Doc Watson's still got it!

Subject: Doc Watson's still got it!
From: Fortunato
Date: 24 Jan 00 - 02:00 PM

Went to see Doc Watson the other night at the Birchmere in Alexandria VA. He was fabulous and as far as I could tell flawless in voice and instrumentally. I saw Bill Kirchen there (Comander Cody Fame),he had come to see the Mighty Doc (Guitar players homage). All y'all go see the Doctor before it gets too late. I'd been worried. His last CD: Docabilly had great music and lots of super sidemen, but Doc's voice sounded ragged on the rockabilly, and I was afraid of what I'd hear live.

But he's still got it!

Regards Fortunato

Subject: RE: Doc Watson's still got it!
From: The Shambles
Date: 24 Jan 00 - 03:02 PM

Thank you for that very welcome news. This may be of interest too? Doc Watson an appreciation.

Subject: RE: Doc Watson's still got it!
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 24 Jan 00 - 03:21 PM

'Course he's still got it. He owns it!

Subject: RE: Doc Watson's still got it!
From: bseed(charleskratz)
Date: 24 Jan 00 - 03:36 PM

Is there a website that publishes Doc's performance schedule? I have GOT to see him live.

--seed

Subject: RE: Doc Watson's still got it!
From: Midchuck
Date: 24 Jan 00 - 04:16 PM

<< Doc Watson   1/15    NY  The Bottom Line/New York      212/228-6300        1/16    CT  St. Matthews Church/Wilton                  203/762-7400        1/17    VA  The Birchmere/Alexandria                    703/549-7500        2/24    NY  Eastman School/Rochester                    716/274-1110        2/26    PA  Strand-Capitol Thtr/York                    (w/Nashville Bluegrass Band)                717/846-1111        2/27    PA  Scranton Cultural/Scranton                  570/346-7369        3/11    TN  Southern Nights/Sevierville                 865/908-0600        3/25    FL  Spirit of the Suwanee/Live Oak              904/249-7990        3/31    NY  The Bottom Line/New York                    212/228-6300        4/1     NY  Troy Savings Bank Music Hall/Troy           518/273-0038        4/15    VA  Radford Univ./Radford                       540/831-5420        4/27-30 NC  MerleFest/Wilkesboro                        919/838-6292        6/3     IL  Old Town Schl/Chicago                       773/728-6000        6/17-18 MO  Hoba Park/West Plains                       417/257-3310        6/23    GA  Variety Playhouse/Atlanta                   404/524-3215        6/24    TN  Maryville College/Maryville                 423/982-3808        7/8     MD  Common Ground on the Hill/Westminster       410/857-2771        7/9     VA  Thtr at Lime Kiln/Lexington                 540/463-7088        7/22    KY  Master Musicians Fest./Somerset             606/678-2225        7/29-30 CO  RockyGrass/Lyons                            303/823-0848        1/26/01 KS  Carlsen Ctr/Overland Park                   913/469-4450        1/27/01 MO  SW MO St. Univ./Springfield                 417/836-4934    

Subject: RE: Doc Watson's still got it!
From: bseed(charleskratz)
Date: 24 Jan 00 - 06:39 PM

Thanks, Midchuck--but I was thinking more about SF Bay Area performances...

--seed.

Subject: RE: Doc Watson's still got it!
From: longhair
Date: 24 Jan 00 - 09:30 PM

Doc is the man, no doubt. But Tony Rice ain't no slouch either. Can't help but like Doc though.

Subject: RE: Doc Watson's still got it!
From: Kristi H
Date: 24 Jan 00 - 09:34 PM

We saw Doc last year, or the year before, at teh Florida Folk Festival. He was awesome. That is what music is all about. That is why I play. He has feeling coming out of his whooohawww. It doesn't get any better.

Subject: RE: Doc Watson's still got it!
From: JedMarum
Date: 24 Jan 00 - 09:55 PM

Several years ago Doc played at Poor David's Pub in Dallas; a great venue for live folk and blues. My wife passed a note to Doc and his sideman asking him, if he would be able to play Grandfather's Clock for our 17 year old son who was with us at the show, in celebration of his birthday - we explained that Trevor had grown up hearing Doc and me singing that song. During the show a few voices requested their favorites at one quiet moment and Doc explained that they did a set show and coudln't do requests - BUT there was a young man named Trevor celebrating his 17th birthday .... and in deed went on to wish a birthday wish and sing the song for Trevor. My son was thrilled (he had no idea what we'd requested). The next day the Dallas News had a big photo, a great review and the story about Doc's birthday wish! It was a real thrill for my 17 YO (now 23) and a moment he''l always remember.

Subject: RE: Doc Watson's still got it!
From: Mike Regenstreif
Date: 25 Jan 00 - 09:09 AM

The opening message in this thread referred to "Docabilly" as Doc Watson's "last CD."

"Docabilly" came out in 1995. Three new albums (not including reissues) since then include:

Doc & Dawg (w/David Grisman),

Mac, Doc & Del (w/Mac Wiseman and Del McCoury),

Third Generation Blues (w/Richard Watson).

Mike Regenstreif

Subject: RE: Doc Watson's still got it!
From: catspaw49
Date: 25 Jan 00 - 09:22 AM

Hi Mike.....I'd be interested in what info you have and your take on the "Third Generation" and Richard Watson.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Doc Watson's still got it!
From: Easy Rider
Date: 25 Jan 00 - 09:51 AM

I saw Doc, at the Bottom Line, in NYC, on Jan. 15. I had to skip out of Annap's Gathering, to get to the show. The show and the music were wonderful. He played one that I have on my schedule to learn, "Blue Railroad Train". Doc missed a few notes, here and there, but who cared? He still sings and plays pretty well, for a 76 year old. I hope I get that good by the time I reach that age!

Doc Watson is booked by Folklore Productions. You can find his schedule on their Web site or at Musi-Cal or at Dirty Linen.

Subject: RE: Doc Watson's still got it!
From: Mike Regenstreif
Date: 25 Jan 00 - 12:43 PM

Spaw,

Here's the review I wrote for the Montreal Gazette...

DOC & RICHARD WATSON Third Generation Blues Sugar Hill

For four decades, Doc Watson has been one of the most influential singers and guitarists spanning the worlds of country, bluegrass and traditional folk music. For two of those decades, his collaborator was his guitar playing son Merle, who died in a 1985 tractor accident. Now Merle's son Richard takes up the coveted chair as his grandfather's second guitarist and he proves himself more than worthy to carry the Watson guitar mantle forward another generation. This album returns the good doctor to the classic sound of just voice, two guitars and a bass player, the sound that defined many of his best albums from decades past. Chesapeake bassist T. Michael Coleman, who played for many years with Doc and Merle, reprises that role here. The set is a typical program encompassing old country tunes, gospel and blues classics, folk songs and another beautiful version of Gershwin's Summertime. Doc Watson is rightly renowned for his incredible and always-tasty guitar playing, but I can also think of few vocalists who exude his expressive warmth. 9/10

Mike Regenstreif

Subject: RE: Doc Watson's still got it!
From: Charlie Baum
Date: 25 Jan 00 - 04:47 PM

I was also in the audience for Doc Watson at the Birchmere (see first post), I'm am always in awe of this man. Not only is he one of the best fingerpicker guitar players ever, but I've always admired him as a vocalist--and his voice is still in fine shape. I kept wishing he'd do a slow a cappella ballad, which he does so well--but, alas, he didn't do one at the Birchmere show. Still--

He played the first part of each set with his grandson Richard Watson. Richard is still developing and learning all the nuances from his grandfather, but has loads of talent (as did his father Merle), and will someday no doubt age into an old master.

--Charlie Baum

Subject: RE: Doc Watson's still got it!
From: catspaw49
Date: 25 Jan 00 - 04:51 PM

Thank you Mike for getting back and your review. Also, Charlie, thanks a lot. Sounds good.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Doc Watson's still got it!
From: harpgirl
Date: 25 Jan 00 - 05:32 PM

...a few of years ago I was the stage hand for a Florida Folk Festival stage (Old Marble). Doc Watson was the headliner at the festival. After the show I got him some water. The cup was too full and as he held it over his open guitar case the water sloshed out all over his guitar...boy, did I feel like a fool!!!!...Doc was very nice about it and since he heard the water dripping on his guitar, he mopped it up!!!!...harpgirl

Subject: RE: Doc Watson's still got it!
From: GUEST,stupidbodhranplayer
Date: 25 Jan 00 - 05:42 PM

I saw Doc and Dawg last year along with the DGQ, that included a 3 song encore with Doc & Jack sitting in with the Quintet with David on banjo and Joe craven on mandolin. It was definitely one of my best shows I've ever seen.

Subject: RE: Doc Watson's still got it!
From: Sourdough
Date: 26 Jan 00 - 04:03 AM

Reading this thread about Doc Watson reminded me of the first time I saw him perform, at the Club 47 in Boston. With apologies to those of you who read this message once before:

****

I was there the first night Doc Watson appeared, not long after coming up from North Carolina, courtesy of Ralph Rinzler. I think it must have been early on Doc Watson's first tour because he seemed genuinely surprised and moved by the warmth of the reception he received. Word had gotten out that a wonderful flatpicker was going to be at The Club 47 and the place was full. He certainly did not disappoint. However, in the middle of "Sittin' on Top of the World", a string broke. DW didn't miss a 16th note. He just refigured the fingering and played the rest of the showpiece on five strings.

I thing DW had been feeling kind of concerned about what sort of reception he was going to get in Cambridge. He was on the literal edge of Harvard and he may have thought that any audience here was going to be stuffy and cold. Well, most of the people in The 47 that night were guitar players of one or another level of ability but more than most audiences they appreciated the musicianship that they had just seen Doc Watson do around that broken string and at the end of the song, there was enthusiastic applause and stomping of feet. This was clearly not a reserved audience but a highly enthusiastic one.

Looking back after all these years, I can't be sure that my memory isn't restaging the event to some extent but I remember there being a choking quality to Doc Watson's voice when he spoke, as though he was trying to keep from sobbing over the warmth of the reception he was getting in this far nothern, cold, Yankee outpost. He tried to say something in the way of explanation. What he said was, "I busted a why-ar."

That's when we really started applauding and cheering. It was quite a night.

****

I don't think he could have had the slightest inkling of just how much his life was about to change. From being a house musician in a small town road house, he was going to become a recording and performance star.

Sourdough

Subject: RE: Doc Watson's still got it!
From: MK
Date: 27 Jan 00 - 08:58 PM

Doc Watson Tour Dates for Y2K.

Subject: RE: Doc Watson's still got it!
From: Fortunato
Date: 28 Jan 00 - 01:26 PM

Mike Regenstreif

Sorry, I should have said "my" last CD. Lately I've been buying CDs with material for the band (Roots Rock) and not for my 'folkie' habit (I've a checkered past). I'm clearly not keeping up!

Thanks for the correction cheers, Fortuanto

"Spaw

To be honest 'spaw I was not impressed. Maybe it wasn't a good night, but Richard's blues licks seemed canned and without emotional content. But he was sitting next to 'God'; who wouldn't suffer in the comparison? Jack's guitar sounded brittle and harsh next to Doc's, and usually the sound at the Birchmere is really good. I want to see them again, There's no question Richard has talent.

all the best, Fortunato