Interlochen, MI
On the Road with WOG and John Prine

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BEFORE THE SHOW AT INTERLOCHEN

Jerry Briggs (WOG) 8/27/97

The trip to arrive at Interlochen, via the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, was longer than expected. The trip over from the Twin Cities and John's previous concert at the Guthrie in Minneapolis was a pleasant, beautiful one, however.

Leaving Minneapolis around noon, I drove over to the border of Wisconsin, to the small town of Danbury. The town's apparent claim to fame is its "Hole In The Wall Casino." I had never been in such a place, so I went in and watched the patrons play the slots and while away their time on the four blackjack tables.

It was interesting, lots of people were there on this Tuesday afternoon, but I saw no real excitement, just boredom carried further with the dropping of coins or the pushing of buttons to use up the "credits" that were temporarily in view on most machines. Blue hair was everywhere, and I felt like a kid again, being among the youngest present!

Hoping to land in Minong to see Kathy and Tom before they left for Interlochen, I found myself a couple hours later approaching Duluth, an obvious wrong turn. I corrected, and proceeded on Wisconsin Highway 2 until I got to Iron River.  A newspaper article in July touted a "cybercafe" in Iron Horse as the only one of its kind in Northern Wisconsin, and I stopped for coffee and to use their computers. Greeted by a helpful and friendly owner, I soon had copies of my Minneapolis thoughts from John's concert, as well as a few cups of delicious South American coffee. It is located on the main drag, there on HW 2, and I'd recommend it to any travelers passing through.

The Highway continues into Michigan and then back to Wisconsin several times, and as the night wore on I was often not sure where I was, for sure. A trooper who pulled me over for exceeding the limit near Powers, Michigan, assured me I was indeed in the fine state of MI. He asked me to hold it down, and I did from there on.

Somewhere around this desolate area I passed a sign informing me that I now had lost an hour...I was now on Eastern Time. I never fail to get an initial feeling of depression when I travel East over one of these lines...I have lost an hour of my life and cannot recover it and have nothing to show for it. I enjoy, on the other hand, traveling West. My life gains an hour now and then, and I get to repeat the last sixty minutes all over again, with different geography!

This feeling persisted until I saw signs telling me about an upcoming town called Escanaba. It was like a time warp...I was now in Mexico...I pulled in to the first motel I saw. It was past midnight and a dim light came through the window from the office.

The old man's voice came from inside when I popped the bell on the counter. "Be there in a minute!" He came out and we negotiated for the room, settling somewhere between twenty and thirty dollars for the night.

"Tell ya what...I'll give ya room 108...it's got real good beds!"

"Don't they all?" I asked him.

"Some 'er good, some 'er better. That's got a real nice bed. Do me a favor. Here's the key. Just leave it in the room in the morning. I might be gone."

I went to the room and opened the door without a key. He had told me that it wasn't locked. The two "Danish Modern" chairs had pads that were covered with pillow cases, pulled tightly. Pulling back the covers on the bed, I saw that it had new cases on the pillows. The creases were still there from the package.

I realized soon that I wouldn't get bothered with phone calls in the middle of the night, as there was no phone. I turned on the 12" TV which sat on a gold-tubed stand made for a much bigger TV. The picture faced down until I adjusted it between the gaps, then it pointed up towards the ceiling.

The bathroom was a toilet and sink, and a cell 2'x2' with a showerhead. It was clean. The TV was color, and did indeed have cable, as advertised. The only complaint I would have had, if I weren't so tired, was that there was no sound on the TV. There was no air conditioner, and the baseboard heater had no controls or thermostat on the walls. Decorated with homemade craft items, the walls were painted long ago with an enamel that still shone. A third chair in the room had been taken from a dinette set somewhere, long ago, and sat beside the TV stand.

Morning came and I left, the only apparent tenant the old man had had for the night. It was called "The Sands" motel, and probably was busy forty years ago. Driving on through Escanaba, I found I was not in Mexico, and that there were maybe 100 motels there, with an apparent price war on rooms bringing the price advertised down to about what I'd paid, in really fine-looking hotels.

The Upper Peninsula is a wonderful drive, and August brought all the beauty of the North Country to Highway 2. Spotting a Big Boy Restaurant billboard, I turned back around and took a couple pictures. It is the face that John uses in his "OH BOY" logo. I proceeded on and ate at the spot when I got to it. My recommendation to those traveling that way …avoid it, even if you are starving. It is located just before the Mackinac Bridge in St. Ignace.

It was getting late in the day when I finally got to Interlochen, and friendly volunteers provided answers to my many questions. I wandered the grounds and finally into the theater area, where the band was warming up later than usual.

About 6:00PM, John and the boys started with a sound check on "Picture Show," "6 O'clock News," and "Sabu."

A middle-aged guy wandered about, also, and it turned out to be Leo Kottke, who soon met John, and then went into his own sound check. Clean and yuppie-looking, Leo seemed rather reserved and much less excited than might be expected.

The band proceeded to the back of the theater and downstairs, where catered food was available from a crew employed by the school.

Sitting outside on a bench, I was approached by Kathy47...and soon found Tom, her husband, as well. We wandered all around, got a frozen lemonade, and waited for the upcoming Prine concert.

  FINAL STOP AT INTERLOCHEN FOR JOHN PRINE

It was an interesting evening at Interlochen for John Prine and his band consisting of Jason Wilbur on Lead Guitar and David Jacques on Bass Guitar.

Held up by Leo Kottke's opening act, which ran over an hour, the Prine band came out and did their show with an unusually low reaction from the audience. Perhaps it was the opener, Kottke, that set the mood. They were serious, often detached, when listening to John.

John's visit to the edge of the stage while performing "Fish And Whistle," normally a "guaranteed-to-make-'em-scream" move, got no reaction from the crowd. Similarly, "You've Got Gold," which always elicits spontaneous applause at the line, "I've got gold….inside ME, too....," was met with nothing. It was almost as if the audience was aware not aware of John's work.

Acoustics in this show were not up to par, while lighting was superb. "New Train," was muffled and hard to understand...and I know the words...and on "Ain't Hurtin' Nobody," David Jacques has a single bass solo that accentuates the verse...it could not be heard as he played it.

"Quit Hollerin' At Me," was also the victim of poor sound, and John's lament, "Don't make me use this thing!" was completely lost on the crowd, as it could not be heard.

On "Grandpa," the sound suddenly changed, and became good at the end of the song, with lyrics clear. Through all this the audience seemed to be enjoying the show, but they definitely weren't heaving the beauty of John's lyrics.

When John told his "stories" his speaking voice gave a hint at the hard tour he was winding down. It was harsh and labored. When singing, the voice also showed signs of overwork and was raspy at times. A vacation from tour was definitely needed to preserve his vocal chords.

Lighting, mentioned earlier, was another story. John and his men were highlighted well by individual spots. A gift of a single red rose in a bud vase from the audience was set on John's prop table and a light highlighted it the rest of the show. "Sam Stone", perhaps the most dramatic number in a Prine concert, was lighted perfectly, almost instinctively, by the lighting person. David's quiet entrance with the "pornophone" was lit gradually with a spot from above and was most effective.

John was in good humor, and his stories about his old house with the yellow wallpaper and its eventual outcome was good. When the band left, John commented, "They had to go wax their legs or something! It's just you and me!" The audience could hear these things quite well, and seemed to enjoy the show.

In retrospect, the band went through their paces, and played all the songs right. The crowd enjoyed the show. Once in a while they even laughed in the right place. But all in all, it was time for an end to touring for a while. A new head of steam is needed, a fresh start. Each layoff this band has seems to serve them well, and they come out with a fabulous show. Four shows in five nights with many miles of driving , took its toll on this fine group. They were missing Phil's contributions for the dates, and by the end it was quite apparent that it was time for a rest. I look forward to hearing them later this year.

Concert: Interlochen,
Michigan Attendance Estimate: 3400
Time: 1:55
# Songs: 23


SET LIST, JOHN PRINE, INTERLOCHEN MICHIGAN 
AUGUST 23, 1997

1. BLOW UP YOUR TV
2. 6 O'CLOCK NEWS
3. FISH 'N' WHISTLE
4. PICTURE SHOW
5. YOU'VE GOT GOLD
6. ALL THE BEST
7. NEW TRAIN
8. AIN'T HURTIN' NOBODY
9. ANGEL FROM MONTGOMERY

--performs solo--
10. DEAR ABBY
11. JESUS: THE MISSING YEARS
12. GRANDPA WAS A CARPENTER
13. SOUVENIRS
14. BOTTOMLESS LAKE
15. BIG OLD GOOFY WORLD
16. SPACE MONKEY
17. SAM STONE

--band returns--
18. BRUISED ORANGE
19. QUIT HOLLERIN' AT ME
20. SINS OF MEMPHISTO
21. LAKE MARIE

--encore--
22. HELLO IN THERE
23. PARADISE (with Leo Kottke)

  AFTER THE SHOW

I rejoined Kathy after the show, and she was her usual excited self. Tom, worrying about the long ride back to Minong in time for work the next day, had gone to their new Chevy to sleep a little. While Kathy and I milled about, we were approached by Julie and her boyfriend. I had not worn my Alpo hat through the show, as I had paraded about before it with no response. I was surprised she guessed who we were. She turned out to be a typical chat-room person, just as nice in person as she is on the 'net. Did I mention that she is also very attractive? Well, I had better...the two best-looking ladies in the place were there this evening...and both near me!

We all waited for a bit, and in a very short while John decided to allow his visitors back… There were very few for him, and we all had plenty of time to talk with both him and with David and Jason. It was relaxed, and John was probably glad there were not so many hands to shake this evening. This final show was at the end of a physically tough tour, and a break was needed by all concerned.

Kathy had made an acquaintance of a young girl before the show, and the girl came back afterwards to see if she could see John. When she found she could, she ran and got the rest of her family. Her father explained he has been a Prine fan for years, and just couldn't believe he got to meet John. The little girl was thrilled, and had the band sign her T-shirt. This was her third John Prine Concert....

From backstage, out of sight, came a yell, "John! We gotta go now...gotta leave!" Walking around the corner came a smiling Mitchell, having done his bit in closing down the evening. It had been a terrific experience for a lot of people, and everyone was loose and happy.


  INTERLOCHEN, MICHIGAN....'WAY UP NORTH!

The day was beautiful in Northern Michigan as I pulled into an almost park-like setting that is known as Interlochen. (inter-LOCK'-en)

Summer classes had ended two days earlier, and all students were sent home to their families in preparation for the new school year about to start for the fall.

Interlochen is an unusual high school. First of all, it is not a local school, but one that draws its students from all over the world. Students must fill out an extensive application. They must go through interviews. They audition. Only a few are accepted and grades must be maintained at a high level.

Those selected are in for an unusual education experience. With the $25,000 annual tuition comes exposure to a learning area that has given us such luminaries as Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul, and Mary, and Christie Hefner, now CEO of Playboy, and daughter of "The Hef." (Class of '69) This is a boarding school that keeps the students for nine months.

This is a school principally for the gifted, and those gifted in performing arts, writing, and painting are the targets of the education taken from this place. The school boasts three FM radio stations.

Sitting amongst trees in a quiet setting in the country, the school is spread out under the hardwoods with a view out the windows never failing to take the breath away. Inside, the circular classrooms in evidence promise a different way of learning. Apparently the concept is successful; this school has been going for years and has the look of success throughout.

Every kid in America could benefit from a setting such as this. The school displays many of the students' poetry, art and other items in the hallways. Also seen, for the first time ever by me, was a Swiss Alpenhorn like that used in the "Ricola!" commercials on TV....it was huge, and the signage explains that the school purchased this in 1950. This impressive horn is made of fir, covered with birch bark, and is 10 feet long.

The Kresge Auditorium is on the banks of Lake Michigan, and classrooms on that side of the theater provide a serene view and backdrop for students there. The other side is the stage facing the 3982 seats. The whole area is clean and well-maintained. Forty-three flags from foreign countries hang over the entrance to the theater in a symbolic demonstration of the multinational makeup of this school.

Profits from the summer concerts goes directly back to the school and maintenance is paid for by sponsors, Kresge (K-Mart) in the Prine theater for the evening. Volunteers collect tickets, clean up the mess, and offer directions in a happy, professional manner. Interlochen, all in all, was a pleasant experience.


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