April - reviews and pictures from the first leg of the April/May tour.
Late May - reviews and pictures from the closing stages of the April/May tour.
NEW JERSEY PROGHOUSE, PISCATAWAY NJ, 11 MAY 2003
Located on a bluff overlooking the historic Raritan River Landing area—a major 18th century point of commerce for Dutch merchants and early English settlers in colonial New Jersey—the Metlar/Bodine House Museum was a perfect venue for an intimate evening of music with the Acoustic Strawbs. The Metlar/Bodine House was originally built in 1728 and enlarged by two additions during the mid-nineteenth century. A dedicated group of civic boosters, historical preservationists, and docents have raised money and pursued grants to restore the house to its present grandeur –replete with period rooms, rich material culture, and interpretative exhibit cases documenting nearly 300 years of New Jersey history. This marriage of baroque & roll with historical preservation was the brainchild of James W. Robinson, Jr. (founder of Proglion Productions and the NJ Proghouse)--combining his twin passions for progressive rock/folk music and the cause of architectural preservation and restoration.
Over the past two years Jim has been active in establishing a well-received progressive rock and folk concert series in Central New Jersey--using his shows at the Metlar/Bodine House to raise public awareness for preservation of the area's architectural and cultural heritage. The premise is simple: provide an intimate concert experience for devoted fans willing to pay a little extra to share an evening of music and stories with their favorite group. With seating limited to 40 (by design) the concert experience at the Metlar is akin to having the Storytellers series booked in your own living room. It was a fantastic concert experience and the Strawbs enjoyed themselves immensely in this unique venue. The ambiance was aided by the autumnal-like weather and mist which rolled off the Raritan River. The house is purportedly haunted and the Metlar House staff shared several tales of their encounters with the house spirits. Dave Cousins and the lads promptly fell in love with the acoustics of the house and the antiques and curios within each of the period rooms. In his introduction to Ghosts, Cousins told the audience that this song "would surely put the spirits on the run." He also relayed a humorous story of how he nearly frightened himself to death during his pre-concert tour of the house. Apparently, he opened one of the unlocked storage closet doors upstairs where the house curator stores the manikins for its period clothing/costume displays. Several of the manikins were dismembered —arms, chests, torsos everywhere—which caused him to skip a heartbeat or two. I could just read the headlines in the Trentonian, New Jersey's version of the Daily Mirror, "Dave Cousins expires at historic Metlar House . . . the reviews became obituary notices instead."
As previous postings have provided plenty of detail regarding the performances I really cannot add much more, except to share a few of my impressions and personal highlights. First we were blessed with two full sets and an encore—"Simple Visions"—which left the audience begging for more and the trio drained. The performance was very tight, and Brian and the two Daves really played their hearts out. You could feel Acoustic Strawbs feeding off the energetic crowd and ambiance of the house. The close quarters gave the evening the air of an intimate English folk club, perhaps reminiscent of the Strawbs early years. Par for the course, Dave Cousins spun masterful stories explaining the context for each of the songs. He also had some humorous anecdotes, musing at one point how a recent reviewer had referred to the Strawbs as "museum pieces," as he looked around room and quipped "here we are right at home." Nothing could be further from the truth. These guys are still on the top of their game—instrumentally and lyrically. One of the highlights for me was the Strawbs version of "Who Knows Where the Time Goes", a beautiful homage to Sandy Denny. But what really amazed me was the two-minute instrumental leading into this song. It is simply one of the most beautiful and haunting interlocking acoustic guitar melodies I've ever heard. I am publicly begging the Strawbs to please record this in the near future. I had recognized every song played during the concert but was completely unprepared for this beautiful instrumental.
Dave Cousins vocals were in top shape and he gave stunning interpretative performances-replete with hand gestures and great phrasing—"Round and Round We GO . . . Round and Round We GO . . . and, If you were me . . . what would you DO . . and Forgive Me God We Hang Him In Thy NAME!!! The crowd was really stoked when the Strawbs launched into "Hero and Heroine", "Autumn" and "Lay Down." Also, I was equally impressed with "Simple Visions" and its full acoustic energy.
Dave at the keys
After the show and the obligatory Q&A and autograph session, things settled down and the NJ Proghouse support staff shared a nice catered meal with the Strawbs in the Metlar House kitchen and dining room. It was simply amazing . . . baked scallops, Greek Shepherd's Pie, Italian Sausage, rice, seasoned noodles, rich chocolate desserts, and plenty of wine and beer. As the group had been exposed to the usual lot of Holiday Inn haute cuisine, the boys dived into the meal with unusual ardor to say the least. It was wonderful serving as host (I assisted the staff in setting up chairs, moving furniture, and getting an occasional beer for Dave, Brian, and Dave). We chatted with the Strawbs after the concert and it was nice to get to know them as real people. Brian Willoughby told us about his work on behalf of raising awareness for autism and how proud he is of his music collaboration with partner Catherine Craig. Brian has a wicked sense of humor—I mean that in a nice way—and I enjoyed his company very much. Dave Lambert is quite the sports fan. He and my good friend Jim Robinson talked at length about World Cup Soccer. Earlier in the day, when the Strawbs arrived to scope out the venue, they became engrossed watching a local group of Cricket players playing a match in nearby Johnson Park. Dave Lambert is such an engaging fellow. I had a moment or two to thank Dave Cousins and the Strawbs collectively for supporting the Proghouse Series and the Metlar House Project. I even had a chance to tell Dave C. how much I admired his guitar and banjo work on Mary Hopkin's album "Earth Song, Ocean Song." He rather liked that. . . and said it was the first time anyone had complimented him on his playing on that album.
Finally, one last highlight. The excellent pictures taken at the Metlar/Bodine House concert by Ronald Frey include one of Dave Cousins at the keyboards. This was taken after the concert when Dave, without any prompting, glanced across the room and noticed an antique upright piano. He went over to the piano and relayed to me that he had learned to play on such an antique piano when he was a young boy. I helped him gently remove the sliding keyboard panel and he launched into playing the melody for "Evergreen." I quietly hummed the song, afraid to sing the words. About midway through, he promptly stopped. He told me that he did not have much confidence in his piano-playing ability to perform onstage. Nothing could be further from the truth, judging by what I heard him play. What a great evening!!! Thanks NJ Proghouse, the Strawbs, and the Metlar House spirits!!!
I have to admit I approached Sunday's show at the Metlar Bodine House with a little trepidation. Having not seen the boys since their US tour in 1984. I was afraid that time may have robbed a little of the magic. Less than 2 minutes into the show all my concerns were alleviated.
It was wonderful to see that despite being dusted off and reworked for an acoustic setting the "old" classics lost none of their power or emotion. It is far too common today to see musicians use an acoustic setting to tone down more than the volume. Many just go through the motions using stripped down arrangements and casual readings to coast through an evening. Acoustic Strawbs would have none of that. Initially I had a little bit of dread about how "The River/ Down To The Sea" could possibly translate to three acoustic guitars, but by the middle of the second set I was actually looking forward to it. Same for what turned out to be a transcendent "Hero And Heroine"
I was also pleased to see how much the boys enjoyed playing together to a crowd of no more than 50 souls. Based on the energy and effort they put into this show, there could just as easily been 5000 in attendance. Dave Lambert's smile at the ovations they received on several occasions restored my faith in musicians again. Having had the distinct displeasure of having to watch (and sign a check for $25,000.00) Don Mclean perform an emotionally & musically limp set the week before nearly put me off live music for good. The disparities between the 2 shows just show the fundamental unfairness of the music business today. All I can say is that anytime any variation of the Strawbs perform within a hundred miles of this humble abode, I'll be there and if they ever get the inkling to play a gig in Lakewood NJ, I will provide the stage and as much beer as the could want!
[DG - that's a lot of beer, Ray !!!]
While at the Strawbs show at NJProghouse in New Jersey, I was fortunate enough to not only see the show, but to meet Brian and the Daves. My wife Noreen and I actually catered the show for the band seeing as after 30+ wonderful years of music, we thought they deserved a GREAT meal (and got one).
TIN ANGEL (2 SHOWS), PHILADELPHIA PA, 10 MAY 2003 and BIRCHMERE 5 MAY 2002
My mind is awash in strawbsphilia for the last several days after having seen them in both Alexandria and Philly. The first of the 2 shows included John Renbourn and Jackie McShee of Pentangle. I'm angry that in my headpop-state that I left the setlists on the table. Jackie's angelic voice and John's intricate,soulful guitar work were a perfect compliment to the Strawbs (only this show featured the pairing - lucky us). Standouts for me were a different (aren't they all) version of "My Johnnie Was A Showmaker" and the epic "Cruel Sister" which they concluded with.
The two Strawbs shows I saw are such a daze because of my euphoric state (induced and natural). Suffice it to say that Dave L's quiet, beautiful work on Strawbs classics contrasted with his smashing, frenzied jams really struck me. Dave's wonderful theatrical hand gestures were so spot on (heh) - "Benedictus".."all those whose.." and the slight rasp in his voice now makes the soul dance. Brian traded licks with Dave L in such a way that everyone there I'm sure knew that they saw THE show of the evening.
Funny..as we were driving to Philly (passed the huge pedestrian Dylan billboard) we were lamenting on where the REAL show was of the night. High points for the Philly shows were a Celtic version of "Hero And Heroine" (wow), "Who Knows Were The Time Goes'" and the crescendo of "Down By The Sea" and I always love "Ghosts".
On a personal note..they guys (sans Brian) stayed at my B&B/Mead winery- the Smokehouse (that must have been it - heh) after the Birchmere show. As you would expect, nicer guys don't exist. Really appreciated the time spent/stories etc. Hope they can stay again one day (less than 25 yrs from now!). Jam On..Strawberrily
Benedictus
A Glimpse of Heaven
The Golden Salamander
Ghosts
You And I (When We Were Young)
The Hangman And The Papist
Alice's Song
Flying
Out In The Cold/Round and Round
The River/Down by the Sea
New World
Hero And Heroine
Benedictus
Tears And Pavan
Ghosts
A Glimpse of Heaven
Who Knows Where the Time Goes
Autumn
Alice's Song
Flying
Out In The Cold/Round and Round
The River/Down by the Sea
Lay Down
Simple Visions
TIN ANGEL (2 SHOWS), PHILADELPHIA PA, 10 MAY 2003
At 4:45pm my friends, my wife and I were the second to arrive for dinner at Serrano, the restaurant below the Tin Angel. The first were the Strawbs. They were about halfway through their meal when we were sitting down to order. This was a good sign, because we knew that we would be reserved a table right near the stage in the Tin Angel. Sure enough, our table was about 2 feet from the stage. At this distance it was like having the Strawbs right in your living room -- there are no words I can come up with to describe the feeling.
Having just seen them the week before we knew we'd hear mostly the same set, but at that distance, it was like hearing every song for the first time. The two songs that were different -- "Golden Salamander" and "New World" -- were icing on the cake. Dave's introduction to "Ghosts" set the stage perfectly, establishing the spooky mood that gave the song even more impact. I'll never listen to the song again without picturing that angel statue staring directly at me through a lonely hotel room window on a dark, unsettling, Indianapolis night. In contrast the introduction to "Golden Salamander" was very funny!
Marking the end of the set, "New World" packed a serious punch, exceeding anything I could have imagined. Nearly drained of emotion, the "Hero And Heroine" encore just about finished me off! Unfortunately the local sound man was not paying attention and missed turning up Dave Lambert's guitar for his stunning entrance. Afterward the guys wasted no time coming out and joining the crowd for drinks and conversation.
While we lost our front row seats for the second show, it was no less exciting. The crowd let out a cheer when Dave Lambert raised up his newly returned bottleneck slide and said, "I've got it back!". Without a doubt the surprise of the evening was them doing "Who Knows Where the Time Goes". After Dave Cousins' heartfelt introduction speaking of their first recording session, they started in with a very long introduction of beautiful interweaving guitar lines. I didn't know if it was going to lead to "Ringing Down the Years" or perhaps some early Strawbs song. When the lyrics came in ... I don't know, surely, others were as moved as I was. Not reviewing every set list on StrawbsWeb, I don't know if they've ever done this song before, but it was certainly a first for me. My friend, a big Fairport fan, and I just looked at each other in amazement after it was over.
Lightening the mood, Dave mentioned that he was rather pissed when she left to join Fairport. Then, as an introduction to "Glimpse", he echoed how pissed he was that Rick Wakeman had left as well. "Everyone leaves, I don't understand it", he joked and then nodding towards Dave Lambert, "this one's off next week!" I sure hope he's kidding!
"Simple Visions" is a very special song to my wife and I, so we were both thrilled to hear it as the encore. Dave Cousins left all the guitar work up to Brian, on rhythm, and Dave Lambert on lead. I've always loved the inspired Lambert licks on the album track so it was cool to see him playing them live. Dave Cousins was free to be extra expressive, his hands waving in freely choreographed, graceful motions. All of us enjoyed both shows immensely. I was a bit envious of my wife -- this week she saw her first three Strawbs shows. Now she can't wait until the shows in upstate New York later this month. It just proves you don't have to be a diehard Strawbs fanatic like me to really enjoy seeing them live. It meant so much to share the evening with her and all my friends. After such an incredible evening all I can say is "It would marvelous to see you again!"
Well, back again at the Tin Angel this week for 2 more Strawbs shows here in Philadelphia. Once again, a lovely ride down through the city passed the famous Art Museum where the film "Rocky" with Sylvester Stallone was filmed, the part where he runs up and down the steps, then past the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, and so on.....Philadelphia is the birth place of the United States, and the history here is amazing.
Anyway, had dinner again at the Serrano, this time with my best friend Bill Kendrick and his freind Gary, a long time Strawbs fan who had never seen them. My wife unfortunately could not make it back this week due to a prior forgotten commitment, so she was nice enough to sacrifice her ticket for Billy's friend Gary. This week the Serrano was PACKED with people, so much so that when we arrived 10 minutes late, we almost lost our reservation for dinner, and more importantly, our reserved table for the show!! An extremely claustrophobic situation downstairs AND upstairs.
After dinner we stepped outside for an after dinner smoke with our cordials. While hanging outside the door, tons of people kept coming up wanting to come in and see the show, only to be turned away due to the shows being completely SOLD OUT. Earlier in the week, there had been a lot of postings regarding this sold out situation on the Witchwood discussion group. While the boys (Strawbs) should be gleaming with delight about this packed attendance, it really was a shame to see so many people turned away because of it. It kind of puts me on the fence about how I feel about going to all four shows.....while I couldn't imagine NOT going to all four shows when I certainly had the ability to do so, I feel bad about the people who couldn't see them. You could say "them's the breaks" or "better luck next time" or "jump on it while you have the chance"....which I agree with all of these statements. However, in hindsight, I almost feel like there should have been a ticket "limit", like only 2 per person or something like that. I guess that would have been a scary thing for the Strawbs to do, considering that they apparently had no idea that the shows would be this well attended. Anyway, a lesson well learned for future shows...which I think we can safely say is a done deal....the only question would be wether or not we will see the Acoustic Strawbs again, or be treated to the electric line up next time. Brian Willoughby told me that there was definite hope for the full band to tour the states in the near future, so let's keep our fingers crossed!
The show opened once again with "Benedictus", to an absolutely ROARING crowd of excited fans, who were all singing the verses at full voice.....this is what I was hoping for.....to be caught up in a crowd of Strawb fans singing along with a spirited oneness that lifted my heart with a strong feeling of power that can only be felt by music like the Strawbs....kind of like seeing Yes perform the closing section of "Awaken"....that feeling of total power that puts goose bumps all over your body. The amazing thing is that the Strawbs were able to do it with 3 acoustic guitars and 2 vocalists! Just goes to show you that you don't need loud bass booming music to project the vibe of power....you need people like the Strawbs who know only too well how to relay their message of beautiful powerful music with their musical talents as their weapons of choice.
Then it was on to "Tears And Pavan", which Dave explained in detail about his visit to Italy and his inspiration for writing the song. Most of the set list was the same, except for "Who Knows Where The Time Goes" and much to everyone's delight, "Lay Down" for the closer. Once again, "Simple Visions" was the encore....which got the crowd so pumped, that I'm surprised that they didn't come out for a second one! Even when the house lights and music came on, the crowd continued chanting "Strawbs, Strawbs, Strawbs!"
"Hero And Heroine" and "New World" were deleted from the set for this week, which was unfortunate due to their powerful and popular nature. I heard many people say that they wished it wasn't those two that were substituted.
After the show, we hung out with Brian for a while, as he let us play his custom beautiful Gibson for a while. I then had a one on one talk with DC for about an hour and a half about my CD, which he, Brian and Dave L. all said that they absolutely loved! I was so blown away by their comments that I was speechless. These guys really know how to make someone feel good!
We then spoke about Rick Wakeman and the comparison and many similarities in our playing, which stands to reason considering that Rick is my absolute idol on keyboards along with Keith Emerson. Dave then told me about Two Weeks last Summer and his experience in the studio with Rick Wakeman while recording Blue Angel. He sang the chorus for me as he showed me how he taught Rick how he wanted him to do the chord changes. Because there are only 2 chords during the chorus and Rick was having a hard time knowing when to actually hit these chords, Dave would hold up his left hand for chord #1, and his right hand for chord #2! He told me that he felt that this is Rick's finest playing ever, which luckily for him, was on his album! I tend to agree with Dave; Rick really does shine on this record.
So, after a few belts and some fascinating conversation, Billy Gary and I said goodbye to them all, as we were the only 3 people besides the bartender left in the club! We then drove home, getting lost because of our deep conversation about the show, and missing our exit for home! Magnificent memories were made that night for all three of us, and we are all truly grateful for the Strawbs and their incredible music and dedication to their fans.
Hello All! I am the other half of Jim (who posted the Tin Angel pics last week). In the case of the Tin Angel, Serrano's is the restaurant downstairs and Tin Angel is the cafe upstairs. The building is a converted row home in Olde Town section of Philadelphia, built in the 1700s. Tin Angel is set up so that the front half of the room is made up of tiny tables (really designed for 2 people, but they had 4 chairs). There are stools along the wall and the back half is standing room and the cafe bar area.
Having never seen the Strawbs live before, this was the perfect venue for me. I have an "invisible disability", congestive heart failure. I have problems breathing and limited stamina for walking/standing. The parking lot across the street meant we didn't have to struggle to find disabled parking or for me having to be dropped off alone while he searched for parking blocks away. I have a cane, but didn't bring it due to the closenesss of the quarters. There is no way that I can physically stand through an entire concert and the bar stools would have been a struggle for me. But a chair at the table was perfect. Jim called early for tix and dinner reservations, so we were also able to snag a table reservation in the front of the cafe stage for the first show on 5/4 (OK, we were in the second row of tables). For the second show we had to give up our reserved table to second show ticket holders who had been downstairs dining during the first show. We were able to snag an unreserved table for the second show further back in the room.
The setting was intimate and the sound was great. Jim had seen the Electric Strawbs play live at the Wildwood NJ Convention Center about 1974ish. Back then, he had been so excited and couldn't wait to hear them - his favorite band, and by the sea, no less - but was very disappointed in the acoustics and sound quality. He remembers that the sound was atrocious and you couldn't really tell what was being played due to the multi-echos in the hall. The WWCC was a hall meant to hold masses of people, but not as a specific music venue. Jim was thrilled with the show we saw last week.
I knew of the Strawbs' music through Jim and in the past 10 years that we have been together have grown to appreciate the songs and the albums. I can't recite the discography or quote every lyric to every song, but the music is heartfelt and I enjoy it. To have seen the guys live in an intimate setting like Tin Angel rather than a large impersonal auditorium made the evening a memory for me and triggered the curiousity to "find out more"...and dig out some of Jim's CDs of their older music and play them when I am home by myself. I have never played his CDs when I am alone before, despite the many bands we've seen over the years.
From what I observed at Tin Angel, yes there are young fans coming into the fold. But the median age in the fan base, well...let's just say that there was a lot of gray hair there. Middle age is upon us and with aging comes aches and pains that weren't there in our 20s. With middle age and aches and pains comes a point when a Standing Room Only venue becomes an uncomfortable and miserable time - not a fun night out, focusing on the music. I enjoyed the tables seating at Tin Angel and I would enjoy theater seating. But I would have not appreciated the performance nearly as much had I have been forced to stand through it all. Actually, for me that would not have been a possibility and I'd have been left at home and missed out on the whole thing.
OMG!! What a show! I went to the Tin Angel gig over the bridge in Philly (10 May 2003). These guys were an absolute powerhouse! Better than some electric bands I've seen! Lambert's work was especially energetic. I 've always liked his live performances anyway. We chatted afterwards and there are couple of the pics at my homepage, if you like. http://www.angelfire.com/music2/classicfm.
From what Dave C. and I discussed the last time he was on the show in 2000, and this recent appearance, and with the three recent discs out practically all at once, it's obvious that they are on their way to a full blown band tour at some point. For me, it's just like the 1st time I ever heard them. Dave's voice hasn't changed at all... they were so majestic the other night... so grandiose... Dave was right in hoping folks would "shed some nostalgic tears." I welled up a FEW times!
At long last, saw the Strawbs last night in Philly. As I told Dave L. and Brain, "I've waited 28 years for this." What an incredible show. Absolutely goosebump moments throughout, especially "Ghosts" and "The Hangman and the Papist." But the entire show was astounding. The power, emotion, voices, guitar playing. Just a priceless evening. And word was going around that they're coming back in November...
STEPHEN TALKHOUSE, AMAGANSETT NY, 9 MAY 2003
We saw the guys at the Stephen Talkhouse in Amagansett, NY, last night. If you don't know, Amagansett is the second to last town before one reaches the eastern tip of Long Island, which is really long. In other words, most people travelled quite a distance to see the band - and it was well worth the trip.
I hadn't seen the Strawbs since the early 80s, when they toured with Tony Hooper, so I didn't know what to expect. I figured the minimum would be a night of sweet nostalgia. What I got was an earful of some of the best guitar work I've heard live in years. Everything was great, no need to even get specific (although I was astounded by "Hero And Heroine"). I don't want to repeat the accolades written in other reviews, so just add me to the list of fans who were made very happy on this tour.
Dave C told some funny stories, and made a clever, nasty quip at the expense of Dave L regarding the picture of an American Indian on the stage. The best laugh I had came from a girl in the audience who called out a request for "Lemon Pie," adding that she'd lost her virginity to that song. Dave L responded by asking, "It wasn't me, was it?" Afterward, the band made themselves accessible for a very long time, which was lovely considering the distance they had to travel to get to tonight's gig in Philadelphia. I'm so looking forward to buying Brian that beer up in Pawling.
Went to the show at Stephen's Talkhouse last night in Amagansett, NY. I'll cut to the chase. Brian was great, Dave C. was in fine form (it was nice to hear the stories behind the songs), and Dave L., well, in a phrase, blew my mind. I'm very pleased to have seen them live for the first time after listening to them for close to 20 years now.
The sound and performance was incredible. All three mingled with the crowd after the show giving fans an opportunity to say hello. I have seen a fair number of live performances, and hands down, this was the best one I have seen to date. Please thank the band for playing at Stephen's Talkhouse.
INCREDIBLE SET AT STEPHEN TALKHOUSE!!! Place was packed, sold out. show, there are just no words to describe it. The Daves were in brilliant voice, and it was so tight. The atmosphere was so intense. The crowd went bananas at the end of each song. The club was not cooperative re pictures, which was frustrating.....
Saw Two Daves and a Willoughby last night at the Talkhouse and absolutely levitated! First time seeing the guys since 77, almost had given up hope of ever seeing them again. Exceptionally glad we attended, incredible show. The Talkhouse ... first time out there in over ten years as well ... anyway.
I'm ashamed to say I never heard of the Strawbs but my girlfriend talked me into seeing them May 9th at Steven Talkhouse ........ best show I've ever seen ...... AWESOME ....... I'm 53 and have seen a LOT of bands ...... bravo to the musicians - they should charge more to see them!
I am a long time Strawbs fan and saw the May 9th show out on Long Island. All I can say is THANK YOU Strawbs for giving me and all of us there a chance to enjoy the band live again after all these years. The show was fantastic and they sounded great. The place is so small, it was like seeing them in my living room. It's something I will cherish and remember for a lifetime.
I turned many of my friends onto the Strawbs over 25 years ago, and this time, I brought a good friend of mine, who like most people, have never heard of the Strawbs. Well, my friend, not expecting much at all, was blown away by Dave, Dave and Brian. Just as thought he would be. They were absolutely fantastic. I only wish that I lived in England so I can see them every year for the rest of my life.. I always felt, if you listened to Strawbs song, you became a Strawbs fan.
Again, THANK YOU Strawbs for a magical evening and a night I will not soon forget. I only wish I had a recording to treasure from time to time.
BALDWIN'S STATION, SYKESVILLE MD, 7 MAY 2003
Have really enjoyed your site since coming across it a couple of years ago. Glad I've kept in touch with things or I wouldn't have been able to see probably the best performance I've witnessed since the last times I saw Strawbs back home in Atlanta in the mid-70s (last week at Baldwin's Station in Sykesville, MD).
Just wish they were playing again in the Washington-Baltimore area (and mad at myself for not working in the Birchmere gig last week, as well). Hope that they can get back through this area on the tour that I understand is being planned this fall (also hope they can get back to Atlanta; some old friends there would love to see them again, as well).
Again thanks for putting together one of the best and most comprehensive sites I've seen for any group of fans for anybody.
Just a quick note to mention the Acoustic Strawbs show of 7 May in Sykesville, MD was great! The guys were in top form and very cordial after the show. The room held just under 75 and that will be a night I'll long remember. Glad to see DL's bottleneck returned...
XM RADIO SHOW RECORDING, 6 MAY 2003
Just came back from the XM satellite recording session. Very interesting. From what the dj of the show said broadcast dates will be May 21, 27 & 30. So all you folks rushing to sign up for XM radio you have plenty of time.
XM radio is astounding. Imagine a building 3 stories tall & every room is a radio booth with several recording studios in the building. There are over 100 different shows going on 24/7 each day with no commercials & every genre of music known to man.
To do a recording session could take a few hours to set up if you are a full blown electric band, then sound check, then tweeking, etc. etc. Setup for the boys was pretty simple due to them using basics. Dave did play banjo & dulcimer. Very nice set. No audience besides the engineer, dj, myself & Cathryn [Craig].
Very professionally done. The engineer has computers along with the sound board so he can equalize & tweek immediately so sound is almost always distributed properly. If anyone has done sound before this takes all the hassles out of it almost immediately as long as you can read & react fast enough.
Things sure have changed tremendously since the days of when I worked on "Preserves Uncanned". I need to go back to school again to relearn this stuff. Technology moves so fast now that if you get out for too long you are once again back to rookie status. This was a tremedous learning experience today as well as a privilege to be there. Dave & The Strawbs, I thank you with all my heart once again, Bill Martin
THE BIRCHMERE, ALEXANDRIA VA (JOHN RENBOURN AND JACQUI MCSHEE, SUPPORT), 5 MAY 2003
The Birchmere is a medium sized venue in Alexandria, Virginia - one of the oldest cities in the United States and quite historic as North American cities go. On Monday evening of April 5, 2003 we had cloudy skies and a drizzle. The traffic was congested. True blue Strawbs fans as my wife and I are, we gathered our small party to together for an early start. To our surprise when we got to the Birchmere at around 6:15 for the 7:30 PM show, the theater was already filling up. We had come early to get the good seats and eat supper before the show, but we were barely in the nick of time to get up fairly close to the stage. Lucking out, we did capture a nice table close up on the right side of the stage, as it turned out the "Brian Willoughby side," and were able to watch the venue fill up with an enthusiastic but well mannered audience. We wondered if all these folks had come to right place. Were there that many Strawbs fans in Alexandria? We thought we might be the only ones who knew!
The evening opened with about an hour of John Renbourn and Jacqui McShee formerly of Pentangle. I must admit that I don't know their music. Usually I find when I listen to someone completely unknown to me, well, I am often just left a bit flat. This was a very good show, though. John Renbourn's playing was at times really inspired, but to my ears he sometimes missed or dropped the thread. Our supposition was that we had listened to a true giant on perhaps not one of his better nights. Jacqui's singing was just great, being both lovely and powerful. When she and John sang together it was sometimes just so touching. As a tip of the hat to them both, if they would have been the entire show it would have certainly been worth the price of admission. But we had come to hear the Strawbs, and I will admit that I was perhaps distracted with anticipation for the duration of John and Jacqui's memorable performance.
My wife and I had seen Strawbs as a full band twice before, some years between shows, with the last concert we attended during the Hero and Heroine concert tour days. What a long time ago that was! I must admit that I really had never expected to see Dave Cousins perform again. Over the years we would just drag out the old Strawbs music and hope for new works to appear. When some new work did come out along with re-releases on CD, things started to look more hopeful. Then on the web I read about all the lucky folks in Briton seeing them play gigs. I wondered if we would ever get our turn here in the USA. So after all those years, when the Strawbs played the Birchmere last night, what could all of us ageing, paunchy fans expect? Would it be some old guys who had just lost it and were trying to rake a few last pennies out of the dying embers? Hardly! Dave Cousins, Dave Lambert, and Brian Willoughby are just as good as ever, and that of course, is miraculous good indeed !
They started with "Benedictus." Unfortunately there were folks still milling around from the break, but the power of Dave Cousins voice grabbed everyone by the collar and made them sit down and pay attention. On and on they went, belting out songs from all over the Strawbs catalogue of previous works. I know and admire the work on the Baroque and Roll CD and expected the show to focus on all of those songs, perhaps being reprise of the CD. To my delight, there is much more to Acoustic Strawbs then just those excellent pieces. I should have taken notes, I suppose, and provided a set list for my fellow Strawbs fans - but we Strawbs admirers are not really like Grateful Dead fans are we? I'll just encapsulate my thoughts, then. Highlights of the evening for me included "A Glimpse of Heaven," "Autumn," "Flying," and (my gosh, they have to record an acoustic version of this!) "Hero and Heroine." Not to say that every song they played wasn't a plum - because they were. Every one. Not a bad rendition in the lot. At the end, the audience dragged the boys back for an encore with an acoustic version of "Simple Visions." Wow! I hadn't thought of that particular song being played acoustically!
Brian Willoughby was subdued during the show and we were concerned that he might be a bit ill. Hope that this wasn't the case as he is a great favorite. Either way, a bit under the weather or just thoughtful, his playing was just beautiful. Search for superlatives as one might, beautiful is the word that comes to mind when one hears his awesome control, heart-wrenching sensitivity, and gorgeous inventiveness. Dave Lambert was amazing. His playing shakes the rafters, knocks the sheen off of doorknobs, and possibly can cure psoriasis. To my ears, Dave Lambert has also matured and improved vastly as singer. The years have been kind to Dave Lambert! Brian Willoughby and Dave Lambert playing together in one room makes one slightly humbled and apprehensive; you just suppose that God Himself must be watching, intently listening to them play, and who would want to have the Almighty hear you trying sing along in the off-key? Dave Cousins was Dave Cousins, which is enough to say to those who know. Three people in our party were new to Strawbs and at least one remarked that it was unbelievable to hear one person sing with such power and emotion for so long, song after song, without losing his voice! Somewhere there must be a special muse for Dave Cousins, just whispering advice from a truly novel poetic quarter, just encouraging him to be unique in his soul-searching creative genius. Dave Cousins as a musician, singer, and a composer remains remarkable and appears to be developing further, improving. Songs that Dave has written are deservedly a treasured part of many peoples' lives, and what better testament to a poet is there than that? I suppose (and hope!) there will be Strawbs fans a century from now wondering what it was like to see these three live. I'm glad I've had the pleasure of knowing for myself and seeing them in our humble city last night.
Like all concerts, our Alexandria show eventually, regrettably ended. Dave Lambert, Brain Willoughby, and Dave Cousins walked off the Birchmere stage after about an hour and a half. It was over all too soon. Dave Cousins had remarked at the end that he supposed he would see us again after another twenty-five years. If it is twenty-five years, somewhere somewhat further down the road, well, like as not the Strawbs will still surprise, delight, challenge, and still be Strawbs. After all, it's what they do. Twenty five years? If they wheel Brian and Dave Lambert out on hospital beds propped up on pillows, it would still be worth the price of the ticket to some of us die-hards. I'd also expect Dave Cousins to still come through with something lovely and thoughtful, even if he is sponsored in that hazy future as a living history exhibit by the British Museum. Long live the Strawbs, greatest of folkies, greatest of rock and rollers, keepers of the true path! It is always nice to have a good thing a person can count on. Thanks to Dave, Dave, and Brian for another great memory!
I urge everybody out there to work to just keep these great guys playing. Having seen Acoustic Strawbs last night, greedy for more, I'd like to see them again soon. Perhaps sometime during next year you shall all come back on a new tour, Mr. Cousins, Mr. Willoughby, and Mr. Lambert.... please bring Mr. Cronk, Mr. Wakeman, Mr. Hudson, Mr. Ford and all the others along too next time if you can. Ah, how great it would be!
I'm still having "Simple Visions" echoing in my head today. I would not be surprised if God is humming some of last night's songs as the boys get ready for tonight's gig. Just wouldn't be surprised at all ....
It is late - around 1.10 am in the morning. Just got back from the Birchmere gig. Need to get some sleep because I am meeting the boys tomorrow at 11am for the xm radio gig. Should be a very interesting day.
I have watched this band live for 30 years and last night was very special. Remember when you were a child on Christmas Eve and you went to bed with visions of little strawberries in your head knowing Santa would bring you something nice. Well Sunday night was Christmas Eve for me and tonight was Christmas Day. When I opened up my present there was this little box and inside the box was a message from God and it said: "Today is your moment, your time to be one with the spirit of the music, you become the music with them and God. This is your moment to be one with the universe. Savor that moment and enjoy that moment because it will only last so long. Never forget that moment for it is true peace and tranquility and spirituality."
That moment was that good!!!! Thanks Strawbs.
(for both shows)
Benedictus
Tears And Pavan
Ghosts
A Glimpse Of Heaven
Alice's Song
Flying
The Flower And The Young Man
New World
Autumn
Out In The Cold/Round And Round
The River/Down By The Sea
Hero And Heroine
Simple Visions
TIN ANGEL, PHILADELPHIA PA, 4 May 2003
Well.....I don't even know where to start!! I guess I'll start at the beginning. After a lovely drive down to old city Philadelphia, my wife and I were lucky enough to find a parking space right across the street from the Serrano, the restaurant which is attached to the Tin Angel. This was really a Godsend, because I cannot walk more than 25 yard before I have to sit down because of my damn ankle injury. Upon entering the restaurant, we were greeted by a very lovely hostess who promptly sat us at our reserved table. I asked her if we could reserve a table inside the Tin Angel, because there was no way I could stand during the length of the shows. She informed me that since we were eating at the Serrano, that entitled us to two reserved tables for both shows. After a perfectly wonderful meal of mediterranean cuisine, we proceded up the steps to the Tin Angel. You see, the Tin Angel is actually the upstairs level of the Serrano restaurant. As I stated before in an earlier e-mail, the Tin Angel is very small; much longer than it is wide. If you are claustrophobic, this venue would be a real big problem for you.
For the first show, we sat right in front. The stage looked as I imagined it, three stools, all three guitars, banjo and dulcimer were present. After about 10 minutes, a voice announced; " In case you haven't already figured it out, please welcome....The Strawbs!" Brian first, then Lambert, and after a obviously deliberate pause, Mr. Cousins appeared. A deafening roar of applause ensued, much to the amazement of the boys. They probably weren't too aware of the fact that Philly fans are EXTREMELY passionate about their music. Dave C.'s eyes were wide as saucers as he grinned nervously over at Lambert, then Brian, who just shrugged his shoulders. Dave C., after silence fell, just simply said, "hi". He spoke for about 1 minute about the story behind "Benedictus", then away they went.
After telling [a very funny story], DC could not stop laughing. They then started into "Glimpse of Heaven", got about half way through the 2nd verse, and DC started cracking up again, and they had to stop playing! He was laughing so hard that he had tears in his eyes!. I shouted out "no more guinness for you, mister!" which lengthened the laughter period even longer. This reminded D.L that he was dry, and asked the bartender in the back to bring him a Sierra Nevada, an american micro-brew. DC said that he was thirsty too, and that the bartender should bring him a " Santa Monica" too, which cracked up Lambert pretty good. I must say that I was most impressed with Dave Lambert. Having never seen the Strawbs before, I had envisioned him as a reserved, laid-back kind of musician...I couldn't have been more wrong! He was totally into it, shaking his head all around, making all kinds of bizarre faces when soloing. Reminded me very much of Steve Howe. The highlight of the show was definitely "New World", where DC just gave it 110%....incredible vocals! He sang it like it was just recorded last week.....unbelievable. Another real treat was "Ghosts", Dave L's guitar solo was magnificent! And let's not forget "Simple Visions"; DC really seemed to enjoy singing this song, and was very theatrical about his performance of it.
After the show, we chatted with DL for quite some time about his influences, what bands he likes, his views on the road,etc. After that, we strode down to the bar, only to find DC sitting by himself!!! I couldn't believe it, as I thought that people would be swarming all over him!! Right before we got there, some guy slipped in right next to him with a rather large bag of LP's. He had every single Strawbs album ever released, and in absolute mint condition. Most impressive were his copies of By Choice and Don't Say Goodbye, which were original master recordings. He said that there were 36 in all, which according to my calculations is four over the number of Strawbs vinyl releases, so maybe a few were boots, I don't know. DC gladly signed them all, reflecting on the time period of each album. Although, funny enough, when we were discussing when certain albums were released, Dave could not remember a single one! He joked that he thought that all of them were released after the "traitor" Rick Wakeman left the band.
After the record signing ended, my wife and I introduced ourselves, as Dave promptly stood up, took my wife's hand and gave it a kiss, then hugged her firmly, like she was some long lost love that he hadn't seen in years!! I was very jealous! He then asked me if I wanted a kiss too, to which I replied that a handshake would be plenty, but he insisted on a hug for me as well. After a lengthy discussion about numerous things, the record guy was kind enough to take a few pictures of Dave with his arms around my wife and I. One, which I can't wait to see, was taken when all three of us were laughing so hard, that Dave almost fell off of his barstool! After that, we graciously thanked him not only for the wonderful show, but also for years of musical and spiritual enlightenment, and enjoyment. He smilled, waved to us, said see you next week, and we left.
The whole drive home we both had ear to ear grins on our faces. My wife said she will never wash her right hand again after having it kissed by Dave Cousins. It reminded me of when we hung out with Jon Anderson in the summer of '89, when Jon kissed her cheek....I didn't exist for weeks after that one! Anyway, that was week one. Next week, I'm sure will be just as incredible, and I'm obviously waiting on pins and needles to see them again!. I will be sending pictures to Dick to upload on the site. Until next week!
P.S- I forgot to mention that whilst at the bar, I nervously handed Dave a copy of my latest CD, which also had my covers of "Autumn", "Winter And The Summer", "Josephine", and "The River". He graciously accepted it, and said he was grateful that someone actually gave HIM something, instead of people always asking him for signatures and pics, etc. He said that he would be more than happy to give it a listen, and watching him read the back as we were leaving, really got me excited!!!
More pictures from Jim Shivers - off Strawbsweb
Last night, three friends and I attended the first Philadelphia Strawbs concert in 16 years. We are all avid fans of Dave Cousins and fellow Strawbs members, with myself being just a little bit more in touch with the band through Strawbswebnews. I can tell you that the capacity crowd of 115 in this small but very comfortable venue, were very enthused to see their favorite band once again... live in concert!
After the first song ended, the audience gave a long and roaring applause. I could see from the stage, a very happy reaction from Brian, Dave and Dave. From that moment to last note of the evening, we witnessed one of the most magical displays of talent by three men with guitars, allowing the fans to revisit in our minds the music that meant so much us.
As the third song ended, one of my friends passed me on his way to the men's room, leaned over to me and said "I have shivers!" This theme quickly took charge of the evening, leaving everyone in attendance with "shivers". Their song selection was totally awesome. I thought they would do a live version of Baroque And Roll, but they went way beyond that. To hear songs "Round And Round" and "Glimpse Of Heaven" and so on, was simply amazing!
I had my doubts that I would ever get another chance to see them play live. I had almost given up hope... until the Acoustic Strawbs were formed. I'd like to personally thank the person who came up with that idea. He/she opened the door to make this dream a reality. I thank you!
There was one fan sitting next to me that drove down from Connecticut, by himself to see the show. I asked him why he could not find someone to travel with him, he said "No one wanted to go!" what a shame they missed out on something that magical. He stayed for both shows and plans to see them in Boston. I will see them again in July.
My only regret was already owning everything the Strawbs, Acoustic Strawbs and Dave Cousins ever released on CD (including TWLS that I finally ordered direct from Witchwood Records), that I did not seem to show support for the band while autographs were being signed. I told them I owned everything (including Alice's Song to Brian... which he thanked me) and that the band (unknowingly) had already autographed my copy of Baroque And Roll in the UK. I had made friends with Les Cotton on the Witchwood Group, and he purchased the CD at a show and had the band sign my copy. I was the first guy in America to have an autographed copy of the latest Strawbs CD. Now there is Blue Angel... which is also a brilliant album. I guess I could have bought another copy for them to sign and show support, and turn on another friend... but my mind was replaying what I just heard over and over again.
I just have two more words to say to The Acoustic Strawbs, and they are: THANK YOU !!!
Benedictus
Tears and Pavan
Ghosts
Alice's Song
Flying
Glimpse of Heaven
The Flower and the Young Man
The Hangman and the Papist
Autumn
You and I (When We were Young)
Out in the Cold
Round and Round
The River
Down by the Sea
Hero and Heroine
We'll Meet Again Sometime
GRACE NORTON RODGERS SCHOOL THEATER, HIGHTSTOWN NJ, 3 May 2003
Having last seen the full band in the UK in 2000, it was quite a treat to be able to see them here in the US in such a small setting with my wife and friends. Having only seen the Strawbs when they toured the US in the 80s, it was the first time my friends were able to hear and see Dave Lambert live. Extra special highlights for me were "Flying", which I had never seen live before and the revamped "Hero and Heroine" -- totally inspired. To describe H&H in detail might ruin it for someone who hasn't heard it yet. But "Round and Round" and "Autumn" were equally mind-blowing. My friend rightly commented on how amazing it is that they can pull off these epic prog-rock songs that originally were full of choruses and mellotrons. You wouldn't think that a song like "The Winter Long" from "Autumn" could be done with just three guitars and two vocals. But the result is that it ends up sounding like they were written just for that arrangement. In fact, in the introduction to "Hero and Heroine" (in which he didn't actually mention the song title so we'd be surprised), Dave Cousins talked about how much fun it is to play the songs this way because it's actually how they were written. A new arrangement of "We'll Meet Again Sometime" was also a treat with phenomenal guitar work from Dave L and Brian.
Dave Lambert is such a genius rock guitarist. On the one hand it's a crime that he's not famous on the level of a Mark Knopfler, but on the other hand if he was, then there'd be no way to see him in such an intimate setting. The master folk guitarist, Brian, on one side, and the master rock guitarist, Dave, on the other, with the master folk-rock composer, Dave, in the middle, is all just too perfect for words. Really one couldn't ask for a better ensemble. Alright, I'm starting to gush now. Anyway, the guys seemed genuinely thrilled with the ecstatic crowd reaction. Several US favorites received standing ovations and bursts of cheers -- among them "Autumn", "Ghosts", and "Round and Round". It was an amazing night. Can't wait 'till the Tin Angel on the 10th, Rochester (my wife's home town!) on the 29th, and the other upstate NY dates after that.
Went last night to the show in Hightstown. Dave and the guys were fantastic. It was a small auditorium with an extremely devoted, attentive and responsive crowd. There were "standing O's" after at least half the songs. The musicianship (and synergy amongst them) was outstanding.
Cousins was in great form - charming, lucid, witty - introducing each song as if was to be the feature of the set. Everything worked and those normally electronically performed tunes took on new brilliance with the acoustic presentation. The set was paced well with a timely intermission and a solid encore! And the sound was so good!
I enjoyed a short but warm and heartfelt reunion with Dave Cousins and renewed my acquaintance with Dave Lambert. Also met Brian Willoughby. All were extremely friendly and humble. They did the meet and greet for pix and autographs with much of the audience after the show.
These guys are pros in every sense of the word and truly deserve to be seen and heard as much as possible. A true rarity - talent of this caliber working as a cohesive threesome. This show has to be captured for musical history (and posterity). Can we get PBS or someone to do a good three camera video shoot on this tour? If this were possible - it would seem logical that the greater NYC or Phila. markets (where the following is heaviest) would be the place to visually record.
I'm sorry if I'm getting too carried away - but they were THAT GREAT!!! Am planning to see them again at the Bottom Line in NYC (might also catch another NJ date).
My wife Kathy and I were with the group last night at the Grace Rogers School Theater in Hightstown, NJ. The band received so many standing ovations that seemed like they weren't going to every end. It was really good to see the reaction of each of the band to this show of very sincere appreciation for coming to this little town in New Jersey. Many of us were commenting that you could close your eyes and for a moment be propelled back in time.
At several times during the performance I couldn't help wondering why this excellent synergy of lyrical creativity and technical mastery didn't breakthrough to that top level stardom. I know in our minds and hearts Strawbs will always be there, but I'm talking about the larger music society. Dave C. had a funny comment about one of their songs getting pushed off the #1 slot by an Elton John tune.
Finally have time to write - (gotta scrape out a living when not attending shows)
Where to begin.... I first got hooked on the STRAWBS at 14 years old after hearing "Simple Visions" on the radio. Not long afterwards I bought their back catalog and everything they have released since. I am a completist record collector (a once terrible disease) Deemed too young to go to concerts by my Mother and "missing" concert info for the 80's shows I have waited over 20 years to see the STRAWBS perform "live"
That wait ended on May 3 in Hightstown NJ. I was totally mesmerized by the acoustic renditions of some of my favorite songs. The other reviews say it all.I was as excited as ever to catch the NJ Proghouse show. I was NOT disappointed.
Knowing what to expect I was still thrilled to be seeing the band in such an intimate setting. Watching (and listening) to their guitar play brought me so much joy. David Cousins is a master songwriter/musician and the glue that bonded Dave Lambert's sweet and powerful guitar play (a very underrated rock guitarist) and Brian Willoughby's (makes it look too easy) seamlessly superior folk/rock guitar work. I was all smiles and in awe for a second night. Great music, great voices and great songs. WOW. Hope to go to one of the Kroghs shows in Sparta.
The biggest treat has to be meeting these three men after they put on such a great performance - signing items, talking with them about anything under the sun. I learned more little known facts talking with DL for 10 minutes than I could have imagined. Take this one -the dog on the cover of "Two Weeks Last Summer" that DC is holding was named "Greco" and was actually DL's dog,.
Gentlemen -THANK YOU! see you soon. God bless.
First of all this was a great venue for this type of show (except for the lack of a bar, but we took care of that later!!). There were only about 20 rows of seats. I was in the last row and it totally didn't matter. I felt like I was practically on stage with them! The sound was excellent except for a few time when Brian's guitar dropped down in the mix.
There's been enough said about this show that I won't bother repeating, but I must say that the vibe was great. When DC talked about his compositions it was like hearing an important history lesson -- (to me it is important history!!) He was so charming I was giddy... "OH my goodness - it's actually Dave Cousins and he's talking to me!!" Well, he was talking to the audience, but it felt so personal.
I took a friend who only has two Strawbs albums: Hero And Heroine and Burning for You. Well, it was great that they played four H&H songs. You could hear how they were born, as it were, in their demo form, but they were all amazing versions, especially "Autumn". However, the cool thing was, even though Jim only knew those 4 tunes out of the whole show, he distinctly remembered the others. He went out and bought Bursting based on the "River/Sea" sequence alone!! Hopefully this tour will spark other Strawbs CD sales as they truly deserve it.
It was truly wonderful seeing Lambert for the first time. What a PRO!! The Steve Howe comparisons elsewhere in these reviews are not off base. My only regret is that I didn't get the Lambert experience when I was younger. Thanks for coming back Dave!! He seems really healthy and happy like he has 20 more years of high quality performances ahead of him (Make it so Dave - don't stop-a-rockin'!!)
Can't wait for the NYC shows.....!
NIGHT EAGLE CAFE, OXFORD NY, 2 MAY 2003
Can't believe it! I have to pinch myself. I FINALLY got to see The Strawbs again. It had only been 27 years since I last saw them and I never thought I'd ever get the chance again. I'm a lucky guy. Also never met them before so this really meant something to me because they have always been among my favorite bands. I turned my wife on to this band so she was raring to go too.
There were between 75-85 people in the small acoustic room, most in their 40's. One couple brought their teenage daughter. She enjoyed the show and especially enjoyed seeing her dad rocking along in his chair!
Dave Cousins is feeling the residuals of that hip injury. When he walked about, he was limping. When he stood up, it was obvious that he was in pain. It appeared to my wife and I (she's an operating room nurse and has done plenty of orthopedic cases) that he was putting up a brave face! He's got a great sense of humor though and everyone thoroughly enjoyed the neat stories he told about the songs. I learned many new things about the origins of these songs tonight. I gave him some photos I took of him in 1975-6 and he got a kick out of that.
I had no idea beforehand what Dave Lambert was like. I was glad to find out he was a friendly guy. I didn't have long to speak with him but he seemed interested to learn I had seen the band during its heyday in the mid 70s. He asked me a bit about the shows I saw way back when and the venues. It appeared to me that he also enjoyed seeing the old photos I brought for him. As for his playing, he sounded great. His voice was strong. After doing these acoustic gigs, I'll bet he can't wait to plug in the electric guitar again. He has all this energy and emotion and it's really neat to see someone who is so into their performance. I was sweating just watching him get into it!!!
Enjoyed listening to Brian Willoughby's guitar playing. He adds another dimension!
Not sure if they had any idea beforehand just how intimate this venue is. It is an ideal small, acoustic club. Most everyone in there was a fan or a friend of a fan; after the show, out came the albums and cameras and things to sign and they obliged, which I am sure they realize will go a long way to help their cause once these folks go home and tell everyone just how great a show they just saw. It's a pure win/win. They have been off the radar screen for a long time over here. If they continue to perform in the US, people will find out about the gigs and more folks will show up because word of mouth advertising can't be beat. Hanging around for a bit to chat is just part of the price you pay I guess. They were gracious about it and in doing so made a lot of people very happy.
The band is surely getting to see the American countryside. They have a very active itinerary. I hope when it is all over that they go home saying they had enjoyed playing over here.
Fans also enjoy the website because you do such a fine job with it. I overheard many nice things about that tonight.
Benedictus
Tears and Pavan
Ghosts
A Glimpse of Heaven
The Flower And The Young Man
Alice's Song
Flying
Autumn
Out In The Cold/Round And Round
The River/Down By the Sea
Hero And Heroine
IRON HORSE, NORTHAMPTON MA, 1 MAY 2003
Imagine that the poet William Blake came to town armed with songs of innocence and experience, an acoustic guitar, a dryer sense of humor, and a passionate singing voice. Throw in two exceptional lead guitarists, and you have some sense of the performance the Acoustic Strawbs delivered at the Iron Horse Music Hall on May 1st.
The Acoustic Strawbs, the latest incarnation of one of England's best folk-based progressive rock bands to emerge during the late-sixties, brought 35 years of touring experience to the stage, much to the delight of their American fans. David Cousins, whose poetic lyrics and intelligent arrangements are the bedrock for the Strawbs' sound, serves as centerpiece for the band. Enhanced by the guitar virtuosity of David Lambert (imagine Pete Townsend playing with more passion and intricacy) and Brian Willoughby (whose ability with judicious flourishes and counterpoint is unmatched), the band worked through an 11 song set that had the audience riveted.
The Strawbs are not a band that serves up the standard four-chord love song or the self-indulgent musings of teen-age angst that is the mainstay of most rockers, even aging ones. Instead, their themes range from the spiritual to the political and are frequently laden with explorations of the state of innocence and the bittersweet fall into experience. The set list included a paean to nature ("Glimpse of Heaven"), an evocation of the distance between a parent and a child with autism ("Alice's Song"), and a song that reflects a dissatisfaction with the naiveté that often underscores political change and revolution ("Round and Round"). The Strawbs deftly wove their way, both musically and lyrically, through the pitfalls of over-sentimentality, naïve hopefulness, and pained self-absorption that characterize the work of much less skillful singer-songwriters.
The band opened with "Benedictus" (a song whose refrain served as the good night prayer for my daughter), with Cousins demonstrating his folk roots by ably manning the dulcimer. Though an obvious favorite of the crowd, it was the next number, "Tears and Pavan," that highlighted the vocal power of Cousins and served up the first indication of the tight guitar work and seamless interplay of the three guitarists that would be heard throughout the evening. If there was one complaint to be made of the show besides its brevity, it was that with three such accomplished musicians on the stage, the pleasure of focusing on the contributions of one was always tempered by what was being missed by not focusing on the others. Many in the crowd appeared to capitulate to the dilemma by listening with eyes closed, transported by the sound.
Cousins took time to introduce each song, setting the stage masterfully with his wit, intelligence, and humor. During the intro to one of the band's trademark "epic" pieces, "Autumn," Cousins spoke of the beauty of the changing seasons, mentioning his pleasure at hearing geese in flight, and so, when Lambert donned the slide to evoke haunting cries from his six string, the season came alive.
The highlight of the show was another Strawbs' epic, "Down by the Sea," which closed the set. A signature tune with its shared lead vocals, tempo changes, and thematic elements of loss, hope, and grim determination, the song served as a true showcase for the three men's talents. At the center was Cousins, both point of departure and destination for the flourishes added by Willoughby and the driving, sometimes manic, lead and rhythm work of Lambert. Rather than a polished stage presentation, the songs appeared to organically grow, as natural an occurrence as the Earth turning to face the sun. For a band that helped launch the career of Rick Wakeman and weathered the years of Glam rock, an acoustic tour would have been a risk in less competent hands. To evince such apparent ease is the product of careful preparation and years of shared performances. Witnessing such profound synchronicity in full bloom was magical.
Cousins' voice, akin to Dylan's through its more nasal quality, seems to have deepened and become richer over the years. It certainly has lost none of its range or emotional power. Nor had Lambert's, who added a keen emotional edge to the shared vocals in "Ghosts" as well as exquisite harmony with Cousins in the "Flower and the Young Man." At a time when the popular music of the day consists of the rehashed, digitized thievery of a greater talent's sound bites by a lesser one's, what a pleasure it is to hear songs with something of import to say presented in the manner best able to convey that message and emotion. Hopefully, the warm reception the band received during the performance will cause Mr. Cousins' to reconsider his promise to return in another twenty-five years, perhaps, making that return much sooner.
PS. My apologies to Brian Willoughby who gets far too little attention in my review. I don't have the technical skill as a guitarist to comment in depth on his playing, and he makes it all seem so effortless, it's almost too difficult to describe at all. There was one moment in the show when this beautiful, lyrical series of notes came swelling up, and I looked from Lambert, to Cousins, to Willoughby to see who was the source. I couldn't figure it out at first because Brian appeared so at ease as to almost be relaxing, taking a hiatus in the song, and then I noticed it was him all along. No grimacing, no sweating, no mock straining like you see with many lead guitarists - Brian just amiably and peaceably carries on, making magic, seemingly unconsciously.
A SINGLE SET!!!!!!!!!!! SOME FOOL SCHEDULED ANOTHER BAND TO PLAY AFTER THIS SHOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHAT THE **** WERE THEY THINKING??????????????
The show was absolutely AWESOME. BUT ONLY 1 SET?????? The thing I enjoyed most about this show was actually watching the guitar lines being played. So many times I was expecting a lead from Brian only to see Dave L. deliver or vice versa.
Dave, Dave, me and Brian chatted. The Wife and I listened to Brian Willoughby and Cathryn Craig's I Will, to and from the show - fantastic CD BUY IT! Dave Lambert is a great guitar player and vocalist. Brian is in a class by himself. D.C. IS D.C. - thank you Lord !!
Mike G's stools have stood firm, as you would expect anything dealing with Mike.
[DG: this bit needs explanation for non-Witchwooders! The Acoustic Strawbs sit on three stools when they perform - rather that bring the stools they use in the UK< they askedWitchwood stalwart/guitar nut/John Ford buddy Mike Gebhardt to "fix it for them". Mike duly turned up at Newark airport with a trio of stools and has been the "butt" (if you'll pardon the expression) of various scatalogically oriented jokes on Witchwood ever since - mainly from the British who like that sort of humour)]