From: John Ladwig To: ddb@ing.com Subject: Minicon music review (long) [forwarded from Laurel Krahn] Date: Fri, 9 Jun 1995 11:09:36 -0500 A spiff Minicon30 music review; could you drop it in to the Web tree somewhere, at your convenience? -juan *content content content* ------- start of forwarded message (RFC 934 encapsulation) ------- From: lakrahn@iw.net (Laurel Krahn) To: jladwig@soils.umn.edu Subject: Minicon music review (long) Date: Thu, 8 Jun 1995 15:43:33 -0500 Sorry I took so long to get this sent back to you! Been busy and sortof forgot about it sitting in the musty corner of my mailbox. Feel free to put it on the Minicon web page, credit it to me. You can link to my web page if you'd like (http://www.iw.net/~lakrahn/) or to my email address (lakrahn@imho.net or lakrahn@iw.net). Or not at all! :) gotta run... minicon music review/rundown/ramble follows... - -laurel - ---------------------------------------------- Alright, here we go, an attempt to summarize, and review, the music I encountered at Minicon 30 in Bloomington, Minnesota. The first music I encountered at con, was at Dark Star Cafe'. Dark Star is a nifty place where coffee is served and featured two rooms where bands/musicians could play. This year, Dark Star was up on the 22nd floor of the Radisson South. I was doing a convention wander on Friday afternoon, when I spotted two of my friends up on stage in one of the Dark Star rooms. Turned out that they call themselves "East Dakota." But I know them as Kurt Griesemer (guitar, vocals) and Andy Anda (mandolin, fiddle). Caught the last half of their set. They did a couple of originals, mayhaps. As well as Jethro Tull's "Locomotive Breath," Moxy Fruvous' "The Drinking Song" (yay!), Indigo Girls "Closer to Fine" and a Toad the Wet Sprocket b-side ("All She Said" I think is the name, I always get it confused...)... Was fun, neat to see them playing together, and to hear 'em do a bunch of songs in a row (as opposed to the usual runs around music circles). Sounded very nice. Later on Friday night, it was time for the Gallowglass reunion show in Dark Star. They were playing one room at 11pm, while the Flash Girls were playing in the other room. What to do? Well, I figured one doesn't get many chances to see Gallowglass since Ken moved to Portland-- so I grabbed a chair in the room early. Caught about a half hour of Peggy O'Neil's set, which was mellow and pleasant enough. The room was packed to capacity (and then some) when Gallowglass took the stage. Gallowglass is an acoustic irish trio, featuring Lojo Russo on mandolin and vocals, Ken Larson on bodhran and vocals, and Michael Matheny on guitar and mandola. (tho they sometimes play electric and such, and not always irish). It was a raucous set... They opened with "Queen of Argyll" which made me very happy. And proceeded to do "The Auld Triangle," "500 Miles," "Johnny Jump Up." and other fine songs. By request, they played "The Town that I Loved so Well" in honor of Mr. C's (the old Minicon consuite, now remodeled... sigh...). It was fun. Shortly after midnight, Lojo said "hang on, we gotta go do something, we'll be right back"... the band ran out of the room (with their instruments) and soon The Flash Girls showed up in our room. They swapped stages! I didn't mind, as I hadn't seen the FGs in ages and some of the crowd followed Gallowglass so we got a bit more air ventilation in our room. The Flash Girls, for those of you who don't know, are Emma Bull and the Fabulous Lorraine Garland. Emma sings and plays guitar, Lorraine fiddles and sings. They do quirky folk and trad stuff. Many songs written by Bull and Garland, as well as some by Neil Gaiman, Jane Yolen, and that "trad" guy. The FG's did an instrumental (i forget which), "Postmortem on our Love," "Banshee," and "A Girl Needs a Knife." It was my first time hearing "Girl Needs a Knife" and I wasn't disappointed. :) They finished with their version of "Ride On," which the crowd seemed to enjoy. Tho Gallowglass does two other versions of "Ride On" that are incredible. The Flash Girls ran out, and Gallowglass returned, singing "Health to the Company" (which they started in the other room)... Was a mighty fine show, I must say. Still wish I'd managed to see Gallowglass at their Thurs night show at The Laughing Cup... One can never get enough Gallowglass, IMHO. :) Then I wandered down to 20th floor where Bob Berlien and Kathy Routcliffe were hosting a smoking music party. One of those snobby elitist music parties some of you may be familiar with. :-p Musicians in the circle included, at various times during the night, Fred Levy Haskell, Kurt Griesemer, Reed Waller, Kate Worley, Nate Bucklin, Bob Berlien, Kathy Routcliffe (forgive me if I'm spelling her name wrong...), Lojo Russo, Jane Hansen, and probably others I'm forgetting. Howard Harrison was there, it's starting to come back to me. It was a smallish party, with some folks having to leave early and such. But it was fun. What stands out? Just hearing Bob Berlien play some of his original stuff, which I hadn't heard since last minicon. Same with Reed and Kate, come to think of it. I think Bob played "Not Fade Away" and then Lojo picked up the tune and played "Scarborough Dead"... (Um, Gallowglass plays "Scarborough Fair" to the tune of "Not Fade Away" oft times) (This usually causes me to do the hand jive, it's involuntary, really....). Lojo did a fun cover of Christine Lavin's "What was i thinking?" as well. I know I'm forgetting lots. It was awhile ago. I just know it was fun, tho small. On Saturday, some of the first music I caught was Lojo's solo set at Dark Star. Alas, I missed The Flash Girls 3pm set because the service at TGIFriday's was abyssmal. So by the time I got back to the Radisson, The Flash GIrls were playing the last song of their set, "The Herring Song." Looked like they had a good crowd there, tho. And were in fine voice. Sigh. I decided to curl up in a chair in back and listen to Lojo's entire set. Was pleasant. Those who have her solo album "understated" will know what I mean. She played lots of material from the album, as well as a really nice new song called "flying" which was inspired by a hawk flying over while she was out hiking. She tells the story much better than I do. She did covers of tunes by Loreena McKennit (All Souls Night) and Michelle Shocked (On The Greener Side, she may have done "Must Be Luff" as well)... There were funny songs, mellow songs, and everything inbetween. Dayna sang backup on a few tracks (I forget her last name, she sings backup on the album). She closed the set with a tune by Michael Matheny called "Fire"-- that Gallowglass performed, I believe, for the first time, at their farewell show. Sounds like Lojo plans to record it for her second album, which is a very good thing, as it's a fine song and she does it well. Pretty good crowd throughout the set... It seems like there should be another Dark Star show in here somewhere.... Ah-hah! I caught about 45 minutes or so of "Decadent" Dave Clement's Dark Star show. Actually, as usual, it was Dave and a bunch of friends. Primarily he and his band Dandelion Wine. Along with Nate Bucklin and other friends. They did the usual batch of traditional songs and Stan Rogers tunes. I wandered in and they played "45 Years" which was perfect timing, as I'd been thinking how I wanted to hear Dave sing that song before con was over. They had Peggy O'Neil join them on stage to lead them in one of her songs that they recorded on their latest album. Likewise, Krissy joined them on stage for the song of hers that they cover. Fun. They closed, I believe, with Mary Ellen Carter. Was a raucous laid back kindof set, with the crowd singing along and thumping their feet and some folks dancing. Very nice. I probably should've stopped by the Bhigg House and other nonsmoking music parties at some point during con, but there are only so many hours in each day... Then I was off to other places, catching Ask Dr. Mike and other such can't miss events. Sometime after 11pm, Cats Laughing took the stage in the great ballroom. I have a feeling I missed their first song, so I couldn't tell you what it was. Richard Tatge was doing his usual magnificent work on lights. The sound was good, the band was nifty. The Cats set seemed to fly by, was too short for my tastes, but one doesn't get to hear Cats Laughing very often! Steven Brust and Robin Anders each had their drum kits on stage, and they both played for the duration of the Cats set. Lojo was playing bass and singing, Emma was singing and playing a tambourine. Adam was on guitar and vocals, Frank Runyon was playing some fine guitar as well. I *know* Lojo did "Gloomy Sunday" which brought the slowdancers onto the floor. I also recall bouncing up and down a lot and singing along when they did "If I Had The Voice"... a song that MUST be recorded, and soon (anyone for another Cats Laughing album? I think it's about time, and I know there's enough material out there). "Signal to Noise" was played. I was stunned when they did "Johnny Jump Up," which is probably the song Gallowglass gets the most requests for. I think I've heard Lojo sing that song in a billion different tempos, with lyric changes, etc. Fun. They segued into "White Rabbit" at one point, which certainly got people moving on the dancefloor. I was off in front of the left speaker, kindof standing, but kindof dancing, as well. Generally having a good time. Sometime during White Rabbit, I believe, Josef Kessler (fiddle player from Boiled in Lead) appeared on stage. He and Lojo were playing off of each other, 'twas amusing. They closed with "Elijah," of course. It came so fast, I thought "Gee, why are they doing 'Elijah' already? Now what will they close with?" Silly me. It rocked. My friends who hadn't heard Cats before were mightily impressed. Then Cordelia's Dad's "comet" was playing on the speakers and folks were resting up for BiL's set.... I wandered around and socialized until Lead appeared... Boiled in Lead, that is. Legendary Mpls based group who plays worldbeat, celtic rock and roll stuff. Hard to describe, not to be missed. Current line up features Drew Miller on bass and dulcimer, Robin "Adnan" Anders on drums and percussion, Josef Kessler on electric blue fiddle, and Adam Stemple on guitar and vocals. This was the album release party for "Songs from The Gypsy"-- songs written mostly by Stemple/Steven Brust, featured in the Megan Lindholm/Steven Brust novel _The Gypsy_. And now, I'm honestly spacing on what song they played first. Sigh. it all blurs. Much material from "The Gypsy" was played. "Hide My Track" sounded particularly fine, but it's currently one of my favorite songs. Lojo was up on stage helping out with vocals on that one. "Step It Out Mary" was played at some point. I recall seeing Hilda Marshall (from leadheads) and Jane Yolen (proud mom of Adam Stemple) dancing on the floor early on in the set. I was off wiggling by the speaker.... :) "Bad Hair" was in evidence (and was performed as well)... "Rasputin" was belted out. I just recall dancing a lot more than I intended to, especially considering I had a longsleeved velvet shirt on! it all flew by in a flurry of song and tunes and sweat and lights and such. The final song was a lovely long version of "The Gypsy," with all members of Cats Laughing joining BiL on stage... I then attempted a quick run up to my hotel room to get a blank check so I could buy the Gypsy album and t-shirt. By the time I got back, most folks were gone, but I chatted with friends and made the important purchases. Had the pleasure of finally meeting Don Keller and we caught up about bands such as Tsunami before heading up to Bob & Kathy's music party, part II. It was really darn late, but Bob and Kathy and Fred and Kurt and Patrick Nielsen Hayden and Emma Bull and others were playing music when I arrived. Eventually the BiL guys floated in and out of the party... primarily socializing, tho Adam joined the music for awhile. I recall him playing "Stream of Consciousness Blues" (available on Steve Brust's solo album) and I'm not certain what else. It's foggy. I was delighted to hear Emma and Patrick play "King of Bohemia" (one of my favorite songs from Richard Thompson's latest album). The moment I remember most vividly is when Fred announced he was gonna play a song he's just learning... and then proceeded to play the "wubba wubba wubba song" or whatever it's called. It's a song Grover from Sesame Street sings. The eerie thing was it was 4am and this roomful of adults knew most of the lyrics. And then proceeded to sing the Animaniacs theme a cappella.... followed by Pinky and the Brain, of course... Smile inducing, I must say. I should've written this sooner after the event, it's fading from memory already. Sigh. Was a nice party. I was off doing family Easter things and not sleeping nearly enough on Sunday. Then catching up with friends in the evening. The aforementioned Kurt was chomping at the bit to play music, as was one Andy Anda. I suddenly realized I hadn't consumed food in quite a few hours, ran to Burger King (ugh), then to my hotel room (conveniently located right down the hall from Bob & Kathy's suite, as well as the Tor books sweet. Ghod bless you Geri Sullivan, wherever you are. :) (a note of explanation: the Radisson lost my room reservation. This did not please me. I hadn't a place to live. I mentioned it to Geri a few months ago,then again when I arrived at con. By 5pm on Friday I had a hotel room. On 20th floor. She thought I'd like it there. This is the reason I didn't see many people who weren't on 20th or 22nd floor during the course of the convention. But I heard some mighty fine music. ) I'm leaving the obvious typo "Tor books sweet" 'cuz I like it. Anyhow, I wandered down to the Tor books suite and it's sunday night party. Where I got a chance to chat with lots of lovely folks. And I finally met Vnend and Ellen and Benjamin (eastcoast leadheads). :) I was socializing in a more quiet, less crowded room, during the initial few jaunts around the music circle. but it sounded fine from the other room. I think Emma and Lorraine did a few numbers as the Flash Girls, before Lorraine left. Other folks at the Tor music party, later christened "The Little Music Party That Didn't Suck" included: Ken Larson, Kara Dalkey, Frank Runyon, Patrick Nielsen Hayden, Emma Bull, Fred Levy Haskell, Kurt Griesemer, Andy Anda, Reed Waller, Howard Harrison, Bob Berlien, Jane Hansen, Steven Brust, Robin "Adnan" Anders, Drew Miller, Josef Kessler, and uh, um... I'm not sure who else. People wandered in and out. Robin, Josef, and Drew wandered in and out of the circle. At times it was jam packed (*little* music party?)... Patrick and Teresa Nielsen Hayden were the hosts of the party, with Steven Brust hosting the music portion of the program, if I'm told correctly. Kudos to them. I'm realizing I snuck out of the party a song or two before the end as I had a breakfast date and Bob just kept playing and playing and playing.... So I didn't properly get to thank the hosts or the remaining musicians. It was *very* nice. :) As with the best music parties, there was at least one swing around the circle that produced tears, it was that kind of mood, that kind of material. And then there were the raucous swings, which had people on their feet dancing. I think Howard and/or Reed played "Twist and Shout" at one point, to give you an idea. Have I explained Minicon music parties? Unlike many cons, there isn't much filk. It's mostly rock, with some folk and blues. And a good sprinkling of songs original to thosein the music circle (or their friends). Tho other stuff harder to categorize shows up. And I hate categorizing music. A musician plays a song, then it moves to the next one. And often times people join in playing, taking breaks and so on. With the wacky crowd singing along sometimes. The quality of the music is generally high, and it's a heckuvalot of fun, too. I was very happy when Emma played a number of Richard Thompson songs... including "Down Where the Drunkards Roll" and "King of Bohemia." Patrick played some very nice guitar on those, and Drew was playing along as well. (Emma tells me Drew ordered her to go see Richard Thompson in concert when she didn't know who RT was. Ohthehumanity. Turning anyone onto Richard Thompson gets people good karma points, in my book.) The last song Emma played before she left was Mark Henley's "November Song." Blissful. I hadn't heard her play that song probably since Fourth Street. It's one of my favorite songs in the whole wide world. Very very nice. One of the happiest surprises on the tracklist for the new/forthcoming Flash Girls album is that that song is on it. :) I cannot wait... Frank was smoking on guitar. Wow. The usual great songs were played well. I don't know-- words don't do music justice, you know? Fred was having such a good time that he played his closer, "Ripple," early. Then kept right on playing. At the end, things got silly, of course. With Bob commenting that, unlike the rest of the group, he didn't know any 20 minute songs-- so he'd do a medley as his closer. He was true to his word, started with "Big Rock Candy Mountain," and proceeded into "Sugaree" and was about to launch into "One More Saturday Night" (if i'm remember right)... when Howard stood up and called Dominoes to order a pizza.... assuming that Bob would still be playing by the time the pizza arrived, of course. Bob hammed up the number, and played the role of Fred for a bit, methinks. High fun and hijinks. At this point, I *knew* the music wouldn't be done when my breakfast date showed up. Steve played "Latex Man" (and the crowd played the role of the Rubbermaids rather well, I think)... Fred played "Mediocre Fred"... Then Howard was up, and someone requested the Reincarnation Song. I suddenly realized that I hadn't heard the song all weekend, which is amazing considering how often I'd heard Howard play at con. And how he is best known for that song... I won't attempt an explanation of the song. If you don't know it, you need to hear Howard play it sometime. Of course, Bob interrupted the song a few times... it was necessary. At that point, my friend would wait no longer for breakfast. I'm told the party broke up soon after. I went to breakfast thinking how nice it was to hear Ken play bodhran and sing (he closed with an a cappela "The Parting Glass"...), to hear Fred belt out "Watchtower," and Bob sing "Driver 8," and so on and so forth... Neat to have Robin and Drew and Josef there for bits-- I think they had fun. And to be there with friends... I tend to zone off into my own world at music parties. Not terribly social of me. And for years, I just quietly absorbed things and never actually talked to the musicians or other party goers. was still fun. I often forget to stand up or get a drink or do anything but sit there... but that's a sign that good music is being played. This year I managed to move around a bit more, be a bit more social, but the music was still very fine. And the company even finer. Thanks to all those who were a part of that. :) From that blonde girl in the velvet in the corner. Oh there's more, of course. I didn't drag myself away from the Radisson until 4am on Tuesday (I had to work at 9am on Tuesday in Sioux Falls... silly me). There wasn't much music on Monday night-- it was a bit of a dead dead dog party and a birthday party for Shannon Leslie. Steve Brust, Frank Runyon, and John Sjogren played a bit of music, most of which I missed 'cuz I was off catching up with people I managed to miss all during the convention (hrm. maybe 'cuz I was at music parties? )... Ohyeah, John was at the Tor party for a bit, methinks. And possibly at the Saturday night party for a song or two as well.... Apologies for the length, and the fact that I'm probably missing many descriptive details that would be really nice. I've been too busy with work to give this much thought until now, and now the details I wanted to write about have fluttered away. Ach well. It was a small, musical con for me. Despite the zany minicon stuff going on elsewhere. Was very nice. From the quiet moments at music parties... to the raucous adrenaline of the Cats/Lead show. A grand weekend. Laurel Krahn /// lakrahn@iw.net Director of Operations /// 800.386.IWAY Iway Internet Services /// http://www.iw.net/ ------- end ------- -- UMN Dept. of Soil, Water, and Climate; St. Paul, MN | jladwig@soils.umn.edu | MIME/PGP accepted That inline better be worth at least a thousand | Finger for geek code words - it takes up twenty thousand words' space. | and PGP public key