Josh Ritter Opening for Joan Baez at Lisner Auditorium. October 25, 2003

Josh Ritter's Set
I am not sure of the title or words to Josh's first song. I seemed to hear: Peter said to Paul, you know all those words we wrote - talking to God…-Paul said to Peter you have to ride yourself a little harder - got a girl in the war - turn up the music and hope she makes it through - the keys to the kingdom got locked in the kingdom - If they can't find a way to help her they can go to hell
Kathleen - all the other girls are stars, you are the northern lights
Wings - This is the song Joan Baez covers on her new CD - Mystical, Dylanish in the best sense - I don't know where I am, hearing this song, but it is where I want to be...
There's one thing momma you should know it's not love that makes the flowers grow
Snow is Gone
Lawrence KS (Can't Leave the World Behind)

Joan Baez's Set:
Rexroth's Daughter by Greg Brown
In My Time of Need - by Ryan Adams
Deportees by Woody Guthrie
Joe Hill
Joan shares that when she was in 9th grade and was reading the Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire she told her mom, mom this could happen to America. Mom said, yes dear… Well Joan tells, I think the serious descent started 2 years ago. This is her most political statement of the evening - she sings Christmas in Washington by Steve Earle
Farewell, Angelina
Cabel Mayer by Gillian Welch and David Rawlings
Motherland by Natalie Mercant - Joan shares that this song is her mother's favorite song on the new CD
Finlandia
Jessie
There But for Fortune - Phil Ochs
Johnnie Cash song…
The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down - the audience sings along - I remember singing in the car to when this song got frequent radio play
Elvis Presley Blues by Gillian Welch and David Rawlings - Joan says Elvis and Jimmy Dean were the 2 who got away "I would run for miles" (for them) - and she dances on stage
Reunion Hill by Richard Shindell
Jerusalem by Steve Earle
Encores
The Lilly of the West
Gracias A La Vida
Diamonds and Rust - "my poetry was lousy you said" - "you jerk… I'll take the Grammy"

I count about 8 little girls in the audience (I notice 1 in our row and 1 right behind and I start counting others). I don't see any little boys. I wonder, what is it about Joan Baez that parents bring their girls to her show in this formal theatre late at night? So years later their little girls can remember seeing a legend and true heroine of our time?
- posted by NSP_MD @ 11:42 PM

 
Greg Trooper and Brooks Williams at Cellar Stage on October 17, 2003

Sitting behind us are Greg Trooper fans, Carol, Bob and Amanda. They can't believe he is the opening act. They tell us they were recently at the New Song Festival where they saw Vance Gilbert, Johnsmith and Last Train Home (the band that played at Amanda's wedding). I've been listening to Greg Trooper song samples from his web sit, and now really anticipating the show based on the enthusiasm of the fan behind me.

I have come to this concert because some years ago Dar Williams praised Brooks Williams. I have heard his music on CD's but this is my first live show.

Joyce shares that she and Tony had a "wow" reaction to the first Brooks Williams CD they heard. And more recently they had the same "wow" reaction to Greg Trooper.

Greg's set includes:
Lucky Like That
The Road is so Long
Floating - hauntingly startling beautiful and horrible
The Hummingbird
The Meaning of Christmas - a song that impressed Steve Earle. This is one of my new favorite Christmas songs (right up there with Cry of a Tiny Baby by Bruce Cockburn) - If Steve Earle, who has a song Joan Baez admires, likes this song that says a lot. By the way Steve Earle is on the Tell Us the Truth Tour). See http://www.tellusthetruth.org/ for more information.
Ireland - about a girl from Brooklyn
Encore
Straight Down Rain

Yes, Greg Trooper deserves a "wow". He CD is great, and his stage presence and performance is powerful. Like the folks behind me, I want to see much more of Greg Trooper and to see him headlining a show.

Brooks Williams - who write lovely songs so many singers I know cover - and a incredible guitar picker
HIs set begins with a guitar solo
Great Big Sea
We Were Dancing Beneath the Stars
I Wish You Could Receive Half the Grace You Show
Frenzy at the Feeder
Faces of Light
Forget About Him - Brooks invites a colleague in the audience to join him onstage - Kristin Kunhardt adds harmonies to this song and the next
Late Night Train
- posted by NSP_MD @ 11:49 PM