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SIX O'CLOCK NEWS
UPDATED 06/25/02
I GOT EXCITED JUST BEING PART OF THAT SCENE
REVIEWS OF THE
JOHN PRINE SOUVENIRS CONCERT TOUR
IOWA SHOWS
STEPHENS AUDITORIUM, AMES 9/29
- FROM: the Webmistress of the Shrine.
"IT WAS THE BEST OF TIMES AND IT WAS THE WORST OF TIMES" (alias
"What am I doing here and why am I in this handbasket? or "Fear
and Loathing in Ames".....or "I'll pass a drunk test to see Johnny
Prine")
- FROM: ©By A.J. Ennis
CHASING AFTER JOHNS
Now before we get started, don't be alarmed. This
isn't another story about the South Gateway cleanup effort. This is a story
about a couple of guys on a rock and roll voyage.
His name is Tim Nance, a recently divorced fourth grade
teacher from Indianapolis. Nance, as his friends call him, can turn a group
of strangers into friends in less time than it takes the Clinton's to invite
you over for a sleepover. My name is A.J., a sometimes newsman but mostly
stay at home dad.
Nance and I first met on a soccer field my seventh grade
year. We went to a Christian School. So while others were learning about
Kerouac, Salinger, and Steinbeck; we were reading Beowolf, Pilgrim's
Progress, and the 23rd Psalms. Important work, but hard for a pubescent boy
full of hormones to relate to.
It was Nance who introduced me to Kerouac and the
beatnicks of the 50s and 60s. Somehow the idea stuck; hitchhiking cross
country, listening to Dylan. I spent a lot of time dreaming about what life
on the road would be like. And each time I woke up, Nance would have a far
off look in his eyes. He'd be waiting to tell me about a new cat he'd
discovered who was singing about things we thought only we were feeling.
Soon we'd be on our next adventure.
Along the way we fell in love with the ideas sung by
Jackson Browne, Bruce Springsteen, and John Prine. And that's where we were
headed this fall day - to see Prine, back from throat cancer, perform in
Ames, IA.
But first I wanted to go to Chicago to see Indianapolis
native John Hiatt. He was scheduled to perform songs off his newest record,
CROSSING MUDDY WATERS. I guess, I hoped to turn my wife and kids on to the
artist I've loved for half a decade. Maybe we'd even discuss a couple of
lyrics - pretty heady stuff for a four-year-old and a two-year-old. My
oldest boy, Justice, only knows Hiatt as a loud musical interruption from
his daily fix of the Cartoon Network. For two-year-old Jackson, it's a
chance to dance, and a chance is all he needs.
Hiatt had agreed to sing a few songs and sign autographs
at Borders. You know Borders - one of the new types of bookstores that has
nearly as many kinds of coffee as news magazines. We arrive like a group of
Yugos in this Lexus world.
Hiatt is great, as he always is. This is the fourth time
I've seen him. The new album is a different sound from previous ones. It is
quieter with an earthier feel than the distorted, guitar driven PERFECTLY
GOOD GUITAR or hard-driving beat of LITTLE HEAD. This record doesn't fall
far from his WALK ON CD of a couple years ago.
He performs six songs off the album, and this is where
Hiatt is at his best. Singing about loves hardships while still holding on
to the hope of love. I look over at Nance and know all to well my recently
divorced friend is relating. My boys seem less affected. Justice is lying on
the ground grabbing everything he can touch. Jack is insisting my wife play
pass the baton with him, while he claps at just the right time. Hiatt
finishes his set with "God's Golden Eyes," probably the first
release of the album.
We stand in line to get his autograph and for the chance
to tell him what his music has meant to us over the years. Probably dreamed
up a promotions guy. Hiatt must hate this. As we near him, it begins to
happen. It always happens. I 'm a 90s guy - articulate, sensitive - I've
seen Oprah and even understand some of it - all right only the commercials.
One person away from Hiatt, I accept the unavoidable. No way I'm going to be
able to express myself. As I approach the conversation takes on the feel of
a funeral.
A.J. : Hey, John I remember when
I saw you at Deer Creek the night you wrote "Cry Love."
Hiatt: I hope you enjoyed it.
Long pause
A.J.: Hey can I get a picture
with you?
Hiatt: Sure.
Whew, boy I'm glad that's over. But with the pressure
off, I can't help but notice everyone else is doing the same thing. Nance
talks about the time he saw him in Indy at the Blues Festival. The lady
behind mentions the time she saw him in Chicago. Why can't we tell him how
his music has touched us? What schmucks, Hiatt must think.
"…Now I'm in my car
I got my radio on
I'm yellin' at the kids in the
back seat
'cause there bangin' like Charlie
Watts
It's time drop off the wife and kids and head to Ames, IA
to check out Prine. Justice is in the backseat humming the latest Clifford
tune. Jackson's been asleep since Gary, and my wife is already thinking
about tomorrow. We're just living the rest of the dream.
I remember the first time I heard Prine. I was with my
best girl Rebecca. We were in the backseat of a Dodge Stringer on a trip
home from Kings Island. Our ringleader Tim Nance, his friends call him
Nance, was up front shouting Amens like he was at a Southern Baptist tent
revival. The music is billowing thickly from the speakers, echoing in my
head.
" …. Sam Stone's welcome home to the wife and
family, after serving in the conflict over seas, and in the time he was
there…."
"Hey buddy," Nance yells over the music, "
you got to love this."
I didn't . You almost never do with Prine. He's an
acquired taste. But once you've wetted your taste buds, his music becomes a
passion. Our eight-hour trip to Ames, IA from South Bend is testament.
Nance has always been my musical leader. He took me to
see Jackson Browne. My wife, who's still my best girl, and I would later
name our second son after him. I saw Johnny Rotten, now Lydon, with PIL blow
a snotball twenty feet while opening up for INXS. Along the way we've gone
to see everyone from Dylan to the Dead Milkmen. Each time Nance is blown
away. And I leave with a little hope of how things can be. Such is the way
when you're buddies on a rock and roll trip.
For this trip Nance has packed dozens of CDs. It's his
traditional role in our relationship. He's the music man. Just try him. Give
him a line from a song; he'll tell you who's covered it, and who did it
originally. My tastes are a little more conservative. I think everything
that needs to be said has been by one of five artists: Jackson Browne, John
Prine, John Hiatt, John Mellencamp, and James McMurtry.
On this trip Nance is in a quiet, reflective mood -
something that can be attributed to his recent divorce. For him it's a
chance to forget his problems. For me, a stay at home dad, it's a chance to
go through an entire day with out changing a poopy diaper. We listen to the
most recent John Hiatt CD, CROSSING MUDDY WATERS. It's a quieter-than-normal
Hiatt album. But it still contains the Hiatt staples of love's hardships and
the hope of love winning out. Next, Nance puts on Prine's ANTHOLOGY. A must
for any Prine fan. Prine is one of only a few artists who can make the hair
on the back of your neck stand up one minute and make you laugh out loud the
next. His music is simple, as are the stories he tells, but their messages
aren't.
"…old trees grow stronger,
old river's grow wilder every
day,
old people just grow lonesome,
waiting for someone to say hello
in there."
I can't help but remember the last time we saw Prine. It
was at Butler University's outdoor theatre. Prine was in great form, even
though it was just a few months since he'd been treated for throat cancer.
Nance had only recently gotten into the habit of trying to get pictures
after the show. We waited around talking up an older lady who acted like she
knew Prine. You know the type. " I met John…and John said to me…and
John and …" I must admit, I did feign interest for a few minutes. I
thought maybe she'd try to help us get backstage as well.
But, when she dropped us like a hot potato to renew
acquaintances with Prine, Nance looked over at me and said, "It's time
to get in our stalker mode." Now I'm not proud of it, but I'm not
ashamed either. Nance and I ran to our car, turned it on and followed Prine
the five or six miles back to his hotel. I had things on my mind. I needed
to tell him how much his music had meant to me. How when I 'd gone through
life's valleys, his music had always been a friend. This was important stuff
I'm, talking about, not a Hallmark card.
When we arrived at his hotel, we jumped out. Nance told
Prine we'd just seen his show and asked if we could get a picture with him.
When Prine said yeah, I felt my big opportunity arrive. Here was my big
chance. I wish I could tell you I came up big, waxing as eloquent as Martin
Luther King or Robert Kennedy, instead I said, "Uh, I think your all
right." That was it, my big chance. I felt like Bob Davie at the end of
the Purdue game last year.
So on this trip I had business to tend to, although he
would never remember, I wanted to make a better account for myself with
Prine.
We arrived in Ames shortly after seven the next morning,
only 13 hours before the concert. Time for a quick nap, but we weren't going
to get a hotel - Kerouac would never get a hotel room. We would rough it in
the car. But after two hours of trying to sleep in the tiny Ford Mirage, we
decided to check out what the town had to offer. It turns out not much for
either Nance or me. I got a bad haircut. Nance got ignored by a bunch of
co-eds. Seems like while he was trying to speak the language of love, they
weren't even interested in it as a second language.
We found Stephens Auditorium on Iowa State's Campus. One
quick word about the auditorium, I'm no architect, but it looked like they
had extra concrete from the US 35 road project, and threw it together and
called it Stephens. The place has no personality. Sort of like Al Gore
talking to members of the NRA, I'm just not buying it.
Shortly after five, Prine drives up - no entourage, no
security. Just smiling ole' John. Listening to his songs, it doesn't take
much to imagine him as a neighbor - someone you could spend hours talking to
across a backyard fence while trying to avoid pulling weeds from your wife's
garden. And John didn't do anything to change it. He walks out of the van,
extends his hand as we introduce ourselves. He asks us if we've been waiting
long, have tickets, or want to go inside to watch the sound check. Yes, yes,
and yes. Nance tells him he looks good, and he says he feels good. And then
it's my chance. I try to say something intelligent about his music but am
interrupted. Oh well, we'll always have Indianapolis.
I've never been to a sound check. It's more schmoozing
than work. Prine goes through abridged versions of several numbers he's
planning for the night, then leaves the stage for Iris Dement.
Just a word about Dement. My only exposure to her was on
John's most recent album, IN SPITE OF OURSELVES. She has a unique voice that
Nance compares to Loretta Lynn. This gal has had some life experiences. To
say her music is dark, would be an understatement. She makes Alanis
Morrisette look and sound like Britany Spears. Nance is immediately smitten.
More music to discover. He gets a quick picture, and it's off to the
concert.
Accompanied by David Jacques on bass and Jason Wilber on
everything else, Prine is in rare form. His voice sounds strong. He doesn't
do as much talking as I remember. But he rocks the house for two and a
half-hours. He sings everything. The highlights have to be the
above-mentioned "Hello in there," along with his new song "In
Spite of Ourselves," written for the upcoming Billy Bob Thorton movie.
After the show it's time to hit the road, and somewhere
around Des Moines, I conk out. I have to be at work in six hours and will
soon be knee deep in do-do. It amazing how much one two year old can produce
in a days time. And Nance, well he's got that look in his eyes again. A new
artist to discover, and dozens of friends to share her with.
- FROM: Murf from Wisconsin
Saw concert in Iowa last week. Wife and I drove down
from Wisconsin (360 miles). Have seen him many times back in Canada but
enjoyed this show the most. First the facilities were great. The concert was
3 hours and twenty minutes from start to finish including a 20 minute
intermission between Iris and John.
Iris did a nice 40 minute opening show. You can see
how her sense of humor mixes so well with John. After just a brief
intermission John jumped on the stage with a black jacket and black jeans,
flanked by his band dressed in black suits. Dennis with a Large Bass Cello
and his lead guitarist. They broke into Spanish Pipeline followed by Six
O'clock News. He then pounded out songs such as Fish and Whistle, Storm
Windows, Grampa was a carpenter, Speed of loneliness, Hello in There, 3rd of
July, the band left and John played some songs on his own including Dear
Abby, Souvenirs, Donald and Lydia. During Sam Stone the band rejoined him
for the last verse. Iris then came on stage where they had alot of fun with
songs such as Lets invite them over, We Could, Milwaukee here I come, In
Spite of Ourselves, We're not the jet set and Angels of Montgomery. The band
and John then played You Got Gold, Sins of Memphisto, Sabu visits the Twin
Cities. They then went into a great rendition of La! ke Maria. His encore
consisted of Unwed Fathers and Paradise. Johns voice sounded great (not so
good when he was talking between songs). He was his usually witty self. The
band was tight and very professional. I personally thought they could have
had the music louder. Overall Outstanding!!
- FROM: Patti
THE MAN is coming to town. The Webmistress has summed up our Pre-Prine
experience at Whiskey River pretty well. Having been Priners for over 25
years, what a great experience to meet The Webmistress Reeda, and Crusher
the cool good ol' boy from Wisconsin, Ranger Mark, the sweetheart from near
Kansas City, the people from Michigan, etc, etc. Knowing all these people
adore JP like I do, and my bother does, and my daughter does...I got all
choked up for Reeda when John dedicated the song, and simply hate it that
she missed it. Iris DeMent was fun, but couldn't wait to see THE MAN. He did
not disappoint us, either. Whenever I see him it's a reunion with an old
friend. (Praise the Priners for they know how to have F-U-N!!!!) Can't wait
until next time! ~ Patti
- FROM: Mike C
This is more of a statement of the wonderful time my family
and I had at the Ames, Iowa concert. We got to Ames from Kansas City at
around 4:30 p.m. since we have kids, we skipped the Whiskey River meeting
among Priners. Anyway, I found a way into the auditorium and talked with
someone there who talked with another who said John was expected. So we
waited outside the auditorium backstage door--me, my two kids, and wife, and
two other fellows who had traveled from Indianapolis, Indiana to be there!
So we talked and traded stories of our favorite artists until who did we see
pulling up?....Yes, Prine himself, driving himself, in a rented SUV. He
waved to us as he pulled in. My god you couldn't believe the excitement I
felt as he walked up to us, shook hands, obliged himself to some autographs
and pictures, and some chit-chat. He invited us all in for the soundcheck,
and it was greeeaaaat!!! One of the warm-up songs (which by the way he did
not sing that night) was "I've got a girl ain't got no name," and
he stopped momentarily because he forgot the next line, which I then yelled
"she got great big feet, wears size number ten." Prine looks over
and laughs and says thanks. Well as we're listening Iris DeMent walks in
with her guitar and food. She talked with us some, signed stuff, and we took
more pictures. After she warmed up some with Prine and his two guys we got
the chance to chit-chat some more...I even patted Prine on the back and said
I was glad I could help you out with the lyrics and we all got a good laugh.
Okay, so I'm being pretty self-indulgent here but I've listened to this man
for 14 years, know all his music, and never have been able to meet him! We
all parted, my family and I went to eat, then came back for the concert,
which we had second row seats.
Iris came out and opened with "Sweet is the Melody"
and took off from there. I think the crowd loved her....I know I did! But I
could overhear people talking who weren't familiar with her music and they
thought she had the coolest voice and sang great songs. She played a few on
the guitar, then went to the piano, then back to the guitar again. I will
disappoint you in that I didn't bother to write down the songs nor their
order for either artist. Anyway, she states that "Big John" is
ready and let him have the stage after one more song.
John and his guys were great of course opened with "Spanish
Pipedream" and then proceeded to sing the regular concert songs and
then some that I've never heard him sing at a concert before, like
"Unwed Fathers," "You've Got Gold," "The 3rd of July"
(one which I've never heard before), "Aimless Love," and others.
Of course he and Iris sang five songs off the "In Spite Of
Ourselves" CD, and John sang some stuff solo without the guys. All in
all it was the best Prine concert I've ever been to, and certainly one of
the most memorable moments in my life. Thanks for listening!!
- FROM: Connie
I went to my first John Prine concert last night, September 29, 2000 in Ames
Iowa. My husband has been listening to John Prine for several years now. The
concert was amazing. I was mesmerized by the bass player, David Jacques. I
would have loved to stay after the concert and maybe got to at least say
"Hi" and meet him. I know this doesn't happen I am just one of the
many fans. I would still like to meet him in real and be able to go
backstage and see how everything is put together. After I got home and the
next day, I wished that I knew somebody that could get me introduced to the
band. I always do this to myself thinking what if. The next day after the
concert all I got done was watch a video tape that my husband taped off of
the TV of John Prine (Sessions at 54th). It wasn't the same as being at the
concert because there I could focus on David Jacques. On TV you don't have
the option of viewing what you want to see like at a concert. I would love
to hear from David Jacques. He made me weak at the knees to see how he could
play. He looked so natural playing. I watched him practically the whole
night. John Prine was good also, but David made me feel the music, like I
said I was mesmerized by him. There is only one other person I would really
like to meet and that is John Mellencamp. At least if David Jacques reads
this he will know that he has yet another fan. I would love to give my phone
number or address so I could hear from him but that would scare me a little
bit. I hope to go to the next concert when they come around again.
"YEAH LITTLE BUDDY GONNA GET YOUR
CHANCE -
MAKE THE PUBESCENTS ALL WET THEIR PANTS" |
