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This evening was one heck of a party! Randy filled the house, we were actually over capacity, and fortunately I had just bought some new chairs so we managed to fit everyone. It was great to hear Randy as a solo performer in the intimate setting of the cabin. The energy was high and the kitchen was absolutely buzzing between sets. The local newspaper ran a review of Randy’s CD, so we had a few new audience members in the crowd. I’ll admit that the atmosphere felt a little more like a party than usual–maybe it was the shrimp coctail?

Okay, if you don’t already know this, Randy started dragging me out to his gigs a few years ago, to play as a sideman. I was a really dreadful musican at the time, being new to mandolin. Twenty years of guitar didn’t help me at all. Eventually we started exploring different directions in music, encompassing swing, celtic and bluegrass, and formed a band with Jesse Graber and Rick Unger, called Burnt Prairie. This was all great fun, but it sure did make it hard to catch a “Randy Pease” gig. With Rick and Jesse’s departure from Evansville, we’re all moving onto new things. Right now, Randy, Beth, myself, and Dan Craig are playing celtic music, but I suspect we’ll be exploring some other styles soon.

Thank you, Randy, for a couple of great sets, and the continuing opportunity to share music and gigs.

Update: Randy has some new tracks posted of his latest CD, which is about to be released. You can find them athttp://www.reverbnation.com/randypease

I don’t know how to describe Rachel. She is the sort of performer that you don’t want to take your eyes off of, even for a moment, because you might miss that sidewards glance, or a flip of the shoulder that gives a lyric new layers of meaning. Wonderful guitarwork, a voice like silk tapestry, each song is delivered from the heart and carried with a smile. The rhythms form a groove that make you want to dance. And that smile makes you hope the evening doesn’t end too soon. Rachel Cross is an enchanging performer!

The best thing about hosting house concerts is that we get to spend a little time with the performers we host, before and after the show. Sometimes it’s brief, a late dinner, coffee in the morning and back on the road–but even in a short time, we form some fine friendships. And Jonna does, too. She really “took” to Rachel, and sat through most of her show–even listening to the songs in french and hebrew–quite a feat for a young girl. But I think it’s a barometer of sorts, Rachel has a quality in her stage presence that is very appealing to young people, and though this performance was not for kids, one kid thought it was pretty cool.

And Rachel, we found the card and promises…they were wonderful!

Update: Though we haven’t been able to get Rachel to come back to Indiana, she’s doing fine in Tacoma Park, MD where she and Henry keep their home and are actively involved in local music, education, and culture. –Tim

I’ll admit it, I have a difficult time thinking that I might garner some good investment advice from a folk singer–especially one who entertained the idea of becomming a rap star. Then again, anyone who can banter on the subject of portfolio diversification while changing his broken e string is not easily dismissed! Andrew shared some great stories, especially his efforts at joining the cast of the television series “Survivor”. We all sat back in our chairs and laughed along with his foibles and tales that he picked up along the way from the east coast to the west, and then to his current home in Chicago. Andrew delights in a wry twist of NY sarcasm where folk stardom equates to rock stardom–and for an evening, we did our part as the current cast of screaming groupies.

We love you Special K!!!

Though it hasn’t been updated recently, you can learn more from Andrew’s website athttp://www.andrewkerr.com/

There is something about a music trio that really fills a cabin… we had a house-full for this show, in attendance and in the day that followed. There was always someone to talk to and something to talk about while they were here. It seems that everyone had some common ground with everyone else in one way or another. I got a brief lesson from Mark on alternate tunings, including a demonstration of some really cool Michael Hedges stuff. Oh, and we got the scoop on their name. Margo and Adrienne were two-thirds of an all-girl tio called “Mad Woman in the Attic” and when they reformed with Mark as the third member, they wanted to keep a relationship with the old name and so they decided to name the woman in the attic Agnes. Anyway, that’s how I heard it.

The running joke during the next day’s departure was whether or not Tim was still going to have just as many instruments when they left. I assured them that I had no concerns, since they were also packed with so many guitars and such, that they would have to leave something behind if they were to try to add to the pile. I especially liked that custom guitar made of cherry that Adrienne was toting. It sounded sweet as it looked!

Their website has temporarily gone south, but you can listen to some of their tunes and learn more about Mad Agnes at http://www.last.fm/music/Mad+Agnes

It continues to amaze me how every performer and every performance is different, and a pleasure to experience. Lui’s easy and relaxed manner draws you into a comfort zone so quickly that time seems to take a breather. Often, performers will encourage audience participation after they’ve established a rapport with the audience. Lui needs a little under five minutes to establish that rapport. She starts with a song to warm up the strings on her Taylor, then switches to a borrowed guitar (thanks, Beth) for a sing-along. Then she picks up a banjo. The good kind–soulful, sonorous, old-time mountain music. A pattern is established that will last most of the night.

Suddenly we’re in the middle of something different–it’s a poem, about trust, about belief, about jumping into the unknown abyss, making a leap of faith, being seduced by words, and surviving the result. Wow. More music, this one a little different, then another sing-along. Slowly, people realize that they’ve heard this voice somewhere before, a part of a radio show, a children’s song, perhaps performed by another person, but with that same gorgeous voice.

Finally the night ends, and though we didn’t notice, time did continue to pass. Everyone else is gone except friends, Randy and Beth myself, and Lui. Lui asks Randy to pull out a guitar, and she takes her turn listening while we play for her, and share some Randy and Beth’s songs. We’re all tired, but we manage to cap the night with music shared. It’s another memory to keep.

You can read more about Lui Collins on her website at http://www.luicollins.com/