Author Topic: July 18 - Ari Eisinger and Pat Conte in concert (Read 4968 times)

frankie · « **on:** June 19, 2009, 08:45:13 PM »

On July 18th, blues and ragtime guitarist and singer Ari Eisinger and curator of the Secret Museum, Pat Conte will perform a house concert in . This is a rare, intimate performance by two extremely gifted performers. The music begins at 7:30. Admission is $25. Seating is limited, so please rsvp to houseconcert "at" donegone "dot" net.

Johnm · « **Reply #1 on:** June 19, 2009, 10:01:00 PM »

What a great show, Frank! I wish I could make it.
all best,
Johnm

uncle bud · « **Reply #2 on:** June 21, 2009, 06:20:13 AM »

Should be a very cool show. Wish I could be there! So is the train station a functioning station? Will someone sit up against the wall singing about the Southern crossin' the Yellow Dog?

I like the poster too.

frankie · « **Reply #3 on:** June 21, 2009, 08:04:59 AM »

I think it'll definitely be a cool show.

The train station is no longer used for active rail service, and probably hasn't been since the 70s or so. It was completely abandoned and boarded up for a number of years until a local resident got a grant to restore it - maybe about 8 years ago. This is what it looks like now:

The inside is pretty nice - wood floors and high ceilings... air conditioned... I always thought it'd be a nice place for a concert - I guess we'll find out! The insurance requirements for reserving the station have changed now and while we got a waiver for this current show, having others in the same space may be difficult. In any event, this will be a good one - worth the trip!

Prof Scratchy · « **Reply #4 on:** June 21, 2009, 09:33:36 AM »

That's a fine building! Wish I could make it...it'll be a great night.

frankie · « **Reply #5 on:** June 21, 2009, 12:07:36 PM »

Anybody who flies over here to make the gig automatically gets on the guest list!

waxwing · « **Reply #6 on:** June 21, 2009, 12:13:53 PM »

From the West coast?

Wax

samjessin · « **Reply #7 on:** June 21, 2009, 08:13:12 PM »

What if I "fly" down 206. I would like to RSVP.

frankie · « **Reply #8 on:** June 22, 2009, 03:24:52 AM »

Domestic flights get a half price ticket... "flying" down the highway gets you the cold, hard stare you probably deserve!

Stuart · « **Reply #9 on:** June 22, 2009, 09:46:38 AM »

It looks like it is going to be a great show at a great venue, Frank. It's enough to make me relocate back to Joisey, if only for a couple of days!

waxwing · « **Reply #10 on:** June 22, 2009, 11:33:50 AM »

Unfortunately I'll be there and gone before the 18th. I'll probably get together with Ari at a Chinese restaurant in Philly. Would have been nice to hear and meet Pat, tho'.

Wax

frankie · « **Reply #11 on:** July 16, 2009, 03:33:10 PM »

bumpitty... it's gonna be a big time.

uncle bud · « **Reply #12 on:** July 17, 2009, 06:44:51 AM »

Having just spent some time listening in person to Pat Conte play all sorts of material from Cat Iron to Yank Rachell to Blind Lemon to Mississippi fiddle tunes to cowboy songs (!), I can say you'd have to be nuts not to go if you're within two hundred miles of the place. The guy is such a deep well, he's coming out the other side. With Ari on board too, this is a guaranteed great time.

Stuart · « **Reply #13 on:** July 17, 2009, 09:03:38 AM »

Quote from: uncle bud on July 17, 2009, 06:44:51 AM

...I can say you'd have to be nuts not to go if you're within two hundred miles of the place...

And that's just if you're travelling by foot!

lindy · « **Reply #14 on:** July 21, 2009, 11:05:28 AM »

I know some of us will see Ari next week, but for the rest, how'd it go? Highlights? New jokes?

Would love to read a report.

The Inquiring Minds Committee

frankie · « **Reply #15 on:** July 21, 2009, 09:25:00 PM »

We had about as many people in there as we possibly could - 20 - it's a small space. It sounded just great in there. Pat did his thing with fiddle, banjo, mandola and guitar, but what instruments...

- the fiddle was a homemade brass fiddle from about the turn of the century - not particularly loud, but best described as the way a fiddle sounds in your dreams

- the banjo was a one-off from just around the minstrel era... fretted, huge dobson-style neck with a slotted headstock and the fifth string at the sixth fret... metal clad rim about 14 in diameter and 4 or more inches deep. You know Thalos from Jason and the Argonauts? If he had a banjo, this would be it. Everything played on it sounds like it was transmitted across time to your ears

- the mandola - 1918 H model - deep and sonorous...

- the guitars - my goofy Kay roundhole archtop and what's probably a wartime L-00 sized Gibson prototype with some archtop characteristics and some flattop... best slide guitar I've ever heard... what a voice.

Pat's set

fiddle:
Snowbird (Manco Snead)
Primrose Hill
Brown Skin Girl

banjo:
Old Joe
Jawbone/Alberta
Delia's Gone
Bible's True
Liza Jane
Been All Around This World

guitar:
No Special Rider (Booker)
Cumberland Gap

mandola:
Jet Black Woman
Shine Like A Star In The Morning

guitar:
Mourning Blues
Dark Was The Night

Ari was his usual brilliant self, playing the Stella and the Delphi all night. Ari's set:

One Dime Blues
Bad Feeling Blues
No Dough Blues
Chump Man Blues
Hunkie Tunkie Blues
Blind Arthur's Breakdown
Rope Stretchin' Blues
Depression Is Gone From Me
They Got It Fixed Right On
If You See My Savior
Up The Country
I'm Throwing Up My Hand
Jesus Gonna Make Up My Dying Bed
Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out
Drunken Barrelhouse Blues

His playing was flawless - hardly any surprise, there, but he did unflappingly survive an exploding capo during Hunkie Tunkie Blues. Never missed a beat and finished out the song to boot.

From my perspective, it was a great success - good music and good company all around.

edited: song titles and instrument details

uncle bud · « **Reply #16 on:** July 22, 2009, 06:41:09 AM »

Is Mourning Blues the Uncle Dave Macon song I've Got the Mourning Blues or something else? Interesting choices all.

Any backup musicians?

frankie · « **Reply #17 on:** July 22, 2009, 02:49:14 PM »

No backup musicians. The Mourning Blues he did was from Smith Casey.

Johnm · « **Reply #18 on:** July 22, 2009, 02:52:37 PM »

Hi Frank,
The concert sounds great. I'm really curious about the brass fiddle. You said it was home-made. Did the maker make more than one of them? Do you know how Pat came by it? Was it quieter or louder than a good wood fiddle, or just different?
All best,
Johnm

frankie · « **Reply #19 on:** July 22, 2009, 04:01:14 PM »

It's very fragile - not sure anything at all is known about the maker. Aluminum fiddles are fairly common, but I believe this is the only brass one that Pat's run across... can't remember where he found it - I'll have to ask him next time I see him.

It's definitely not a particularly loud fiddle, and sounds very different - it has a peculiar "echoey" quality, like you're hearing it from far away. I wouldn't describe it as a pretty or strong tone, but it is beautiful in its own way.

frankie · « **Reply #20 on:** July 26, 2009, 08:28:42 PM »

Quote from: Johnm on July 22, 2009, 02:52:37 PM

Do you know how Pat came by it?

Got this from Pat this evening:

brass fiddle from a new england collector/violinist (acquired ca 1980)

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Author Topic: July 18 - Ari Eisinger and Pat Conte in concert (Read 4968 times)