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FLASHBACK BLUES
WINDOW SHOPPING THROUGH THE PAST
The Prine Shrine Archived pages
(you never know what you might find here)
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California
Hanford, CA Nov 3, 2001
The Fox Theatre, w/Peter Case
By: Lynn Rank
John Was Great!!! 1 encore and we were still all pounding on the stage for
more......Great Bass Player and Mandolin, Slide Guitarist-regular
Guitarist player. John is older but never old enough to stop.....looked
rather pensive at the beginning but after the audience cheered him on and
on, ah, shit by the end he was as happy as a lark, sure if he'd had the
energy he would have come out again and again. Only Calistoga water and
"Causo" juice to help the frog in his throat this time. No more
cigarettes and whatever he was drinking a few years ago. Just great songs
and a sadness for the loss of Steve Goodman. Yeah, feelings connected him
to all us out there in the audience.......
By: RogLaurie
I must admit, I was only semi looking forward to this event. my wife has
been a JP fan for a long time (still has several LP's). I did not know
much about John. However, I fell in love with the man and his music. WOW,
what a show. I came home and listened to the old albums that night. I have
to say, I like the style he used tonight. He admitted to having to lower
his pitch because of throat problems. I'd love to have a CD with this
style. I thought he said that he had a new CD out with this new style. I'd
like to know if it is available. anyway, i am now a huge fan of John
Prine. Great show!!
By: Gary
My son and I drove down from Sacramento and hooked up with two of my
brothers in the small central California town of Hanford to hear John. We
wondered how his voice had come out from the surgery. It's a bit lower,
something he acknowledged from the stage, noting that he had to change the
key to his songs to accommodate the lower pitch. I think his voice is
better than before and wanted to tell him so, but he didn't invite us back
stage, maybe he doesn't know who I am...who does? John is a real warrior.
One of my brothers speculated that life has a way of sanding off the edges
of a voice, allowing the raw truth out. John has always spoken the truth
-- it just came through with a little more conviction this time. We were
disappointed that "Flag Decal" wasn't in the set. Maybe that's
not a P.C. song to sing these days, which is exactly why we wanted to hear
it, of course. I remember at one point my brother, Brent, looked at me and
said, "I think I'm gonna cry." I think it was when John launched
into "That's the Way that the World Goes Round." Brent does
great at our family reunions singing John Prine songs. He's a warrior too.
I can't close without mentioning that the Fox Theater in Hanford is a nice
piece of work. The people of that town should be proud of the way they
restored it. Besides, they have a nice patio where they serve beer and
wine and let people smoke too. After the show, I stood out front and
listened to the people's comments as they left the theater - the reviews
were good. John, live forever. Hanford seems to love you. So do I.
Anaheim, CA Nov 11, 2002
Sun
Theatre w/Ramblin Jack Elliot
By: JohnBoyTwo
A great show in a great venue. Seasoned observers could tell right from
the start of the show that John Prine was struggling with his voice, a
fact later verified by him saying that he'd been fighting a sore throat
for seven weeks. But as a consummate pro, John reached deep down and
worked through it, performing a solid two-hour set that included a series
of five solo acoustic numbers. Jason Wilber again proved that youth will
be served, performing excellent work on a variety of electric string
instruments. Dave Jacques was solid on the upright bass and electric bass.
One of the people with me that night, a solid musician in his own right
and a fan of great guitar work, called the show "truly one of the
best performances he'd ever seen.
By: Darin
As a first time attendee of The Sun Theatre In Anaheim, I was
impressed. Small enough with fine acoustics, dinner was served prior to
the entertainment and, more importantly, COCKTAILS! Special guest Ramblin'
Jack Elliot opened the evening with a few songs, not including the
double-helping of "South Coast" to make light of the late-comers
in the front row. A thoroughly fine set, and humorous stories that are a
highlight of any of Jack's performances. Don't hesitate to see this legend
before his time passes.
Prine, came on stage sometime after 9:00, and played a solid
2 hour set. Although, he mentioned having a sore throat, it was barely
detectable. Prine is a true entertainer. His songs are at once pearls of
wisdom, wrapped up in a humorous crust, keeping the audience engaged and
involved. My preference is always a performer that relies on his/her own
talent, and not that of a band. This was the case this night, as Prine was
accompanied by only two others. Both excellent in their own right, but in
no way overpowering. Playing all the hits, with a great new tune thrown in
for good measure, this was indeed another great performance by a great
performer. Prime Prine, as always.
Humboldt State U. Van
Duzer Theatre, Arcata, CA
September 10, 2001
By: emily barnes, eureka,ca
This concert (which was extraordinary and exceptional) will always be burned in my
mind, I think, in a special way. It was held in a theater on the campus of Humboldt State University in
Arcata, CA--with a seating capacity, I believe of less than 800 seats. To say there are "no bad seats" is an understatement here, yet I
believe, as I know many of you do, that there are never any "bad seats"
at a John Prine concert. The concert was held at 8 pm, Monday Sept. 10. It ended 20 minutes before midnight, the night before the world changed as we know it. Within hours, we all watched and heard the tragedy unfold in New York and
Washington, DC. I don't have a play-list to share with you but I can tell you it was something I'll never forget, for many reasons.
To be able to share John, a man I've loved and respected and followed for over 25 years with people who felt the same and showed it every moment---was such an honor and a
privilege.
To hear the familiar words in the voice I've heard for so long---singing like he wrote the song just for us---was a
delight. To watch a man who has battled back from physical adversity yet seems younger and stronger than ever--was an inspiration. To hear the first chords of "Sam Stone" in an auditorium so quiet you could hear a pin drop--and to feel the bittersweet power of the bass as it came in half way through...still sends chills through me. To see John respond to the audience who stayed with him at every turn and did not want him to ever leave--made me proud.
If you can see John Prine in concert, take the opportunity to listen to one of the greatest storytellers of our time.
Be prepared to sing, hum, laugh, cry, have memories flood your heart and mind. Be prepared for his strong stage presence and the feeling he is looking at you and singing to you. Be prepared to come to your feet after he walks off stage and show him you aren't ready to go home yet--that you need him to stay with you. He will...
Luther Burbank Center, Santa
Rosa, CA
September 8, 2001 with Todd Snider
By: Lee Roy Lemieux
Mr. Prine opened the show with Spanish Pipedream. Performed well, however the sound person had yet to adjust the levels as the bass was non-existent and the electric guitar was far too tiny. Once the levels were set, the show was absolutely amazing!!. Mr. Prine played many of the his classics
including: Illegal Smile, Sam Stone, Please Don't Bury Me, Hello in There, Donald
and Lydia, Souvenirs and Angel From Montgomery. John was in good spirits and
seemed thoroughly enjoy himself. The mutual love between the artist and the fan was quite evident as every song was followed by mass applause and cheering. I felt lucky and
honored to be able to witness one of America's greatest story tellers, song writers and all around good guy. I suggest to all, if Mr. Prine plays any where near your town...go!
Personal highlight was a great version of "The sins of Mephisto" featuring some
subtle but well placed mandolin. Another great performance was the melancholy
"Souvenirs". Although Mr. Prine was battling a "Frog in his throat" that he caught at a show he played at a zoo earlier in the week....he was still in fine form. Mixed between tunes was the great humor of Mr. Prine as he told the stories behind the songs. The audience would erupt in unison laughter. The only portion of the show that I didn't particularly care for was when Mr. Prine went electric. It wasn't that the songs weren't good. Just that the Mr. Prine's guitar sounded terrible due to the "mix" and the
muffled tone and back slap reverb. In addition, the other guitar had so much high end and tin that when he would solo the notes were piercing to the ear (as if at a
metal show). Minor complaints. Mr. Prine's element is much better in the acoustic arena.
The bass player (electric and stand-up) was excellent. The guitar player was exceptional as he played mandolin, harmonica
and some mean slide guitar. Overall, a great show filled with emotional highs (Fish and Whistle) and somber lows (Hello in There). A John Prine show is worth every hard earned penny.
By: Scott Wilgus Reynolds
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Todd Snider
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John Prine
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Can't Complain
Lonely Girl
Just In Case
DB Cooper
Missing You
Talkin' Seattle Grunge Blues
Alright Guy
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Spanish Pipedream
Spend the Night with me
Souvenirs
Fish & Whistle
Grandpa was a Carpenter
Far From Me
All The Best
Angel From Montgomery
Christmas in Prison
That's the way that the World Goes ' Round
Let's Talk Dirty in Hawaiian
Other Side of Town |
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Donald & Lydia
In Spite of Ourselves
Sam Stone
Bear Creek
Ain't Hurting Nobody
Great Rain
Sins of Memphisto
Hello in There
Please Don't Bury Me
The Late John Garfield Blues
Lake Marie
Paradise ( with Todd Snider )
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Todd's Set Comments:
I got the feeling that most of the people in the audience had never seen Todd, but before the "How much have you got?" line in Can't Complain he had them in the palm of his hand. People were hanging on every word. I think Just In Case sold the most new CD's. Both the Bob Dylan and the Woody Guthrie Lines were used in Seattle. No mention of being from Santa Rosa? I thought we might get the new song "Class of '85". Standing in line for a beer after Todd's set, Spike squeezed between me and the guy in front of me. I said hey Spike how's it going, then Todd squeezed through stopped and shook my hand and said something like "Any friend of hers is a friend of mine." I told him I liked the set, but wished he had more time and that he would return to NoCAL more often. As a parting comment in the twenty second conversation I said "I like your hair cut" to which he replied "Thanks?!." with a confused look. I think he has been getting a lot of grief lately? I made it through the beer line and Todd made it over to sign some CD's. I wasn't about to fight the mob around him, but I worked my way up to Spike who was selling CD's as fast as she could pull them out of the box. I pointed to the wall behind her and asked "How much are the Todd T-Shirts?". She spun around expecting to see a Todd shirt, but only Prine was on the wall. She looked back at me and said "We don't have any T-Shirts" I said that's too bad.
John's Comments:
John's voice was thrashed from playing a bunch of outdoor shows, but cleared up after a few songs. John is still talking about the movie that has not come out with him and Billy Bob Thornton and Andy Griffith. He said one day on the set he cornered Andy Griffith and made him sit down and listen to a song that he wrote because of Mayberry, Fish & Whistle.
Other Side of Town is, new to me, a song about a man who can basically tune out his wife when she is bitching at him and in his mind be having a beer on the other side of town... John's version of In Spite of Ourselves without Iris Dement was hilarious. He held up a picture of her and sang her lines. John mentioned his brother was in attendance and played
Muhlenberg County for him. It was great seeing Todd sharing both the stage and a microphone with John!
Thanks.
By: Linda
Mountain Winery AND Luther Burbank Sept. 8t & 9th
Yep, back to back Prine shows. What could be better? So, my Prine pal (another Prine freak as addicted as I am - who
knew??) booked 4 months ahead. Had great seats and a great time. As always, John lights a stage as no one else can. David and Jason were their usual wonderful selves. And Todd......oh man, what a talent. It does my heart good to see someone with his heart and wit following in John's footsteps. "Just In Case" knocked me out. Had to buy the CD. It was dejavu all over again to see him out there signing CD's. I remember seeing John at the Coach House in SO CAL signing tapes about 15 years ago. Of course, I got my German Afternoons signed. Kinda glad he doesn't have to do that anymore but miss the personal contact. See you all at the next NO CAL Prine concert, if he's here I'm there!
John Prine, Todd Snider take folk across the generation gap
at Burbank
September 11, 2001
By JOHN BECK THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
http://www.pressdemo.com/lifestyle/news/11prine.html
Side by side, John Prine and Todd
Snider make an odd couple. If you saw them on the street -- Snider the gangly
young folkie with the low-slung acoustic and the stoner daze, and Prine the
squat weathered barfly packing a lifetime in a chain-smoker's gruff and a
chipmunk's grin -- you might think Prine was his father or even grandfather.
But Saturday night at the Burbank
Center they proved a perfect fit, swapping enough stories and anecdotes and
jokes to bridge any generation gap.
And even though Iris DeMent couldn't be
there, she was celebrated in spirit and image as Prine held up a photograph of
her before singing both the male and female leads to "In Spite of
Ourselves."
Telling the tales of a life hard-lived,
Prine dedicated songs left and right: "Grandpa was a Carpenter" went
out to his brother sitting in the audience. "Angel From Montgomery"
was for Bonnie Raitt. And then "Far From Me" was for Kittie, "the
first girl who broke my heart. ... I got three songs out of it. ... Later I got
a divorce and got a whole album out of it."
Sporting a blond pompadour, Snider
proved a worthy torch bearer, warming up the stage with an acid casualty sense
of humor that had the crowd riffing on nearly every other verse. Signed to
Prine's Oh Boy record label, the former Santa Rosa Junior College student
sparked the most laughs with his pre-nup anthem "Just In Case" and his
now-classic grunge parody "Talkin' Seattle."
One of few who could get away with
rhyming "exactlioto" with "Quasimoto," Prine matched
Snider's funnybone antics in the laugh-along "Let's Talk Dirty In
Hawaiian." But what really proved his mastery of the form was a song list
balancing humor with the mesmerizing depths of "Angel From Montgomery"
and "Sam Stone."
The classic line "There's a hole
in Daddy's arm where all the money goes, Jesus Christ died for nothing I
suppose" left a haunting spell in the air.
Backed by David Jacques on stand-up
bass and the very technical but still smooth Jason Wilbur on slide guitar and
mandolin, Prine tried to nurture his scratchy vocals and Camel rasp with
repeated swigs of tea and honey. It might have worked, had he started 30 years
ago.
"We've been playing a few zoos
lately; a frog must have jumped in my throat," Prine told the understanding
crowd.
Swapping his acoustic for an electric
guitar, the former mailman picked up the tempo and added a little distortion for
the easygoing "Ain't Hurtin' Nobody" and "Sins of Memphisto."
The last time he played the Burbank,
joining Emmylou Harris at the Concert for a Landmine-Free World two years ago,
Prine seemed in a foggy haze at times. This time around he was on the mark all
night, whether finger-picking and grinning, strumming hard or stomping a black
snakeskin boot into the stage.
For the final encore Snider returned to
the stage, crouching over the microphone and his mentor to sing harmony on
"Paradise."
Saratoga, CA Mountain
Winery
09/07 w/Todd Snider
 Date: Sept. 7th 2001
By: Jimmy Johnson
It had been a warm and clear day when I got to the Winery at 4:30 pm
and there was no line as I was the first one there and I was the first
one in line for the gate to open at 5:30 and get my $10 dollar parking
space. After Parking there was a walk down to the winery to get my
$30 dolor general admission ticket at will call. I decided to make the
best of the night so I went to the Château and paid $28 dollars for
the Buffet Dinner, at any price the food was real good with Shrimp Etoufee, Chicken Jambalaya, Cajun Tri-Tip, Cajun Vegetables, Hoppin'
John Corn Puddin, Crawfish Salad, Assorted Desserts and Coffee/Tea.
I ate on a deck high above the Santa Clara Valley it was a view to die
for with a table full of Prine Fan's, aw heck it's only money. Now it's
about 7:00 and time to check out the Venue and find a seat, the Venue
was in a bowl just below the Château with seating close in front and
around the sides to the top of the bowl with no standing room. There was
a small group with seats on the stage, I don't think I have seen that
before the lucky few. I found a seat just in front and to the left of
the mic's about 5 rows up and back so nothing was in my way. |
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Date: Sept. 7th 2001
