Gordon Bok This Weekend

Subject: Gordon Bok This Weekend
From: Naemanson
Date: 20 Oct 00 - 04:01 PM

In an hour or so I am leaving to work at the Side Door Coffeehouse in Brunswick, Maine, where the featured performer will be Gordon Bok. In the audience will be at least two 'catters, me and Kendall. It's a shame you can't be there to hear Gordon in an intimate coffeehouse atmosphere but I will report on the evening later.

Tomorrow afternoon and evening there will be the first Maine Maritime Heritage Music festival in Kennebunk, Maine. The featured performers will be Gordon Bok, Castlebay, and Roll & Go. There will be workshops in the afternoon featuring Gordon Bok and Roll & Go. The evening concert will start at 7:00.

And for those of you already in transit, have a great time at the FSGW getaway!

Subject: RE: Gordon Bok This Weekend
From: MMario
Date: 20 Oct 00 - 04:37 PM

Please do....a while back I was at a friends house and he said something along the lines of "Almost called you last night, had tickets to a concert but I'd never heard of the guy...Gordon Bok" AAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH. He was in Ithaca at one of the colleges...

Subject: RE: Gordon Bok This Weekend
From: Naemanson
Date: 20 Oct 00 - 11:31 PM

The Side Door was great. We had about 90 people in a very small space. Gordon is fighting a cold which left his voice a little raspy and gruff at times but he sang some great traditional stuff and some great new stuff.

Some of the people bought his CD's and tapes and got him to sign them. Others brought their old vinyl out of storage. He was very friendly and accessable. He is one of the good guys.

He enjoyed himself immensely and said to me, as we humped his gear out to his car, that "...this is the kind of evening that will leave a goofy grin on your face all week."

He asked after you Kendall but neither of us could remember if you would be back yet. You weren't.

Subject: RE: Gordon Bok This Weekend
From: GUEST,winterbright
Date: 21 Oct 00 - 10:06 AM

Gordon rules! The coffee house was, indeed, awesome! It was also (purely by coincidence) our 8th anniversary. The open mike first set had 8 of our regulars plus one little girl who was playing her recorder for the first time in public (she played "Simple Gifts" and we all loved it). Wish there were things like this everywhere... it's such a wonderful community! Thanks, Naemanson for all the help! And THANKS TO ALL THE VOLUNTEERS EVERYWHERE WHO MAKE THINGS LIKE THIS HAPPEN!!! By the way... Bath, Maine... Mocha Folk is this Saturday, the 28th at the Chocolate Church. Ask Naemanson about the time.

Subject: RE: Gordon Bok This Weekend
From: bbc
Date: 21 Oct 00 - 10:10 AM

I hope Gordon gets rid of that cold soon! BTW, do any of you know if a cd will result from the recent BMT concert tour? I sure hope so; I'd like to have another one of theirs!

best to the Mainers,

bbc (sorry to not be at the Get-Away--money!)

Subject: RE: Gordon Bok This Weekend
From: GUEST,Mark Cohen
Date: 21 Oct 00 - 04:37 PM

I sure hope there's a CD--I got to the concert in Bedford, Mass., and it was outstanding. First time I've heard them all together live, and I hope it's not the last, "farewell tour" notwithstanding. The concert was being videotaped, and there was a signup list for the tape, but I don't know if the details have been worked out yet. I did buy the latest TBM CD...they just keep getting better!

And it was great to see Barry and Peg at the singer's club in Boston. There are some things we don't have in Hawaii (besides snow)...

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: RE: Gordon Bok This Weekend
From: GUEST,Frank of Toledo
Date: 21 Oct 00 - 06:36 PM

Nancy & I just had Lee Murdock, the Great Lakes balladeer in concert last night at the Toledo Folk Music Club (Oregon), and after the show we sat and talked at great length about Gordon and his music. We both shared a song "Outside Track" and Nancy & I are getting ready for Gordon's upcoming concert here in Toledo Oregon, Thursday November 9th at the local Methodist church. Hope to see some Mudcatters and Gordon Bok fans here. You can call for tickets at 1-541-336-5743..

Subject: RE: Gordon Bok This Weekend
From: Naemanson
Date: 22 Oct 00 - 08:14 AM

Yesterday was AWESOME! A bunch of you may have been having fun at the Getaway but for me yesterday takes the cake.

The setup was this. Rivertree Arts in Kennebunk is trying to launch a regular Maine Music Heritage Festival. They hired Roll & Go, Castlebay, and Gordon Bok to start the ball rolling. In the afternoon we (Roll & Go) and Gordon each ran workshops on songs of the sea and those of Maine. Gordon sat in, as audience, on our workshop and we sat in on his. We talked of chanties and sailor songs in general. He talked of songs of Maine and where he learned them. He also talked of his experiences and how they contributed to the songs he has "made" and is continuing to "make". I had not realized the depth of his experience in fishing vessels and coastal trade. I have gained a new respect for him in addition to my already existing love for his music and his musical style.

Later that evening we joined with Castlebay (Fred Gosbee and Julia Lane) to do a concert. Roll & Go opened the show with a half hour set followed by Castlebay. Then we took a break while students from the school sold home made refreshments as a fund raiser. The second half of the concert was all Gordon. He has such a great style and wit. He sang and talked of his life and the friends he has made music with. He is currently playing his big 12-string which was made by Nick Apollonio, his six string which was his mother's guitar, and the modified cello/gamba thingie that he and Nick developed. He didn't sing any of his own songs but songs he had learned that particularly tickled him and they were good'uns. Then at the end he asked Castlebay and Roll & Go to join him on stage and we sang The Hills Of Isle au Haut and Roll On.

The audience was very responsive and appreciative, joining in on choruses and applauding enthusiastically. During the break and after the show they went out of their way to compliment all of us on our work.

This has been a great weekend and it's only Sunday! And today I get to do laundry and clean the bathroom! And prepare for the shows this weekend. No Gordon but they'll be fun anyway.

Subject: RE: Gordon Bok This Weekend
From: Naemanson
Date: 22 Oct 00 - 08:18 AM

What the hell, this is totally uncharacteristic for me but I'll do this before I think too hard about it.

At the workshop yesterday, before we got started Gordon came up to me and commented about my singing of "Derelict" at the coffeehouse on the previous night. The tune on that one is tricky and full of odd notes and runs. I do it without accompaniement.

He said he was impressed, that I had done a nice job and whenever I came around to the verse again I always came right back to the right place.

I am flying today!

Subject: RE: Gordon Bok This Weekend
From: Naemanson
Date: 22 Oct 00 - 08:27 AM

Oh, and Fred Gosbee is giving us (Roll & Go) the contact information to go to the Festival Of The Sea in Portsmouth, UK. If that comes off I'll be heading across the pond. Any chance I could meet one or two of our British friends? If you have time in your busy schedules, that is. *BG*

Subject: RE: Gordon Bok This Weekend
From: harpgirl
Date: 22 Oct 00 - 11:37 AM

I thought I told Gordon that I would be in Florida this weekend..maybe I didnt.. He has been a treasure in my life for the last 41 years.

Subject: RE: Gordon Bok This Weekend
From: Naemanson
Date: 22 Oct 00 - 12:31 PM

Well, "Harpgirl", neither of us was sure when you were returning. Anyway, Kendall, he was asking after you.

Subject: RE: Gordon Bok This Weekend
From: wysiwyg
Date: 22 Oct 00 - 01:19 PM

Whaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!

PA looks mighty grim this morning after reading all that.

I can't pay the whine fine either, it was such a big one it broke the bank.

Hey Gang-- I don't think Naemanson has told us everything we need to know. I think he may be more talented and more widely appreciated than he has let on. I say we make him tell. Whaddaya think? That post-event brag was not NEARLY big enough. I bet there's more-- how it felt, all of it.

(And Brett-- you lil devil, you din't tell me this was coming up for you-- gotta work on that ANTICIPATORY brag thing too!!! So look out-- don't make me come up there and teach you in person! !!Caramba!!)

(GOOD JOB GOOD JOB GOOD JOB GOOD JOB)

And what a GREAT FINISH to THAT WEEK.

~S~

Subject: RE: Gordon Bok This Weekend
From: Naemanson
Date: 22 Oct 00 - 01:37 PM

Aw Shucks, Praise, tweren't nawthin to really speak about.

Subject: RE: Gordon Bok This Weekend
From: wysiwyg
Date: 22 Oct 00 - 01:44 PM

That does it. ETA TBA. Prepare my bower.

~S~

Subject: RE: Gordon Bok This Weekend
From: GUEST,celticblues5
Date: 22 Oct 00 - 09:37 PM

jealous! jealous! jealous!
green-eyed little fuming things running all 'round my brain
Gordon Bok has the richest, smoothest voice (as if I need to tell you) - I'd listen to him sing an audit report.

Subject: RE: Gordon Bok This Weekend
From: harpgirl
Date: 23 Oct 00 - 09:28 AM

He has soothed this savage breast many a time.

Subject: RE: Gordon Bok This Weekend
From: Naemanson
Date: 23 Oct 00 - 11:43 AM

Gordon told this story in his workshop on Saturday. He had been talking about hanging around and working in various boat yards on the coast and the workmen, actually craftsmen, who worked there. He told of one Malcolm Brewer, a boatbuilder par excellance. He and his friend Nick were visiting and as usual Malcolm kept working while they visited. this is not unusual. It is how I was raised. Visitors are welcome in the shop and don't feel ignored when the workers keep on working.

Anyway, Malcom was working inside a boat. He crawled out from under the deck, crossed the gunnel on to the scaffolding, climbed down the ladder, crossed to the vice, clmped down a block of wood, took a few shavings off and climbed back into the boat. A few seconds later he crawled out from under the deck again, crossed the gunnel on to the scaffolding, climbed down the ladder, crossed to the vice, clmped down a block of wood, took a few more shavings off and climbed back into the boat. A few seconds later he did it again. The third time he did it Gordon asked him what he was working on.
"Butt block."
Where's it going, Malcolm?"
"Under the deck at the stern."
"You mean up in the lazarette?"
"Ayuh."
"Malcom, there ain't no one but you and God are ever going to know what it looks like!"
"Well," he replied, "I guess that's two to many!"
With that he took another shaving off of the block and climbed back into the boat.

You don't get that kind of craftsman's attitude anymore and IMHO it is sorely missed.

Subject: RE: Gordon Bok This Weekend
From: Naemanson
Date: 24 Oct 00 - 02:53 PM

Just incase somebody missed this

BY THE POWER OF THE 'NET AND THE 'CAT:

REFRESH!

Subject: RE: Gordon Bok This Weekend
From: DougR
Date: 24 Oct 00 - 03:05 PM

Kendall, will you for God's sake, quit hiding behind harpgirl's moiker? How am I gonna hurl insults at you if I don't know whether I am addressing you, or harpgirl?

DougR

Subject: RE: Gordon Bok This Weekend
From: wysiwyg
Date: 24 Oct 00 - 03:08 PM

I din't know harpgirl played the moiker.

~S~

Subject: RE: Gordon Bok This Weekend
From: kendall
Date: 24 Oct 00 - 08:32 PM

I'm back in Maine so, fire away!

Subject: RE: Gordon Bok This Weekend
From: Naemanson
Date: 25 Oct 00 - 07:05 AM

FLAME!

Oh, and welcome back.