Wolfie and I went down to Brevard to hear Arlo on Tuesday evening. The concert for me was kinda one of those pilgrimages to take before you die...I had always wanted to see Arlo in concert. It was listening to Arlo's records at 14 that made me decide to learn to play guitar...something which has made life in general far more tolerable over the years. Occasionally I think that old guitar was the only thing I had to hold onto...so there's kinda this debt of gratitude there. Not that that kinda thing can be repaid, but obviously catching a concert here was a must.
Sarah Lee and Johnny opened for Arlo, and their performance was wonderful. Their harmonies reminded me of days long past when congregations sang more than just the melody line...and Sunday evenings were likely to be songfests rather than another round of preaching. A ressurected tune of Woody's "There'll be no Church Tonight" was a beautiful tune and they incorporated a sing-along with the chorus.

Arlo seemed in prime spirits and played so many of the old favorites; City of New Orleans, St James Infirmary, Coming into Los Angeles, Green, Green Rocky Road, Gypsy Davey, When the Ship Comes in, Motorcycle Song, Portland Town, Patriots Dream and my favorite Highway In The Wind.

He was in great form and I will always remember the fine feeling that the concert and the entire evening gave me. I hadn't heard Green, Green Rocky Road performed since I saw Dave Van Ronk in the 70's, and the playing of Highway in the Wind at the end of the show was the best.

The venue was the best I've ever seen. A large auditorium without side walls and folks sitting on the grass beyond the seats enjoying Arlo and the evening at large.

I did mangage to meet Arlo, get my Alices Restaurant album cover signed and get a picture or two with him.

Thanks Arlo and Family for being so down to earth, so gracious and so available. Thanks always for those great tunes you keep alive...they are the background tunes for so much of my life, the songs I sing when I am down, the tunes I taught my kids...the songs never grow old.

Some musicians may be richer, or more popular, some may have limos and penthouses...but very few carry the soul of a nation in their pocket.

Thanks again,

Tim

Thanks for your post. My wife, kids and I felt very much the same way when we saw Arlo at the church in July.

Thanks for the show report! Sounds like a great show as usual. This was one show I'd have loved to have gone to if I could've. I can't wait till Oct & Nov when I get to see him again! <img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/smile.gif" width=15 height=15>