My hubby & I were at the Keswick show tonite and loved it. We have never seen Arlo in concert before altho I've always been a great fan and the tickets were like an early xmas gift for me. One question tho for anyone who can tell me...why doesn't he do Alices Restaurant? While we loved the concert, I was so dissappointed. But from reading posts here it looks like that it's just not in any of his sets...so what's the reason?

My friend Mari and I were there tonight also. The reason Arlo won't do Alice anymore is because if he did, he couldn't do 5 other songs. Remember, Alice is 18+ minutes long!

He stated awhile back that when he was doing Alice frequently, he felt as if he were living that movie, Groundhog day, over and over and over again.

Maybe for the 40th anniversary (of the event, not the song), he'll start singing it again.

Sarah Lee and Johnny opened with a new song, In Lieu of Flowers, followed by another song I'd never heard that had the phrase "Ain't that Kindness" repeated. Could that be the name of it? Then they sang the song about I-81 and No Church Tonight (risky vs. risque).

Sarah Lee introduced her dad (we know him as Arlo):

Won't Be Long
Story about Nashville and Johnny Cash
Dead or Alive
Gypsy Davy
Talked about Cisco Houston
Song with the word "Gambling" in it... Rambling, Gambling Man???
St. James Infirmary
Shackles and Chains (thought of you, Judy!)
Talked about Son of the Wind and Gene Autry
Riding Down the Canyon
Talked about Derroll Adams ("get Dolly")
Portlandtown
Story about the man who could smell airplanes (seat 36C)
Coming Into Los Angeles

*****Intermission****

Green, Green, Rocky Road (When I Go By Baltimore)
Talked about Byrds of Paradise
Moon Song
Halaleva Blues (spelled wrong, I'm sure)
Talkd about James Taylor, the farm, the girlfriends, Arlo married his, Gordon married James' girlfriend
Gabriel's Mother's Highway Ballad #16 Blues (Come on Children Come on)
Talked about the night he and Dylan played the same town (Tucson)
Stated it never happened again... Arlo, sorry, but you and Dylan both played Phila 2 years ago.... he was in South Phila and you were here, at the Keswick!
When the Ship Comes In
Story about 1976 and Lexington, President Ford
Patriot's Dream
CONO

"History is made up of stuff that sucks," stated Arlo tonight.

This Land... interrupted to try to remember what he wanted to talk about
Story about Joseph and his colorful coat

Encore:
Pickin' (Sarah Lee did a solo)
Good Night Irene

After the show, Arlo did a meet and greet in the lobby, sitting at a small table with 2 sharpies and a bottle of water. Cheryl, I forgot to check out his socks. He autugraphed a copy of the September 29, 1969 Newsweek Magazine featuring "Alice's Restaurant's Kids" that I just bought on eBay last week. He was stunned to see it, thought it was pretty cool.

The "bouncer" was less than thrilled that Arlo had such a long line of people who not only wanted autographs, but didn't disguise his displeasure at those of us who wanted more time for photographs. The bouncer was grumbling not too quietly. I think I'll be calling the Keswick to complain about the bouncer in the morning.

Although it's a bit more organized to set up the meet and greet in the lobby with tables, it's more casual and more comfortable to be able to just talk to Arlo at the stage or even out back after the shows.

I thought it was pretty cool that Arlo not only (finally) remembers me, but told me my hair was "different".... I'd cut it a few days ago. He told me to stop cutting my hair. At least he remembers me! I even kissed him on his cheek... and that was very gutsy for me!

We had a great time. JohnC and RegFaith (Regina) were there, as was Sue and a couple we met at the church last month but whose names escape me. Turns out the woman and I grew up in the same neighborhood in Phila many years ago.

Olivia is adorable and she was running around the lobby carrying one of Grandpa's T-shirts.

Glad he remembered ya. He's such a nice friend. Glad Sue made it okay to the show & everyone else. The blunderites were always nice at the Keswick. Sounds like it was a good show. That's a good idea to complain about the bouncer cuz trust me ya have to do that every coupla yrs up there. They were liike that a coupla yrs ago when we were there They kicked Todd out & no one could find him. I had to e-mail them & complain about the bouncers. They sent a nice reply back to me that oh their staff is nice & wouldn't puyrposely be not nice yada yada yada. The next yr the staff was much nicer. I guess they forgot about my e-mail LOL!

The staff at the Roanoke Civic Center were real nosebleeds & not nice either. They searched ya on the way in like you were a crimnal or something even searching your purse & your coat. All because they were being stupid about cameras. I hate that! I snuck my camera in & I know others did too cuz I saw some flashes go off. They found my tape deck & were gonna give me a deal over that so I told them it was just a play only deck LOL! I think God will forgive me for telling that one LOL! Sadly I think it played out on me during the show & might not have gotten the show on tape. & They did a song I'd never heard them do before called ROANOKE with Arlo playing the banjo. Man I wanted that one on tape. What is the big deal on cameras & tape decks LOL! I made the mistake of asking this one security lady about where the motels were in the area & if this HOLIDAY INN I had stayed at in the 70's that was across the street from there was still there. It got demolished they said . Wow. & she asked where we were from real nice & all. Once I said I was from several hours away & had been to his show the nite before & had been to alot of his shows, the lady went into security guard mode. watching us after that like hawks man. I was hoping she was gonna be nice since she acted friendly in response to my questions but I think that was a front to hide how communist they were gonna act LOL! I noticed she saw a friend of hers & was nice to her hugging her yet still searched her! Searching your friends, how narc (Nark). Boy she latched onto watching us the whole rest of the nite. I think because said I was from several hours away & had been to his show the nite before & had been to alot of his shows, she thought I was a groupie. I mean c'mon I'm over 40 LOL! She asked did I travel all over the place to see him & I said no I couldn't afford to do that so I just with VA, NC, MD, DC unless he went to Ohio where Mikes sister lives when we could go. They found food I had in case Mike or I went into a diabetic low sugar attack & said we couldn't bring food in. So I had to explain that Mike & I were diabetics & could go into a low sugqar attack & we had to have food & juice with us in case we did cuz when we do we have to get something sweet or we could die. She understood & let us in. Well if they hadn't let us let it in I could've contacted the American Diabetes Association & they would''ve helped me complain. I miss the old days of the 70's where they didn't hassel ya about cameras etc & search ya like a criminal. Thank God all places are not like this one. Another nosebleed policy they have is if ya leave the blding once you've entered, you cannot get back in without ordering another ticket. Never heard of any place doing that . That sucks & is a money making racket. After the show, they were sure hustling us all outta the bldg so we didn't get to spend as much time with Baldwinville as I would've liked. it was like they were dying to close the place down or something.

I felt bad for Arlo & the fans tho cuz we all had to wait outside in the cold. Arlo met us all outside in the cold & was nice to the fans & his friends & family too. What a sweet & loving man! I felt so sorry for him cuz I noticed he was loading up all his equpiment himself with the help of his loyal gang, Sarah, Johnny & Abe, Gordon & bus driver Michael & no concert workers were helping him out. & It was so cold out. I felt so sorry for him. I appreciate him being so nice to everyone out there in the cold. I noticed during the show he didn't praise it as much as he did Staunton. I hope the attitude of the concert workers & place etc doesn't scare him off from coming back. I'm gonna have to e-mail them to complain about the security so that hopefully they will be nicer next time. I miss the good old days of the Barns of Wolftrap & the old Birchmere where we'd all hang around after the show & Arlo was able to hang out so relaxed & all. I too like things more casual...

Thanks for the set list & show report! Sounds like a great time!