Concert U. Utah Phillips in Ithaca NY

Subject: Concert U. Utah Phillips in Ithaca NY
From: DonMeixner
Date: 09 Feb 03 - 07:54 PM

Thats pretty much it. The Golden Voice of the Great SouthWest will be in Ithaca March 1st at Kulp Auditorium, 8:00 PM Ithaca High School

$15.00 and this will sell out. He rarely tours this way and he isn't getting younger.

Don

Subject: RE: Concert U. Utah Phillips in Ithaca NY
From: Art Thieme
Date: 11 Feb 03 - 04:10 AM

I do wish I could be there. Be sure to give my best regards to Utah.

Art

Subject: RE: Concert U. Utah Phillips in Ithaca NY
From: Charley Noble
Date: 11 Feb 03 - 08:01 AM

He shall be an old man,
Loved but unrespected!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Concert U. Utah Phillips in Ithaca NY
From: Joe Offer
Date: 11 Feb 03 - 11:36 AM

Bruce "U. Utah" Phillips has congestive heart failure, or congestive heart something. He's not allowed to travel very often, so he usually stays near his home in Nevada City, California (a half-hour drive from me). He performs in this area occasionally, and still seems to have as much energy (and piss and vinegar) as he has ever had.
He's also in the audience at every concert I've attended in Nevada City, which I think is pretty darn nice. He's working on establishing a peace center in this area.

If you get a chance to see him, don't miss it!

-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Concert U. Utah Phillips in Ithaca NY
From: GUEST,nashville cat
Date: 11 Feb 03 - 07:04 PM

Did see him once at the Earl of Old Town in Chicago around '79 or '80 and found him to be the most hypocritical, pretentious blowhard I've ever had the displeasure of seeing perform. And a comedic thief to boot! On the same bill were Tom Dundee and the late Kate Wolf. Eloquence personified. Talk about the ridiculous following the sublime. Sorry folks. With all due repect to the above posters, I ain't buyin' it.

Subject: RE: Concert U. Utah Phillips in Ithaca NY
From: DonMeixner
Date: 12 Feb 03 - 12:25 AM

Hey Cats,

Well everybody gets an opinion. And everybody gets to like who they do and don't. Your description of your view of Bruce Phillips is nearly word for word how I'd describe Bob Dylan.

I don't necessarily agree with Utah about most things but his knowledge of labor history is encyclopedic I'd love to take a course from him on 20th century American history and his view from the road.
But I'd like to take a similar history course from G Gordon Liddy too.
Our politics are miles appart but he knows his history.

Interesting to note that when Kate Wolf, never a real favorite of mine, was too ill to continue her tour schedule, it was U Utah Phillips whom she asked to take over for her.

AS to the comedic thief comment I have to answer with. Yes he is, whats the point, the only bigger thief than a comdeian is a lawyer.

BUt like I said, every one gets an opinion and thats what makes this life interesting.

Don

Subject: RE: Concert U. Utah Phillips in Ithaca NY
From: GUEST,nashville cat
Date: 12 Feb 03 - 08:35 PM

Hey DMeix,
So, we agree about Dylan, Liddy, Kate Wolf, lawyers, comedians 'and' Utah Phillips...so what's 'your' point? Other than overstating the obvious regarding opinions and life? My point is that as with any thief, intellectual or otherwise he's basically dishonest. He's an entertainer, a jester, a character masquerading as one genuinely concerned. Great songwriter to be sure, but leave it at that. Wobblies?...in the words of my 14 yr. old niece...PUH-LEESE-UH. About using my opinion of Phillips for your opinion of Dylan? Feel free, but only on the road.

Subject: RE: Concert U. Utah Phillips in Ithaca NY
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 12 Feb 03 - 09:11 PM

Uhhhh, what's yer 14 year old's opinions on "The Wobblies"? She must be a lot hipper than most of her ilk.

Cheers

Rick

Subject: RE: Concert U. Utah Phillips in Ithaca NY
From: DonMeixner
Date: 12 Feb 03 - 11:08 PM

Geez Cat, do I detect the soul of a cynic?

The only place I'd differ with you is I think Phillips is a genuine article and he is in fact concerned. I also think he is as genuine in his politcal beliefs as Gordon Liddy. I believe he is as patriotic an American as they come. He just doesn't follow your's or my path. That doesn't make him any less worthy of my visiting his concert stage. He is still an artist at what he does, politics aside.

And if my band wasn't else where that night, I'd be in Ithaca enjoying the loyal opposition.

Don

Subject: RE: Concert U. Utah Phillips in Ithaca NY
From: GUEST,nashville cat
Date: 13 Feb 03 - 01:42 AM

Ok, one at a time:

Rick - Was merely quoting my neice's reaction to anything she finds false...she knows nothing of the Wobblies. And she's not particularly hip, just brutally honest, fearless and gifted with a good BS sniffer.

DMeix - Great songwriter, ok guitarist, good storyteller and a master showman who knows his audience. He's spent a lifetime honing this character until you can't tell Bruce from Utah anymore. It's my humble he's pathological, much like Ramblin' Jack Elliot. They believe it so much they've got 'you'(in the general sense, not you in particular)believing it, too. Great 'entertainers' and 'showman'...I mean when Ramblin' Jack's 'on', who's better? I think Boxcar Willie has more integrity than either of them. At least you 'knew' he was a character and he made no bones about it. I can respect that. But, Mr. Phillips' selling point is the interwoven politics masquerading as 'truth from here' when in fact it's little more than 'marketting by leftist leanings'. I'm not a cynic, quite the opposite. Not a frustrated idealist as I'm not particularly frustrated about anything. I simply know shit from shinola and feel U. Utah Phillips is completely full of the former.

Subject: RE: Concert U. Utah Phillips in Ithaca NY
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 13 Feb 03 - 10:24 AM

Well he sure is comin' from the left....and he has somewhat of a theatrical approach....BUT I don't think he's been anywhere near as erratic on stage as Ramblin' Jack. Still not exactly sure what yer point is Nashville. I'm not tryin' to rattle yer chain....but if you could explain "why" he's such a phony in yer eyes I'd appreciate it.

I mean I've heard this a million times about Dylan, but not about Utah.

Cheers

Rick

Subject: RE: Concert U. Utah Phillips in Ithaca NY
From: Mark Ross
Date: 13 Feb 03 - 06:52 PM

I have to take issue with nashville. I might be a little biased, Utah and I have been friends and co-workers for over 30 years. One does not survive and make a living in this trade without a healthy ego. "He that tooteth not his own horn the same shall not get tooted." There's a lot of things that you can say about Bruce Phillips, but calling him a hypocrite is going a bit too far. I know of few in this world whose actions and words match up %100.
Utah himself would tell you that the only one he knows of who succeeded in that way was his old teacher Ammon Hennacy. Utah puts his money and his body where his mouth is. One of the reasons that he's in bad health today is commitment to the things he believes.   The extent that he would come off the road suffering from exhaustion would kill a lesser being. Not just from performing and traveling to those gigs(which we know is stressful enough), but all the extra stuff; stopping off to do free shows for striking workers, peace activists, helping organize folks wherever he happened to be.
To do all this without recompense, well I know of few in this trade who have extended themselves in this way.
When Kate Wolfe was diagnosed with her final illness, she ORDERED Utah to take her gigs and fill her commitments. What does this say about her opinion of him? He had almost retired at that point because his hands weren't working well enough to play guitar(I went out with him the 1st 6 months as his "hands" until he figured out to play guitar without his right thumb).
But the commitment to the cause(whether you approve of his stance or not)and the love of the music and the trade are there. If you could take a minute to sit down with Utah and talk, I would hope that you would change your mind.

Mark Ross

Subject: RE: Concert U. Utah Phillips in Ithaca NY
From: harpgirl
Date: 13 Feb 03 - 11:58 PM

Well, I'm off to see Kendall at Spirit of The Suwannee Music Park this weekend and I'm sure this thread will interest him!

Subject: RE: Concert U. Utah Phillips in Ithaca NY
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 14 Feb 03 - 09:39 AM

Well, I was sure honoured to split a concert with him in Toronto a few years ago, and have him on my radio show. Seemed like a very admirable man to me*. There are some Wobblies in town, including "Smokey George", who comissioned me to make some little leather pouches for some of the remaining Joe Hill ashes. Gave one to Utah.


*Which of course he IS!*

Little chats about people and things on Mudcat are simply for fun and don't mean a hill of beans unless real names are used.

Cheers

Rick

Subject: RE: Concert U. Utah Phillips in Ithaca NY
From: Stewie
Date: 14 Feb 03 - 10:02 AM

Mark, I enjoyed immensely the 'Loafer's Glory' CD that you did with Utah. Because I have never been to America, I have not had the opportunity to experience a live performance by Utah. I do have most of his albums, however, and the qualities that come across very strongly to me in his songs and stories are his humanity, passion and sincerity.

Cheer, Stewie.

Subject: RE: Concert U. Utah Phillips in Ithaca NY
From: Mark Ross
Date: 14 Feb 03 - 12:33 PM

Stewie,
       Thanks, the CD was a lot of fun. You should check out the ROSE TATTOO CD. It's Utah & me in concert in Kansas City, fwith Bruce Brackney, Bob & Diana Suckiel, Kuddie, and Larry Penn.

Mark

Subject: RE: Concert U. Utah Phillips in Ithaca NY
From: kendall
Date: 14 Feb 03 - 01:01 PM

Anyone who has spent any time WITH Utah would never say he's full of ... In my not so humble opinion, he is an outstanding performer, and a decent human being. As I wrote for his new brochure, ..he is one of my few heros.. Yes, I am biased. Get over it.

Subject: RE: Concert U. Utah Phillips in Ithaca NY
From: DonMeixner
Date: 14 Feb 03 - 05:45 PM

I could say more about Bruce Phillips but that would be lilly gilding and thats not what U. Utah Phillips is all about. I will say this tho' , I'd trust him with my best guitar, my last dollar, my oldest joke and my newest song. And when I got them back, I'd be the better for for the loan of them.

If you can, go see him in Ithaca. You won't regret it.

Don

Subject: RE: Concert U. Utah Phillips in Ithaca NY
From: GUEST,nashville cat
Date: 14 Feb 03 - 11:31 PM

Of course he would be warm and personable doing an interview on a radio show and subsequent gig with his host. It's to his advantage in perpetuating the myth. And I never compared him in performance with Ramblin' Jack. Ramblin' Jack fluctuates between functionally neurotic and clinically psychotic, onstage at least if not in life. U U is reasonably sane, but I simply found him to be pretentious and hypocritical. 'That's' my point Mr. Fielding.

Kendall, I don't have to justify anything to you. If he's one of your 'few heros'...congrats! You're on his payroll, for crying out loud! Maybe not in a material sense, but certainly in an idealogical/spiritual sense. How much in 'reflected glory' have you gleaned from your involvement with him? I prefer my heros a little closer to home. Toiling in obscurity, humble in their talents and beliefs and consistent in their actions and words.

Sorry to be seeming to be taking a cleaver to a sacred cow, but I just happen to think he's a contrivance and needs to be viewed in the context of musical/entertainment history rather than labor history.

And to Mr. Fielding, I have no problem identifying myself. But not in this forum as it doesn't suit any purpose for me. Just let me know if/when you're going to be in Nashville and I'll be glad to e-mail you my address, phone number and publisher and we can drink some beers, do some pickin' and argue politics 'til fisticuffs if you'd like. I've got a small place right in the middle of Music Row and have regular songwriting rounds at my place.

Cheers, yourself!

Subject: RE: Concert U. Utah Phillips in Ithaca NY
From: Art Thieme
Date: 15 Feb 03 - 12:37 AM

Utah is a great man and friend ever since the times I first met him at the Earl Of Old Town in those halcyon days of yore in Chicago. You and I saw the same guy and heard the same message. Then we had different reactions to a similar stimulus.

As I have said many times here in this forum, every coin has two sides.

I don't feel you need to be so opinionated where Bruce is concerned. I think I held the same views he held long before I met or heard him. Sounds like you had your feelings long before too. Disagreements like ours, left to run rampant, are what is hauling us into disaster in Iraq. If we ever meet, I'll buy you a Scotch and we can talk. --- This is my first and last post to this thread.

ART THIEME

Subject: RE: Concert U. Utah Phillips in Ithaca NY
From: kendall
Date: 22 Feb 03 - 11:22 AM

Someone here is full of it, but it aint Utah.

Subject: RE: Concert U. Utah Phillips in Ithaca NY
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 22 Feb 03 - 12:27 PM

Well I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree Nashville. Cheers again.

Rick