New Bedford Folk Festival Part 3: I am going to have to write twice today of fall behind as I did things worth writing about yesterday and will again today. Will I be able to do it? I’ll try to cut this entry to the bone and leave out what I ate and the commutes! Don’t worry, this is really me not an imposter. I’m sure I’ll throw in something stupid to prove it.
Sunday was a great day of music that didn’t always go as I had planned, I called audibles and didn’t regret it. First up was But the Melody Lingers On: Memorable Music and Song with Chris Pahud, Gerry Colvin Trio, Bill Jones, and Low Lily. This was not a highlight; I love Low Lily, like Bill Jones, Chris was OK, and I’m not fond of Gerry. The odd thing about this New Bedford Folk Festival is that I didn’t discover anyone I love. I almost always come away with new acts that excite me. There were at least three last year. I love Bill Jones’ singing, she reminds me of Kate Rusby, but that’s not enough.
Next came the hardest choice of the day. Laura Cortese and the Dance Cards were at the Zeiterion, and the Kennedys on the William Street Showcase Stage. At another time and place I’d stick with Laura as I see them less often than once a year and I see the Kennedys often. But this was not another time and place. I’ve been in a Kennedys dry spell. I can’t remember the last time I saw them do a full show. More importantly it’s at New Bedford and that means they would be joined by the Fabulous VanMerc Sisters, Joe and Emily’s kids. While not blood relations they are still family. I thought of other names for the band. How about the VanMercantile Exchange? The Sisters of VanMercy? Freddie VanMercury?
I made a Solomonic decision and cut the baby in half, I saw the first half of the Dance Cards and the second half of The Kennedys. I knew it would end with VanMercury in Retrograde joining Pete and Maura on Stand.
It isn’t fair how many of my favorite acts are based as close as the Boston area but that I rarely get to see. Laura Cortese and the Dance Cards, Mari Black, Moira Smiley, and Amy Kucharik come to mind immediately. They need to get their acts together and make it to New York. Just noticed that their all women; maybe its my female repelling pheromones. They interfere with my quality of life in many ways.
I’ve only seen Moira once, at a house concert. I was quite taken with her fiddle player, Sumaia Jackson. I didn’t get a chance to talk to her but figured I’d get other chances; I knew she played with other bands too. One of those bands is The Dance Cards. I still didn’t get a chance to tell her how much I like her playing. Maybe she’s responsible for me not seeing Laura more often. I did get to see more than that half set. I also saw them in two workshops. They are as great as I remembered them. Now come and play in New York at a time and place I can get to. I’ll do the merch.
I raced from there to the Kennedys where the VanMercs had saved me a seat. How long has it been since I’ve seen the Kennedys? I had never seen Pete read from his book at a show before. The selection he played was great. I now want to see him play guitar in a dragon costume complete with dragon hands. Want to know what I’m talking about? Read the book, Tone, Twang, and Taste: A Guitar Memoir. As their time ran down Maura said, “We have time for just one more song;” I knew that meant Stand with the VanMercenaries. Then game the body blow; the stage manager said they didn’t have time for another song. I was crushed. But then it was just like the ball rolling past Bill Buckner, and what seemed over, wasn’t. The next act Art Tibbitts yielded them the time for it. Maggie, Cate, Elie, and even little Genevieve ran onto the stage. Last year Emily had to pass her over to Maggie as she was too young to walk onstage and had to be carried. They had an expanded role this year. They didn’t just do the counter melody; they were given an entire verse to themselves. Emily and Joe were kvelling and so was I. That’s always the defining moment at New Bedford.
Next came the toughest call of the festival. Susan Werner was at the Z, Zoe Lewis at the Custom House, and Mike Laureanno at the Purchase Street Stage. I knew I’d be seeing Susan with Dar on Wednesday, tonight, so I thought of splitting my time between Zoe and Mike. But Susan started 15 minutes before they did so I decided to see her. One she started I couldn’t leave. It was perhaps the best show I’ve ever seen Susan do, and that is saying a lot. She was totally on. She displayed her musicianship, songwriting, singing, and wit at their highest level. How often is a great musical performance paired with hysterical humor? She was joined by Radoslav Lorković. I’m never sure if the ć is pronounced as the proper Slavic ch or if it’s anglicized. I say vich because it rolls easier off my tongue. He is also a musical genius on keyboard, accordion, and piano. The pairing added quite a bit to the show. To top it off at the very end Susan and Rad came off the stage. Susan stood on the armrests of a theater chair and sang La Vie En Rose off-mic with Rad beside her on accordion. That brought the house down.
The next choice was easy, even though it meant missing Chris Smither I had lunch with my friend Cassie who lives just a few blocks away. I know her from Falcon Ridge, she’s one of the guardians of the gate, access to backstage at the Main Stage. She’s also one of my fiancées. Don’t give me that look, judge not lest ye be judged. She’s smart, funny, a math person, and gives me access to backstage. How else am I supposed to respond?
We went to the Mexican Restaurant No Problemo. That was no problem. I promised to not talk about the food. It wasn’t what mattered anyway, it was the conversation I was there for. Damn, I forgot the weird funny thing she said that made me say, “that’s why I love you.” Weird is a good thing. That was one of the things we discussed. After we ate she walked me back to the Zeiterion. On the way we saw Susan Werner at the food court. I went over to say hi but couldn’t get a word in edgewise as others kept cutting in front of me to talk to her. I know that might seem out of character for me. It is out of character for me to not lean in, but this is the one situation I let others get their time first. I figure I’d have other chances to talk to Susan. But Cassie stepped in and got Susan’s attention. That’s total role reversal for me. I told Susan that was the best I’d seen her and that if I hadn’t already proposed three times I’d propose again. My imaginary love life is quite complex. The proposing wasn’t imaginary. Neither was her accepting the last time. I believe she’s married, at least partnered, definitely gay, that’s where the imaginary part comes in.
I settled into the Z for the rest of the evening. First up was Americana Flights of Fancy with Pete & Maura, Low Lily, Laura Cortese and the Dance Cards, and Molsky’s Mountain Drifters. I’ve already written about all of them. whew, I can move on.
Then came Songs I don’t Sing Enough with Seth Glier, Antje Duvekot, Chris Smither, and Susan Werner. I got to see Antje and Chris who I had missed before. I got to see Susan again and she stole the show. Seth sang a song and Susan was up next. She started with his melody and then went into Habanera from Carmen. She interjected jokes into the Aria. “Are you videoing this? Yes? Just hit delete now. There are some things the world doesn’t need to see.” Once again she brought the house down. How can anyone be that good?
At some point during the set I moved over to join Joe and the kids on the other side of the theater. The festival as always ended with the Celtic Extravaganza. The performers were Bourque Émissaires, Bon Débarras, Bua, Radoslav Lorković, Kevin Doyle, Low Lily, and McKasson, McDonald, and McLane. That’s a lot of artists, and they have to do a line check to make sure all the mics and instruments are in the system. Lissa from Low Lily won the line check. How? She played the Muppet Show song. Muppets always win. The Extravaganza is always a highlight as they jam and riff off each other. Sometimes they all play together. Sometimes they move seamlessly from one band to the next picking up the same melody and improvising. Sometimes they do individual songs. It’s an enormous kitchen party. There’s step dancing, Kevin is a dancer as are members of many of the bands. This was another opportunity to kvell as Maggie joined them onstage and was given a solo. I loved watching her in the wings trying to figure out when to jump it. She was chomping at the bit. You could see her moving subtly to the music without quite dancing.
Those who stay to the end of the Extravaganza don’t want to leave so Benoit Bourque acts as the pied piper and leads all the musicians while singing and playing off the stage, up the aisle, and out the front door onto the street. This year there was an added bonus. After the closing number ended some of the musicians started to jam right there on the street.
I’ve written so much so I’ll condense the rest of the weekend. Mike and I went back to Gary’s house. I wrote my first blog about the festival. In the morning we had another French toast breakfast that couldn’t be beat. Then Mike and I headed back home. We hit some traffic and to avoid it Google Maps sent us to a scenic and very rich part of Greenwich Connecticut. I got home around three o’clock and Mike headed back home on Long Island.
That’s the end of the Saga of New Bedford which the minstrels will sing for ages. Tonight I’m off to see Dar and Susan at City Winery with Kevin. Plenty of other friends will be there too.
Now I have to eat breakfast then get back to writing. Was I stupid enough to convince you it was really me?
Wise Madness 