Excellent concert from Arlo and fam as usual . Sarah Lee and Johnny started the concert with a couple of their songs--Lilacs was absolutely beautiful. Cathy and sisters did their song, Shit makes the flowers grow--well received by the audience! Then Arlo came out and they did mainly songs from Woody and a couple from the Children's album--Show and Tell and Daddy's shoes. Coming into Los Angeles rounded out the first half. City of New Orleans and This Land is your land was played during the second half along with St. James Infirmary. Krishna played an absolutely gorgeous song for his girlfriend--that boy is going places! Sarah Lee also sang a song that was a poem written by her grandmother(?) My Peace rounded out the concert.

Overall, it was great. Some parts not so great were the drunks in the crowd who were calling out "Alice's Restaurant!" and the people who were talking behind us the whole time While most of the family stayed for autographs, Arlo was a special meet and greet for Tribal Council Members only (Boo to the casino!). Disappointing, considering my friend and her husband drove from Columbus, OH to try to get Alice's Cookbook signed for her mother. Arlo, if you read this, we hope your family told you about the crazy redhead who had your kids and grandkids sign that book

Other than those couple things, we had a fantastic time in Mt. Pleasant, and we are already planning on seeing Arlo again in either Michigan or Ohio--whichever comes first!

-Peace-
Mrs. Hi-C

Thanks for the info. The indians probably made Arlo do a rain dance or something lol. I hope Cathy and Co come sing some at the Arlo shows in VA next yr. I've never heard them live before so would love to hear them live...

I was at that show too!
I really enjoyed that show. I was very lucky to have gotten a front row seat, thanks to Bob, who I did get to chat with. Thanks Bob!
Everyone is so talented and I am impressed at the support the Guthries extend for each other while performing solos. I'm thinking about Krishna's solo, Grandpa's little grin when Krishna started talking about the song. It is truly a lovely song.
Arlo sang a song about a mom's voice, which was beautiful.
For me, the whole experience was uplifting.

Well, I heard the people shouting out for this song or that song. I wasn't close to them, so it didn't bother me too much. I am sorry you had to deal with them so up close Mrs hi-c. I was surprised at how many people could fit in that place, and that there were waitresses wandering around getting drinks for people. And the hawker before the start of the show -who wants a bunch of money? or a new car?- I thought it was kind of funny.
Sometimes there is business that needs to be taken care of so the performers are not always able to come out and sign stuff. I hope you will be able to come to an event in the future where you'll get Arlo's autograph for your friends mother. Maybe I should be seeking autographs of performers I see. Is it a fun thing? Do the performers enjoy signing stuff for people?

I know I usually write more and am usually more elaborate in my descriptions. Maybe later. The best I can say for now is, that performance started me on the road to being happy again.

I can't speak for the Guthries, but I can relate my own experiences.

Generally, yes. It's nice to meet nice people. There are caveats:

1. When just finishing a show, a performer has been huffing hard for about two and half hours. They are a bit out of breath and wound up. Think of taking exams in school and combine that with running a mile. One is 'zoned'. People mistake that for drugs or whatever and tell tales. Almost no one can do a show high like that and be any good at it, so that's not it but people assume. In short, it takes a few minutes to decompress.

2. There are things one has to do including washing the face, maybe putting some instruments away, talking over the show with the other performers to correct some mistakes, taking care of business stuff. Again, it takes a few minutes. If their schedule is tight, they have to get the gear down, packed and on the road. Without a big road crew, performers are helping out with that. I stayed healthier carrying gear than I did in the gym.

3. Some people aren't nice. I've heard some incredibly rude bits after shows. Some people are high and some are just rude by choice. The worst are business men or guys showing off for their dates. One night someone sent our keyboard player a note that said, "I'm going to kill you tonight." Really. It can get very weird.

4. Some people are sick. They spent money for the ticket and came anyway. One person who is or who just shook hands with or sat next to the lady with the kleenex box walks up and hugs the headliner. Next day, the headliner is stuck in the bus hugging the porcelain idol or in bed for a few days. A tour may have a tight schedule and there are penalties for not making dates. Everyone on that tour and people at home depend on the headliner to perform. It isn't like our jobs where we can just call in and someone covers. Savvy performers with a lot of road miles can cope and set up the shows with contingencies, but just saying, there are hundreds of people wanting autographs and only one headliner.

Arlo didn't come out at the Guthrie Center but the rest of the family did. He had a back injury and played the second and third night anyway. Those were great shows and none of us expected a meet and greet. And those that got upset with the first night were offered their money back. In my opinion only, what part of a fund raiser don't they get?

5. Some venues reserve the meet and greet for the donors or high mighty muckety mucks. It seems wrong but there it is. They sometimes are charging extra for this. When Gordon Lightfoot came to town, the tickets were $35 and the meet and greet was $75. I've never heard of the Guthrie's doing that but it is done.

What I do know is this: Arlo and the family take a lot of time to chat with us here and on Facebook and MySpace. That's very cool because other acts pay other people to do that. Anytime the artist is taking time out for that is a gift because it is time they aren't working on songs, resting or playing with their kids. We really do have to honor their space if we enjoy their work.

All that said, you never know.

Yeah, performers are busy folks. I've seen my cousin Jason Mraz & can relate...

I was also at the show in Mt. Pleasant! what a wonderful show with arlo and his family, sara lee looks alot like him, We were in the second row, I also was excited about getting his autograph and meeting him, I was crazy about him in the 60"s and I thought he is so goodlooking, and of course his dad wrote the song the Grand Coulee Dam, where I was actually born at, so I was kind of hoping he would sing that song. I hope he come back again to mt. pleasant, michigan

Yeah, Sarah Lee does look like her Dad if her Dad were prettier, sexier and thinner.

I was sitting a few yards away watching while she tuned her and her Dad's instruments before the show at the Church. The resemblance between her and Arlo's photo on Washington County (both concentrating hard and looking down) was uncanny. I may have embarassed her with the comment about it but I doubt I'm the first to notice and say that.

I've little doubt she is the one to watch. She has the knack. Still, give it all time to mellow and develop so she and Johnny come out of Dad's shadow. Johnny has a powerful presence, a great voice and is a helluva good songwriter and guitar player. As they hone that shared voice (not that what is there isn't good) that is most natural to their combined talents, it is becoming a powerful one.

This family tour is a good idea and it shows well.

Yes, a blossoming talent!

Johnny to me sounds alot like early Neil Young...

I resent that!!

Ok. Not meant to be anything but a compliment.