Just a few observations about the fine show they did here last night-
-A three hour show, not counting the intermission. Tickets were $23
after the TicketBastard charge, but can't say you didn't get your
money's worth.
-Both Steve and Del fluffed lyrics on a couple of occasions, on their
own tunes. Long tour or what? I'd have sort of expected they'd be pretty
sharp at this point.
-We (Jack Copeland, Nancy Copeland and Cathy Weigel) started out in the
back of the really packed (though not sold out) venue, so the sound had
to compete with the conversations around us, but this may have still
been the worst overall sound I've heard in ages. They shoulda had this
show at the Beaumont Club.
-Local resident Iris Dement got the best crowd reaction of the night,
both on her duet with Steve Earle "I'm Still In Love With You", and the
Tom T. Hall cover (help me out here somebody?) she did. Del and Ronnie
can sing with the best, but Iris killed.
-A little curious to me that bluegrass groups reportedly make %80 of
their show income at the swag table after the show, when THE FAMILY and
Jason Carter's solo discs were priced at $17. I'd have certainly given
them $15 for the record, and fully intended to, but I couldn't find my
wallet when it came to the extra $2, which seemed a little gouge-y to
me. No offense- so I'm a piker. The tables weren't exactly swollen with
buyers of $17 discs and $25 t-shirts.
-Ronnie McCoury and Jason Carter delighted me.
-I've heard lots and lots of good things about that book of Steve Earle
quotes. Maybe he should go back there and recycle, because he's used
almost exactly the same schtick this time as he did last June. Stop me
if you've heard this one before...
If this crew is coming your way, you just have to go see them.
b.s.
n.p. Um, THE MOUNTAIN
