| Author | Message | ||
     Barry Newton (Barry) Advanced Member Username: Barry Post Number: 21 Registered: 2-2002 |
Seems like time this event had its own thread. I've hung paper in G'burg and Olney. Pretty good response from the Wind shop and the Violin shop in G'burg. The Backyard Naturalist staff in Olney may show up en masse: the owner is offering to comp admission to any employee who wants to come. Interesting detail about this gig; the original sponsors are going to be out of town, and have delegated the management of the event to Scott and Paula Moore, who run their own house concert series in Rockville. This shouldn't affect the event, but seems like useful knowledge for local Petal Pushers and band members. Paula tells me that it's not yet a sellout, but that sales have been fairly brisk. | ||
| Jim Greenlees (Jimgreenlees) Senior Member Username: Jimgreenlees Post Number: 124 Registered: 7-2002 |
Excellent deal with the Backyard Naturalist! The show has mentions in the Washington Post Weekend section, and the Gazette (a bit fuzzy on the facts, but a pitch, nonetheless). There should also be a mention on WETA-FM this weekend. I've gotten a couple of nibbles from posting flyers at work, and Chuck has papered the Rockville area. So, there should be plenty of experienced and neophyte 'Lilyfans. A note about Barry's comment on the sponsorship: the guest-hosting means that the contact information on the flyers and gigs page are not directly to the Moores; the phone number directs you to the Moores, but the email is only occasionally monitored. You can contact Scott and Paula directly to request tickets. If all else fails and you want to chance it, they (in the form of Petal Pushers) are going to be selling tickets at the door. See you there, JimG | ||
| Charles Lagana (Charles) Senior Member Username: Charles Post Number: 23 Registered: 1-2003 |
Jim or Barry...I've never been to Vic's, what's it like? Big, small room? How are the acoustics? Just contacted the Moore's via email to request tix. Also, your guess as to drive time from Philly to Rockville? I'm guessing 2.5 hours. CL | ||
| Barry Newton (Barry) Advanced Member Username: Barry Post Number: 22 Registered: 2-2002 |
Vic is a promoter putting on biweekly folk shows at O'brien's Barbecue--so you won't see any sign's about a place called Vic's. The restaurant is a fairly large place, but the shows are over on one side, with maybe 60-70 seats. Acoustics were, well, never in the original design. As for the 2.5 hours, I made it in 2.5 hours from Germantown to Silver Spring down Route 1 at 3:00 in the morning in 1971, when I could exceed 80 mph most of the way--and I had to report for duty at 0630. You might still do that down I-95 under ideal conditions, but they're pretty hard to find anymore. Three to four hours is a lot more reasonable, but if you plan to come down after work, you'll be hitting rush hours in Philly, Wilmington, Baltimore, and maybe even a piece of DC. The band has made this trip a whole lot of times, maybe they'll have some suggestions about planning. If it helps, O'brien's has pretty good barbecue, and they serve beer. If that hasn't scared you off, we can offer a couch or some floor space--Meridel's back, or we'd have a spare bed in the house. In any case, I don't think you want to go both ways in one day, especially leaving here late at night. | ||
| Jim Greenlees (Jimgreenlees) Senior Member Username: Jimgreenlees Post Number: 126 Registered: 7-2002 |
For those not familiar with the place, the easiest way to get to O'Brien's is to take I-270 to exit 6 - Rte 28 west (under overpass). Turn right at the third light onto Research Blvd (Citibank on the corner). Turn right at the next light (about 2/3 mile) onto Gude Dr. Take Gude Dr. just under 2 miles, across Rte 355. O'Brien's is on the right in an office building (just after a Shell station and a Montgomery Donuts shop). See you there, JimG | ||
| Charles Lagana (Charles) Senior Member Username: Charles Post Number: 27 Registered: 1-2003 |
Due to a conflicting business appointment, I won't be able to make the show tonite  . Expecting full reports/reviews from JimG and Barry Newton. Hope everyone has a great time! CL | ||
| Barry Newton (Barry) Senior Member Username: Barry Post Number: 23 Registered: 2-2002 |
Thanks, Charles. We definitely had a good time. Got there an hour early and had a dicey time getting seated--it was already pretty full. By show time the venue was packed, probably 80 people crammed in there. Fortunately were able to share space with Jane Lewis and her cohort Angie Tiernan. Petal Pushers were very well represented: three Newtons, Jim Greenlees (of course), Jane and Angie, a couple named Sorenson manning the merch table who were new to me, but fans for the last year or so. In fact, when Val asked, there only seemed to be 15-20% newbies in the audience. My friends from the Olney naturalist shop got in at 8:00 and had to sit on the non-venue side of the aisle. And they still stayed through the full show. If Chuck made it, I didn't meet him. Oh, and there was music. Bet Williams, a gorgeous blond female singer and guitarist, accompanied on drums and string bass opened with almost 40 minutes of original music, spanning blues, folk and opera. Yes, really. This young lady has a whole lot of Joni Mitchell potential--something I was thinking even before Val mentioned Joni in connection with Bet. She's got the spirit and the power, and is working real hard on the chops, folks. No half-rate talent opening for our guys. Speaking of whom. . . Valerie, Gene and Brendan were rested, in great spirits, and outstanding form. I will, as usual, trust Jim to fill in with the set list that I never remember to capture, but here's what I can recall: Little Nemesis, Shannon, Looking Forward/Looking Back, Coming Home, No Room, Apocalyptic Love Song. Val didn't get enough of the mix for her solo, which annoyed me mightily, but the performance was tremendous anyway. The big news of the night for me was that they had been in San Francisco "workshopping" Striking 12, and performed a new piece inspired by the workshop--still using written lyrics. I hope Jim has a title for that number. It was truly fine, as was Coming Down. It's safe to say that the 2003 run will be a different entity than last year's. Sorry this is all so scattered. I just don't have the discipline to take notes during a performance, nor the memory to get away without them. So the best I can do is fragments and impressions. Lots of room for more careful and thoughtful people to fill in details. Hope that doesn't take too long. | ||
| Jim Greenlees (Jimgreenlees) Senior Member Username: Jimgreenlees Post Number: 127 Registered: 7-2002 |
GROOVELILY STUFFS THE PIG (with apologies to Charles for stealing his headline theme) But it's true: the place was packed, with over 100 returning and new fans. GrooveLily gave a sterling performance in their return to where I first met them: a drive-through barbecue joint. The venue featured a 5x10 stage, a waist-high wall separating the music area from the rest of the eatery, and cow skulls on the wall above the stage. Opening was Bet Williams, the "other NY trio with a blonde lead singer", gave a stellar performance singing and on guitar, with her bandmates on (extraordinarily well-played) standup bass and (Gene's) drums. But then, GrooveLily took the stage: First Set: Weight of the World - the symbolic single Happy Happy Happy - very well received; the irony set the crowd roaring Shannon Blessings Little Nemesis - with Val introducing it with a nod to her ROTC and Army training teaching her to stand up, and then concluding with a fiery instrumental, complete with string-pounding, distortion, and fingering par excellence No Room In Your Bag - folk crowds always sing along Second Set: starting with the "separation songs" Looking Forward Looking Back Coming Home - as emotionally charged as ever Live Through This then, a trio from the reworked "Striking 12" First Day of the Year - partially written in Palo Alto, and completely changing the perspective of the show It's Coming Down - with new introductory dialogue Can't Go Home Diva Girl - appreciated in its fullness Apocalyptic Love Song - the ultimate tribute: a moment of disbelieving silence, and then a standing ovation; just a perfect song Encore: Odometer Song A couple of observations: - Gene transported by the passion of his playing to a place all his own, of which we have the privilege of gaining an occasional glimpse; - Gene, choked with emotion and having to restart Diva Girl  ; - Scott Moore, the guest host, asking during the break if anyone had lost a pair of glasses, and then Val realizing four songs into the second set that they were hers; - for the second DC-area show in a row, Brendan selecting for the giveaway a member of the "GrooveLily family", this time the Fosters, who have the distinction of being the first couple to have met at a GrooveLily show and then get married; - Val's mom coming up to Gene after the show with some highly irreverent and hilarious "suggestions" for Diva Girl. Thanks to Chuck Gambrill and his friend Scott for volunteering to handle tickets at the door; Bryan and Diane Sorensen (no longer rookies) for a stellar job at the merch table; Barry, Judy, and Meridel Newton for the publicity and inspiring the entire staff of the Backyard Naturalist to attend; and Jane Lewis (even further ahead of Bud in GrooveLily shows) and Angie Tiernan for making the trek. Bob and Gerry Vigoda, for tireless support and obvious pride in their daughter and her band. Scott Moore (of Moore Music house concert series) did yeoman work coordinating the gig. And the staff of O'Brien's, keeping the kitchen open past nominal closing to accomodate the converts to the Revolution. The music continues to grow and mature. The forces swell in numbers and enthusiasm. This year should see the band take a quantum leap to the next stage. Wonder how the Army feels about being represented by a trio of (Quality Music) Revolutionaries? May you all get a million bucks, to finance the Revolution. Til next time, JimG (Message edited by jimgreenlees on May 29, 2003) | ||
| Chuck Gambrill (Chuck) Advanced Member Username: Chuck Post Number: 20 Registered: 7-2002 |
I very much enjoyed last night's concert. This is the first time I can recall being the gate keeper to a concert. I have been a listener and a performer but not the gate keeper. I have a new found appreciation for ticket takers. For this concert, I also had the behind the scenes point of view. Although this was acoustically less then ideal, it offered new insight to what it takes to put on a show. I met some Petal Pushers for the first time who's names I have seen bounce around the internet. I would have been more sociable but duty called each time a patron entered the venue. As the gatekeeper, theoretically, all who attended passed by me. While serving this function I heard many fans speak enthusiastically about GrooveLily. While this is in no way a surprise, in my mind it affirms the popularity of GrooveLily among its fans. I am looking forward to the next D.C. area show. Chuck | ||
| Jane Lewis Unregistered guest |
As always, I was completely in awe of the talent that I saw before me last night. I do not understand why this trio of talented musicians (and fabulous human beings) are still playing to dozens instead of thousands. That will change soon, God willing, and I will be proud to say that I knew them when. It was evident that Groovelily is "uping the game". I noticed small changes in many of the tunes that keep them fresh. The new "Post Apocalyptic" section transports me to another place altogether. In addition to the fabulous musical experience, it is always fun to see the familiar faces of fellow petal pushers. The only downside of the evening was not getting to meet Charles. It would be lovely to put a face with those wonderful words. Looking forward to the next meeting of the DC area revolution! Jane | ||
| Rob Bond (Rob) Senior Member Username: Rob Post Number: 184 Registered: 7-2002 |
Hi Everyone, Thanks to Barry and Chuck for their pre-show Flyer work! Thanks to Bryan and Jim for their pre-show media contact work! Thanks to Chuck for working the door, and for Bryan and Diane for working the merchandise table at the show. You are all great! Barry, I know the feeling of hearing a smoking violin solo that is seriously under mixed in the house sound - a real bummer. ---Rob | ||
| Charles Lagana (Charles) Senior Member Username: Charles Post Number: 28 Registered: 1-2003 |
Hey, gang, I'm jazzed and jealous after reading your fine accounts of the "Stuffed Pig" gig in Rockville (how appropos a locale) on this miserably moist, early Saturday evening in Pottstown. Good to hear the joint was jumpin' and packed, a perfect setup, bovine skulls included, for the madness that GL can create. Interesting that Bet Williams and her band opened. Interesting in that Bet lived and performed for several years in Philadelphia, got her degree (in Poetry) from Penn State, and is a self-professed Army brat. She continues to play The Point and The Tin Angel on a regular basis. And, now, she lives in NY. Hmmmm.... Cool to read the reviews from several different perspectives. GrooveLily devotees, PP's or not, all seem to share a common bond, desire really, for music that sounds and tastes good. It's so important that comments are always made, no matter where the venue, re the sound. We always want the best for our friends, eh? Does make you smile when you realize how much we care. The QMR is always in good hands with this GrooveLily crowd. Jane, you and I share a passion for "ALS" and its powerful space jam coda. You wrote: "The new "Post Apocalyptic" section transports me to another place altogether...." How apt your description, as I often feel that out-of-body thing happening myself. Just the anticipation of hearing GL get to that point of the song can be overwhelming. Then you get to take that lightship ride to where spiral nebulae explode, cascading their timeless brilliance all around you. The only music that has affected me in a similar way has been the work of the band Yes. Both groups play with precision, passion, imagination, and great vision. Glad everyone had a slammin' time. You got what you deserved from one of the best bands dishin' it out: GrooveLily CL |
