Doc & Leo: 10/21/01 Concert Review

Subject: Doc & Leo: 10/21/01 Concert Review
From: cpt Carl
Date: 26 Oct 01 - 05:16 PM

Greetings good people. I'm new here in but I'd like to introduce myself by offering up the following review of a very special concert my son and I were fortunate to attend last weekend:

Doc & Leo: 10/21/01

If I could think of a dream concert billing it would have to be Doc Watson and Leo Kottke. Fortunately it was done for me as both Leo and Doc appeared together at the Lebanon Opera House, Lebanon, NH on October 21. Kottke played first and strode onto the stage unannounced with six and twelve string Taylors as if they were tool boxes and he was a journeyman going to work. He opened with "Snorkel" from One Guitar, No Vocals and later in the set featured other selections from the same CD including the intricate and tightly woven"Big Situation." As he is want to do, he didn't speak until after "Ring, Ring," four songs into the set. Kottke's humor is definitely time-released and takes a moment or two to ferment at times. After playing "Ojo," he went into an extended story about how that number was one of the oldest tunes he had written and that there was a part of it that was driving him crazy so he went over to "Jim's" house to work on it and may have caused Jim's divorce and subsequent withdrawal into a commune and finding the meaning of life after being buried alive and running naked off a cliff into the path of an oncoming truck. Got it? Well you had to be there. Kottke's playing was crisp, expressive and effortless. He seemed at times to be quite amused with what he was doing. I again understood why his music is so inspiring. The man plays both ends of the neck simultaneously. His right hand maintains a closed claw-like position at all times. No doubt it is to conceal the extra fingers that grow from the middle of his hand, probably the source of his amusement. The sound quality was clear and uncluttered. He seemed to be using a combination of magnetic and some other on-board pick-up. Kottke played a solid hour set of material that spanned his career and included an encore of "Vaseline Machine Gun." He is a master virtuoso, a painter of guitar music. He produces complex textures intertwined with melodic themes that dare to go in unexpected places only to return once again in new forms. Not bad for a warm-up act.

After a short intermission it was time for Doc Watson. Assisted onstage by his grandson, Richard, they began the set with a number of country blues songs like "Matchbox Blues" and "Milk Cow Blues." With Richard coaxing some tasty solos from either a Tacoma or Takamine acoustic/electric, while Doc put down a solid foundation with a flat and finger picked Gallagher cutaway. Ol' Doc seemed pretty spry in spite of a slow, crouching walk and once settled in, was pretty energetic for the close to two hour performance. Doc explained that he doesn't do "formal" concerts, that he plays as if he was sitting in his living room and that if he had to do a "formal" concert, he'd have to go home. Doc's manner invites comfort and intimacy. With his engaging asides to Richard("Play it pretty for me" "I can hear you, son"), it didn't feel like a concert as much as it felt like we were all in Deep Gap, NC, sitting on Doc's porch on a beautiful fall evening.

After a few gospel tunes, Richard departed and was replaced by Jack Lawrence for some spirited bluegrass. Lawrence sparkled with taut, focused solos and vocal harmonies. Watson took his share of solos and while lacking some of Lawrence's pyrotechnics, his playing was superb. His solos and fills were phrased perfectly. No other notes would have better fit the context in which they were applied. His economy of expression, his taste and instincts are still sharp. He is deserving of his legendary status. Doc's voice was resonant, warm and still strong of timbre. He loves what he does and it shows. Following a generous helping of bluegrass, Richard returned to assist Doc and Jack with a selection of old standards including "Shady Grove" and afterwards, a medley of Elvis' songs for the encore to an audience reluctant to see the show end.

Looking around I saw a vast span of ages around me. There was my 14 year old budding guitarist son, a friend's six year old, college kids from Dartmouth, grandparents and everything in between. We were all unified in the appreciation of two world class artists who have contributed as much to the guitar and music in general as anyone. He got up gingerly and took a measured bow to a standing ovation that couldn't possibly equal the performance given. It was a night not soon forgotten.

Subject: RE: Doc & Leo: 10/21/01 Concert Review
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Oct 01 - 02:48 PM

Thank you, Carl. I have seen Doc and Jack in person, but not Leo. Wish I could have been there with you. This sort of thread is always nice to read, though not necessarily to respond to. I assure you that it has been read by more than just me.