Fred Eaglesmith - Comments?

Subject: Eaglesmith in Juneau - Comments?
From: Ebbie
Date: 29 Apr 09 - 11:13 AM

I found four threads that dealt with Fred Eaglesmith but they are all titled Lyrics Requested so I'm starting a new one about Eaglesmith the performer.

In early May he will be touring southeast Alaska and we got him for a solo show in Juneau. In addition to his own poster we want to do good publicity on him - we're charging $20 a pop and this is not a big town.

I will be sending out a group email on the event.

Any comments that I can use? T'ank you.

Eb

Subject: BS: Fred Eaglesmith - Comments?
From: Ebbie
Date: 29 Apr 09 - 06:39 PM

Well. Pooh, I say. I posted this above the line and no one responded. I really would like to glean some feedback on the man as performer, so I'll try it down here.

Fred Eaglesmith is the Canadian man who has written such songs as 'Time to Get a Gun', 'Alcohol and Pills', 'I Shot Your Dog', and many other equally memorable ones. According to his website, he also is a serious photographer.

As I said above:

I found four threads that dealt with Fred Eaglesmith but they are all titled Lyrics Requested so I'm starting a new one about Eaglesmith the performer.

In early May he will be touring southeast Alaska and we got him for a solo show in Juneau. In addition to his own poster we want to do good publicity on him - we're charging $20 a pop and this is not a big town.

I will be sending out a group email on the event.

Any comments that I can use? T'ank you.

Eb


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Subject: RE: BS: Fred Eaglesmith - Comments?
From: number 6
Date: 29 Apr 09 - 07:13 PM

If Fred comes to your town make an effort to see him. Not only will you hear some wonderful music but you'll have tears of laughter coming down your face with his folklore and stories.

In short ... Fred Eaglesmith the performer, well worth seeing live.

Never heard about his photgraphy Ebbie ... but will definately look into this.

biLL

Subject: RE: BS: Fred Eaglesmith - Comments?
From: Peace
Date: 29 Apr 09 - 07:14 PM

Ditto that. Big time.

Subject: RE: BS: Fred Eaglesmith - Comments?
From: Peace
Date: 29 Apr 09 - 07:16 PM

FYI, there is a gang of him doing his material on YouTube.

Subject: RE: BS: Fred Eaglesmith - Comments?
From: katlaughing
Date: 29 Apr 09 - 07:32 PM

I wondered about the thread, Ebbie. Didn't know anything about him so didn't post. Now, though, I've looked at some youtube of him. The first two had terrible audio, so I went looking for others. This One is a really neat song.

Subject: RE: BS: Fred Eaglesmith - Comments?
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Apr 09 - 08:36 PM

It'd probably be well worth the price of admission just to see him do "Water In The Fuel" .. probably one of the saddest songs in recent times (although Kasey Chambers' voice when she does the song seems better fitted to the melancholy).

Ranks right up there with Hank Williams "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" and Neil Young's "Helpless" ...

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Thread #98266   Message #1943843

Posted By: GUEST

21-Jan-07 - 10:49 PM

Thread Name: The Tear Jerker Thread

Subject: ADD: Water in the Fuel (Fred Eaglesmith)

Fred Eaglesmith
(but Kasey Chambers sings it better, IMO)

Water In The Fuel

Well, darling, I'm a coming down old route number sixty-seven.
I just got off the turnpike avoiding the Ohio state inspection.
Johnny law followed me up the road, but then he turned off and he let me go.
I guess this old truck ain't worth shutting down.
And your voice last night on the telephone said you wouldn't be there when I got home
So, when I get to Cleveland I'm going to head back south.

Chorus:
The light keeps coming on, I've got water in the fuel.
My brakes are gone, I've got a left front tire throwing thread.
By tomorrow morning, I could be dead. Baby, maybe you were right all along.

You said you couldn't stay with a man who was always going away,
And all you wanted to do was settle down.
You wanted to buy that little trailer, out on the edge with the money you saved.
It had a carport, a colour TV and no place to turn around.

(Chorus)

Bridge:
Remember that winter when the lake froze over,
We drove out there after we'd unloaded,
We revved that truck and we spun it 'round and 'round.
Then we left it idling out on that ice,
Crawled in the sleeper and I held you tight.
Baby, I'm sure on thin ice now.

(Chorus)

Subject: RE: BS: Fred Eaglesmith - Comments?
From: GUEST,Arkie
Date: 29 Apr 09 - 08:47 PM

He is one of the major talents in today's music as far as I am concerned. Great writer and great singer. Amen to "Water in the Fuel". Also love "Spookin' the Horses" and "Milly's Cafe". He is one artist I would love to see and hear live.

Subject: RE: BS: Fred Eaglesmith - Comments?
From: Willie-O
Date: 30 Apr 09 - 08:13 AM

A legend. Puts on a barnburner show. Has written a million songs, almost all of them good. Grew up farming in southwestern Ontario, he is kind of a zen redneck, doesn't have to put on working-class airs because he's the real thing. Not a sit-down folkie concert and he will probably rub some folks the wrong way, coming on like a freight train ("baby, wish I was a diesel locomotive...") having attitude to spare or rent out, but most will enjoy the rub. If you have friends that "don't like folk music", but maybe like what they think is country, this is a show for them. Sometimes I have thought that he enjoys riling people up so much that it gives a manufactured cynicism to some of his songs; others genuinely come from the heart. "The Old John Deere" is spot on, for example. Farming is a tough go.

His comic songs are truly treasures. Back in the day when a bunch of kids lived on our dead-end, three-house road, the gang of them waiting at the school bus stop would often be heard singing "When, exactly, did we become white trash?" Gosh I'm gettin old and nostalgic.

Notice how everyone cites different Fred songs as favourites--that's an indicator of how deep his catalog is. He has his own tribe of followers on tours--of course, they are "Fredheads". (please let us know how many make it to Alaska!)      

You'll get a kick out of this southern Ontario madman.
W-O

Subject: RE: BS: Fred Eaglesmith - Comments?
From: Ebbie
Date: 30 Apr 09 - 10:37 AM

Wow! YEAH! That's the kind of information I was looking for- reviews and opinions from people who are familiar with his work and persona.

Thank all of you very much.

Subject: RE: BS: Fred Eaglesmith - Comments?
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Apr 09 - 03:48 PM

Fred is the most underrated performer out there to-day. Lots of his tunes have been done by the big boys. Incredible, touching lyrics. Touch you right to your soul. Seen Fred a few times and anytime he comes to Kingston, I'm there.

Jon, Kingston.

Subject: RE: Fred Eaglesmith - Comments?
From: Ed T
Date: 30 Apr 09 - 05:26 PM

He wrote many songs, and gives a real good performance. There is plenty on
you tube, including White Rose, which Toby Keith recorded, but many have poor sound.

The video is dark on this one, but the sound is good

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecwFpapCh9U

Subject: RE: Fred Eaglesmith - Comments?
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 01 May 09 - 08:46 AM

One of Mr Kite's favourite visitors to England. From the archives;

First up, the wacky world of Mr Kite was treated to the unbridled joy of Fred Eaglesmith picking the raffle numbers in the middle of his set. Fred loved it so much that he went straight into 'the raffle song' on his second appearance for us. What next, we ask.

Subject: RE: Fred Eaglesmith - Comments?
From: Ebbie
Date: 11 May 09 - 11:27 AM

Last night Eaglesmith did the concert in Juneau, Alaska. As endorsed above, he did a wonderful show. As one musician in the audience said afterward: I laughed so much that my cheeks are tired.

He did a great show. 90 minutes without a stop. I have no idea of how many songs he did- a great many, though - because of his stories.

It was great fun. In style, he kept reminding me of Tommy Smothers, of the Smothers Brothers. He has a most expressive face and appears to be an excellent mimic too. His timing is impeccable.

Buddy Tabor of Juneau did a 20 minute set to open. One thing amazed me - Fred Eaglesmith stood at the back of the hall and listened to Buddy's whole performance. Later he made a nice acknowledgment of Juneau's favorite son. He said that he studies Buddhism and that one Buddhist teacher said that "if it's brilliant, happy or sad doesn't matter, and here you have Buddy Tabor. He is brilliant. (Buddy writes preponderantly sad songs or biting commentary)

Afterward a few of us trekked to a local watering hole for a couple glasses of wine. Even Buddy came- and he rarely ventures inside a bar. But, as he said, "Me, miss a chance to hang out with Fred Eaglesmith?"

Subject: RE: Fred Eaglesmith - Comments?
From: Jayto
Date: 11 May 09 - 12:39 PM

I used to play guitar with Fred in Nashville and hang out with him pretty frequent. He is a great writer and a funny guy. He would come and play gigs with me and Chris Knight (who he has co-written several songs with) alot yrs ago in Nashville. He is cool and very well worth the money and trip to go hear. I really urge you to go. You will not be dissapointed.
cya
JT

Subject: RE: Fred Eaglesmith - Comments?
From: DonMeixner
Date: 11 May 09 - 12:59 PM

Of course this is after the fact but. The Rocket brings me to tears when ever I hear it. Not wordy or overly symbolic, if at all. It tells the story. A perfect song.

Don

Subject: RE: Fred Eaglesmith - Comments?
From: Arkie
Date: 11 May 09 - 01:59 PM

Ebbie, thanks for the report. It is as I expected and it says a bit about Eaglesmith's character as well that he would listen to the opening act.

Subject: RE: Fred Eaglesmith - Comments?
From: Ed T
Date: 24 Jun 09 - 09:26 AM

I saw him in Dartmouth NS...Canada last week. Loyal fans were there, enjoying.I was dissapointed that he spoke very little,(many I talked with to at the bar, before he came on, saw him before and said he normally talks alot....which is part of the enjoyment). Also, the sound mix was dissapointing, with far too loud amplified guitar. I could hardly here his lyrics (a big part of his songs). Nice to see him....and I would see him again...but I was dissapointed.

Subject: RE: Fred Eaglesmith - Comments?
From: Jayto
Date: 24 Jun 09 - 11:53 AM

Fred is great.

Subject: RE: Fred Eaglesmith - Comments?
From: Ebbie
Date: 24 Jun 09 - 12:41 PM

I'm sorry you had a disappointing experience, Ed T. Sounds like a bad night all around.

Subject: RE: Fred Eaglesmith - Comments?
From: Willie-O
Date: 24 Jun 09 - 01:11 PM

Fred's at his best in an outdoor setting, or a funky hall...like the Mcdonalds Corners Agricultural Hall, where we had him a few times now. I notice he's been playing some classic un-gentrified taverns too like the Tweedsmuir Hotel in Tweed, Ontario--like to have caught that.

W-O