Ok, I'm not a setlist kinda guy, but the setlist was very close to the Torrington show, with one or two exceptions.
Besides the normal wonderful time I have at an Arlo gig, the thing that struck me the most was Arlo doing a new song, only days old by his account, by the title of " Back by Popular Demand".
After hearing it only once, and not remembering every line now, the next day, it struck me as a song with a few themes, yet only one at the same time. To me, it hit on the theme how more relevent some folksingers like Arlo and others may be with current events being what they are, but also how relevent some of the same causes many of us championed or at least showed sympathy for in decades past are rising in our collective spirits. The song, along with some of Arlo's monologue during the evening about concepts like there being only one president, but many of us, and how presidents are so poll driven nowadays, spoke to the power of the people.
Interestingly to me, I was contacted a week or so before this show via e-mail(Through Arlonet) by a local Peekskill newspaper reporter that was going to do a feature on this show, that never came to be. One question he asked of me in the e-mail interview was "Is the whole folk/hippie/peace scene getting a boost thanks to the war right now(that's a simplistic question not intended to be as offensive as it might seem)".I did not find the question to be offensive. My reply to this question, which I have given here word for word was something to the effect of " Maybe, but justice, decency , peace and similar concepts are not the sole property of the folk, hippie and peace communities".
Well, before I ramble on too much, perhaps that's the point, to make things happen by popular demand, we must first make them popular.That is the power, and the job of the people. Trouble is, we need to make the right things popular.
I don't know if Arlo would agree with my take here or not( And I could go on a bit more!), but that's how it struck me the first time. Anyone else?

POWER TO THE PEOPLE!

Thanks, Larry.. I've been trying to find a way to explain the song... I don't remember the words either... and am looking forward to being able to hear it again....

JohnC kept a setlist... I guess he will post it when he has a chance.

Thanks for Blundering with me! And thanks, Arlo, Abe and Gordon, for another memorable show!

So Wyld, does that mean I'm on the right track?

I do remember talking over with you who we thought the "lady" in the song may represent. Lady Liberty? The Justice statue with the blindfold and the scales of justice? Or was Arlo maybe still just hung up on Dolly Parton?
We need to hear this again......and soon! Or maybe even have the lyrics posted.( hint ,hint)
Well, in any case, maybe we are thinking too much, but better us than the president! Blunder on my breathren.

Yah... I think the track that the "Freight Train" was on seems to be the right one!

...

Hey folks,

I was at the Arlo concert in Peekskill. I haven't been to a concert in a long time, something like 20 or 30 years, but I feel that it was the best concert that I have ever been to. The evening started out for me and my entarage to bust into the theatre lobby because we had traveled from Queens, NY and had arrived 2 hours early and it was chilly outside. So, once we are in the lobby looking around at motorcyle raffle notices and other stuff I hear the sound of Arlo coming from somewhere within the theatre. So, we venture future into the theatre to see Arlo sitting on the stage at the piano. The sound system was fine in our estimation. Then, just as we were begining to warm up to the idea of taking the nearest seats at the rear of the theatre, it was then that one of Arlo daughter's or neices or something politely asked us to leave. I was like, "Geez, you mean we can't stay in here two hours before show time?" but it was great to be able to just walk into to the place as if we owned it.

So. we went across the street to the only place in town that was opened on a Sunday evening and got some Italian grub. It was good.

Later, when they let everyone else in to the theatre we went in too. My entarage and I had four front row seats, so we didn't miss too much of the show. The first set included "Gypsy Davy" as the first song and "Coming Into Los Angeles" as the last song. There were lots of other songs in between these two songs.

Arlo had many funny stories to tell, about various things including the story about him playing in the same town at the same time as Bob Dylan. This was the story in which he said that he was going to play all of the old Dylan songs which caused folks to line up at his show rather than Dylan's show.

When Arlo came out for an encoure, someone from the audience requested 'Alice's Restaurant'. So Arlo told the story of hearing his daughter, Sara Lee struggling to play the song and demonstated how she played it. Then he played another song that was on the Alices Restaurant record as the finale to the concert.

While everyone was fileing out of the theatre, Arlo had made himself available as he was sitting at a table signing autographs. I did not line up for an autograph, but I only took a peak at him and he seemed to be a larger man that I had previously thought. I suppose that 30 years would have something to do with that way of thinking.

Arlo, here's to your continued good health. During the concert you spoke lots about Woody and that was good to hear. I agree that your kids should know your songs just as well as you know your dad's songs.

I think that Arlo should post the words to "Back By Popular Demand"....by popular demand!

Here's the list:

Chilling Of The Evening
Won't Be Long
Dead Or Alive
Gypsy Davey
Motorcycle Song
St. James Infirmary
Portland Town
Coming Into Los Angeles

**Intermission**

Freight Train
Moon Song
Haleiwa Blues
When The Ship Comes In
Patriot's Dream
City Of New Orleans
Back By Popular Demand
This Land Is Your Land

**Encore**

Bits of Alice...Arlo said next year is the 40th anniversary of Alice so he guesses he'll be learning it again and if you come to a show next year he'll probably be performing it. This is a good thing because as I said to Wyld the story about why he doesn't do Alice is becoming almost as long as the song.

Highway In The Wind


Larry, I think your interpretation of Back By Popular Demand is pretty close. Of course with my hearing being what it is it takes me a couple listenings to get the lyrics straight. Anyway I like what you wrote so if you're not quite right maybe the folksinger willl change it.

Wyld, Larry, Dee and Deb Smith, Thanks for the company. Great blundering as always.

John, do you mean Arlo might change the song to fit my interpretation, or change my interpretation to fit his song?

Hey Arlo can ya do the new song at Durham so we can hear it? Thanks! I'd love to hear it!

It's Arlo's song, he can do whatever he wants.