Last night (Valentine's Day 2004) at the Nock Middle School in Newburyport, Massachusetts. As I expected, it was ...very...Arlo. He paid dutiful and respectful homage to notonly Woody, but a host of others whose various musical styles and philosophies have contributed to his own style and philosophy: Bobby D., Pete Seeger, etc.
He talked about Vietnam and referenced the two Afghan wars and WW2, and the returning soldiers of all wars (When a soldier makes it home). We heard about Gypsy Dave and the gambler's Blues;Dead or Alive, and of course THE PICKLE SONG. And he talked to us. he spoke TO us, not AT us.
He spoke of how he was booked to appear in Tuscon on the same night as Bobby D., and he joked about people coming to see him (Arlo) if they wanted to hear the older Bobby D. stuff.
I could smell some occasional traces of pot, but didn't actually see anyone lighting up. They were too cool for that (or too discreet). The scene was like a huge class reunion, and the theme was peace and patriotism and goodness.
Naturally he got in several irreverent jabs at past and present presidents (The Dickster, Ford, Ronnie The Dangerous, and the Wiley Walker). These comments pleased the audience, and earned him frequent applause.
He referenced 911, and his singing of Patriot's day with jennifer Warren. he talked about the television show he was on, Birds of paradise. And he talked to us.
He told us about how his elementary school shrink told his Ma that Arlo was weird, but that he was just reacting normally to his environment.
His City of new Orleans roused everyone, and the way he did not do Alice's Restaurant was hilarious.
As the end came to be nearer, he told us that WE ARE THE PEOPLE, and he gave us the present of his singing This Land is Your Land to us. I saw more than one eye that was not dry, and the emotions of the crowd could be felt.
When it was over, and as everyone was slowly and quietly filing out, I was in the line for the door, and there beside me ...was Arlo, sitting behind a table, greeting people and signing autographs. We looked in each other's eyes, briefly, and in thet single, magical moment, I felt changed. I thanked him, and he smiled at me. And my wife of thirty-one years took me home. It was the best Valentine's Day we ever had. Thank you Arlo. God bless you and your thousands of family. John McGondel, Derry, NH. 2-15-04.

John, what a beautiful post. I felt as if I were there last night, too.

Thanks for sharing. I enjoyed reliving your experience at the show in my mind...

Great report John!
I'm nowhere near that creative, but if nothing else,
I am good for the occasional setlist.

-Newburyport, MA 2/14/04-
- Set 1 -
Chillin' of the Evening
Won't Be Long
Dead or Alive
Gypsy Davy
St. James Infirmary
Motorcycle Song
Mooses Come Walking
Moon Song
Portland Town
- Set 2 -
Freight Train
When a Soldier Makes it Home
Wake Up Dead
Haleiwa Blues
When the Ship Comes In
Patriots' Dream
City of New Orleans
This Land is Your Land
- Encore -
Highway in the Wind

Just thought you'd like to see an unhappy camper letter now and then... Here's a note we got this morning. I've left off the names etc...

adg
_______________________________________________

To: gchq@bcn.net
Subject: Please forward to Arlo Guthrie

Mr. Guthrie:
We saw your concert February 14 at Newburyport, MA. We feel cheated. Everyone at the concert was there for two reasons: 1) to hear Arlo Guthrie, the legend that we remember from our youth; and 2) to hear that legend sing Alice's Restaurant.
We purchased the tickets...we traveled to Newburyport...we sat through your political (you damn liberal, you!) ramblings and then you left us disappointed.
I will contact the promoter and demand my money back. You sullied your reputation as an entertainer.

(name witheld)
Swampscott, MA

Gee, I don't know how someone could remember you as a "legend" but not know any songs other than Alice's Restaurant - or be unaware of your social beliefs or your storytelling habits! He must be trying to re-create a "youth" that he doesn't really remember.

It's a proper and decent thing to withold the name of the unhappy camper Arlo. But, I think I have it narrowed down to either John Ashcroft or the guy that runs the Nixon Presidential Library.

That person obviously hasn't been to any shows. If they were a regular Arlo concert goer they would've known that it is a rare occurrance him doing Alices. I'm one of the lucky ones whose heard it more than once. & Most folk singers are liberal oriented so it's not unusual for them to be on sort of a liberal bent. & Arlo is nice to Dubya. During the Iraq war he refrained from alot of war related comments. I've been to over 50 shows over the yrs & have definately gotten my moneys worth from each show. I would've GLADLY sat in this persons seat to watch the show.So don't give them the money back Arlo. They got their moneys worth & don't even know it! Arlo was just doing what he does best! We love ya so keep on keepin on!

Hey Arlo...

Thank you for letting us hear this person's opinion (to which they are perfectly well entitled, mistaken though they may be)

In my humble opinion, I'd just like to say that there have to be a few oddballs out there, so we can really appreciate our community of Blunderites.... You know, it's kinda like "you can't have a light without a dark to stick it in"


EDITED TO SAY: ... or are WE the oddballs????

Hey Wyld! I resemble that remark!! ( But then again, you do too!)

...well, Swampscott that explains it.....beautiful place....stately old New England homes overlooking the north shore of the Atlantic....

....don't they have a city ordinance banning even conservative Democrats from staying in town longer than 15 minutes???.....



oddballandproud....

this makes me homesick...see ya when you get here, arlo!

I sat across from a young man spouting many of the same words after one of the concerts at the Ram's Head in Annapolis this past fall...the words "Alices's Restaurant" and "cheated" and "ripped off" were uttered. He looked to be about 20 and he was there with his folks. He admitted that he really didn't like folk music much. He didn't look happy to be at the concert, so I think even if Arlo HAD performed Alice's, there would have been other things to complain about. He didn't like the food, either.
You just can't please everybody all the time...some people are never pleased. I don't think there was anything anyone could have done to make that guy happy; he wanted to be home playing video games.
I felt kind of sorry for him...

Everyone? was there for those two reasons? Speak for yourself.
I would agree with the first - except that I would add "from our present" and, with any luck, "from our future". As for reason #2, well he didn't sing *it*, but he did play the guitar part, in several segments, for a cumulative total of 113 seconds. Now that may not seem like much, but think about it - for 113 seconds - and you've thought quite a while, haven't you? And while he played the guitar part, he talked over it, first telling a story of how one time he was playing *it* and he lost his place in the song, asked Sarah Lee and Abe ( who were onstage with him ) for help ( they weren't any help ), then pointed out to them after the show that he knows his dad's songs. Next came a priceless segment in which Arlo played what it sounded like when, on a couple of occasions, he overheard Sarah Lee trying to teach herself how to play *it* ( with increasing success ).
The afore-described 113 seconds was way more special to me than hearing the entire 25 minute song any day ( and yes, it has grown to 25 minutes of late ). And that's what it should be to see Arlo play Alice's Restaurant - a special occasion. But you wouldn't know that would you, Mr. Name Withheld? Apparently you have only bothered to see Arlo once in who knows how many years, or decades, and you invested a whopping 32 dollars and "traveled" a whopping 30 miles ( if, to you, this is "traveling", you don't get out much, do you? ), and you feel cheated?
Seriously.
Relax.

I have had the luxury and pleasure of seeing Arlo at least twice a year, every year since 1995. Before that, I tried to see him every chance I could, but sometimes money was just too tight.

I travel at least 65 miles each way, twice a year, (in the past 9 years) to EACH concert (at the very least), sometimes as far as.... well, how far is Housatonic, MA from Lancaster, PA?

I don't think Arlo's played Alice since the mid-90s. For those of you who have even heard 113 seconds of it on the guitar and his story of Sarah Lee trying to learn it, then you're really lucky... either that or my memory's definitely not what it used to be.

Since 1970, I've probably seen Arlo over 80 times and only in the earlier days was I disappointed (1988 Valley Forge Music Fair was one I definitely remember, only because my mother had just died and Arlo didn't do Percy's Song for me). John Pilla had died then also (I think) and his concert was depressing, I thought. Then again, when he sang Will The Circle Be Unbroken that night, I FELT the words for the first time. I cried, and it felt good to cry. The song MEANT something to me that night, more than hearing Alice for the umpteenth time ever could.

I think with Alice now being 25 minutes long, that would mean we wouldn't hear 25 minutes of OTHER songs or stories... and that would be a major loss for the rest of us in the audience.