What A Milestone!

The long weekend for the Martin Luther King Birthdy holiday was a blast. An old buddy came through to visit and that always helps me see things a little differently, especially since I tend to be some sort of renegade Chamber of Commerce tour guide. But I do find that most of the family and friends who I have introduced to Shelby have all found it visually appealing while not overlooking our imperfections.

And this was also the weekend of the Marianne Faithful concert at the Don Gibson. When David Jenkins had first told me that he would love to book her, I think I began to pant or beg about like my Golden Retriever. I don't think either of us dared confess that we hoped he could pull it off. But by golly it happened and one of my artistic heroes from years ago was on the stage, in my own neighborhood, singing "Say It In Broken English" and making the whole place pulsate with energy.

I felt like I was so privileged to see her perform any place, and certainly only one block from my own living room! Some of the first songs were new, by current artists in the early years of their own careers. One was an old Cole Porter standard older than us all--Mrs. Otis Regrets. Marianne's performance of that was so straight on wonderful that I hope she adds it to her repertoire. There was a throbbing bass drum beat that had the passion or un-passion of a burlesque routine, all the way through the song while Marianne crooned in her own unique range. It was bawdy, rowdy, poignant, and witty at the same time. It was even better than Ella Fitzgerald's own recording of the classic.

I was about to express my disbelief that she was going to finish the show without THAT song. But it was the last number in the long set, and she set the stage for it by announcing that it was "my filthy dirty song, --but the band loves it and I think it's fun." Well, George Carlin's 7 words you can't say on TV seems so tame by comparison to "Why'd ya do it?" It was enough to bring nearly 400 people to their feet for five to ten minutes of standing ovation. I think she was even a little touched by how much the audience appreciated the chance to hear and see her live.

After a few minutes of all that she came back onstage with the band, bowed and announced that she would end with a Merle Haggard song, Sing Me Back Home. From Tears Go By to Mrs. Otis Regrets, a wicked Sister Morphine and Broken English to the raw anger and sensuality of Why'd ya do it, to a sweet country ballad you might hear sun around a campfire. Wow, no wonder we were floating on air!

I'd been hearing her songs on radio in Boston years ago, not even knowing that she lived in the area at the time. Only the daring young DJs in a college town with over a quarter of a million students could expect to get away with some of those songs on air. But there were the great renditions she had done of the Brecht & Weill songs from the 40's and 50's, all gritty but packed with emotion that threatened to turn rancid or flow like blood.

We even used to catch fleeting glimpses of Marianne Faithful in places like Harvard Square or Back Bay, just like catching Julia Child at the butcher or wine shop, or Robert Parker drinking and telling stories at The Harvest. Being able to participate in this concert was a connection with the old sounds and energies of my own past, but it was so much more!

It was a hot night in a cold town!

The Allison Brown Quartet concert on Saturday evening was out of this world. With the addition of guest artist Joe Craven in the mix the music was wide ranging in style, subtle and calming at times, but more likely to make a fellow want to jump up and dance for joy.

Five string banjo and fiddle figured greatly, along with references to Earl Scruggs, Doc Watson, and Allison Krause. It was pure Appalachian soul one minute and wild improvisation the next. The grand piano was put to excellent use for driving rhythm as well as an incredible solo performance. And percussion was heavy for the drummer as well as the improvised antics of Joe Craven.

And plenty of people were ready to get out of the house even with the nasty cold weather. It was such a treat to walk a block and enjoy world-class music with extremely talented artists providing the show! Man I love this town!

Shivering, While Sliding and Slamming around Shelby!

Winter wonderland? No way! Winter horror. Cruel fate reared her ugly mug yesterday when I saw that temperatures were actually higher in New England. I moved back to North Carolina 16 years ago when I'd endured one to many winters in the northland.

I've never been much of a winter wimp, but this is testing the limits for me. Really, I've often said that one of the things I like about NC is that we have a real winter, but that it is blessedly brief in duration. Right now I'm not even inclined to take up my relatives' invitation to visit them at the coast of southeastern Georgia. I'm sure they are running around trying to cover citrus trees and checking on the neighbors.

But right now we are mostly rid of the snow and ice that fell before Christmas. We can get along with work and continue with efforts to make some big progress. Businesses are continuing to come into Uptown Shelby and we have had a net gain in the number of businesses operating here over the past 18 months.

One of the great joys I received for Christmas this year was the confirmation of a new business opening coming up in February for something near and dear to my heart. Coffee!!! I've talked with numerous folks about trying to get a coffee shop in Uptown, but nothing clicked until the folks behind Indigo Book Boutique and Coffee Bar entered the scenario. Yes Wade, there is a Santa Claus!

Stay warm and keep the faith y'all.