Back from the Folk Alliance in Cleveland

Subject: Back from the Folk Alliance in Cleveland
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 13 Feb 00 - 05:08 PM

Hi Folks. Well, I had a nice time at the Folk Alliance. It was a chance to say hello to a lot of good "Folk" folks that I don't get to see very often. Among the highlights for me: (in no particular order)

1. Got to meet Art Thieme, although I'm really sorry I didn't get a chance to chat with him more.

2. Played for a solid hour with Erik Darling (I can die happy now)

3. Went to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame instead of the Folk Alliance free lunch. VERY good move. Got to see Leadbelly's Stella, and many other wonders.

4. Did my little concert and invited Grit Laskin and Paul Mills to join me on concertina and guitar. With one song remaining I noticed that fiddler Anne Lederman and ace harpist Saul Broudy were in the audience so I was able to surprise them and get 'em on stage with me. We finished with a hot western swing version of "Good Mornin' Blues". If I was Jewish, I'd have been "plotzing"!

5. Got into two great sessions. Old-tyme fiddle and banjo tunes with Dave Arthur, and some blues and country with Andy Cohen and Larkin Bryant.

6. Got to know Borealis' newest signing, Clay Tyson. Was almost embarrassed to tell him that I last saw him when he was 4 years old (he's 30 now). He's got a strong voice and looks like a combination of his Mom and Dad (Ian and Sylvia) so that sure ain't gonna hurt his career!

7. Tom Paxton said he liked the way I did "Deep Fork" on the new album. I breathed a sigh of relief!

8. Got trampled on during an interview with a Texas radio station host. The only place we could find to set up her mike and recorder was scrunched on the floor in the hotel hallway, and we got run down by the band "Still on The Hill" from Arkansas. Didn't matter. Just added ambience to the interview...and the band are friends of mine. (the broken bones will heal!)

9. One disappointment was not getting to say hello to Joe Hickerson or Utah Phillips, but maybe they'll be in Vancouver next year.

Yup folk music is alive and well...but still an awful thing to make your living at! Glad to be back home and able to visit Mudcat.

Rick

Subject: RE: Back from the Folk Alliance in Cleveland
From: harpgirl
Date: 13 Feb 00 - 05:48 PM

...Rick...I was eager to hear tales of the conference! Thanks for your post!!! Send me the juicy gossip by e-mail! harpster

Subject: RE: Back from the Folk Alliance in Cleveland
From: Midchuck
Date: 13 Feb 00 - 05:55 PM

Rick said:

"6. Got to know Borealis' newest signing, Clay Tyson. Was almost embarrassed to tell him that I last saw him when he was 4 years old (he's 30 now). He's got a strong voice and looks like a combination of his Mom and Dad (Ian and Sylvia) so that sure ain't gonna hurt his career!"

Now that is an interesting development...Did you hear him perform? What kinda stuff him do?

Best my daughter not find out about this. When we saw Ian in Northamton in '95, she said it was the only time she was ever tempted to throw her apartment keys to a performer over 60....

Peter.

Subject: RE: Back from the Folk Alliance in Cleveland
From: Little Neophyte
Date: 13 Feb 00 - 06:02 PM

So glad your back Rick.
What did Duckboots think of the whole thing?
Did you notice I'm Little Neo again?
See what happens when I miss one lesson. It has a great impact on my development.

Little Neo

Subject: RE: Back from the Folk Alliance in Cleveland
From: Jeri
Date: 13 Feb 00 - 06:09 PM

Rick - did you take the fiddle? More details! (Glad you're back!)

Subject: RE: Back from the Folk Alliance in Cleveland
From: catspaw49
Date: 13 Feb 00 - 07:14 PM

Our boy has had quite a time and I'm glad to hear he got to play with one of his heroes.

All sounds very fine Rick...Glad you enjoyed yourself. Saw THE Stella huh? I was on the road and watched them build that damn place and I have yet to go. This summer for sure.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Back from the Folk Alliance in Cleveland
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 13 Feb 00 - 10:14 PM

Hi.

Harpster. Everyone I know (with few exceptions) is too old to do the things that result in juicy stories. However....the Folk Alliance did place a CONDOM in everyone's conference bag. Grit Laskin wondered whether we should turn them in or not. Figured it was safer to bring them home...proof of fidelty (in this day and age, anyway)

Peter. Clay (who's actually 32..hence making it 28(!) years since I'd seen him) says his dad's various ropin' and ridin' injuries have taken a big toll on his body (knees, ankles, wrists etc.) so even if the keys had gotten thrown, 'ol Eon wouldn't have been able to pick them up! Haven't heard much of Clay, but he's rock influenced.

Little Knee-o. Duckboots stayed home and watched TV. Don't tell me you're into alternative identities now? With all the folks at Mudcat posting under assumed personalities, I'm more confused than normal! Can I be Banjo Bonnie?

Jeri. Hi stranger! Nope, the fiddle ain't ready yet (at least not for THAT crowd!) Well actually the FIDDLE'S been ready for fifty years, it's me that needs another month!

Paw. They've done a good job with the Hall of Fame. Naturally some of it is as tacky as a Niagara Falls Wax museum (they have to hang the clothes on mannekins who supposedly look like Elvis etc.) It was great fun though.

Rick

Subject: RE: Back from the Folk Alliance in Cleveland
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 13 Feb 00 - 10:36 PM

Rick- Wasn't Leadbelly's guitar stolen back in 1958? at his memorial concert? Is this one another of his? or a ringer? or was it recovered?

Subject: RE: Back from the Folk Alliance in Cleveland
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 13 Feb 00 - 11:34 PM

Yeah Dick I heard that as well. Not sure whether this is a "recovered one" or not. He did apparently have more than one which he bought in New York in the 40s. This one comes direct from Tiny Robinson, but is only marginally worn, so it may have been a spare. Certainly looks like it was played for a couple of years though. The interesting thing to me though was that the strings (original) are not overly heavy. Since he tuned to "C" or even "B" it was the steep neck angle (and floating bridge) that allowed the string tension (and hence, volume) to be so strong.

Rick

Subject: RE: Back from the Folk Alliance in Cleveland
From: katlaughing
Date: 13 Feb 00 - 11:39 PM

Glad you made it back and had what sounds like a really good time.

Subject: RE: Back from the Folk Alliance in Cleveland
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 14 Feb 00 - 01:44 PM

Actually, I wanted to add one more bit to the "leadbelly's sound" thing. There's only been one acoustic arch top 12 string that I've played, and it duplicated the sound of Huddie's guitar pretty well with LIGHT strings yet. The steep neck angle is the key. I've often wanted to do a conversion on some old Harmony arch-top, but was never sure if the bracing would be heavy enough for the extra 6 strings.

Rick

Oh, and also, thanks to Mudcatter Paul Mills for giving all us Borealis folk GREAT sound at Cleveland.

Subject: RE: Back from the Folk Alliance in Cleveland
From: Art Thieme
Date: 16 Feb 00 - 04:41 PM

Yes, folks, ol' Art had a fine time !! There was a ton of stuff I could've done if I'd had the energy. Did run into Grit first off when I arrived---Rick too---and Ian Robb (one of my favorite singers). Rick was kind enough to haul my suitcase up to the room for me. Thanks, guy. Mostly, I hung around the exposition hall and made the rounds. It was wonderful to see so many old friends --- folks I don't get to hang with in recent times now that I'm off the road and out of the loop. Spending some quality time with Pete and Toshi Seeger was a luxury that can't be had when everyone has their own sets to think about and to accomplish. And doing the panel discussion with Joe Hickerson was a kick and a half. We've been friends for a long while---back to 1964---but I don't get to hang with him near enough.

Harp (Mrs. Miller ?), Linda and Dave Siglin from the Ark (Anya too) send their love to you. Rick, I do wish I'd run into you at least one more time. I did need to pace myself and get some real rest so I suspect that might be why I wasn't in the Borealis area more. As it was, I did get to the Elderly Instruments suite several times but not when Stan Werbin or Bob Blackman were around.

The whole thing was simply huge!! Too many chances to miss seeing people. I was left wishing there were more folks into what I think of as the real thing.

I didn't get to the Rock Hall O' Fame. Just wasn't interested.

Next year the convention will be in Vancouver B. C.

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: Back from the Folk Alliance in Cleveland
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 16 Feb 00 - 05:12 PM

Art. For the first time in the last 10 years I was at the mercy of someone else's schedule (Grit Laskin) cause he wanted me to drive down with him...and frankly my Ford just doesn't measure up to his 4 wheel drive OJ Mobile, so we took his vehicle. I'd have killed to get to your workshop with Joe (who I haven't seen for a year). It seemed like it would be so....non singer-songmonger oriented. Unfortunately, we were on the road back to Toronto when you guys were doing your thing.

Rick (sometime songmonger...but only 'cause I gotta eat!)

Subject: RE: Back from the Folk Alliance in Cleveland
From: Art Thieme
Date: 17 Feb 00 - 01:48 PM

Harpgirl,

There was no juicy gossip 'cause you weren't there !

Art

Subject: RE: Back from the Folk Alliance in Cleveland
From: harpgirl
Date: 17 Feb 00 - 10:56 PM

...Art...whose Mrs. Miller???? What was Linda wearing? Has she gained weight? How old is Anya's son now? Is she married? What is she doing to make a living? Does Dave just love being a grandfather? Has he started coaching his grandson's t-ball team???? Come on Art, didn't you find out anything important while you were in Cleveland????? he he he he...harpster

Subject: RE: Back from the Folk Alliance in Cleveland
From: Art Thieme
Date: 18 Feb 00 - 12:33 PM

Harp, "Miller" is what I thought Dave and Linda said your name was was in those days you were sitting for Anya. No idea what Linda was wearing. And she hasn't gained weight that I could see. Anya is simply beautiful. Dave and I didn't discuss being a frandfather, although the good news from here is that Chris and Shannon are gonna make me and Carol grandparents for the first time. We just found out about that. Pure joy.

Art