percussion. It was especially difficult to hear her speak. It was still a terrific show that flew by far too fast. I'm looking forward to seeing Patty at the Boston Folk Festival in September. Ciao, Joe ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 09 May 2005 21:32:33 +0000 From: "Joey Eckstrom" Subject: MM: Anyone have an extra Carrboro ticket? Hello, I am desperately looking for tickets for the Carrboro, NC show. If anyone has an extra ticket and will be at the show, I will gladly pay you for it! Thank you, Joseph. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 9 May 2005 17:28:56 -0400 From: John Bernhard Subject: MM: Boston show She had been paying TONY earlier on tour, so I was expecting something from the first 2 records. But the new material was wonderful and I can' t begrudge Patty for moving forward, even if I don't get to hear some of my old favorites. The drummer was a bit too loud at times compared to the rest of the band....I felt this was happening last year too, and while this is better, the problem still exists when the band gets playing louder. Everything is sweet and beautiful on the softer songs but when the band rocks it sounds like a bad mix. Part of the problem when you are up front and center is you don' t get alot of sound from the stacks of speakers on the side. I was in row KK and had a similar experience. It's a trade off at almost every venue that when you are up close you don't get the best sound, but you sure can see real good! Perhaps the most surprising thing ( next to Patty's' niece singing every word to USELESS DESIRES a few seats away ) was when bass player JD kicked over his stool during one song as he was so into it....in an acoustic rocking out sort of way. John B ( who taped the Boston show and will be offering it up very soon ) ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 9 May 2005 20:45:41 EDT From: Oldrancocas@aol.com Subject: Re: MM: NPG, life in a schwing Paul, Oh oh oh... how I have missed your rantings. This board has been so f-ing boring. I have been tossed 4 times since you last visited and all because you were not here to take the heat off. Welcome welcome welcome back. EG ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 09 May 2005 21:16:05 -0400 From: "Donald Henn" Subject: MM: The Orpheum - Boston Boston seems like ages ago already , & I probably lost the mental connections with my notes , but I'll do the best I can. Got there early , & wasn't staying , so I got to the meeting place 3 hours early. Was talking to my barstool neighbor Skip , when John Higgins & Melissa came in , & Nicole showed up a little later. We pondered how to recognize others , & I volunteered to walk about the place holding up a bag of M & M's. Did it a few times , & didn't get any takers , but got a lot of strange looks , including an apprehensive one from a waitress , who asked , " can I help you ? " Saw someone else finishing off his M & M's , approached , & added Michael to our group. Had lively discussion , & headed for the show with Skip in tow , who we talked into joining us ; ) Set list : Ruby's Arms / piano / solo Wade in the Water No Bad News When it Don't Come Easy Useless Desires The Long Ride I'm Crying Over / solo Free / solo The Kite Song / piano J'irai la Voir un Jour / piano / ( solo? ) Silver Bell Love Throw a Line Standing Top of the World Making Pies Encore Tears of a Clown Getting Ready Icicles Falling 2nd Encore Peaceful Valley / solo So , in Northampton , I was right in front of Patty when she was at center stage , & at Boston , John & I were right in front of her when she was at the piano. Never been that close to her at the piano before. What more could I ask ? I'll tell you , " Ruby's Arms " , solo at the piano. I was expecting " J'irai " , & a number of fans recognized RA before I did , with a smattering of applause as she began. Seemed a little more whispery than usual , at the cost of some of the great tonal quality which helps make it one of my favorites , but it WAS Patty Griffin , & it WAS " Ruby's Arms " & I was delighted. Wasn't even disappointed that it apparently replaced " J'irai ". Getting used to the changes in the ID songs , & hope Patty plays RA enough for me to get used to that. Being elderly : ) , I have more resistance to change than most , & I have the idea that if an already great song is changed , chances are not good that it will improve. But if that's part of Patty's great creative process that also keeps knocking out great songs like NBN , " I'm Crying Over & " Peaceful Valley " , I'm all for it. I did like the drastic changes in " Go Now " & SB. When Patty did " J'irai " later , again dedicating it to her mother for Mother's Day , & added TOTW , it made the set list my easy favorite for the tour. Didn't recall that " J'irai " was solo , b/c I was so wrapped up in it , But someone else listed it as such , & I think it's right. Thought it was as good as any show so far , but again , my perceptions were probably colored by my great seat ( and the setlist ). I was enthralled watching her at the piano , seeing how involved she got in those songs also. With her shoulder dipping occasionally , as she was feeling the music , & often closing her eyes. Didn't take many notes , & anything not there is gone now. She said at one point that " this sure beats putting on an apron , & working at the Pizzeria Uno " . For the uninitiated , she worked there when she was in Boston , starting out. Also mentioned that she was thrilled to be at The Orpheum , where she had seen many great shows. That was the biggest indoor crowd I've seen , with a packed lobby full of buzzing fans. We're movin' on up : ) She also poked a little fun at the New England accent by calling it the aw - fee - um once. Heavy accents seem to be fading as we homogenize , but there was a barkeep in Ellsworth with one , & I loved hearing her say Bah Hahbah , ( Bar Harbor ) which is nearby. Forgot to mention in any earlier posts , that Patty had her mother in mind when she wrote " Burgandy Shoes " , & said something about them waiting for a bus together in the cold. Missed Skip after the show , so we didn't get his take on Patty. The rest of us stopped after the show for a few hours , finishing up with a pizza before we went our separate ways again. Another great show , & great night on the Patty tour. I did not design this game I did not name the stakes I just happen to like apples And I am not afraid of snakes Ani DiFranco " Adam and Eve " Don ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 10 May 2005 00:18:58 -0400 From: "Donald Henn" Subject: MM: Webster Hall - NYC Strolled a few blocks in downtown D.C. between the reviews for a touch of the spirits ,to calm my frazzled nerves after 2 outof 3 rough days. More on that as I continue. Thought I was going have an easy night drive to Philly to pick up Karla , but didn't get out of Boston until around 2 ,& ran into a driving rain. Rough drive , got there about 7 , & conked out on her couch until 2PM. Missed the right exit heading for NYC b/c the sign was not close to what I transcribed from Mapquest. After that it was a comedy of errors , including taking an exit off of 95 , apparently going the only way possible , & finding ourselves back on 95. I was starting to worry that I might , for the first time , miss a Patty show that I was planning on. Worse yet , Karla was with me , & I had Lisa's ticket , but we got to the hotel with little time to spare. After what we had just been thru , no way I was going to drive into the city. $ 72 for the 5 mile drive in , $60 for the drive back. I shudda stayed at the Hilton :) Finally showed up at the venue shortly before the doors opened. Luckily , Lisa ran late too , got there a few minutes before us , & was in the very long line. Problem was , it was the ticket line. After standing there for 10 min or so ,we were informed that we could bypass it , & enter. Whew ! Set list : J'irai la Voir un Jour / piano / solo Wade in the Water No Bad News When it Don't Come Easy Useless Desires The Long Ride I'm Crying Over / solo Free / solo Up or Down / piano The Kite Song / piano Silver Bell Love Throw a Line Standing Top of the World Making Pies Encore Tears of a Clown Getting Ready Icicles Falling 2nd Encore Peaceful Valley / solo After sitting right in front of Patty for 2 shows , I had to STAND , 2nd line back , in front of Doug. Poor , poor me : ( Karla was happy , tho , b/c she likes Doug , & threw a suggestive remark at him , about what " All Access " meant on the backstage pass plastered to his pants leg. Not sure he heard. Patty was delighted with the raucous crowd , & said so early on. I think it was something like ; " right now , you make me glad I'm me ". Also said that , while she likes theaters , seeing a standing crowd was much better. Apparently , the raucous standing crowd works for her , b/c she was in " the zone " , & delivered what was , for me , her best performance of the tour. There was some occasional throbbing sounds coming from the club below , & they didn't distract me , other than just noticing them. Patty was focused on the music , & I was focused on her. Have 2 illegible notes on the setlist b/c I was too distracted to pay much attention to anything outside of the music & the setlist. Everything was top of the scale , & her great , apparently flawless performance of " Peaceful Valley " lifted it onto my 'A' list of her new compositions , along with NBN & " I'm Crying Over ". " Up or Down " & " Free " haven't made it yet. While the Boston crowd was responsive , & got her out for 2 encores , there were 1700 people there. The NYC crowd was much moreso with their smaller numbers. Michael's Charanga Cakewalk also got a big response , compared to the tepid one in Boston. Lisa had to go home , so we walked her to her train , met up with Karla's friend Bobbi & friend 'Nando ( Fernando ) at the Hilton bar. Discussed going to a dance venue , & did , thanks to my persistance. I was wired & ready. I would have been dancing at the show for " Tears " & GR if it wasn't so crowded , & there wasn't a little ledge up front , covering the wires , I guess. Went to the Webster Hall site , after I bought tix , & noticed the " no boots " , " no sneakers " & " dress code will be enforced " lines , & went out & bought myself a pair of regular shoes , not taking a chance on being denied entry. " NO BOOTS !!! ". Lisa said she had called , & that the dress code was only for the downstrairs club. So when we were out after the show , every time I looked at my dufus shoes , I felt like a dufus. Didn't dance long , but got it out of my system. Spent Sunday afternoon in NY , & headed back to Philly. Hope Patty appreciates all of our sacrifices to see her perform. $130 for a cab , Karla got blisters wearing her sandals , & worst of all , Lisa , who I've been to many NY shows with , is damned to eternal hellfire for going on the Jewish Sabbath : ) And its hard to be free And freedom is just me And the waves on the terrible sea Patty Griffin " Free " Don ------------------------------ End of mad-mission-digest V9 #94 ********************************