Seeger Tribute - Washington, DC - 2007-(online!)

Subject: RE: Seeger Tribute - Washington, DC - 2007
From: Bill D
Date: 10 Sep 09 - 12:38 PM

Oh, wonderful! I am SO glad they are making this available. I think I will sit back and re-experience the whole thing.

Subject: RE: Seeger Tribute - Washington, DC - 2007
From: Joe Offer
Date: 10 Sep 09 - 05:51 AM

I was exploring the Website of the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress, and I came across this page on the Seeger Family Tribute. It also includes a link to a Webcast of the Seeger Family Concert.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Seeger Tribute - Washington, DC
From: GUEST,Dani
Date: 29 Mar 07 - 07:45 PM

Are you listening, Kendall?!

D

Subject: RE: Seeger Tribute - Washington, DC
From: DeeRod
Date: 29 Mar 07 - 11:51 AM

Little to add to the great time at the Seegers concert except to say that Pete is more comfortable with himself now. For a while, he hardly sang because, I believe, he hadn't accomdated himself to not being able to sing as he used to.

Subject: RE: Seeger Tribute - Washington, DC
From: Joe Offer
Date: 22 Mar 07 - 03:16 AM

Thank you all for your wonderful stories. I wish I could have been there with you.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Seeger Tribute - Washington, DC
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 22 Mar 07 - 02:58 AM

G'day KathWestra (back a day or two...),

That elderly Australian ... who in 1905 authored "Shearing in the Bar" (an incredible singer even at an advanced age) was 'Duke' (Harold Percival Croydon) Tritton - a fine old singer and writer of good verse, songs and reminiscences (particularly his autogiographical work Time Means Tucker ... named from a line in a Henry Lawson poem).

Pete made that on black & white 16 mm film back around 1962 ... about 3 years before 'Duke' died. 'Duke' was viewing the boastful old-hand shearers from the perspective of a young bloke who had been lucky enough to have scored a "Learner's Pen" first time round ... and who was working like hell to keep his head up among the experts in a game that was one of the few big earners available to a working class bloke in those days ... but bloody hard work. (I declined the suggestion that I should take up a learner's pen, back in 1965, when the driller I was teamed with on the Tasmanian Hydro Scheme quit - to go back shearing in Tassie's wool season. I don't think my back would have forgiven me ... if I had been foolhardy enough to take it on!)

Anyway, I'm glad to say I have a 16mm copy of the film in the Bush Music Club archive ... and copies on various ages of video tape ... and MPEG on a CD-ROM.

Regards,

Bob

Subject: RE: Seeger Tribute - Washington, DC
From: KT
Date: 22 Mar 07 - 02:15 AM

Sigh.... how wonderful for all of you who were able to be there. I've never had the good fortune to see Pete in concert. It would be a thrill! Thanks for sharing with us, everyone.

Subject: RE: Seeger Tribute - Washington, DC
From: KathWestra
Date: 21 Mar 07 - 05:51 PM

BillD is referring to the Saturday night concert, which was videotaped and recorded and was totally different (sponsored by the Folklore Society of Greater Washington) than the events at the Library of Congress that took place on Thursday and Friday, and which were sponsored by the American Folklife Center. I'm sure, since the Folklife Center includes the Archive of Folk Culture, that documentary recordings were made of all the LC sessions. Being our national folk archive, materials are always available to researchers. (Ask Art Thieme, who used the Archive's collections frequently when we saw him more often in D.C.)

Guest: None of those events were by invitation. Sign up for the American Folklife Center's e-mail list and you'll know about the next big thing--a series of events on Northern Ireland that will include a concert by the McPeake Family. The Folklife Center also has a quarterly (free) newsletter you can sign up for.

Subject: RE: Seeger Tribute - Washington, DC
From: Bill D
Date: 21 Mar 07 - 05:23 PM

As a matter of fact, someone was doing video...probably 'very' authorized and controlled by the family...I don't really know. But also, an announcement was made that they were making a multi-track recording which 'may' be released some day....no promises of date, (lots of editing and planning)

Subject: RE: Seeger Tribute - Washington, DC
From: voyager
Date: 21 Mar 07 - 04:02 PM

clueless_don -

   Correction noted
      "Sailin' Up, Sailin' Down"

   I will change the Setlist Page to show this.

On another note.....
   Can a Seeger concert goer identify the tune which Pete led
       "One of these days.....Or Else"

   followed by an international language HELLO tour which Pete
   led throught the aisles.

I keep getting a Neil Young song with a similar refrain stuck in
my tune memory banks.

Cheers
voyager

Subject: RE: Seeger Tribute - Washington, DC
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Mar 07 - 03:56 PM

Thanks so much to all for the descriptions of this amazing event. I was unaware of it, uninvited, but I could hear it, taste it, and feel it in my bones. Wonder if anyone was doing video to preserve it for posterity?

Subject: RE: Seeger Tribute - Washington, DC
From: clueless don
Date: 21 Mar 07 - 03:11 PM

Yes, Ken, that was the one. It was mis-identified on the Seeger Family Concert - Setlist Thread as "Sailing down my dirty stream".

When I saw Pete for the first time back in the late sixties/very early seventies, he played blues banjo on "White, Brown, and Black" ("If you're white, it's alright, and if you're brown, stick around, but if you're black, of brother - get back, get back, get back!")

Don

Subject: RE: Seeger Tribute - Washington, DC
From: GUEST,Ken Brock
Date: 21 Mar 07 - 10:59 AM

Quote:

"A high point for me was hearing Pete play blues banjo (I think it was on the song about the Hudson, "...the river's dirty now, but it's getting cleaner everyday".)" End quote.

This would be "Sailin' Up, Sailin' Down". It is also on the "Precious Friend" double concert album Pete recorded with Arlo on Warner Bros.

Subject: RE: Seeger Tribute - Washington, DC
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 21 Mar 07 - 10:42 AM

Pete playing blues banjo is on one of the Folkways Newport folk festival compilations, I think (without checking).

Rts

Subject: RE: Seeger Tribute - Washington, DC
From: clueless don
Date: 21 Mar 07 - 07:47 AM

The 20 Mar 07 - 07:39 AM message above was from me - I didn't realize that my cookie was gone!

Don

Subject: RE: Seeger Tribute - Washington, DC
From: KathWestra
Date: 20 Mar 07 - 04:25 PM

I was lucky enough to be in D.C., where I had already planned to be for a business trip (from Maine) for the week. So I attended not only the inspiring Folklore Society concert so fittingly described by the folks above, but also the film showing and parts of the symposium sponsored by the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress on Thursday evening and all day Friday.

The film fest was incredible--movie footage taken by Pete and Toshi in the 1950s and '60s, and recently donated to the Archive of Folk Culture at the LoC. There were "home movies" of Libba Cotten playing Freight Train--and of a young (16-ish) Peggy playing the same song and describing how Libba had taught it to her. Of a very young Odetta making music on the porch. There was wonderful footage of Bill Broonzy at a summer camp in Michigan the day before he had surgery for throat cancer. He never sang again, and died a year later. There was film of the most amazing hand-jive I've ever seen. And incredible stuff from a 'round-the-world tour Toshi and Pete made in 1963-64. It included singing fishermen in Ghana; dancers in Indonesia accompanied by a gamelan; a prison gang chopping down a grove of trees with huge axes in (careful) sequence, swung in time to their singing (don't try this at home!!!); a Japanese bluegrass band singing Orange Blossom Special; the entire McPeake Family in Ireland; Ewan MacColl reminiscing with his mother and singing with her "A Wee Drappie O't" and other songs she'd taught him; and the elderly Australian (whose name I don't recall but maybe Mary LaMarca or George Stephens will)who in 1905 authored "Shearing in the Bar" (an incredible singer even at an advanced age). Following the films, Pete, Peggy and Mike got up on stage and talked about their lives, and about the footage shown in the film we saw. This collection not only is going to be preserved at the Library, but is going to be available to researchers. What a goldmine!!

And then there was Friday, filled with academic presentations (some more entertaining than others, but all useful and interesting) about the Seeger clan, beginning with patriarch Charles. Pete is Charles' son from his first marriage, to Candace. Mike and Peggy are the progeny of Charles and Ruth Crawford Seeger. Judith Tick, a professor from Northeastern U. gave a fascinating presentation about Ruth Crawford Seeger, whose biography she has written. Peggy Seeger, who moderated that presentation, said she had learned things about her mother (who died at 52) from Tick's book that she'd never known. Most interesting presentations for me as a folkie were talks about the Seeger materials in the Library of Congress and the Smithsonian, and about all the Folkways recordings by the various Seegers that are still available as custom CDs. (I'm buying my lottery ticket!) These presentations included readings of letters home (and to a favorite aunt) written by Mike and Peggy when they were kids, a "show and tell" of an original letter from Woody Guthrie to one of the Seegers (he typed it on the inside of the jacket of a book by--I think it was--Alan Lomax). What riches.

I wish everyone with an interest in the history of the folk revival could have been at this amazing celebration. In addition to Pete, Peggy, and Mike, Pete's two older brothers (Stetson and John) were in the audience. Both, but especially John Seeger offered some wonderful off-the-cuff comments about family history during the Q&A times.

The FSGW concert was the icing on the cake. What a series of events!
So many of those pictured in the film footage are no longer with us, but thanks to the Seegers they live on in sound and pictures and correspondence. What a gift they've given all of us by giving this stuff to the Library. I especially thought of you, Art, when I saw the films. You've done the same thing with your amazing archive of still photos. You would have loved this event. Wish you could have been there!

Subject: RE: Seeger Tribute - Washington, DC
From: Carly
Date: 20 Mar 07 - 02:58 PM

A most moving experience for me, although I have been fortunate to hear various combinations of Seegers over ther past four decades. Mention must be made of the next generation; nieces Sonia and Kate (who performs as one of the Short Sisters, along with Kim Wallach and Faye Baird - if you get the chance, go hear them!) were onstage, along with Kate's husband Dean Spenser, Cathy Fink and Marcie Marxer, for some chorus singing, and Sonia, with Pete's accompaniment, gave us a heart-rending performance of When I Was Most Beautiful.

Subject: RE: Seeger Tribute - Washington, DC
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Mar 07 - 07:39 AM

As others have said, a great concert beginning to end. A high point for me was hearing Pete play blues banjo (I think it was on the song about the Hudson, "...the river's dirty now, but it's getting cleaner everyday".) I remember him playing blues banjo the very first time I saw him, which was either the late sixties or very early seventies, when I was in college.

Don

Subject: RE: Seeger Tribute - Washington, DC
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 19 Mar 07 - 08:32 PM

Folks, thanks for takin' me along. Your delicious descriptions, combined with my many graphic memories----well, I WAS able to be there with you.

Art

Subject: RE: Seeger Tribute - Washington, DC
From: GUEST,Dani
Date: 19 Mar 07 - 06:20 PM

Oh, we were there, alright. You were holding it down for the team ; )

Still, I think Joe shoulda been there. I've been fortunate to see Pete many, many times, and I feel guilty hoarding them all, wish I could give him one....

Thanks for sharing memories and pictures, guys!

Dani

Subject: RE: Seeger Tribute - Washington, DC
From: Nancy King
Date: 19 Mar 07 - 05:50 PM

Fabulous concert, as others have said. The only thing I'd add is that I'm impressed with how spry Pete is at the ripe old age of 88. The "dressing room" area was at the back of the hall (a church sanctuary), so to get back and forth at the beginning and end of each set, they had to go up and down the center aisle. At the end of the second set, Pete and Mike went on to the back, but Peggy stayed up front. Much applause, of course, and an obvious desire for an encore. Peggy encouraged the guys to come back, at which point Pete literally ran (well, jogged -- but definitely more than a walk) down the aisle, followed by Mike, looking as if he were having trouble keeping up. At the end of the encore ("Midnight Special"), Pete again ran up the aisle. This time Mike just walked...

I'll be grateful -- and surprised -- if I'm half that energetic at the age of 88. Assuming I make it to 88...

Wish you all could have been there!

Nancy

Subject: RE: Seeger Tribute - Washington, DC
From: beardedbruce
Date: 19 Mar 07 - 02:03 PM

Not too much to add- It was a great concert, and IMO, Pete's voice was BETTER than it was the last time I heard him, about 12-15 years ago.


8-{E

Subject: RE: Seeger Tribute - Washington, DC
From: Bill D
Date: 19 Mar 07 - 01:50 PM

refresh, for those who wanted some details

Subject: RE: Seeger Tribute - Washington, DC
From: Bill D
Date: 18 Mar 07 - 10:05 PM

Ok....here are 3 pics.
(I tried to take then without flash, as requested, but the stage lights were harsh for that...I didn't get but 3-4 even usable ones of them on stage)

here are all 3 in a pretty typical shot

Here is Pete, working the audience (He sang about "English being weird" and used that to comment about how we need to learn more about OTHER lands and their languages to have an excuse to take a cordless mic and go up & down the asiles, asking folks to give a 'greeting' in some other language...I think he got 15-20)

Then, at the end, he came out in the lobby and talked to folks for a bit..(which is where I got to meet him briefly)...My wife took this pic of me, waiting my turn while he chatted with two guys,(Dom & Justin) who had driven from N. Carolina...5 hours...for the concert...and who planned to drive BACK that same night.

Subject: RE: Seeger Tribute - Washington, DC
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 18 Mar 07 - 09:43 PM

sounds like a wonderful evening, looking forward to seeing some pocs ...

Subject: RE: Seeger Tribute - Washington, DC
From: Ferrara
Date: 18 Mar 07 - 09:16 PM

It was wonderful, from first to last. Our folkie audiences here are chorus junkies -- just what Pete likes! -- and the church had very live acoustics, so the music and harmonies just swelled and rang out and filled the heart and mind. The program was varied and all of it was great.

The interaction between Pete, Mike and Peggy was a joy to watch. No matter which family member was performing, the other(s) sat there listening intently and beaming at them. They told stories of their lives, told stories of their songs, and told some excellent funny stories (especially Peggy who had a notebook full....)

Peggy and Mike said when they were kids, they used to get the day off from school when Pete would come to visit. They went to a really good school, but their mom said a visit from Pete would do them more good than the teachers.

Well, a visit from these three wonderful people, in concert together, did us good too.

Subject: RE: Seeger Tribute - Washington, DC
From: Ron Davies
Date: 18 Mar 07 - 01:51 PM

Spectacular. A real love-fest. Like Severn, I'll have to say that I knew Pete and Mike were supertalented--but I was also totally captivated by several of Peggy's own wonderful songs that she sang. Enchanting melodies and touching words.

Subject: RE: Seeger Tribute - Washington, DC
From: voyager
Date: 18 Mar 07 - 12:39 PM

Seeger Family Concert - Setlist Thread

Subject: RE: Seeger Tribute - Washington, DC
From: Severn
Date: 18 Mar 07 - 12:32 PM

Pete's voice has roughened a bit and he had the odd Senior Moment, but he's still the benevolent master of his audience with a command over it still that others only dream of.

Mike brought out his arsenal of instruments and dazzled on them all.
His voice has deepened a bit over the years, but is still potent and he has managed to be able to choose material for it or adapt it to fit material he finds in fine style.

Peggy, whom I'd never seen live before, was in wonderful voice and in fine humor and sang a few songs that were new to me that were ery impressive, as well as a fine duet with Mike on "Fair Ellender".

And the tried and true material from all were made to feel like old friends. In all, a wonderful night.

Subject: RE: Seeger Tribute - Washington, DC
From: Bill D
Date: 18 Mar 07 - 10:48 AM

Well, it was wonderful! I'm not sure I'm recovered enough to cover it all yet, but nearly 700 lucky folks crowded into a church and saw & heard history. Pete was amazing....why, you'd never guess he was ...what? 88?...

I'll think about some details and add more later, but I'd have paid admission just to hear Pete do "Turn, Turn, Turn" and work an already singing audience totally into the song!

Peggy did everything from old mountain ballads to contemporary love songs she had written...and Mike was as amazing as always on many instruments...and all three of them kept the theme of 'peace' ..and the need to confront why we don't have it ... constantly visible.




....and....finally...after 47 years, I got to shake Pete's hand and exchange a few words with him. I asked him about a line I remembered from a tongue-twister patter when I first saw him 47 years ago...and he immediately smiled and quoted the whole thing!

"One big fat hen....two ducks............seven sailing ships sailing from Orinoco to Madagascar on Prince Thegar's wedding day...etc..."

I have an old vinyl album...Mike Seeger's "2nd Annual Farewell Reunion" with bout Pete & Peggy represented on it....and now it has all 3 autographs on the front.

Yes, I'm glad I went. I'll try & fill in more details later...and post a few pics!

Subject: RE: Seeger Tribute - Washington, DC
From: Bill D
Date: 17 Mar 07 - 01:32 PM

funny...after all the great music from Pete over the years, all I crave hearing is one more rendition of "Waist Deep in the Big Muddy"

Today, there are masses of protestors downtown, trying to tell Bush about it.

Subject: RE: Seeger Tribute - Washington, DC
From: Gorgeous Gary
Date: 16 Mar 07 - 07:21 PM

...or perhaps, knowing the jokers on this group, I should say we have our spots reserved **for** the concert. We have no reservations otherwise **about** the concert... 8-)

-- Gary

Subject: RE: Seeger Tribute - Washington, DC
From: Gorgeous Gary
Date: 16 Mar 07 - 07:19 PM

We've got our reservations!

-- Gary

Subject: RE: Seeger Tribute - Washington, DC
From: Bill D
Date: 16 Mar 07 - 04:44 PM

We'll send 'em right out, Joe.....(I moved here largely because so much of this stuff happens here....sorry it's not easy for everyone)

Subject: RE: Seeger Tribute - Washington, DC
From: Joe Offer
Date: 16 Mar 07 - 02:23 PM

Please tell Pete, Mike, and Peggy that they need to repeat their concert in the San Francisco area. Just once in my life, I need to see Pete Seeger perform.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Seeger Tribute - Washington, DC
From: Severn
Date: 16 Mar 07 - 01:33 PM

I will be there also.

Subject: RE: Seeger Tribute - Washington, DC
From: Bill D
Date: 16 Mar 07 - 11:51 AM

I must admit that my wife & I have tickets. It's been 30 years since I saw Pete...briefly, and I never expected to have another chance. I went to a house concert several years ago, featuring Peggy, singing in the house she grew up in, and I have seen Mike a few odd times over the years..(40+ years, if you must know)...but this should a VERY special night......yes, I will post a review of some sort.

It turns out that the concert is only about 10 minutes from me, and quite near Peggy's old home.

Subject: RE: Seeger Tribute - Washington, DC
From: beardedbruce
Date: 16 Mar 07 - 09:21 AM

"Pete Seeger informed us last week that he will perform with Peggy and Mike Seeger at the FSGW Program. Please note that all seats are gone for this concert and we have reached capacity. For more information on this historic concert check for details under the Seeger Program listing on the FSGW Program Page "


Sorry about that. There should be several Mudcatters there, and I am sure there will be several reports of how good the concert is.


Hey, I still have medical bills- I wonder how much my reserved seat is worth????

Subject: RE: Seeger Tribute - Washington, DC
From: GUEST,Arnie
Date: 16 Mar 07 - 09:08 AM

If there's anyone on Madcat going, perhaps they can post a report after the weekend?

Subject: RE: Seeger Tribute - Washington, DC
From: Barry Finn
Date: 16 Mar 07 - 01:09 AM

Same here Joe. I'll be in DC but I don't think I could manage it. It should be not only fantastic but historic.

Barry

Subject: RE: Seeger Tribute - Washington, DC
From: Joe Offer
Date: 16 Mar 07 - 12:48 AM

I got a postcard yesterday, telling me that as a member of the Folklore Society of Greater Washington, I was entitled to a free ticket to a concert with Mike, Peggy, and Pete Seeger. Too bad DC is so far away.
Can somebody post a review?
-Joe Offer in Colfax, California-

Subject: RE: Seeger Tribute
From: GUEST,Ann Don and Celia Sexton Australia
Date: 16 Mar 07 - 12:34 AM

If we had the wings of the Condor With our harps these musickers would fly To take in harmonic and harmony To remember when we smilingly die. note row Botany Bay variations

Subject: RE: Seeger Tribute
From: Rapparee
Date: 15 Mar 07 - 09:05 PM

Sold out. Not even standing room.

Subject: RE: Seeger Tribute
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 15 Mar 07 - 09:00 PM

Wish I could be there...

Art

Subject: Seeger Tribute
From: GUEST,Arnie Naiman
Date: 15 Mar 07 - 07:58 PM

Lucky folks in Washington DC will get to go to a Seeger Family Tribute this weekend at The Library Of Congress. It features a symposium and culminates in a concert (which is sold out)with Pete, Peggy and Mike and special guests. You could probably get into some of the film screenings, but you'd need to register in advance. The web info is here. Wish I was there. http://www.loc.gov/folklife/Seegersymposium/seegertribute.html