Vancouver, BC
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Vancouver, BC |
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| Wandering Vancouver, BC The drive in to the city of Vancouver was pleasant, as the sun was up and it was a warm day. Plains and mountains are found on Interstate 5 going north, and frequent water scenes make the trip a short pleasure. Downtown Vancouver found a strip on Granville that contains more theaters than I've seen together. Most are from the thirties and forties, and most of them are now shabby, blending in well with the state of the neighborhood. Panhandlers were evident, most of them young and featuring many body piercings. Asking for "spare" change, their disinterested stares made them as invisible to me as I was to them. Somewhere there are a lot of parents sitting with their shoulders bent, wondering what it was they ever did... The Vogue is a theater that keeps very busy with bookings, unlike many of the neighborhood theaters in the blocks about it. Although worn and tired, it is maintained, and proved to be a good venue for John Prine. Looking out of place about 8:15PM were a series of Lincoln Limousines, spilling out new guests for John's show. The theater features worn carpeting, lots of gloss enamel paint in unusual colors, and old plastic wood-like wall panels. Pictures on the walls upstairs show a grander time, when The Vogue was undoubtedly a place to go when you were all dressed up. Today is provided a nice place for great music. When the lights are all out, you can't see the cloth wallpaper falling from the walls, nor notice the black gloss enamel of the pillars by the stage, painted long ago with a brush in apparent haste. While old, and while tired, this theater nonetheless was comfortable, inviting, and warm. Filling it with John Prine fans made it even nicer, and all in all it was a pleasant experience. Late in the afternoon turned out to be the time for John's sound check. As I listened to John play, and watched him make all the adjustments, I realized how much goes into each show, and how important getting things arranged early is for the performer. When the night's audiences roll in, they hear clear sounds and take it all for granted. A lot of preparation goes on in a Prine show in the late afternoon before show time. As John made his final adjustments, I was able to hear, for the first time ever in person, "Blue Umbrella," in this practice session, and then "Lulu Walls." I reflected that the last time I had heard him do "Lulu" was in February of 1986 in Indianapolis....at THE VOGUE THEATER! Only this was years later, different city. It brought back memories. Shortly before show time I met "GID" (aka Billy the Bum), and his wife Betty. We stood in the lobby and talked like old friends and spotted a guy who looked like MA was supposed to look. As the ticket taker let him in, I found that it was indeed Martin Adams and his wife, Lois. It was early, and we still had plenty of time before Iris' show was to begin, so we all talked and got to know each other. The show was fantastic, as it always is. Lighting was superior here. Instead of playing with artsy colors and funny angles, it was just a lighted stage. There were still spots to highlight, but the total effect was good. It was great to see the band clearer and to watch their efforts. Iris DeMent finished the first leg of her travels with John with still another encore performance. The crowds she has seen in the Northwest have thoroughly enjoyed her music, and the scattering of applause as she begins songs such as "Mama's Opry" indicate that she's no stranger to these people. MA, wearing his Wogstock shirt and a big grin, went to the basement with Gid and his guitar. Both met John and got signatures that they had hoped for. It capped off a great evening for all of us. Gid's wife Betty, a concert booker out on the island, met with Iris in the dressing room and walked away with an unopened bottle of wine, autographed by Iris on the label. She hopes to someday get Iris into their small arena, and now the preliminary meeting has taken place. Betty also met John, and they conversed like old friends....with John grinning and nodding and listening.....and listening....sort of reminded me of Kathy47, she did...nice, nice lady! I got pictures of the husbands and wives with John. The evening was over. John was ready to return to Nashville for a few days before once again beginning a tour of four cities later in the week. PRINE MAKES UP FOR LONG ABSENCE IN VANCOUVER ! John Prine and his band of traveling troubadours packed another theater Sunday Night. Proving once again that his music appeals to fans of Canada as well as the United States, John gave them a memorable show. John is a persistent, energetic performer. He ran through 29 songs this evening, playing all his old songs and throwing in new favorites as well. John doesn't stop: while his band takes a break after ten songs, John just sheds his suit jacket and kicks off solo. He didn't stop tonight until "Paradise", which was two hours and twenty minutes after opening with "Blow Up Your TV (Spanish Pipedream)" Sunday night the sellout crowd, a common occurrence these days for a Prine concert, listened respectfully to John. The intimacy of the theater was evident, as there were occasional comments and requests from the audience. Rather than an annoyance to John, he plays off this and really becomes one with his fans. Promising them he'd "make up" for being gone so long, he delivered a concert that will have this same bunch back the next trip. It was close to a living-room experience, as the calls from happy fans were audible to John, and he often acknowledged their comments. While some audiences go wild, this was a sober bunch, and their applause at his line wistfully appealing that people "would listen to the words of my song," they applauded. His words were indeed heard in Canada this evening. John wasn't "hurtin' nobody" as his bunch showed that they were only there to entertain. Singing tonight on the old "Illegal Smile," with the lights turned on, were kids, old people, and a whole lots of thirty-somethings. John's audiences keep getting born as the old die off or go to nursing homes. He has somehow discovered eternal life and brings the joy of his music to each generation. John's show should be seen by anyone who ever hummed along to a tune. If you enjoy music, humor, and energy, this is a tour that must be seen to be fully appreciated. 1. BLOW UP YOUR TV 11. DEAR ABBY --band returns-- 20. PLEASE DON'T BURY ME --encore-- 26. UNWED FATHERS (with Iris DeMent) |
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