Subject: RE: Doc Watson--What do you know?
From:
bbc
Date: 08 Aug 05 - 09:34 AM
Good morning, all! As you all said it would be, the concert was wonderful. It was held at the brand-new performing arts center at the local regional high school--a beautiful (air-conditioned) room w/ great acoustics. Doc complimented the sound people 4 times during the evening, I think. I arrived 1/2 hour before the doors were scheduled to open, which was 1 1/2 hours before the concert started. That put me 7th in line for the "cheap" ($35) seats. I sat front row center section center seat in the 2nd section back from the stage. The 1st section center was $45 seats. That concert took in a lot of money! That 1st section had approx. 10 rows of 15 seats each. Most all were full. The concert was not sold out, but most seats were full & it was obviously an audience who knew Doc. On one side of me sat a couple from NYC who weekend in Massachusetts, somewhat older than me, who had heard Doc many times. I told them all about Mudcat. The man was familiar w/ it as a lyrics site, but didn't know about the forum; we may be seeing him in the future. On my other side was a woman my age & a young man about my son's age, both from Troy--approx. 45 minutes away. They both play guitar & were familiar w/ Doc's music, having seen him in the past.
The first half hour of the concert was warm-up with the Hunger Mountain Boys playing old-time music. Then, Doc came onstage with his grandson, Richard, a fantastic blues guitar player! I believe there were 5 sets during the evening--2 w/ Richard accompanying Doc on blues guitar, 2 w/ Jack Lawrence playing guitar & singing while Doc mostly played, & a short set that Doc performed alone. All were great, but I particularly enjoyed Richard's playing. The concert lasted from 8:30-11:30 pm with one short intermission. I had almost nothing to compare it with, but found Doc's playing & singing to be very clean & impressive. I sat there, amazed, all evening, thinking that he, at 82, is just one year younger than my dad, who is confined to a wheelchair & can hardly do anything. What a great man!
After the first song, I started keeping a list of what was performed, writing in the dark between listening & clapping. Doc performed 30 songs for us during the evening, certainly full value for our money! I only knew a few of them, but I enjoyed them all. I appreciated the variety of his selections. He performed well--no stumbling in his playing or the lyrics, unlike some younger folks I've heard. : ) The atmosphere was relaxed, friendly, conversational; he really seemed to be enjoying what he was doing. That always lets me enjoy a performance all the more. In the last set, a few audience members shouted out requests. The first was "Deep River Blues" & it was the only one Doc played. From audience response, I believe it was the favorite of the evening. Unfortunately, during the last set, various people started getting up & leaving. I was surprised & somewhat distressed by that, but I suspect it was because it was a Sunday night (work the next morning) & people had come from a distance. Finally, Jack leaned over to Doc & suggested that it was time to end. After that song, the two of them just stood up & said goodnight. Naturally, they knew they couldn't leave without an encore. The audience immediately stood up, applauding wildly. Doc & Jack sat down & played "Black Mountain Rag" as the last song of the evening. Great!
Here is the list of songs I heard last night, with apologies for any errors in spelling, etc.:
1st song was by Jimmy Rogers & involved some great yodeling
Summertime
Don't monkey 'round my widder
In the pines
Going to Chicago blues
Stand by me
I'll never see my home again
Corey is gone
Eight more miles to Louisville
Stony Creek
Frankie & Johnny
Rising sun blues (House of the Rising Sun)
CC Rider
St. James Hospital
Precious Lord
Eastbound freight train
You're no longer a sweetheart of mine
Deep river blues
If I should wander back through
Little Sadie
Sleep baby sleep (with yodeling)
Shady grove
Blue-eyed Jane
Nuthin' to it
Ready for the times to get better
Greenville Trestle
A Sweet hello
For the good times
Corrina, Corrina
Black Mountain Rag
Thank you all for your input to this thread. Now that I've heard Doc in person, it would be nice to own some of his music. What recordings would you recommend that I purchase?
best,
bbc
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sj
