What an incredible delight the Archie Fisher & Garnet Rogers concert was Saturday night in Kent Ohio. I'd seen them as a duo in the mid 80s at the legendary Holstein's in Chicago, & in all the years in between, cherished their duo album and hoped to see them together again.

In the interim, I'd been part of the Celtic Ceol group who brought Garnet to the Cleveland area a few times. I loved hearing him tell stories about his life, each visit full of new outrageous, yet true, tales. A highlight of the evening was Garnet reading a bit from a book he's writing about his wild times while traveling as part of Stan's band. I'm hoping that the book comes out both as hardback and as audio book with Garnet reading it, because he's got a great delivery in telling tales.

A whole aspect of who Archie Fisher is came through this second time hearing him live: the love of horses and the people who work with them, and his delight in his own horses. I realized that beyond the music, this was something he shares with Garnet. I was struck again what an amazing guitarist Archie is. My companion for the evening was muttering in awe throughout the show. Garnet was quipping that part of the fun for him in touring with Archie is trying to steal his guitar licks. His swift and funny reply was just part of the grand banter that was as entertaining as the songs. I wish I'd been able to zoom along to Chicago to catch a repeat - this was every bit the concert of the year I'd been expecting. Hearing songs for the first time live from each of them, a complete thrill, as was putting a more complete feel to who the man is behind Archie's recordings I've played for decades now.

Sadly, there was a meagre audience in Kent, and several of us made a point of thanking the folks running the venue for their hosting such shows. I played hookey from my monthly dance band gig to get to this show & encourage those in the areas where they've yet to play - sell the dog, rent the kids, call in sick, just GO.

Joanne in Cleveland