From: owner-shindell-list-digest@smoe.org (shindell-list-digest) To: shindell-list-digest@smoe.org Subject: shindell-list-digest V2 #55 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 Wednesday, May 3 2000 Volume 02 : Number 055 Today's Subjects: ----------------- Re: [RS] review [Gf212121@aol.com] Re: [RS] Richard's Review In the NY Times! A Rave! [ptpower@juno.com] [RS] New Member ["Eley, Bill W" ] Re: [RS] New Member [SMOKEY596@aol.com] Re: [RS] New Member [Vanessa Wills ] Re: [RS] Richard's Review In the NY Times! A Ra [ptpower@juno.com] RE: [RS] New Member ["Eley, Bill W" ] Re: [RS] New Member [Tricia9999@aol.com] [RS] The Bottom Line shows... ["Michael O'Hara" ] Re: [RS] The Bottom Line shows... [Vanessa Wills ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue May 02 14:24:46 2000 From: Gf212121@aol.com Subject: Re: [RS] review Hi, The Times review is awesome - almost too good for an outsider. Hmmmm...could 'Ann Powers' really be Ron G's pseudonym? Just asking, Gene Frey ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 2 May 2000 16:09:47 -0700 From: ptpower@juno.com Subject: Re: [RS] Richard's Review In the NY Times! A Rave! Damn! I continue having trouble with my Ctrl-C and Ctrl-V keyboard commands, so . . . Richard Shindell: A Shaker-Style Voice, With Songs to Match By ANN POWERS Occasionally an artist has a night that makes even skeptics think, "O.K., maybe he is the best." Richard Shindell achieved this on Thursday at the Bottom Line. The essentials all fell into place -- his set list highlighted only strengths, his voice never wavered and his band flawlessly accentuated his songs. The inevitable folkie moment, the trite joke or earnest comment that demands a cringe, never arrived. What does it mean to say a singer-songwriter is the best? It's pointless, given folk's idiosyncrasies. High standards can be a handicap; a little shagginess combats dull gentility. Mr. Shindell is so literary that his ballads would go straight into The New Yorker if they were prose. Such skill can often be deadening. But Mr. Shindell demonstrates an invaluable gift as a songwriter: a genuine absence of ego. His most idyllic lyrics do not feel forced because he tempers their poeticism with a conversational tone. Characters like an immigration officer grilling a suspect or a nun changing a tire can express profundities because they have a plain side, too. The combination gains depth through his artfully straightforward baritone, the vocal equivalent of Shaker furniture. His melodies are just as beautifully unadorned. Mr. Shindell's humility allows for ambition. Like two other "best" singer-songwriters, Bruce Springsteen and Lucinda Williams, he dwells on big, often difficult moments in the lives of ordinary people. By staying with them even as he flies into metaphor, he maintains equanimity. His extra vibrancy on Thursday came from a band that he should try to keep. It might be impossible because its anchor is Larry Campbell, a guitarist in Bob Dylan's constantly touring troupe. Mr. Campbell's contributions on guitar, bouzouki and mandolin were as modestly stunning as Mr. Shindell's songs. The bassist, Lincoln Schliefer, and the drummer, Dennis McDermott, provided the rich, dark hues that lent nuance to the landscape. This ensemble plays on Mr. Shindell's new album, "Somewhere Near Paterson" (Signature Records), which is reason enough to buy it on sight. If he could grab a slot on a television show like "Sessions at West 54th Street" with this ensemble, he might become a better-known "best." ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 2 May 2000 16:23:43 -0500 From: "Eley, Bill W" Subject: [RS] New Member Well, I held out as long as I could (due to being on too many lists already). I just saw Richard in Houston for the first time a few months ago (just before the release of "Somewhere Near Patterson"). In fact we were privileged to be able to buy that CD at the show before its official release. Today, listening to that CD for the millionth time, I read Charlie Hunter's fascinating article on Richard's new record deal, and I finally decided that R.S. was someone I *just* had to keep closer tabs on. Although I own most of the other CD's, it finally hit for me when I finally saw him live (as often happens). Sounds like the recent shows with the band from the CD were too good to be true. The Houston show (with Kate Campbell) was his first appearance in Texas outside of Kerrville (which took me by surprise), although I'd been looking for him for the last couple of years. And, Smokey, I see you're here as well! I look forward to much interaction with what I'm sure is an interesting and diverse group of people. Bill Eley Houston, TX ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 2 May 2000 17:35:10 EDT From: SMOKEY596@aol.com Subject: Re: [RS] New Member Bill! Welcome to the neighborhood! :-) SMOKEY ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 02 May 2000 17:40:59 -0400 From: Vanessa Wills Subject: Re: [RS] New Member "Eley, Bill W" wrote: Welcome, Bill! And no worries--I had *fun* seeing Richard with the band, but I still say as true transcendental experiences go, nothing beats Richard solo, just the man, his guitar, and a couple songs. :-) Glad to have you aboard! :-) Peace, Love, and Mischief, Vanessa - -- "Bright lights flashing/ To cover up your lack of/ Soul many people so many problems/ So many reasons to buy another round/ Drink it down/ Just another night on the town." --G. Love and Special Sauce, "Rodeo Clowns" ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 2 May 2000 17:39:37 -0700 From: ptpower@juno.com Subject: Re: [RS] Richard's Review In the NY Times! A Ra Sorry for duplicating Karl's efforts with the NY Times article . . . I sometimes move too quickly for my own good. Pat ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 2 May 2000 16:56:48 -0500 From: "Eley, Bill W" Subject: RE: [RS] New Member I think it's a neighborhood I need to be in, regardless of prior commitments. >Peace, Love, and Mischief I love that expression. May I steal it for use elsewhere? And I think Smokey will attest to the fact that we're certainly capable of all those things! I will, however, continue to peruse the archives to find out what I've missed before you hear much from me again. Except for my one-person campaign to get R.S. back to Texas on a regular basis. Bill > -----Original Message----- > From: SMOKEY596@aol.com [SMTP:SMOKEY596@aol.com] > Sent: Tuesday, May 02, 2000 4:35 PM > To: shindell-list@smoe.org > Subject: Re: [RS] New Member > > Bill! Welcome to the neighborhood! :-) > > SMOKEY ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 2 May 2000 18:39:46 EDT From: Tricia9999@aol.com Subject: Re: [RS] New Member In a message dated 05/02/2000 2:26:35 PM Pacific Daylight Time, Bill_Eley@AIMFUNDS.COM writes: > The Houston show (with Kate Campbell) was his first appearance in Texas > outside of Kerrville (which took me by surprise Kate and Richard in one show. Amazing...almost too much. Both such wonderful songwriters. Tricia ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 02 May 2000 19:38:54 -0400 From: "Michael O'Hara" Subject: [RS] The Bottom Line shows... Hey Everyone! Richard and the band were incredible at The Bottom Line. Nothing beats that man...period. Having never seen Richard live before, I was struck by how passionate and intense he is when he sings...it completely matches the intensity of his lyrics. And that guitar playing!! As soon as I got back to Toronto, I picked up my guitar and tuned that sucker to DADGAD...RonG...I need some private lessons!! :) To all the wonderful people I met...you guys are some of the nicest fans that any artist could ask for! Richard is extremely lucky to have you on his side. Especially considering that if he didn't deliver the goods, he would been staring down the barrel of a pistol!! (Long story...but some of you know what I'm talking about!!) Anyways...thanks to everyone from the list for being so warm and friendly to my mother and I. We had a wonderful time... Michael ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 02 May 2000 20:17:39 -0400 From: Vanessa Wills Subject: Re: [RS] The Bottom Line shows... Bill Eley wrote: <> Sure--I stole it from Sting a couple years ago, and I've pretty much run with it ever since. I love it--it's like the recipe for a perfect world--happy, yet never boring. :-) Michael O'Hara wrote: > To all the wonderful people I met...you guys are some of the nicest fans > that any artist could ask for! Hey, I'm still getting over the fact that you travelled 20hrs. round-trip to get there! You go, boy! ;-) And it was great meeting you, as it was awesome meeting all the Richard-listers there, particularly those I'd only "virtually" met beforehand. > Especially considering that if he didn't deliver the goods, he > would been staring down the barrel of a pistol!! ROTFLOL--OK, that guy was definitely a little sketchy. Couldn't have been the same guy I saw *headbanging*, could it? Pat wrote: > Eh, who cares? It's the thought that counts. :-) Peace, Love, and Mischief, Vanessa - -- "Bright lights flashing/ To cover up your lack of/ Soul many people so many problems/ So many reasons to buy another round/ Drink it down/ Just another night on the town." --G. Love and Special Sauce, "Rodeo Clowns" ------------------------------ End of shindell-list-digest V2 #55 **********************************