Reviews from Bluesbaby

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Here's my take on the Flatlander's appearance in Chicago at the Park West in Chicago on Thursday, March 4, 2000: I loved the club venue at Park West in Chicago and I'd recommend seeing other shows there. They had long narrow tables radiating out from the stage with 10 chairs facing the stage on each side, 10 or so tables. That must have been about 200 people there. Then, behind that area, there was banquette seating, wide booth-benches facing the stage with tiny little tables, progressively rising toward the rear. There was a big bar up at the back with stools and, facing the stage, counter-space with stools. I'd guess in about the same range of numbers. General admission was $20, no reserved seats.

About 1/4 of the way up from the stage which led to a bar and little dance floor. There was a banquette right there but then they said that people would be standing on the dance floor and I wouldn't be able to see, so they showed us to the first seats in the first row, just one step down. If I had taken that, my knees would have been against the stage so I chose the 3rd chair back, as did my friends.

We held the seats in front of us for awhile. I think they were pretty sold out but the day before they told me on the phone that they were only about 1/2. A nice lady and man sat across from us. When they asked if they could, I asked them if they were going to stand up when the music started. If they'd said yes, I'd have told them we were waiting for more friends from Milwwaukee. I am sure a different person than I used to be -- you know, totally honest, straight arrow-- I'm still honest but have to take care of La Princessa first.

Two young guys came just before the Flatlanders started and were delighted to pass the test and get the other 2 seats in front of me. Offered to buy me a beer, but I had to drive home and rarely drink, anyway, so that's not a good time to partake. They were both artists. I said they must be bunching the artists in one corner. I told them to check out bluesbaby.8k.com and look for my cruise review as Ramblin' Rosie, which they said they would.

One of the guys, John, had toured Italy with Butch Hancock and was his roommate. Chris hung out with Ely for 4 hours or so after the last time he saw him. We had lots of good ancecdotes, bantering, etc... They told me that the acoustics in the room were especially great and I believe it was so. The show was not the rockin' type of music I've come to expect to hear from the Ely's band, so it was hard to compare the old-time country music that I'd not heard lately for sound.

Well, then the show started. I think the guys came in after the opener which was Anna Yegg or Egg-- tall blonde girl from N/S Dakota. She plays guitar very, very well and did an a capella piece, Edelweiss, at the end of her set that showcased her clear, lovely voice. However, during her set we had trouble understanding her-- she sang mostly her own stuff-- and what we got was pretty OK. She spoke of touring with Jimmy Dale Gillmore in Europe.

Well, then the real show started. Of course, I had to keep moving my eyes around. I would say it had overtones of a jam session. Ely said that they were not doing a rehearsed show and that, as youngsters, one of their problems was that they spent 1/2 the time on the stage deciding what to sing next. There was that kind of informal give and take throughout.

Jimmy Dale Gilmore and Joe Ely seemed to share taking the lead. To me, Butch was not quite so much in the forefront, but was a presence, neverthless. I flirted a little with Gary Herman, bassist -- well, I knew him from the table in the dining room at sea and ripping off the Endorphin sauce-- a running joke we have going.

About the music: Well, I bought the Flatlanders CD and have listened to it today. I'm sure you know it is a re-master of the album they cut in the 70's. It's the music I grew up listening to as a country girl in northern WI but the lyrics are more modern. Shades of Gene Autry and Hank Williams hover when it's playing. Seems like Gilmore is singing the leads mostly on the CD.

There was a lot of switching around in the concert. The songs were different with a couple(few?) from the album. Gilmore has a very sweet voice in the concert and on the album, too. He does have that mountain/hill country twang but it's a good sound and not overwhelming. They all sang well alone and together. Ely played the slide guitar a couple of times and did some pretty fancy licks on acoustic, sometimes, too. Hancock also doubled on the harp.

In spite of the light-humored atmosphere, there wasn't too much horsing around and a lot of good music. They responded to the crowd with 2 encores of at least 2 songs each. The three stars made themselves available for greeting and signing various items in the lobby afterwards.

As I wrote to Annabelle, Director of the Seabrook Music Festival held the first weekend of October every year in Seabrook TX (seabrookmusicfestival.com0): "Wouldn't it be something if the Flatlanders were to bring out a CD of the current Flatlanders music introduced it at Seabrook's 20 anniversary in 2000? Just a thought--" Cya bluesbaby, Ramblin' Rosie