I have so much to write about and so little time. The chronoklepts worked very hard today, it’s 2:16, I like to start writing before 10 and I’m going out tonight. I have no idea how I will every catch up. The one essential step is to start.
Today I finish the Saga of the New Bedford Folk Festival; the literary heir of Moby Dick. I pick up the epic tale on Sunday morning. It’s now 3:06, I lost another hour. This is ridiculous. 3:34 now. Let’s try again.
On Sunday Mike and I had to drive in ourselves as we were leaving straight from the festival. This provided absolute proof that we are good people as we found free street parking just blocks from the Zeiterion Theater. What you didn’t know that good parking is how virtue is rewarded? I thought everyone knew that. As soon as we got out of the car we saw people with guitars, it was Cliff and Louise; not only did we get great parking but we got great company as we walked. I need to write a blog about community; the essence is that the more you take part in an activity the more you get involved in the community around it, and that’s its own reward.
I started the day at the Zeiterion for The Best of Times, the Worst of Times; songs of life’s challenges and victories with Keith Murphy, Amy Speace, Garnet Rogers, and Paul Rishell & Annie Raines. Paul and Annie came highly recommended and I had to check them out. I took advantage of my premium pass and sat in the first row with my benefactress Karen. Paul and Annie were excellent but were not a revelation. Annie is an amazing harmonica player. I can’t bring myself to call it a harp without feeling self-conscious. I know it’s what blues players call it but I also listen to people that play that instrument with the strings that the angels play.
I stayed in my seat for Connla. They are officially one of my bands now. One of them plays the harp. See how confusing it would be if I called the harmonica the harp? More Irish bands should have harps. The harp is the heraldic symbol of Ireland used on its coat of arms. They also have a bodhrán and uileann pipes. Did I mention they are Irish? The only band I know from Northern Ireland. There are plenty more but I haven’t seen them.
Next up was the all-important stop for lunch. Gary had told me that there was poutine to be found in New Bedford. A quick check on Google told me that one of the places that served it was the Greasy Luck, one of the festival venues. I couldn’t resist that. It was not traditional, it was served with pulled pork not smoked meat but it was poutine! I loved it. Pulled pork works.
This worked out perfectly as my next stop was the Purchase Stage which was right outside the Greasy Luck. I went there to see And I Followed My Footsteps: my musical origins featuring Ronny Cox, Brooks Williamson, Kristin Andreassen, Peter Mulvey, and Cliff Eberhardt and to hang with Joe and two of his daughters. The others were with Emily.
That reminds me of something I can’t place chronologically but cannot be forgotten. When I walked by one of the food trucks I saw Cliff and Louise. Cliff ordered a hot dog, that’s fine. He put ketchup on it! I told him that as a Jewish New Yorker I was aghast. I can forgive Louise for not knowing it’s a sin, she’s a gentile from the south, but Cliff is Jewish and lived in New York for 20 years. It shows you what a good person I am that I still love Cliff. And that’s why we got the good parking.
Why do I have any friends?
Why do I have any readers?
That was one of the best workshops I’ve attended. They played off each other so well and made great choices of songs. I was particularly gratified that Joe loved Kristin. I knew he would. He gave her a standing ovation after her first song. She didn’t sing. She didn’t play. She had Brook Williams play the guitar part from the song he had just performed, and she danced to it. She came to music through dance. Ronny Cox’s wife is a PhD in one of the sciences and she wanted him to write a song with intellectual content. So he wrote a song in my favorite genre, silly science, We’re Talking Facts. It’s facts about the solar system. It fits in with Christine Lavin’s Planet X and Mark Allen Berube’s. Higgs Bosong. I want someone to do that as a set. The entire workshop was what a song swap is supposed to be.
When I first arrived in the morning I went to check out the flavors at the Acushnet Creamery stand. They were the same as the day before and I told the young woman there that I’d be back later and order Cookie Monster and Cookies and Cream. After the workshop Mike and I went over to the stand and I told Mike what happened and that she would remember my order. When we got there we were served by her mother but I said, “As your daughter what I’m getting.” The daughter got it right! Now I challenged her to remember for next year. That I’m not betting on.
I had planned on seeing Emerald Rae next but as I wanted to meet with he VanMerc clan Kristin Andreassen was easier, it was outdoors and Emerald in a theater. Kristin’s stage was right out the door from Emerald so I got to see the first part of her set. Emerald is now one of my artists. That’s three I picked up at the festival, Emerald, Connla, and Mile Twelve.
Then I was back to the Purchase Stage to see Kristin Andreassen’s solo set. This time I was joined by Emily and all the kids but not Joe. Once again Kristin was a hit. She wowed every audience she performed for. I kvelled.
We were sitting in the back because of the kids. This way they had room to run around and if they talked weren’t going to bother people. We were not under the tent and that proved fortunate as so many things did this weekend. I looked over at Emily and saw a head of hair I recognized walking down the street. It was Cassie. Cassie wasn’t at the Festival but she lives in New Bedford and she came to meet me for dinner. We didn’t have to search for each other or use our phones because I spotted her. Cassie worked security at the Main Stage at Falcon Ridge last year and me being me and Cassie being Cassie we became friends. She’s getting her doctorate in Math Education; she’s my people. Also as I’m me, we are engaged. As we were discussing that at FRFF, Emily, not Emily from New Bedford, Emily Seth’s fiancée, walked by gave me a hug and said, “Hi fiancé!” I have a complicated love life or maybe no love life but very understanding friends.
Emily and I went to dinner. As we were right in front of the Greasy Luck, a place she likes, and I didn’t have that much time, that’s where we ate. Guess what I had. Yes! You know me so well. I had poutine again. This was my first real quality time with Cassie and it went well. Inviting someone I don’t know well to dinner is outside my comfort zone but it’s something I know is good for me. I’ve been doing it with musicians for a while and now with Cassie. I’m glad I didn’t take the easy route and just grab some grub. Her company was so entertaining that I didn’t run out so as to not miss the beginning of the Celtic Extravaganza, that always closes the festival.
The non-existent gods were with me, I got to the Zeiterion late for the Extravaganza but they started late. I came in during the opening number. The Bourque Emissaires played while Benoir Bourque, Kristin, and Emerald step danced. I could have sat in the first row but instead sat with the VanMerc clan in the back. It’s always as much about the community as the music. The other acts in the Extravaganza were Connla, Musique a bouches, J.P. Cormier, Emerald Rae, and Jeremy Kittel Trio. It’s hard to not have a great time with so many Celtic musicians on stage. It always ends with the artists parading out of the theater followed by the audience.
When I got to the lobby I found Michael, said my goodbyes to everyone else, and we headed home. We arrived at my apartment at 1:30 AM. Home is the sailor home from the sea and the folky home from the festival.
No time now but I have to write about last night’s John Platt’s On Your Radar. I’m off to see the Mets tonight. Some day I’ll catch up.
Wise Madness 