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08 Feb 99 - 11:43 PM (#57743) Subject: Kingston Trio Alive & Well in MN! From: GaryD Attended a great concert at a casino near Minneapolis a week ago.. The Kingston Trio performed, still great, great entertainers after all these years... Bumped into a fan of the guys & also computers..told me about their Website, "Kingston Trio Place" It is a great place to visit, listen, and wallow in great folk memories of a group that helped forge the way.. I even was able to email 2 of the members & got a response so far from George..invited him to check in here sometime at Mudcat.. said he would when he gets some free time. I sent him my first impression, and don't think he'd mind if I shared with you.. After all, some of you out there are surely as elderly as I... When I stood outside the ballroom where the trio was performing, I saw all these silver haired types waitng, too... I thought, "My God, what is this, a Lawrence Welk Concert?"..then I realized, these guys HAVE BEEN PERFORMING FOR OVER 40 YEARS!... and, I "AM" one of those silver haired types!... Yes, indeed, I am a lot older now, as they are...but still great talent is sure great to see again. One last thought, you should hear a song called "Jocko, the clown" that George sang..it's awesome.. Post some of your great memories of this icon of folk music... thanks, Gary |
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09 Feb 99 - 06:24 AM (#57785) Subject: RE: Kingston Trio Alive & Well in MN! From: Roger in Baltimore I saw the Kingston Trio in Wheeling, West Virginia two summers ago. Although I love their music, I was distinctly unimpressed with their performance. Perhaps it was a bad night. Both Bob Shane and Nick Reynolds did little more than bang on their guitars and both seemed a little uncertain about the chord changes. The new guy carried the instrumental weight. To me they were a true shadow of themselves and I would not go to seem them again. Most of the audience seemed quite pleased however. I have seen Peter, Paul, and Mary on TV and they have aged much better than the Kingston Trio to my way of thinking. I don't mean to rain on your parade, Gary, but I have not been so disappointed in a concert in many years. I think the Trio is capable of better and that they just did not put their heart or energy into it and for that are deserving of my criticism. Roger in Baltimore |
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09 Feb 99 - 09:39 AM (#57803) Subject: RE: Kingston Trio Alive & Well in MN! From: Allan C. In the late, late 50's I bought my first KT recording. I nearly played the grooves off of both sides of that 45. I was totally hypnotized by "Tom Dooley" and even by the never-to-be-heard-of-again, "Ruby Red". I loved the story-in-a-song thing about them. There seemed to be much more of a story than the song described in words. My imagination quickly filled in the gaps. I think a couple of years passed before I ever heard the word "folk" used to describe what I had heard. Somewhere within those couple of years, my parents replaced my old 45 record player with a "stereo/hi fi" and, bless them bought the KT's live concert album and "String Along". Well, that was it for me. I now knew there were a whole lot of different kinds of "folk" songs. Nothing would suit but for me to get a guitar and start learning some of them. Luckily, my 13th birthday was about to arrive and with it would come my first guitar. Thanks to the KT and many others, I am still playing. I collected all of the KT's albums (about 17) until shortly after John Stewart came on board. I liked his songs. I liked his instrumentation. I just didn't like his voice! So then I discovered Joe and Eddy, Judy Collins, Muddy Waters, and many others. But I owe the Kingston Trio (the old KT, that is,)a certain allegiance. I have seen the various "comeback's" on the TV and was largely unimpressed. Like so many of the old groups, it was a nice try, but it felt much better the first time around. |
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09 Feb 99 - 08:48 PM (#57902) Subject: RE: Kingston Trio Alive & Well in MN! From: Allan C.'s message is indicative of why I recently pitched the Kingston Trio as the most "significant" folk group on another recent thread. They introduced people to folk music, who then went on to more polished and/or authentic performers. I first saw them when they recorded the college concert at UCLA ca.1962. This was the introduction of John Stewart to the group, and the first time I heard "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?". In the early 1980s, I saw them perform at the Wild Animal Park in Escondido, CA. Bob and Nick were still there, but I forget the third member. By then they were a sad imitation of themselves...sort of enjoyable, but no real spark. But, I think, that is true of all performers who lock onto what was, but don't grow. Now I think only Bob is left with his trio now made up of people younger than the Kingston Trio. John (not Jon) |
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10 Feb 99 - 12:03 AM (#57926) Subject: RE: Kingston Trio Alive & Well in MN! From: garyD Well, it's too bad you had the negative impression.. I found them delighful... It is true that their voices aren't quite the quality they had years ago, but whose voices would stick together for 40 years? I appreciated them from the fact they are still great entertainers and they are surely the driving force that got me started into this type of music.. I did very much love the only new song they played "Jocko"...& you are right, it would be nice to have them give more examples of new creations.... but too, it's still expected for them to give us the old standby's too.. We'd be pretty disappointed not hearing those songs for nostalgia's sake. Meanwhile, you mentioned that you have collected many of their recordings.. I have a friend who had a double CD of String Along/Sold Out... he lost it and really would like to get it replaced. He tried to get it here in Central MN but are unavailable... Is there any of you who can connect me up with anyone who sells such oldies and can get this one.. I'd really appreciate your help.. I owe this friend a lot (got me singing & playing again)...sure would be nice to get it for him... Finally...still like to hear more KT impressions and impacts.. thanks.. Keep on the Sunny Side, ...Gary |
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10 Feb 99 - 05:45 AM (#57955) Subject: RE: Kingston Trio Alive & Well in MN! From: dwditty While I listened to Duane Eddy in the late fifties, my older sister had discovered the KT. Since the record player was in her room, I had to wait my turn. This gave me plenty of exposure to the KT, and I am amazed at how much of those songs I remember. My sister went on to become a beatnik (hippies weren't invented yet), and I heard more and more folk music. The one that really caught my ear was Dave Van Ronk, and I have been a huge fan of his ever since. Sandwiched between these two are Cisco Huston, Rick Von Scmidt, Tom Paxton, Bob Gibson, Rolf Kahn, Jack Elliot, Patrick Sky, Phil Ochs, Tim Hardin, Fred Neil.....the list goes on. I have to admit that, although the KT were never my favorite of the bunch I listened to, they were the first and really led me to the wonderful world of folk. |
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10 Feb 99 - 04:01 PM (#58014) Subject: RE: Kingston Trio Alive & Well in MN! From: Mudjack Gary, I also caught up to them at a casino, in Las Vegas, their last show and their last night for that stint. I early upped the next morning to find Bob Shane playing blackjack and sit at the table and played a few hands and expressed my appreciation for his efforts in keeping the trio going. I did indeed appreciate the show the night before but it was done in a typical Vegas romp and stomp presentation. Had a lot of fun. I have had many disapointments with tha Trio, the worst was Universal Ampitheater in Burbank. A KT and Limeliter with John Stewart and Nick Reynolds featured. They had a real reunion concert at Magic Mountain years previous to this and thats what I expected to find. Wrong, The trio and John Stewart were still fighting over the KT name. Bob Shane had bought it and John could'nt use it. John and Nick did a few and to really cinch it, Glen Yaroborough did'nt join the Limeliters. I still have a speacial place in my heart for these guys, without their popularity, I would have never found real folk music or it's origins. Thanks KT and Limeliters. Jack |
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10 Feb 99 - 04:02 PM (#58015) Subject: RE: Kingston Trio Alive & Well in MN! From: Mudjack Gary, I also caught up to them at a casino, in Las Vegas, their last show and their last night for that stint. I early upped the next morning to find Bob Shane playing blackjack and sit at the table and played a few hands and expressed my appreciation for his efforts in keeping the trio going. I did indeed appreciate the show the night before but it was done in a typical Vegas romp and stomp presentation. Had a lot of fun. I have had many disapointments with tha Trio, the worst was Universal Ampitheater in Burbank. A KT and Limeliter with John Stewart and Nick Reynolds featured. They had a real reunion concert at Magic Mountain years previous to this and thats what I expected to find. Wrong, The trio and John Stewart were still fighting over the KT name. Bob Shane had bought it and John could'nt use it. John and Nick did a few and to really cinch it, Glen Yaroborough did'nt join the Limeliters. I still have a speacial place in my heart for these guys, without their popularity, I would have never found real folk music or it's origins. Thanks KT and Limeliters. Jack |
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14 Feb 99 - 12:06 PM (#58546) Subject: RE: Kingston Trio Alive & Well in MN! From: GaryD Thanks for the input...It is a pity that with most groups that go on for a long time, that there is the politics and conflict that you described... I try to get beyond that to listen to the music..and appreciate their creative efforts. Your thread reminds me of groups who have had even a worse time of it, like the platters, who can't even use the original name..from what I've heard some of the new platters aren't even black!... and of course we can't forget the Lone Ranger, who lived in Minneapolis and is forbidden by law to wear his mask!... (His sunglasses just doesn't do it).. Does that kind of problem lesson the impact of what went before?.. I think not... Of course it does bring a screeching halt to the person who can't use the name, which is the pity. PS... still looking for someone out there who can locate or sell me the double CD String Along/Sold Out.. Even used would be okay if in good condition.. You may contact me on my personal page using GaryD, if you wish. Keep on the Sunny Side... Gary |
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14 Feb 99 - 09:46 PM (#58617) Subject: RE: Kingston Trio Alive & Well in MN! From: Craig John, I was also at that concert in Escondido at the Wild Animal Park. I felt the same way. The concert didn't seem to have their old energy and drive that we all had come to expect from them. GaryD, I found that CD at Tower Records. You might want to try searching the outlets that are listed at the top of the Database Search after you type in a song you would like to find. Not only will you probably find the CD. You will be helping the Mudcat Cafe when you buy it. Craig
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15 Feb 99 - 11:39 PM (#58775) Subject: RE: Kingston Trio Alive & Well in MN! From: GaryD Thanks for the help Craig, I'll check it out..not feeling great at the moment.. got the "Crazy, Stay Home from Work, Porcelain God Blues..." (if you get my drift)... Never thought I'd be too ill for Mudcat... See you in a couple days.. Gary |