Have You Seen Doc Watson in Concert?

Subject: RE: Have You Seen Doc Watson in Concert?
From: Mrrzy
Date: 04 Feb 18 - 08:52 AM

Saw him in the early 80s, maybe 81... Fabu music but, to my dismay, Doc was a real shit to the roadies. There was a small glitch in the sound and they were trying to fix it without interrupting him, crawling around to not block our vision, and he stopped the concert to yell at them, really meanly, for what felt like forever. Really lost a lot of respect for him as a person but still listen to his music, as I did growing up. That is actually one of the reasons I don't go see my heroes live. Feet of clay. Glad to read that he is usually as sweet as I had thought he was.

Subject: RE: Have You Seen Doc Watson in Concert?
From: G-Force
Date: 04 Feb 18 - 07:49 AM

Saw Doc and Merle at Cambridge (UK) Folk Festival in early 1980's. Unforgettable.

Subject: RE: Have You Seen Doc Watson in Concert?
From: GUEST,Bob Schwarer
Date: 03 Feb 18 - 02:30 AM

Saw him at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival back years ago.

Subject: RE: Have You Seen Doc Watson in Concert?
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 02 Feb 18 - 09:19 PM

5 May 1974, I went to see Gordon Lightfoot at Stanford, but left singing the praises of Doc Watson.

Subject: RE: Have You Seen Doc Watson in Concert?
From: voyager
Date: 02 Feb 18 - 01:18 PM

My small contribution from the wonderful Wayne Henderson Festival
below. I have been in front of Doc's shows for 40 years.
It was fun to get a photo from the performer's point of view.

Doc Watson at the Wayne Henderson Festival

Photo is titled - Back-Stage, with Doc Watson (and fans)

voyager

Subject: RE: Have You Seen Doc Watson in Concert?
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Feb 18 - 12:31 PM

to michelle, i was there as well .... great show...it was one of 14 that i'd seen doc in since 1998.

im a big fan and he's one of my life hero's. may he rest in peace and his memory be for a

[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Have You Seen Doc Watson in Concert?
From: Fred McCormick
Date: 14 Aug 06 - 09:31 AM

Despite being a monster fan of Doc's, I've never been lucky enough to catch him live. There was one particular occasion, back in the mid 60s, when he performed at a tiny folk club in Liverpool. For some reason long forgotten I couldn't make it and have cursed the fact ever since. Gentlemen in England now abed....?

Whatever, I'm delighted that he's still going strong and, from the sound of it, playing as well as ever.

Subject: RE: Have You Seen Doc Watson in Concert?
From: dwditty
Date: 14 Aug 06 - 01:39 AM

1975 somewhere in the Berkshires (Massachusetts). Outdoor venue...Emmylou and the Hot Band opened for him. What a night, even though Doc got a bit cranky cause the whole area smelled like pot.

Subject: RE: Have You Seen Doc Watson in Concert?
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 13 Aug 06 - 10:32 AM

There is quite a bit of footage of Doc Watson on Youtube these days.

Just to take two examples, excellent fingerpicking (and singing) on Deep River Blues and his phenomenal flatpicking on Black Mountain Rag

Subject: RE: Have You Seen Doc Watson in Concert?
From: Fortunato
Date: 22 May 06 - 11:24 AM

big influence on susette and I, we see him every time he's in town.
The legacy album with David Holt is very worthwhile for us Watsonophiles.
cheers, chance

Subject: RE: Have You Seen Doc Watson in Concert?
From: Ferrara
Date: 22 May 06 - 12:26 AM

Ah, LilyFestre, sounds like a wonderful, wonderful evening. The best.

Subject: RE: Have You Seen Doc Watson in Concert?
From: Tannywheeler
Date: 21 May 06 - 08:19 PM

Only 3 smileys??!! You must have been tired. Sounds too good to be true, 'cept that it was Doc....Tw

Subject: RE: Have You Seen Doc Watson in Concert?
From: Willie-O
Date: 21 May 06 - 03:49 PM

What, David Holt didn't play the paper bag? He used to be known for that...

Great to know Doc's still out there doing what he does best--picking the hell out of a Gallagher guitar and charming everyone.

I think Sorefingers' experience, and the Kenny Hall story, are typical. Aside from being a genius musician, I think he's practically psychic. Had a few minutes backstage with him once, a crowded and noisy dressing room, and he was totally aware of and gracious to everyone in there--all of us strangers to him.

And he does seem to show up with some other pretty strong talents. Saw him once with Merle, and two other times with a couple of pretty fair mandolin players, one was Sam Bush, the other was some old timer named, ummm, oh yeah, Bill Monroe!

Dang me. Keep on playin that box Doc. You're lucky Michelle!

W-O

Subject: RE: Have You Seen Doc Watson in Concert?
From: LilyFestre
Date: 21 May 06 - 12:07 PM

What a night! Doc Watson played with David Holt for the first half of the concert. Doc played his guitar and harmonica while David Holt played banjo, guitar, National, and some kind of stick with a string stretched across that was tuned to the key of Doc's harmonica...it was something Doc rigged up on a barn door when he was a kid. David Holt and Doc Watson told stories...many times Holt would prompt Doc to tell about the time when....

During the second half of the show, Doc played solo and then his grandson Richard Watson joined him on the guitar. They played all kinds of music, lots of blues. David Holt joined them at the end of the show for another round of tunes. The music was FABULOUS and I loved the stories!

Doc played to a full house of 1,600 in the old State Theatre in Ithaca, NY for over 2 hours...we could have listened for much, MUCH longer!!!!

:) :) :)

Michelle

Subject: RE: Have You Seen Doc Watson in Concert?
From: LilyFestre
Date: 20 May 06 - 11:39 AM

And we're off!!!! WOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOO

Michelle

Subject: RE: Have You Seen Doc Watson in Concert?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 13 May 06 - 02:30 PM

No, actually he would not like to retire.

~S~

Subject: RE: Have You Seen Doc Watson in Concert?
From: phinque
Date: 13 May 06 - 02:27 PM

've seen him several times at the Merle Watson Memorial Festival in Wilkesboro, NC. You're in for a treat.

Subject: RE: Have You Seen Doc Watson in Concert?
From: lesblank
Date: 09 May 06 - 06:33 PM

I saw Doc and a very young Merle in 1962 at the Ash Grove in Hollywood. We sat in the front row just so I could copy some of his moves. HAH!! Fat Chance !! I have never seen fingers move so fast - his flat picking seemed like it was in slow motion until you put the visual and the aural together. About halfway through the second set, Doc announced that he had just heard there was a very special guest in the audience and introduced Leslie Keith, an old time fiddler from his neck of the woods. He got him up on stage and they did three numbers -- fiddle numbers -- an unbelievable night and one I'll never forget.

Subject: RE: Have You Seen Doc Watson in Concert?
From: Duke
Date: 09 May 06 - 11:42 AM

I once sat a few feet in front of him and Merle in concert. I have never seen a guitar played so fast and clean. I am not a flat picker and so when Doc put on the finger picks and started to play that way, I could not believe my eyes. He is one of the greats and always will be.

Subject: RE: Have You Seen Doc Watson in Concert?
From: LilyFestre
Date: 08 May 06 - 07:15 PM

One of my current favorite CD's is of Doc and Merle pickin' out some tunes together....what a sad loss.

My husband and I were planning on going to a local bluegrass memorial concert until we found out there were seats left to see Doc Watson...I hate to miss the annual local gathering...but Doc Watson is in his 80s (83 now I believe) and I imagine he might like to retire at some point!

12 more days.....

Michelle

Subject: RE: Have You Seen Doc Watson in Concert?
From: Steve-o
Date: 08 May 06 - 06:54 PM

I first saw/heard Doc at the Ash Grove in Hollywood sometime in the early '70s. Awesome is the only word for his talent, and he just also happens to be a sweetheart personally, as most of you know. I got lucky enough to briefly hang out in the little "back room" between sets and listen to him chatting with the other serious players. The man dearly loved a good off-color joke.

Subject: RE: Have You Seen Doc Watson in Concert?
From: GUEST,van lingle
Date: 08 May 06 - 05:11 PM

Wow Ferrara, I saw him at the Cellar Door about the same time and sat next to the stage under his left hand. I remember his fingers looked like little Vienna sausages moving around at the speed of light. Afterwards, we saw him out front sitting at the wheel(!)of an International Travelall and chatted with him a bit (well, it was more like him flirting with my girlfriend). Maybe we were sitting next to each other. How come you didn't say hi? :o) That was a great night and he and Merle were as good as I'd ever seen them. vl

Subject: RE: Have You Seen Doc Watson in Concert?
From: Ferrara
Date: 08 May 06 - 03:08 PM

I have seen him two or three times but the one that is vivid in my mind is seeing him with his son Merle at the Cellar Door in Washington, DC, probably sometime in the early 70's. They were spectacular together. It's a small venue and as I recall we were just one or two tables away from the "stage." Watching their hands was almost as much fun as hearing what they played.

Merle was killed in a farming accident and I still feel the sadness whenever I remember that.

Subject: RE: Have You Seen Doc Watson in Concert?
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 08 May 06 - 02:21 PM

Though flatpicking is not my style, I'd loved Doc Watson's playing from first hearing a recording of him in the mid 60s. I finally got to see him in the mid-70s (somewhere between 75 and 77 I think) at the Kilburn State (former cinema) in London, just down the road from where I was living at the time. He was playing with a band that included his son IIRC. (I also saw Stephane Grappelli with John Etheridge at the same venue, but not at the same concert!). Wouldn't have missed it for anything.

Mick

Subject: RE: Have You Seen Doc Watson in Concert?
From: frogprince
Date: 08 May 06 - 02:05 PM

About 1980, in Chicago; Bob Gibson opened for him.

Subject: RE: Have You Seen Doc Watson in Concert?
From: GUEST,MarkS
Date: 07 May 06 - 10:58 PM

Good Lord yes!! Just last year at the Bluegrass Festival in Woodstown, NJ. 83 years old and his Black Mountain Rag is STILL keeping me humble.

If you ever get the chance to see him live you must do it. You will have stories you can tell your grandchildren. (I tell mine!)

Mark

Ps The Woodstown Bluegrass Festival will come again this year, and as soon as I have the dates I will post and let you all know.

Subject: RE: Have You Seen Doc Watson in Concert?
From: GUEST,Dale
Date: 07 May 06 - 08:39 PM

I had Kenny Hall on my mind just yesterday. While looking for something else for a Folk Center project, I came across the recording from his appearance in Mountain View in 1978. Definitely timeout from what I was looking for.

Our last concert of the season this year(October 28)will be a dandy with Doc Watson and David Holt. Some of you might even want to start planning a trip to Arkansas for that one.
http://ozarkfolkcenter.com/events-calendar/special-events/default.asp?ID=297

Subject: RE: Have You Seen Doc Watson in Concert?
From: Bill D
Date: 07 May 06 - 08:23 PM

ummm...if it was not clear from context, Kenny is just as blind as Doc.

I saw Kenny perform once, about 25 years ago, and he was to the "tater bug" mandolin what Doc was to the guitar.

Subject: RE: Have You Seen Doc Watson in Concert?
From: GUEST
Date: 07 May 06 - 08:20 PM

not that it is relevant to Doc's musicianship, but this needs to be somewhere....so....

someone told me of a late night party (in California somewhere) which needed to be 'moved' for some reason. It required going DOWN a flight of stairs to get to vehicles for the trip, and somehow Doc managed to get hold of Kenny Hall's hand. Before anyone noticed, they had 'helped' each other down the stairs. I assume they played together just fine also..*grin*

Bill D, sans cookie

Subject: RE: Have You Seen Doc Watson in Concert?
From: Midchuck
Date: 07 May 06 - 01:50 PM

For a start, his flatpicking guitar playing was pretty unique back then, but now there are thousands of players who play in that style.

Yes. He is why.

In answer to the original question, a good many times. From the Club 47 in Cambridge, MA in '64 - '67, to Williamstown, MA in the fall of '01, when Jack Lawrence, myself and my wife, and one or two other couples closed the Williams Inn bar after the concert.

Peter

Subject: RE: Have You Seen Doc Watson in Concert?
From: Don Firth
Date: 07 May 06 - 12:25 PM

Not recently, but Doc Watson was one of the featured performers at the 1964 Berkeley Folk Festival. Quite a line-up:   in addition to Doc were Joan Baez, Almeda Riddle, Mississippi John Hurt, Alice Stuart, Charles Seeger, Sam Hinton, and a couple others, but memory fails me.

I had the privilege of taking in a guitar workshop conducted by Doc. A most interesting and enlightening experience!!

Enjoy!!

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Have You Seen Doc Watson in Concert?
From: Phil Cooper
Date: 07 May 06 - 12:16 PM

I saw Doc in Rockford, Illinois at the old Charlotte's Web coffeehouse. Utah Phillips as also on the bill. It was a great double show. This was a few years before Merle passed away and all were in great form.

Subject: RE: Have You Seen Doc Watson in Concert?
From: Susan of DT
Date: 07 May 06 - 12:10 PM

The last time we saw Doc seeral years ago, He was on a double bill with a more "popular" musician, so the audience was full of teens and twenty-somethings who came to hear the other guy. Doc entranced them all.

Subject: RE: Have You Seen Doc Watson in Concert?
From: Big Mick
Date: 07 May 06 - 11:31 AM

I think I have related the story before, but it bears repeating. Doc was playing The Ark in Ann Arbor. The building that it was in at the time had riser seating with pillows down front. You stood in line and filed in for the concerts and where you stopped was where you sat. The line stops, and I sit down right in front of the two stools. I literally sat at Doc and Jack's knee and watched them perform. I was close enough to lean forward and touch the stool. It was an absolute thrill.

All the best,

Mick

Subject: RE: Have You Seen Doc Watson in Concert?
From: GUEST,sorefingers
Date: 07 May 06 - 11:04 AM

Yup, long time ago but it was a treat. Funny story, I went to see him play his Banjo, but when that show was on, my travelling buddy brought me off to another event and I missed the Doc.

Later I saw him along with some other pickers playing tunes on the flatop. What a treat. He said as he was playing some hoe-down "low gear" then he went through the gears getting faster and faster till the other pickers had to drop out. Quite a show.

My friend that day never expected to meet the Doc, but while passing a stage we saw him talking to some folk singer ( Mike Seeger? ), and as we passed by my friend greeted the Doc who then invited us over. They chatted about folk stuff, Autoharps etc etc, and we all then parted, the Doc going off with his guide person and we to our next show.

Subject: RE: Have You Seen Doc Watson in Concert?
From: RoyH (Burl)
Date: 07 May 06 - 05:46 AM

Lilyfestre, how I envy you. I have loved Doc's music since first hearing it on his Vanguard album circa 1964. I missed seeing him when he came to England, and even worse, was twice in America and had to leave the day before he came to play locally. I couldn't overstay my visa even for Doc. But it was very tempting. Have a great time at the concert. Burl.

Subject: RE: Have You Seen Doc Watson in Concert?
From: Mary Humphreys
Date: 07 May 06 - 05:14 AM

I must have been at the same concert as Tunesmith. I remember him too. Never touched a guitar after that.Probably did the world a favour!
Mary

Subject: RE: Have You Seen Doc Watson in Concert?
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 07 May 06 - 02:55 AM

I saw Doc in Manchester, England in 1965. Phil Ochs was on the same show. Doc blew me away! I knew his same from folk music mags but I hadn't heard any of his recordings. Of course, the impact of seeing Doc back then could never be duplicated now. For a start, his flatpicking guitar playing was pretty unique back then, but now there are thousands of players who play in that style.

Subject: RE: Have You Seen Doc Watson in Concert?
From: Janie
Date: 06 May 06 - 11:30 PM

I've seen him three times. Each time was awesome. Saw him once at a small festival in West Virginia and got to shake his hand. Don't think I've washed that hand yet;^)

Janie

Subject: RE: Have You Seen Doc Watson in Concert?
From: GUEST,Wesley S
Date: 06 May 06 - 11:29 PM

There is no better way to spend an evening than attending a Doc Watson concert.

Subject: RE: Have You Seen Doc Watson in Concert?
From: Elmer Fudd
Date: 06 May 06 - 11:20 PM

Yes. I concur with all the above. You are in for an evening to savor for a lifetime.

E.

Subject: RE: Have You Seen Doc Watson in Concert?
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 06 May 06 - 10:24 PM

Saw him in early 70's, sheare entertainment. Same time I was seeing Arlo, Dirt, Tower, Butterfly, Chicago, Hartford, Ives, Taj, Haze, Doors, etc. etc.

At some time you will realize you are a do-er, or a watcher.

Sit in AWE!!! Then go out and attempt to do likewise.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

If it takes you half a lifetime, and you are not yet half-as-good, your effort will NOT have been in vain.

Subject: RE: Have You Seen Doc Watson in Concert?
From: Tannywheeler
Date: 06 May 06 - 10:07 PM

He is beyond fabulous. Good music is so therapeutic. Good thing he doesn't charge for medical services. I hope you get even half as good as I got when I saw him in Austin a few years ago. Take all your most nerve=wracking probs. with you. They will evaporate. Tw

Subject: RE: Have You Seen Doc Watson in Concert?
From: JWB
Date: 06 May 06 - 10:03 PM

You've allowed me to remember the concert in Cambridge, MA, in -- what, 1979 -- when I saw Doc and Tony Rice on the same bill. I couldn't stand to pick up the guitar for a month...

I imagine that Doc is able to "see" the music he plays -- I don't know how else he can do what he does.

Jerry

Subject: RE: Have You Seen Doc Watson in Concert?
From: LilyFestre
Date: 06 May 06 - 09:58 PM

Thanks for the link...I was so excited to have gotten the tickets that I didn't even think to check the archives!!! I can't wait!!!!

Thanks again!

Michelle :)

Subject: RE: Have You Seen Doc Watson in Concert?
From: GUEST,bbc away from home
Date: 06 May 06 - 09:49 PM

Here's a link to my thread from last summer when I saw Doc for the 1st time. He was great!

Doc Watson thread

Have a wonderful time & report back to us!

best,

bbc

Subject: RE: Have You Seen Doc Watson in Concert?
From: Bill D
Date: 06 May 06 - 09:34 PM

Yes...many years ago at Winfield, KS Festival..(National Flatpicking Championship)...yes, he was as good as you can imagine. )There have been several threads about him and about Winfield....

Enjoy, it is a privilege...

Subject: Have You Seen Doc Watson in Concert?
From: LilyFestre
Date: 06 May 06 - 09:13 PM

WOOO HOOOO! I just got tickets to see Doc Watson....decent seats at that! Have any of you seen him in concert?

Michelle