You are an incredible family. This was my first show. War is poignant, yet never as fun as your show. Arlo you are correct - Woody is alive. In your daughter (visibly) and in the air (righteously). I bought 2 CD's and I'm enthralled (Banjoman & Sarah's). How fun. How complex a website.

Welcome, Macious!

Yes, the message boards seem complex... and there is much to see throughout ArloNet... Don't worry... we won't bite... come on over to the Group W Community when you have a chance... much conversation about all sorts of things - serious and not so serious
<img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/peace.gif" width=16 height=16>

This is neat to read a postivie message about having fun at the gigs! The naysayers needd to read this post. We had fun last weekend at the 3 gigs & I had the best time of my life. <img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/smile.gif" width=15 height=15>

Glad to see someone else appreciated Arlo's concert at the Ark (a great venue, by the way). My friend, Marcia, and I went Thursday, March 27, too. It was incredible. Both Odetta and Arlo and family delivered stories, songs, and hope. The Ark holds about 400 people, but is laid out in such a way that everyone has a great view and no one is too far from stage (we were in the upper risers about 30 feet from the stage). I followed everyone's advice and hung around to meet Arlo after the show. Even though I was my usually socially inept self and was alternated between being tongue-tied and babbling like an idiot, the whole family was gracious. I wasn't a great representative for the Group W bench--I promise to do better next time. And there will be a whole lot of next times. Got to meet and greet sweet Olivia along with her mother--beautiful mother and baby! Abe off-stage seemed shy and very sweet.

I've read the set lists and the couple of complaints in these posts. Obviously there are some very sad people out there who have lost the ability to tap into the positive, warm energy present at Arlo's shows. Doesn't matter that he may have told the same stories in other shows, doesn't matter that his kids have heard these stories a million-gajillion times, their enjoyment of their dad and his pride in them was evident. It sure didn't seem like just an act.

The audience ranged in age from 6 to 86--I know because we saw every one of them as we were the last in line--which stretched for several blocks. The doors opened at 7:30. We made it to Ann Arbor by 7:20, apparently not early enough.

The mood was universally upbeat and happy. Hard to tell who was there primarily for Odetta or primarily for Arlo (like us). Both were wonderful.

Since they were on a split ticket, I went ahead and kept a set list for both. Odetta appeared first, so I'll start with hers. I did the best I could, please forgive me if I don't have the names of songs exactly right. Lots of songs I was familiar with, but didn't know the title. Anyway, here goes:

ODETTA
(A wonderful story teller, historian and singer.)
This Little Light of Mine (with audience participation)
Careless Love
You Don't Know My Mind
It's a Bourgois Town Blues
Weeping Willow Blues
Nobody Knows You When You're Down
Let Your Hair Hang Low (??--hard to read my own writing)
You Can Make Me ...
Rock Island Line
ENCORE: Midnight Special

ARLO:
Blowin' In The Wind
When a Soldier Makes It Home
Dead or Alive
Gypsy Davy
St. James Infirmary

Sarah Lee (incredible):
Lonely in Shadows

Arlo:
Portland Town
Coming Into Los Angeles
Wake Up Dead

Johnny:
Gervais

Arlo:
WHen the Ships Come In
Patriot's Dream
City of New Orleans
This Land is Your Land (couple of verses)

Sarah Lee and Johnny:
There'll Be No Church Tonight

Arlo:
Another verse of This Land Is Your Land

Sarah Lee brings Olivia on stage--to the enjoyment of all (Olivia is a natural on stage).

Goodnight Irene

Odetta joins the group on stage for the encore:

Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream

One last note ... I told Marcia of the posts complaining of the same stories being told, etc. We both agreed that some stories don't get old, it's like listening to your favorite relative telling family stories. We'd both happily go time and again. I will definitely be at the church this fall, but hopefully Arlo will appear near here again soon. (I'll try to keep my feet out of my mouth in the future, I promise.)