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Orillia Folk Society Monthly
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Subject: Orillia Folk Society Monthly From: flattop Date: 29 Oct 00 - 10:44 PM This afternoon we had our monthly Orillia Folk Society concert. Sophocleese, one of the founding members of the folk society I believe, worked the concert as both soundman and master of ceremonies. The concert came alive when hespiris sang, Ophelia, a Goth song about death. Accompanying herself with funeral sounding arpeggios on keyboard, her opening song seemed apt for this weekend before Halloween. She followed Ophelia with two oppressive love songs. Hessy seemed very comfortable on stage. You'd think she had been born with a mike in her mouth. She even looked good from the back of the room. Hesperis ended her set with a bright, complicated, impressive instrumental piece on the piano, North Mountain Pass. Sophocleese then introduced David Zub, a United Church minister who played slide on a twelve-string guitar and fingerpicking on a six string. He opened with 'Son Don't go Astray,' played songs by James Gordon and David Essex, and then one of his own with advice like, 'Never eat anything you can't lift.' Zub finished his set with a courageous rendition of Richard Thompson's difficult song, '57 Vincent Black Lightening.' The feature act, Newmarket's Rick Hoyles played a variety of percussion instruments with bass and a variety of flutes and recorders. He was able to do this mainly by recording drums and bass on echo loops then accompanying his loops with flutes and other instruments like toy robots that made Frampton like noises, finger pianos and birdcalls. The ads for the show suggested that people bring rhythm instruments to play along with Rick. Hesperis brought a couple of rotting twigs. They made a pathetic muffled sound when Little Hawk banged them. Hesperis resorted to whacking me on the head with a book on Feng Shui to get a booming hollow sound. Sophocleese arrived with a number of percussion instruments including a tunable head brodhran (sp?, It's not only difficult to play well, it's nearly impossible to spell.) At one point Hoyles invited Sophocleese on stage to play recorder improvisations to his drumming. She barely had time to catch her breath when she had to tear down the sound system and pack it up. By the way, Jennifer printed an edited version of my mudcat message 'Rick Fielding Plays Crop Circle Country' on the front page of this month's newsletter with a picture of Rick and his autoharp. |
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Subject: RE: Orillia Folk Society Monthly From: Rick Fielding Date: 29 Oct 00 - 11:00 PM Ha Ha! Wondeful 'Top! Any chance I can get a copy. Sounds like you folks had fun. Rick |
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Subject: RE: Orillia Folk Society Monthly From: flattop Date: 29 Oct 00 - 11:07 PM I got a couple of copies to send to you Rick and I've asked jives to send me the version she published by e-mail. I condensed the piece and added a couple of points. Then she played school teacher and changed a couple of things. One of her changes I don't like. Did you get the little Ramara paper with the review that I sent you after Mariposa? david |
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Subject: RE: Orillia Folk Society Monthly From: Matt_R Date: 29 Oct 00 - 11:10 PM Goth song about death? You mean Marilyn Manson played on piano??? |
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Subject: RE: Orillia Folk Society Monthly From: CarolC Date: 29 Oct 00 - 11:20 PM Flattop, I love your description of hesperis' stuff (opressive love songs, indeed). Wish I could have been there to hear everybody. If it wasn't so cold up there, I might consider relocating. You people would provide good camoflage...I think I might actually be able to pass myself off as the normal one for a change. Carol |
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Subject: RE: Orillia Folk Society Monthly From: flattop Date: 29 Oct 00 - 11:30 PM Marilyn Manson? Hessy and her friends write original depressing songs. No need to imitate shallow American entertainers. Camoflage, Carol? what are you talking about? What makes you think that you could pass yourself off as one of the normals? Do you cluster around the mean? We've had a pretty warm fall here and it snowed one time when I was in Virginia. They didn't know what to do with the snow. |
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Subject: RE: Orillia Folk Society Monthly From: CarolC Date: 30 Oct 00 - 03:47 AM (nothing like an ice cold glass of Canadian cyber-water in the face to wake a person up to reality) Thanks, flattop. I needed that. I don't know what I could possibly have been thinking. ((banging head against computer screen)) |
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Subject: RE: Orillia Folk Society Monthly From: flattop Date: 30 Oct 00 - 05:34 AM That word normal is like a red flag to some of us. Sorry Carol. |
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Subject: RE: Orillia Folk Society Monthly From: CarolC Date: 30 Oct 00 - 05:48 AM It's ok, flattop. I was actually trying to be funny. I don't use emoticons with those of you from Orillia very much because you have such sophisticated senses of irony. I feel that to use them would be overkill. I especially admire you're particular brand of irony. I actually enjoyed your 10/29, 11:30 post very much. At any rate, I thought you were being ironic. I think I've gotten into some trouble misinterpreting people's words with regard to irony before. So maybe I was wrong again this time. If that's the case, maybe I owe you an apology. Carol |
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Subject: RE: Orillia Folk Society Monthly From: flattop Date: 30 Oct 00 - 06:14 AM No apology necessary. Are you getting enough sleep Carol? You seem to be up at all hours. |
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Subject: RE: Orillia Folk Society Monthly From: Rick Fielding Date: 30 Oct 00 - 10:40 AM Hi 'Top, I used to WALLOW in irony, but I think I scared off too many folks....so now I merely dip my toe in it. I didn't get your piece and I'd love to see it. Rick |
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Subject: RE: Orillia Folk Society Monthly From: Willie-O Date: 30 Oct 00 - 11:49 AM Mr Picky says: that would probably be songs by David _Essig_, not Essex, a faded glam-rocker whose material would be a little out of place ... and the Thompson song, difficult and rewarding as it is, is "Vincent Black Lightning", and refers to a 52, not a 57 model. And everyone knows there's nothing like a good death-song to liven up a folk music show! Preferably multiple & violent. And often brought to you courtesy of that maniac... |
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Subject: RE: Orillia Folk Society Monthly From: hesperis Date: 30 Oct 00 - 12:48 PM "Oppressive love songs" indeed!!! Should I be insulted?!! *Sheesh!*
Thanks for the glowing review, flatso. The song about Ophelia is called In Death She Blooms, it's sort of a morbid, romanticized lament about the dead body, with flowers lying draped on it and stuff. It was written by a friend of mine who IS a 'Goth'. (She's not really Mason-ish though.) No Guarantees is opressive, yes, but I can't believe that you think Night Garden is opressive! I think it's really romantic. Anyway, you are entitled to your opinion. (Even when it's wrong... *g*) David Zub was cool. I need to ask him about some of those songs... It's not really my style of music, but very enjoyable. Really funny, too. The last performer, LÖ, was fantastic. Completely improvised world music, with flutes, ocarina, thumb piano, and drums. His tapes cost only $5, which meant I could get them both! I'll be listening to them in the next few days. He's got a performance in Newmarket on Nov 3rd, I am definitely going to be there. (My rhythm sticks aren't rotten! They're only half rotten!) Carol - you play accordion. There is no way you would blend into the scenery here. (But you're welcome to come up for a visit. We'll buy you lunch at Mezzaluna, ok? HINT - COME!) |
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Subject: RE: Orillia Folk Society Monthly From: hesperis Date: 30 Oct 00 - 01:11 PM I meant Manson - but who cares? |
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Subject: RE: Orillia Folk Society Monthly From: CarolC Date: 31 Oct 00 - 04:19 AM I'm definitely up for lunch at Mezzaluna. Can we play music after? hesperis...I hate to have to be the one to break this to you. I am in the process of corrupting Little Hawk, musically speaking. He has tentatively agreed to attend my accordion workshops next May so he can learn how to play the accordion while singing Dylan songs. I figure, by the time I'm ready to come up there and play music with you guys, you'll all be playing accordions. (muahahaha...) Carol |
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Subject: RE: Orillia Folk Society Monthly From: hesperis Date: 31 Oct 00 - 11:17 AM Carol - I have to admit, on a trip to Toronto recently, while Little Hawk was in some music store or other buying MORE harmonicas, I had a look at the accordions.... ::embarassed grin:: (He drove me to my allergy appointment, cause he had some stuff to do in T.O. Nice of him.) I was jest buggin' ya earlier!
Yes, we definitely play music after!!!!! |
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Subject: RE: Orillia Folk Society Monthly From: Little Hawk Date: 31 Oct 00 - 11:50 AM flattop - excellent review! That "hollow booming sound" really was a nice effect... hesperis - "Hit Me With Your Rythm Stick!" Har! Har! Sorry, just couldn't resist. Actually I really thought the accordions were neat. Very beautiful and complex instruments. Carol - we have NEVER had an accordion at the Orillia Song Circle, but we do have a guy show up now and then with a concertina. He usually does sea shanties and other traditionals from the English/Scottish/Irish mix. An accordion would be most enjoyable. As for Dylan tunes, well, why not? There is some accordion in "Joey" and maybe in a few other tunes he's done. Bob's had a stab at almost everything by now in his music. |
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Subject: RE: Orillia Folk Society Monthly From: flattop Date: 02 Nov 00 - 10:28 PM Why do I feel a need to write apologies and to make editorial retractions? Because I'm sloppy and often confused? I should have let Willie-O write the review. The Vincent Black Lightning was a 52, not a 57. Essig may not be spelt Essex - although I'm referring to a Canadian guitarist who lives in Toronto, not a glam-rocker as far as I know. I can't spell and my spellchecker is lousy with Canadian guitarist's names. Perhaps hessy only sang one oppressive love song. It may have simply felt like two. Besides, oppressive can be romantic and vice versa. Hesperis sang and played well. She looked like a Modigliani painting with her dark hair and lines curled over the microphone. She's a talent. She's quick witted and she can dance. She'd have a bright future if only she'd learn how to blow her nose properly. And I forgot to mention that Sophocleese, as well as doing fine jobs as soundman and master of ceremonies, sounded like a cool old jazzmen when she jammed with Rick Hoyles. Pissed off Rosie to boot. The piece that I sent in the mail, Rick, was the little Ramara newsletter with the pictures of Dr. Garry and a review of Mariposa with your picture, not anything that I wrote. I will send tow copies of the Orillia Folk Society newsletter. Jennifer hasn't e-mailed me the final copy for the article. She's playing a 500th Don's Coffeehouse performance tomorrow night. I'll remind her to send it to me after that. You'd think that after hundreds of performances Don would get a gong. Instead he has special chair for Jennifer and Katy Austin. Don turned an old church at 12 Mill Street East, Hillsdale, into great coffee shop. Wonderful acoustics. David Esseiggggxxxx(sp?) played there not too long ago. Don has equipment and he will play acoustic/electric bass with anyone who asks. He has spare guitars and a keyboard in case anyone forgets to bring one. Carol, Don's wife, bakes pies, cookies, tarts, cakes and meals for the coffeehouse. Thursday nights they have a Bistro. Jennifer's concert is a dinner and concert night, $20 for members, $25 for non-members. I understood Carol's tone but, at 5:30 in the morning after a short sleep, I felt more like apologizing than joking around. I often like apologizing. So Rick goes off and starts a whole irony thread about how dense I was waking up that morning. Feel like a fool. I was amazed that Carol could be so coherent after a sleepless night without amphetamines. Obviously, she's not as old and decrepit as I am. To end on a positive note, McGill has the toilet franchise on the farm that caters to kids at highway 400 and highway 90 just north of Barrie. Six shiney blue toilets out by the highway. Warms the heart. Today Barrie, tomorrow the world as McGill takes on the global marketplace. Why don't you come up and play you accordion in a McGill, Carol? |
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Subject: RE: Orillia Folk Society Monthly From: CarolC Date: 02 Nov 00 - 10:49 PM You know, flattop, I might just have to do that. I imagine the accoustics would be very interesting. Maybe you could put one on the back of a flat-bed truck, and haul me around town while I play for all of the people of Orillia. (Who said I don't use amphetamines?) Carol |
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Subject: RE: Orillia Folk Society Monthly From: hesperis Date: 03 Nov 00 - 12:25 AM Yeah, after all, CarolC does have a key for the Municipal Porta-Potty! Har, har, har! flattop - Modigliani? ::inquiring look:: (I may be named after an artist, but that doesn't mean I know everything about art!) We'll see what happens with the nose-blowing when I'm healthy, eh? What is the David Essig/Essex thing about? I missed something there... |
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Subject: RE: Orillia Folk Society Monthly From: flattop Date: 03 Nov 00 - 07:05 AM Perhaps I shouldn't have tried to clarify issues when I was stressed and tired. I see that I called Don's wife Carol when she responds to Caroline. Using CarolC would have added clarity. CarolC has the key but Orillians are not cliquey about their port-a-potties. McGill's doors open to everyone. So if you think you're full of it, come to Orillia. It's not just interesting accoustics Carol. The seats in the McGills have no arms so we can easily play our instruments without banging anything. Modigliani painted graceful darkhaired women using simple long flowing curves, hessy. Check O-Willie's post about Essig/Essex.
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Subject: RE: Orillia Folk Society Monthly From: hesperis Date: 03 Nov 00 - 11:03 AM flattop - Oh, ok. It was actually a compliment then... Sometimes it's hard to tell with you... Weel, aw shucks! Thankya'll kindly. |
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Subject: RE: Orillia Folk Society Monthly From: CarolC Date: 03 Nov 00 - 07:05 PM flattop, do you work for McGill or something, or do you just have a soft spot in your heart for them? Carol |
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Subject: RE: Orillia Folk Society Monthly From: flattop Date: 03 Nov 00 - 10:44 PM I don't work for McGill, Carol. I don't think I've even been in one of their blue plastic toilets. The McGill guy did wave to me from the back of Rombo's restaurant though. He'll wave to you too if he sees you in the A&P parking lot. It's probably a soft spot in my head, but, you know, if you get the right mixture of sadness and beauty you can feel truely blessed, like I do tonight. |
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Subject: RE: Orillia Folk Society Monthly From: CarolC Date: 04 Nov 00 - 06:04 PM I know what you mean |
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Subject: RE: Orillia Folk Society Monthly From: hesperis Date: 11 Mar 01 - 11:12 PM Well, I was looking back over this thread, and yep, CarolC quickly converted us all to Accordion while she was visiting here. Amazing what happens when an instrument is played with love, isn't it? |
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Subject: RE: Orillia Folk Society Monthly From: CarolC Date: 12 Mar 01 - 07:38 PM I love this thread! Thanks for refreshing it, hesperis.
It really amazes me that we actually ended up doing most of the things that we talked about in this thread. Lunch at Mezzaluna was great. I succeeded in corrupting most of the people in Orillia (musically speaking). You even ended up composing my favorite new piece of music for accordion.
We ate at Rombo's
We visited many of the most notable McGills in and around Orillia. (Sir Sam Steele Art Gallery McGill, Luxury Condo matching HIS and HER McGills, the McGill mother lode)
I was given the official McGill key (pictures from that great event later... )
I met the McGill Man in the A & P parking lot (sigh... ). |
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Subject: RE: Orillia Folk Society Monthly From: Banjer Date: 12 Mar 01 - 07:53 PM Oh Carol, You have experienced first hand that which most of us can only dream of!!! Imagine, sitting in one of their trucks...I could never imagine myself that high on the scale of social achievements...And how can you ever forget your very own Field of Dreams...You must now know how a male dog must feel when he sees a storage lot of fire hydrants...Did you visit each and every one and leave YOUR mark?...At some of the bigger reenactments we attend the Port-O-Lets are lined up like a small subdivion...there are often enough of them that they must have their own postal code!...What a sight to behold...and at the end of the day that same sight literaly takes your breath away! |
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Subject: RE: Orillia Folk Society Monthly From: hesperis Date: 12 Mar 01 - 10:04 PM Damn straight, Banjer! |
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Subject: RE: Orillia Folk Society Monthly From: Noreen Date: 12 Mar 01 - 10:47 PM Love the pictures, Carol! |
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Subject: RE: Orillia Folk Society Monthly From: CarolC Date: 13 Mar 01 - 10:55 AM You said it, Banjer. You were the second person to write a limerick about Orillia, I believe. When are you going to make your pilgrimage (or McGillgrimage, as flattop would say)? Thanks, Noreen! |
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Subject: RE: Orillia Folk Society Monthly From: hesperis Date: 13 Mar 01 - 10:05 PM Well, we are looking for next year's contender for the title... |
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