Click for Part 1 - reviews and pictures from the first half of the November/December US tour.
CANAL STREET TAVERN, DAYTON OH, 14 DEC 2003
My girlfriend and I attended their last show on this tour tonight (Sunday) in Dayton, OH. We had a 45 min. drive which wasn't bad. The Canal St. Tavern was an interesting place, my girlfriend pointed out all the stained glass windows and there were some pews there - maybe it used to be a church years ago. It was great to see the band again....they sounded so good and were in great spirits.
I noticed on this show Brian was playing a nylon string classical guitar. After the show I asked him if he liked it: he said he wasn't sure yet, he likes he steel strings better. To me, the nylon is easier on the fingers, but he said not much difference to him.
I got to shake hands with the entire band this time...Dave L. came back from getting his smoke on (I was wondering why he always disappeared). My girlriend pointed out he smokes filterless cigarettes and said it looks like he may roll his own - no wonder why he looks so happy all the time:-)
It was a great show and I got to hear their new song "Face Down In The Well" and they also did "Hanging In The Gallery" songs that I hadn't seen them do last time in May. For an encore they played "We'll Meet Again Sometime" which was very appropriate. Everyone wished them a safe trip home to England.
What a night it was...I may not get much sleep tonight after this show :-)
My lovely wife, Linda, myself, and our good friend Doug (a Strawbs novice) stood outside the wonderful Canal Street Tavern with a handful of the faithful, our teeth chattering and very excited. When the doorperson showed mercy and let us in we found our seats for the night right in front of the stage just a few feet away from where Strawbs would be playing! Dave Cousins and Brian showed themselves and mingled about for a bit, seemingly recognizing a few people.
The evening began with Dave C. welcoming about fifty very enthusiastic and respectful fans with, "Thank you all very much indeed for coming out on such a cold and dreary evening." But inside the tavern it was warm and bright as Strawbs launched into what has become one of my favorites since seeing them do it on the Chiswick DVD, "Witchwood". Such a beautiful and haunting song. Dave C has always written such wonderful poetry.
Dave was in fine voice as always and Dave Lambert was a ball of energy. This fellow needs to be seen live to really be appreciated for his tremendous talent and powerful voice. Brian was modestly playing his heart out and his acknowledgment to the crowd after his "Alice's Song" was very touching to me. (I was the fellow in the front with the misty eyes.)
Another high point was the acoustic rendition of "Shine On Silver Sun", which has always been a favorite of mine. It was sung so beautifully. The final number, "We'll Meet Again Sometime", was fitting as the last song at the last show of the tour and stated as such by Dave C.
Sitting where we did we could fully appreciate how Dave L. and Brian complement the songs with their tight guitar work...truly professional and with such energy. The band was very cordial afterward with those of us who stayed, satisfying all our whims. It was a night of magic!
MICKEY FINN'S PUB, TOLEDO OH, 13 DEC 2003
I finally heard the Strawbs (at least some of them) live, last night in Toledo, which is about two hours from Kalamazoo. The bar had a room to the side with a stage. It held about 60 people or so, and was full. What a shock to walk in and see so many middle-aged men (and they were mostly men). I still feel 18 when I think about the Strawbs, yet I am also middle-aged.
The experience really surpassed my expectations. I didn't think three acoustic guitars could be so intense, and the set list was fantastic. It was the same as listed for Cleveland the night before, except there was no "Hangman", which is just as well, as I have never really liked that song. Dave Lambert got to sing quite a bit, which was a huge treat. Several songs got standing ovations. The audience was very attentive, and nobody embarassed themselves. The thing I just couldn't get over is how little Dave Cousins' and Dave Lambert's voices have changed. So many of these rock singers blow out their voices. I asked Dave Lambert afterwards how he had managed to preserve his voice and he said he didn't know because he is a heavy smoker.
Talked briefly to Dave Cousins, who seemed pretty tired after the show, and said the touring had been gruelling. I told him I met him in Devon 25 years ago and he said he remembered it. Paul said it sounded like he really did.
It was Paul's first exposure to anything Strawb, and he was really impressed. I had the feeling that most in the audience were well acquainted with the material. I saw one guy go up to Dave Lambert afterwards with a copy of his solo LP, "Framed", to autograph, and somebody else was scribbling down the set list on the beer menu like I was. Might have been the same guy.
WCPN RADIO, CLEVELAND OH, 12 DEC 2003
This is Chris Boros from WCPN Radio in Cleveland, OH. This past Friday the boys played live on WCPN--they were great. What nice guys!! The show that night was killer too--just amazing!
Pics show the Acoustic Strawbs in WCPN studio - the show was recorded and is available on Strawbsweb Downloads Page
Witchwood
A Glimpse Of Heaven
Ghosts
The Hangman And The Papist
Tears And Pavan
Alice's Song
Autumn
Shine On Silver Sun
The Winter And The Summer
Face Down In The Well
The River/Down By The Sea
Out In The Cold/Round And Round
Hero And Heroine
Simple Visions
We'll Meet Again Sometime
THE WINCHESTER, CLEVELAND OH, 12 DEC 2003
My wife and I got our second chance to see the Acoustic Strawbs again the other night at a small club in Cleveland. Earlier in the spring we had driven an hour south to Bellville, a small Ohio town for a more sedate Sunday afternoon performance. I didn't attend a repeat performance there a few weeks ago due to significant storms and even tornadoes. Seeing no reports I was wondering if the show even went on [it did! - DG].
In any event this was Friday night on the west side of Cleveland, Ohio. The club was the Winchester which has just been open about a year but is trying to get itself on the artist booking lists with the likes of Leon Russell, Al Stewart, Ambrosia and Colin Hay of Men at Work. It's really a small bar with a back room, corner stage with some tables to left of stage on a platform and chairs placed to the right of stage in a curved fashion. It sold out which I would guess is 200-250 people. The Cleveland paper did happen to run both a piece on the Strawbs with a DC interview and a larger piece about the club which I think helped the crowd. In addition as noted on the web site, National Public Radio had the boys on to play and talk at 12:30 the same afternoon.
So, good view, the sound was excellent and it was nice to have lights to add to the performance. Couple of local guys played for about an hour and they were professional, pleasant and with a couple of good songs. During the set DC wandered about a bit. Guy next to my wife hadn't seen them for over 20 years so he was pretty excited and DC mentioned that it was 25 years since they had been to Cleveland. (Made me think of Ringing down the Years--"..I was in a Cleveland hotel room when they telephoned the news.." [almost certainly it was that occasion, doing promotional stuff for Arista on Deadlines in around 1978 - DG])
Much more enthusiastic crowd than I had encountered in the spring. It was a tavern on a Friday night and there is always the one guy calling out songs and yelling to the band, but it was fun and the band enjoyed it and he was rewarded with "Tears and Pavan" which he kept calling for. Set list seems pretty standard to prior shows - happy to hear "The Hangman And The Papist" which is always so emotional and DC almost sang himself off his chair. His voice was terrific the whole night alternating between the gentle and the large sound his songs call for. He lost it about half way thru something ("Hero And Heroine" I think) and missed a line or so but recovered.
The guitar playing got numerous applauses thru the night as they did indeed translate those big songs to the acoustic form. The new one "Face Down In The Well" was excellent and received very well. DL singing live is great also and I appreciate his voice much more in this setting than I ever did on album.
I was so happy to see them come out for the encore with DC without guitar because I knew again that meant "Simple Visions", and once again "I almost leapt out of my chair" for the pure joy of the playing and DC up there arms flying, emotion ringing through every word. Just great Well worth the second look. Shows you what an audience and different environment can do for a performance. Band seemed very energized in their playing an singing on a Friday night in Cleveland in front of lots of friends. Dave felt the place had a magical feel to it. Thanks to the web site for keeping things going and keeping us notified. Hoping to see the electric band in the summer.
THE TRALF, BUFFALO NY, 10 DEC 2003
My friend and I just returned from the Strawbs show at the Tralf, in Buffalo, NY. Although we live in Canada, we are fortunate to live about 30 km from the Canada/US border, with Buffalo being just across the Niagara River. We both have enjoyed the Strawbs for the last 25 years or so. Personally, their music has always been a positive part of my life since my high school years. It was finally in the mid-80's, fresh out of University with Engineering degrees behind us, that we saw them live for the first time at the Diamond in Toronto.
Last year, after hearing that the Acoustic Strawbs were playing in the UK, we made an impromptu trip to Hastings, for a fabulous show there. We saw them on this side of the Atlantic in April of this year at Hugh's Room in Toronto, with our wives and guests. Again, another unforgettable show.
Like a number of the other fans who have caught them on this second leg of their North America tour, we didn't know what to expect. Could the show be as thrilling as the ones we have already seen? The answer, of course, was a definite yes. We were not disappointed. The Strawbs proved, like the cliche about fine wine, that they just get better with time.
They appeared to be relaxed, fresh, and powerful as ever. The crowd was very appreciative, giving thunderous applause and a few standing ovations throughout the evening. The change up in the set list from the April Toronto show left me pleasantly surprised. Hearing songs like "Witchwood", "The Winter And The Summer", and "Shine On Silver Sun" was superb.
As the boys finished their encore and thanked the ecstatic audience, the audience in turn shouted out "Thank You" to the band numerous times. One would only see that happen at a Strawbs show!!
Interesting t-shirts on sale behind Tony and Dave
A couple of weeks ago I saw a show that I won't soon forget. A buddy called me to tell me that the Strawbs were playing in Buffalo. I was a little skeptical because it seems there are a lot of bands from the 70's out doing shows that really aren't that great. But I said sure let's check it out. My wife wanted to go too, she always liked the Burning For You album. We had seen the band back in 1976 at Maple Leaf Gardens and they were great. As the date got closer I found this website and found out that this was an acoustic version of the Strawbs and I also saw the set lists for the last couple of shows. This was getting interesting.
So off we went to the show and we saw an opening band that did some real nice original material and then finished with a great cover of Genesis' Ripples. When the Strawbs took the stage it was great to see that they were all playing six-string acoustic guitars with no other accompaniment. From the first song to last these guys were phenomenal. Dave Cousins' voice was as strong and emotional as ever and, because it was an acoustic set, we could hear it as we've never heard it before. Dave Lambert played some incredible guitar and there were times when you closed your eyes you would have a hard time believing there were only three guys playing acoustic guitars on the stage. Brian Willoughby did a great job on both the six-string acoustic and the classical guitar. There were probably five or six songs that they got a standing ovation at the end of the song.
This was probably the first concert in years that I have been at that gave me goosebumps. I purchased the CD they were selling at the show and I haven't been able to play anything else lately. Now I hear there is a DVD coming out of the show they did in Toronto. I can't wait to get my hands on that. My son plays some guitar and I'd love to show him that there is so much more you can do musically with an acoustic guitar that most popular new bands don't seem to be interested in or capable of.
CAFFE LENA, SARATOGA SPRINGS NY, 7 DEC 2003
A very nice show last night. The place is the longest continually run folk house in the U.S. It is small, about 75 people, nonprofit. no alcohol place. It was strange not seeing beer next to the guys while playing.
The set was shortened somewhat. No "Lemon Pie" or "Simple Visions" come to mind. "The Hangman And The Papist" was added and was a highlight. "We'll Meet Again Sometime" has gone way up on my list of favorite songs. I've heard it three times this year and I've been awed each time. I really look forward to the DVD release, which should be in March according to Dave.
Talking with Neil, the band traveled 9,000 miles this tour, plus 10,000 miles last spring. They were heading to Lowell Massachusetts [about 185 miles] tomorrow then off to Buffalo N.Y. [400+] backtracking across the state. I only had to drive 135 miles. Three people in my party cancelled because of shitty weather. When you look at what the guys have endured to entertain us, be thankful.
My first and only Strawbs experience so far.....(I hope there will be more...) occurred on December 4th 2003, when the Acoustic Strawbs performed at a little place called Krogh's (a very nice little place actually) in Sparta, NJ.
This is how it began:
From the time I was little my Dad has always said how the Strawbs was his favorite band of all time. He has been a loyal fan since his days in high school, when he was in a band of his own, and now, that he is almost 50....seeing them would be a dream come true.
When my Dad found out that they were playing in NJ in late November, he knew he had to get tickets, and knowing that I am a fan of music as well, he didn't hesitate to purchase two of them.
I had to admit, going to see a famous band, actually, let's make that...LEGENDARY BAND was very exciting to me. So when we finally arrived at Krogh's, and I saw how intimate the setting was, I was thrilled for my dad and myself, that after the show we might actually get a chance to get up close and personal with them!
It seemed like it took an eternity for the show to start, but when it finally did, believe me, it was well worth the wait. I was immediately drawn into the enchanting music, the spectacular guitar playing by Dave Lambert and Brian Willoughby and perhaps the most entranced by the voice of Dave Cousins, never in my life (all 16 years) have I ever heard anything more moving, beautiful, or heavenly.
Every song they played had a story behind it, which Dave Cousins would tell the audience (all 30 of us) before he performed each one. Each one perhaps more moving then the next. Who knew that "The Hangman and the Papist" was based on the religious troubles in Ireland, or that "Ghosts" was written when Dave C. looked out his hotel room window in Indianapolis and saw the memorial column in front of him with a winged angel on top? It was all very interesting. (By the way Dave, if you're reading this...I really loved the song "Face Down in the Well"...but the lyrics aren't listed anywhere...and it would be nice if it was on CD too...)
I was so thrilled with what I heard, that I was actually looking forward to the end of the concert...so I could meet them!
Needless to say, after the last song ended my Dad and I didn't hesitate to run up to the first "Strawb" we could find, to get a picture and an autograph. That "Strawb" happened to be Dave Lambert. He was very nice, he posed with me while my dad got a picture and he even unwrapped and autographed my dad's two Strawb albums, "Ghosts" and "Hero and Heroine". After we were done and we said good-bye, I stepped out for a moment, and when I came back my Dad had a guitar pick in his hand..........Dave Lambert had given it to him while I was gone! (How nice was that?!!)
When I was done getting over the shock, I quickly headed over to Dave Cousins who was seated at a corner table. When asked to to autograph my Dad's albums and take a picture with me he graciously accepted. I was thrilled to have met him....and in case he's reading this....(I have that picture in a special place where I can see it!)
Last and definitely not least...I had to get a picture with Brian Willoughby.....who unfortunately broke a blood vessel in his eye earlier (fortunately he had his eyes closed in the picture...so you can't see it....) By the way..if you haven't heard the song he wrote.."Alice's Song"...it's really good....
Well, when we finally left Krogh's...I exclaimed to my Dad "That....was the best!!!" And believe me when I say that...."The Best"....until the next time I see them....
Let's just hope that the guys will read this.....
KROGH'S, SPARTA NJ, 3 AND 4 DEC 2003
BOTTOM LINE (TWO SHOWS), NEW YORK NY, 29 NOV 2003
NJ PROGHOUSE AT THE FRANKLIN SCHOOL HOUSE, METUCHEN, NEW JERSEY, 30 NOV 2003
I've got a little time at the moment, so I thought I'd share some thoughts of the recent shows from my somewhat rather unique perspective, given the fact that I'm involved with this tour.
The Bottom Line shows on the 29th were by far the best I have seen from the guys in quite some time. The combination of full houses, great sound, a large stage, and a venue that the guys all enjoy playing certainly added to the enjoyment of the evening by all...
The first show Saturday night was a much higher energy show than the second. The setlist was a much higher energy setlist. Indeed, the first show rivalled, if not surpassed, the energy level of the 2nd show at the Tin Angel in Philadelphia. The sound guy at the Bottom Line had Dave C's voice equalized just right, and the balance was perfect. All in all, a great evening..
While the second show did not have the energy of the first, by virtue of the setlist, it certainly had the magic and the intimacy. I'd have to say that these two shows at the Bottom Line were the best performances I've seen from Dave C. and company since they've been doing the acoustic thing...
As far as the NJ Proghouse show went, with John Hawken in attendance, I suppose there is only one way to describe what we witnessed. Magic. Pure magic. That's about all there is to say. Mr. Hawken, along with his two sons, thoroughly enjoyed the evening, if his playing 'air piano' to most of the songs was any indication.. Then when he got onstage for the encore, well, let's just say it was an emotional time for all...
All in all, the tour so far has been great. Good crowds, the band is happy, the music has been wonderful, and a wonderful time is being had by all...
A lot of what I've witnessed I can't talk about, but rest assured that the Acoustic Strawbs are here to stay, and I expect great things in the future...
NJ PROGHOUSE AT THE FRANKLIN SCHOOL HOUSE, METUCHEN, NEW JERSEY, 30 NOV 2003
I just got home from the Strawbs show at NJPROG House. It was at the Old Franklin School Metuchen, NJ. John Hawkin (Metuchen resident) was present and played piano with the band for the first encore ("We'll Meet Again Sometime").
Here are some photos (post show). John's two sons are in one of the pics with the band. I'll send some performance shots soon.
Asterisk (*) indicates a song performed in only one of the two sets.
Witchwood *
A Glimpse Of Heaven
Ghosts
Face Down In The Well
New World *
Alice's Song
Shine On Silver Sun
Autumn
On A Night Like This
The Winter And The Summer
Tears And Pavan
The River/Down By The Sea
Out In The Cold,/Round And Round
Hero And Heroine *
Simple Visions *
A Glimpse Of Heaven
Ghosts
Tears And Pavan
The Hangman And The Papist *
Alice's Song
Shine On Silver Sun
Autumn
On A Night Like This
Hanging In The Gallery *
The Winter And The Summer
Face Down In The Well
The River/Down By The Sea
Out In The Cold,/Round And Round
We'll Meet Again Sometime *
BOTTOM LINE, NEW YORK NY, 29 NOV 2003
I was fortunate enough to attend both shows at the Bottom Line in New York City last night, here are my day after impressions:
The Bottom Line is an intimate club/cabaret in New York City that seats about 300 people. It has a full bar, and also serves bar food, such as pizza and burgers. Although the seating can get a bit crowded up close, it probably lets you get closer to the entertainers than any onther venue I've ever been to. People sitting in the closest seats can (and have!!!) reached out and shaken hands with the performers after a particularly inspiring piece. Even the seats that are a bit further back have great sight lines and a acoustics. I mention all of this because the Bottom Line is in trouble, and is in danger of closing. In discussing this with Dave Lambert, after the show, he pointed out that arenas like this are crucially important for performing bands like Strawbs. If these places close down, it will be harder and harder to mount tours and to keep the bands alive. So, my first recommendation to all, is that if you love live music, support places like the Bottom Line. On to the show.
The music played covered much of the history of Strawbs, including several songs that originally appeared on From the Witchwood (1971) through material that will appear on the upcoming album, which Dave C indicated will be recorded this winter. Of the early songs, "Witchwood" and "A Glimpse Of Heaven" have the haunting melodies that Strawbs were known for in that period. The arrangement with the three guitars provides a fresh view of these songs when compared with the original versions of the songs. "The Hangman And The Papist" is a sad ballad about the horrors of war and how it can divide families. Hearing it last night for the first time in many years brought back memories from the first time I had heard it. Grave New World (1972) was represented by the song "New World", a powerful anti-war song written about the Northern Ireland conflict. Dave Cousins has made the point that the senseless slaughter described in this song is equally analogous to the events of September 11, which adds to the power of the song. Strawbs biggest commercial success came with Bursting at the Seams (1973), which was well represented by "Tears And Pavan", "The River", "Down By The Sea", and the Dave Lambert song "The Winter And The Summer". In introducing "Tears And Pavan" in the late show, Dave C recognized the co-author, John Ford, who was in the audience. "The Winter And The Summer" is new to the set list (i.e., not performed in the May Tour): it's always nice to hear Dave L perform his own work, he is truly a talented songwriter. The guitar work at the end of "Down By The Sea", where Brian Willoughby and Dave Lambert trade leads with improvisation on the theme always blows me away, and is worth the price of the admission by itself.
While the ability to recast rock and roll songs from Bursting at the Seams impresses tremendously, the musical versatility of Acoustic Strawbs really comes through with the new acoustic versions of songs from Hero and Heroine (1974) and Ghosts (1974). My recollection of both of these albums was the brilliant keyboard work of John Hawken, playing a principal role in both the albums. The Dave, Dave and Brian truly reinvent the title songs from these albums and teach us a great deal about music as an art with their interpretations of other songs from this era, such as "Autumn", and "Shine On Silver Sun" (not performed in previous tours). With "Out In The Cold", and "Round And Round" the boys show us that you can get down and rock, even when only using acoustic instruments.
Often, when a group had its greatest commercial success a number of years ago, fans (at best) tolerate the new material. What makes Strawbs so special is that the among the highlights of the shows were the three newer numbers performed last night. Brian Willoughby's "Alice's Song", which appeared on the Acoustic Strawbs Baroque & Roll (2001), is a song about Brian's niece, who has autism. The love for this child comes through every time one hears it played. "Face Down In The Well" and "On A Night Like This" are two brand new songs, which the audience hadn't heard before. Both show a kind of "latin" influence. "On A Night Like This" is similar musically to "Rhythm Of The Night", from the Blue Angel (2003) album (though not really) and includes more than a nodding tribute to Richie Valens' "La Bamba". "Face Down In The Well" is a slower number beautifully performed. I look forward to the new album to listen to both of these numbers again.
The turnout for the first show was excellent, especially considering the fact that it's a holiday weekend. The crowd for the late show (10:30 start) was somewhat less, though was also good considering the time it started. Before the first show, it was announced that the performance was being recorded for broadcast on Sirius, and the audience was encouraged to make as much noise as possible. For these reasons, I felt that there was a much higher energy level for the first show, and while the second show was great it seemed somewhat more subdued.
The Strawbs ALWAYS perform at an exceptionally high level to exceptionally knowledgeable audience. I am constantly in awe of Brian Willoughby's guitar work, and last night was no exception. Dave C's voice is still there after all these years, and we can all hope that he continues to perform for many more. For me, the absolute highlight last night was listening to Dave L's guitar work (especially in the first show). His playing was better than I've ever heard it before (and he starts at an incredibly high level to begin with). After many years of attending many concerts, I have rarely heard some as 'on' as he was last night.
After each show, members of the band come out to chat with fans, have their pictures taken, sign autographs et c. As always, all three were incredibly gracious spending a little personal time with all who stayed. I was able to have a drink with Dave L, where we chit chatted about this and that (and where I mentioned my special appreciation for his performance). As a bonus, John Ford also hung around, for a while he chatted with Dave C and Dave L, afterwards, I got a few words with him, where he talked about his current performing with his current band.
Another splendid and thoroughly enjoyable show, where we were reacquainted with old favorites and introduced to some of the new soon-to-be favorite songs. This summer, it is expected that the Strawbs (electric) will be touring the States. I will be sure to attend.
Dave Lambert was on fire, both instrumentally and vocally. A friend of mine who saw the group earlier in the tour said the exact same thing which I find very interesting. The shows were absolutely wonderful. Enthusiastic crowds, the first show was not sold out, but very full, the second show was a respectable turn out. Nice mix of songs, with some brand new numbers. A couple of surprises in numbers they said they had not performed live before this tour. To me the biggest shock was the final encore - "We'll Meet Again Sometime", done in a terrific arrangement.
Jeffrey Lesser was in the audience for the 1st show. John Ford attended the 2nd show, and was acknowledged from the stage by Dave C, but did not join the band for any numbers.
Great show at the Bottom Line on Saturday. It was recorded for Sirius Sat. radio, so it'll be broadcast some time in the future. Pretty big, enthusiastic audience. No meet and greet though at the early show. Jeffrey Lesser was in the audience and went backstage right after the show.
