From: owner-shindell-list-digest@smoe.org (shindell-list-digest) To: shindell-list-digest@smoe.org Subject: shindell-list-digest V5 #160 Reply-To: shindell-list@smoe.org Sender: owner-shindell-list-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-shindell-list-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk shindell-list-digest Friday, August 1 2003 Volume 05 : Number 160 Today's Subjects: ----------------- [RS] Now Take My Folkie...Please [RockinRonD@aol.com] [RS] Re: shindell-list-digest V5 #159 [SHOE4347@aol.com] [RS] OT...Please help a RS loving bichon.... [Openingstar@aol.com] [RS] Re: shindell-list-digest V5 #158 [RG959@aol.com] [RS] Dar and Richard debate [adam plunkett ] Re: [RS] Dar and Richard debate [ThisWasPompeii@aol.com] [RS] stories and songs [Norman Johnson ] Re: [RS] Dar and Richard debate [Sean La Roche ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 1 Aug 2003 08:34:38 EDT From: RockinRonD@aol.com Subject: [RS] Now Take My Folkie...Please With regard to Dar's on-stage intro banter, I sincerely believe that if the woman didn't become a touring folksinger she could easily have made a living as a stand-up comedian. She has a wit and spontaneity on stage that is decidedly rare, even among the most intelligent and seasoned songwriters. In my view, only Cliff Eberhardt is as naturally funny. I still laugh to myself from time to time when I think of things Dar has said or done on stage, even as long as five or six years ago. To be sure, Richard has a dry sense of humor and his intelligence and professionalism has afforded him a much improved stage presence of late. I would venture to say that he learned a great deal about pithy stage banter and wry observances about the songwriting life and such from the divine Ms. Williams, whose stories, even in repetition, never cease to amuse. In the end, isn't it their affable personalities, apart from the brilliant songwriting, that make us love them all so much? Hearing their stories often makes us feel as though our relationship with them transcends somewhat the basic performer and audience dynamic. At least, I like to think so. From Richard: "Isn't the 'business of folk music' an oxymoron?" Hee Hee. The Other Ron ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 1 Aug 2003 10:32:51 EDT From: SHOE4347@aol.com Subject: [RS] Re: shindell-list-digest V5 #159 Are you Happy Now? I love to relish in the pity of my marriage crashing about the same time I heard that song and discovered RS. My ex got the house and pumpkins too. Happy Halloween, baby. John ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 1 Aug 2003 11:20:14 EDT From: Openingstar@aol.com Subject: [RS] OT...Please help a RS loving bichon.... To make this a legitimate post...my 13 yr. old bichon, Sammy MOE was permitted to attend a concert at Yale Divinity School w/Richard some years back after obtaining permission from the person running the show and Richard through someone at his record company. Sammy MOE, also an RS fan is in a contest and needs your vote. Sammy's # is 289 to vote AND...you can vote daily. It says...I CAN SEE...and he is accompanied by the eye surgeon who treated him for glaucoma. PLEASE pass along to your friends. Many thanks,hugs & tail wags, Bonnie & Sammy MOE BICHON IDOL Photo Contest Weekhttp://www.bichonfriseusa.com/idol/smilesabound.htm http://www.bichonfriseusa.com/idol/smilesabound.htm ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 01 Aug 2003 16:06:47 -0400 From: RG959@aol.com Subject: [RS] Re: shindell-list-digest V5 #158 Gene wrote: <2) Folksingers that do NOT do this are clearly the exception 3) I, for one, like to know what is behind the song. If a singer is just going to get up there and pound out 70 minutes of songs, with an occasional Framptonesque 'Thank you' every so oftern, I may as well stay home and listen to a CD. 4) Finally, Dar's songs do, in most cases, have deep meaning or inspiration, both for herself and her fans. So do Richard's, and Dave Carter's, and John Gorka's, and so on. Not so much for Celine Dion or Justin Timberlake, perhaps. > Gene, I agree with you, and really I am not trying to fan flames here, but there is a line between self-importance, and humility. Richard doesnt seem to have to go on and on about the meanings of his songs. Ellis Paul doesnt. Dar really stands out to me when she does it... RG (Randy Gish) ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 1 Aug 2003 13:20:04 -0700 (PDT) From: adam plunkett Subject: [RS] Dar and Richard debate Here is my take on ths subject, this is not meant to flame, just an opinion: Richard Shindell is one of my favorite folk singers. I have become very picky over the years and he is on a small list of performers that I follow seriously (others include Garnet Rogers, Greg Brown, Kelly Joe Phelps, Chris Smither, Jeffrey Foucault so far, Patty Larkin, Gillian Welch and Dan Bern, up til recently) When I first came to this type of music, "Mortal City" was a popular selection on my local folk radio station. I bought it immediately. I haven't really liked anything since but it remains one of my all-time favorite CD's. Better, I think, than anything Richard has released - that is not a knock, I love his albums. I agree with those who have said that Dar's music sounds more boring now....just personal opinion. With that said, her live solo set at Newport last year was great. But then again this is the same guy who doesn't like Lucy Kaplansky, John Gorka, or the Nields - three of the most sucessful acts out there. As for explanation of songs, I find when artists explain songs it to be interesting but not neccessarily imperative. One reason I think Shindell is onem of the best songwriters is that his songs are multi-layered and can have multiple meanings. Lastly, on the topic of favorite Shindell song: I can't pick just one so here are a few: Are You Happy Now(cause it was my first exposure to Richard) Sparrow's Point (favorite war-related song) Transit (one of the grestest works of lyrics I know of) __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free, easy-to-use web site design software http://sitebuilder.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 1 Aug 2003 16:34:01 EDT From: ThisWasPompeii@aol.com Subject: Re: [RS] Dar and Richard debate In a message dated 08/01/2003 3:20:46 PM Central Daylight Time, adam_plunkett@yahoo.com writes: > One reason I think Shindell is onem of the best songwriters is that his > songs are > multi-layered and can have multiple meanings. > > Exactly. Long explanations tend to shrink the song down to one dimension. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 01 Aug 2003 16:38:35 -0400 From: Norman Johnson Subject: [RS] stories and songs Randy RG wrote: >> Gene, I agree with you, and really I am not trying to fan flames here, but there is a line between self-importance, and humility. Richard doesnt seem to have to go on and on about the meanings of his songs. Ellis Paul doesnt. Dar really stands out to me when she does it...<< One of the major reasons that I go to see Dar again and again is precisely because of her stories. I've heard the songs before. I have the albums. And in many cases, I've gained an appreciation of Dar's songs (as well as Richard's, or Dave and Tracy's, or Lucy's) through the stories that they tell. If anything, I'd like to hear more stories from Richard. The ones about his flight from hell a couple years ago were the highlight of the show. Norman ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 01 Aug 2003 14:57:37 -0600 From: Sean La Roche Subject: Re: [RS] Dar and Richard debate For me the thing about Richard in concert is to be able to see/watch him closely--either from the front of the house or with some damn opera glasses from the cheap seats. Because--his communication with his audience--beyond the poetry and music of his songs--is in the slight shrug of a shoulder, the slight lifting of an eyebrow or maybe even a slight smile. And I haven't seen Richard perform since June of 1998 at The Ark in Ann Arbor, Michigan. As I once said about Dar--and I will NEVER stop seeing her this way-- "she dances naked in front of the mirror as when she was three..." My favorite song of hers is "The Night Sal's Burned Down", but that's because of a particular line I relate to. And Richard: I love "Beyond the Iron Gate". For me it is the most musical of his arrangements--like Larry Campbell co-wrote it or something--and it probably says, for me, all a nice seminary boy like Richard can ever say spiritually without losing his ticket to ride in the religion game. Sean La Roche adam plunkett wrote: > > Here is my take on ths subject, this is not meant to > flame, just an opinion: > > Richard Shindell is one of my favorite folk singers. > I have become very picky over the years and he is on a > small list of performers that I follow seriously > (others include Garnet Rogers, Greg Brown, Kelly Joe > Phelps, Chris Smither, Jeffrey Foucault so far, Patty > Larkin, Gillian Welch and Dan Bern, up til recently) > > When I first came to this type of music, "Mortal City" > was a popular selection on my local folk radio > station. I bought it immediately. I haven't really > liked anything since but it remains one of my all-time > favorite CD's. Better, I think, than anything Richard > has released - that is not a knock, I love his albums. > I agree with those who have said that Dar's music > sounds more boring now....just personal opinion. With > that said, her live solo set at Newport last year was > great. > > But then again this is the same guy who doesn't like > Lucy Kaplansky, John Gorka, or the Nields - three of > the most sucessful acts out there. > > As for explanation of songs, I find when artists > explain songs it to be interesting but not > neccessarily imperative. One reason I think Shindell > is onem of the best songwriters is that his songs are > multi-layered and can have multiple meanings. > > Lastly, on the topic of favorite Shindell song: I > can't pick just one so here are a few: > > Are You Happy Now(cause it was my first exposure to > Richard) > Sparrow's Point (favorite war-related song) > Transit (one of the grestest works of lyrics I know > of) > > __________________________________ > Do you Yahoo!? > Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free, easy-to-use web site design software > http://sitebuilder.yahoo.com - -- Sean La Roche 505/262-2969 New Mexico laroche@swcp.com ------------------------------ End of shindell-list-digest V5 #160 ***********************************