Chicago, IL

 HOMETOWN BOY MAKES GOOD!    
NAVY PIER--LOOKING AROUND
JUNE 17 & 18, 1997--Jerry Briggs (WOG)

  A warm day turned 10 degrees cooler as I pulled into the parking garage at the Navy Pier facilities. The cool breezes coming off Lake Michigan affected even the natives, and I saw only a few diehard sun bathers as I passed along Lakeshore Drive before getting to the Pier.

  Navy Pier is a renovation that was finished in 1995, and the facilities are still fresh with the look of a newer successful project. Originally built for the 1914 Worlds' Fair, many years of neglect had taken its toll on this scenic site.

  Typical of boutique-type re-creations, the prices in this whole area reflect the high occupancy costs involved in renting space here. Parking, for example, is $15.25...yes, that is not a typo! (I was surprised when getting my car back the first day that they hadn't washed and waxed it, too...that's just parking!) In a world that is more and more accepting of $5.00 burgers and $2.00 Pepsis, I sat down early in a bar called Perchy's and paid $3.25 for a non-alcoholic beer (Quit Hollerin' At Me...that's what I like!)

I was waiting Tuesday for Crusher and Wednesday for Kathy and her husband, and the nice cold taste of damn-near-beer wasn't bad...

  The sound system played Jimmy Buffet. "Who picks your music?" I asked the barkeep. "The management." he told me.

"That's some pretty great stuff," I said, grinning.

"Yeah. Seven days a week, every minute we're open, it plays," he said pleasantly.

"You hate it, don't you?" I asked.

He nodded. "Nobody ever thought of that before. Drives you up a wall after a while!"

  Navy Pier is like a mini-theme park/shopping mall. This means a few rides for the kids, like the huge 40-bucket ferris wheel, (painted McDonald's red with golden arches on the side...hmmmm) and architecture that causes one to look up at the entirely glass paneled walls and ceiling and marvel at all the beauty. This modernistic look may well run its novelty look thin within a few years. It's real "today" but probably not "tomorrow"...

  Many boutique-type shops abound, with several in center-court to sell you greeting cards, T-shirts, and mementos of your visit to this place. A theater inside promises you a treat with $8.50 tickets to a movie that is 6 stories high on the screen, with 4800 square foot of screen (your house and the ones on each side, with the roofs removed) and 11000 watts of sound from the speakers. Business looked slow at the theater, and the only bar on the place doing any business was a Bar-B-Que / jazz bar, which probably had 300 patrons at the same time Perchy's had about a dozen.

  Grounds are clean and neat, parking is enclosed, there is frequent opportunity to dine out of doors on areas attached to the inside stores. An information desk at the entry proved to be serviced with amiable employees, anxious to help.

  A food court contained a McDonalds (surprise!) as well as several specialty places, featuring hot dogs, or tacos, or Greek sandwiches, or cakes and cookies. I settled Tuesday for an Italian Sausage Sandwich with hot peppers and found it good, greasy, and filling.

  John's arena was not attached except by sidewalk to the main Navy Pier building, and it was neat, clean, and an outside/inside venue. The roof is composed of canvas, white, clean, and permanent. The sides have matching treatment which can be removed or left up, depending upon the breeze and weather. These shows kept them up, as the chill wind would have been uncomfortable for patrons.

  Smoking is not allowed in the theater ('cept for John!) but drinking and eating are fine. Beer and wine are sold on premises. Patrons entering are not given the choice of coming and going. Once in, you are in. All food and drinks needed, as well as restroom facilities, are withing the chain-link fences. Friendly but firm security people keep watchful eyes on the crowd at all times. I found them to be extremely courteous, as were the ushers.

  An atrium on the second floor which led to John's theater was over-decorated in lush palms, squirting water tubes and various greenery visual novelties. It was attractive, but the space given it is excessive for just a pass-through area...I imagine it ran 12000 square feet, minimum. Providing heat when it is cold, and cool air when it is hot, I am sure it is a popular place during most of the seasons to escape whatever the day's outside weather may be providing.

  NAVY PIER, CHICAGO, 1ST CONCERT

  Another great day wandering around this country. This time to the Windy City, just in time to see John Prine's latest efforts in another memorable performance.

  Just before the show, a walk through the huge arena where John was being held proved to be fruitful. A fellow with a huge smile came down the steps yelling, "WOG?" It was none other than our chat friend from the Twin Lakes, Crusher. Tom (his real name) quickly introduced himself and we climbed back up to his seats where I met his three friends, "Cueball" (John), and John's guests Beth and Pam.

  We all returned to our seats: it was showtime. I met them again, in the final strains of "Paradise," at their seats. We were shortly accompanied backstage, to the dressing room where John would soon come to meet his fans.

  As we all talked before John's appearance in the dressing room receiving area, Crusher displayed his "John Prine" haystack album. This was the second time he'd brought it to a concert for John's signature. This will be the last. Crusher met John, had a nice conversation with him, and John obligingly signed the worn old album.

  As usual, there was a high degree of tension in the atmosphere in this room. Many were meeting John for a second time but still were on edge. Those who had never seen him backstage were wondering if the moment were real, or a dream. Spirits were good, the crowd was quiet, and John delivered. His easy manner with each and every fan serves only to endear him to them even more.

  This meeting with still another JPCR regular was great! It continues to feel like meeting old family and friends every time I see a chatter at one of these venues. We laughed and kidded, and talked of Prine and Prine things...all common interests. As we were speaking, along came a very attractive lady, who asked me if I might be "WOG". Realizing in a split second that ALL the checks were already in the mail, I nodded.

  "I'm Mary Mac!" she grinned, offering her hand. This was the lady who also went to Peoria, but who we never "met" until after that show, when she got on the net and told us all about her great time.

  Pleading a busy schedule as the reason we don't see much of her, she promised to get on the chat room with a little more regularity. I also got to meet her husband, who was very pleasant, and grinned all evening, just like that gal shuckin' corn!

  MaryMc gently chided John for not yet getting on the chat room, and he evaded it smoothly by saying that, "Ben is getting that all set up!" (I'll believe it when I see it!)

  The dressing room was very large and people with backstage passes continued to enter our area. Soon John made his entrance, and chose to sit in a straight-backed chair where Crusher had been sitting. He had the mirrors behind him, the lights over him, and a whole ton of fans all around him. Everyone was orderly and mannerly, and I think John felt comfortable right away. He stood and chatted for a bit, then sat down and began speaking individually with each of his guests.

  While wandering and talking to people in the room, I spotted a tall fellow, horn-rim glasses, thin, with a familiar look. It hit me..."Hey ...is your name...Brian?" I asked him.

  This was indeed Brian, Brian Frain's. Who's he? If you've followed PMS' links from the Prine Shrine, you have seen his high school term paper. This was the author of the well-researched, well-written project on John Prine. I recognized him from a picture posted on the net. Nice kid. He was taken over to David Jacques, talked with Phil Parlapiano, and, of course, with John. Later I got to take a picture of Brian and his two-van entourage...and there were so many, after David and John got in the picture, that I had to stand back 30 feet! These guys came with a whole enthusiastic, screaming crew.

  With help from Phil, I was able to get them the internet page for information on Phil's new album, which features 13 original numbers. It's a different Phil, an interesting Phil, and a review will soon be forthcoming from me on this one. It's so good somebody has to say something!

  For chatters interested in this six-year Prine sideman's other sides, you too may get to the page, and with $12.00 can have delivered this cassette, entitled "Medicine Man." Phil's page is http://members.aol.com/philpiano....try it and look it over. Also has Phil's history, interests, a little on the music man known as Mr. Squeeze.

  Meeting the Frain party accidentally in the parking garage later, I found that they had gone through many problems arriving at this site from Sturgis, Michigan. Brakes went out on one vehicle on the way up, and when they left the show, they found their van had a flat. Nonetheless, they were all in top spirits. They had met their idol one more time, and the glow of those moments was still on them all. John would probably shake his head with this information, and wonder to himself, "Ain't it funny, how an old broken bottle, looks just like a diamond ring?" I believe his own mystique evades him...

  They were making the best of it, and a guitar brought out had them all singing songs...I'll let you guess which artist's songs. I related to them the story of the Peoria group that sang in hushed tones while John signed autographs. "Hobo Song" never sounded better than that evening....and then there was the time on the street behind the Majestic in Dallas....another group, another guitar, another song....

This seems to be a week for meeting John's family. He asked me if I'd met his brother, Chuck, and when I shook my head, he yelled him over and made the introduction. Chuck is a policeman in Chicago, and was in the heights of celebration at seeing his brother again. He is almost 6 feet tall, and resembles Billy more closely than he does John. He began to tell me about another brother of theirs who has a restaurant in Dayton, Ohio, called, I believe, "Spuds Only."

  Meeting with Mitchell after all had gone, I told him of my earlier-in-the-day situation. I drove to Indianapolis and went to Butler early in the morning to try and buy 10 front-row tickets for the Aug 16 show. I went back into the box office and looked at the charts for seating. The seats I had hoped to get, two months in advance, were long gone! This Indianapolis event may end up a sell-out....

  Only thing left in a congruous 10-seat group was way up in binocular country, so I held off. When asking Mitchell if he could arrange 10 passes for that show, he had to say "no," explaining that this was a split bill with Los Lobos, and it would be, in effect, giving away some of that group's income. So, those attending the sleep-in at my house near Indianapolis will have seats scattered all around, as I intend to go back this week and purchase singles and doubles to reach ten totally. I think Mitchell will be glad to grant all passes to meet John after that show, he just isn't able to pass out that many "freebies," quite understandably.

The evening ended early. John's show had to cut off at 9:30PM, because it was "Family Night," and there were fireworks coming up. I look forward to tomorrow's show, and meeting with Kathy and her husband. More then.

PRINE'S PRE-FIREWORKS SHOW 
LIGHTS FUSES AT NAVY PIER

  An early start to evening's festivities at Chicago's Navy Pier found new OH BOY recording artist RB Morris taking the stage at 7:00 PM with his three-piece group. His pleasant voice received plenty of applause from those already attending and attracted attention to the stage for the upcoming concert.

John Prine, along with his group consisting of Jason Wilbur, guitar, David Jacques, bass, and Phil Parlapiano, keyboard, put on a rousing show that was greeted with enthusiasm from the over 2500 fans.

"Blow Up Your TV!" led off the night and the pace never slowed. John's willingness to share his spotlight with the musicians allowed them to show off a bit while adding depth to a moving concert. Innumerable rounds of applause came during performances of different songs as each member took his turn in featured bridge portions.

Phil and John together in "You've Got Gold," featured the unusual combination of accordian and guitar, and it was fantastic. Before this song ended, Jason and John performed together with Wilbur's mellow work getting spontaneous applause from a happy audience.

"Late John Garfield Blues," not always performed at John's concerts, was highly effective. Once again, Jason drew applause for his guitar work in this slowed-down old Prine standard.

For the second concert in a row, John sang the old Steve Goodman tribute to his father, "My Old Man." This song must be heard to be believed. It fits right in with John's own insightful glimpses at his past, and the emotional ravaging done with both the melody and the lyrics upon the listener must be seen and heard to be fully understood.

The crowd was very familiar with John and gave his songs the respect they deserve. They listened. They hung on every word. They cheered and applauded. John "paid them back in kind," to use his phrase, with an outstanding show.

Normal laughs and applause came at the predictable times during John's 22-song set, but getting very loud cheers was the line, "I used to live in Chicago..." This song, "Ain't Hurtin' Nobody," also drew unusually high reaction after the line, "listen to the words of my songs!"

Probably people identify with John in this song, and realize that an artist such as he may occasionally get annoyed with people who measure his work by the wrong criteria. Maybe there are a lot of non-singers who just wish that people would take time to understand them a bit better.

"Space Monkey," was anticipated and applauded even before it began as John told the saga of his old yellow kitchen, the cuckoo clock, and Peter Case.

Of special note was the classic, "Sam Stone," where the band comes back to the stage during the final stanzas. The drama of the song, the eerie re-appearance, one-by-one, of the band, and the colors of the lighting on each of them in this song were a real triumph in theater. The crowd was near tears when this ended. John can reach inside every person and expose unsuspecting nerve endings. This song is such a vehicle, and the presentation tonight did just that.

  Unusually rapt attention by a sober audience may have misled John a bit, as the normal screaming and disruption often heard at John's concerts was generally lacking. These people came to listen, to appreciate, and were willing to take whatever John chose to sing. Their lack of outcries was no indicator of lack of interest; and, make no mistake, they were entertained.

  "Lake Marie," always a tremendously effective number, drew its expected standing ovation, and it was indeed a special performance of this nearly ten-minute sound fest. But there were many, many songs where portions of the audience stood and cheered. It was that kind of concert; there was something for everyone on Tuesday night at Navy Pier.

NAVY PIER, CHICAGO, 2ND CONCERT

John Prine and his latest collection of Lost Dogs graced the stages of Navy Pier in a second performance that had enough time to let out all the stops.

From the rousing kick-off of "Blow Up Your TV" to the finale "Paradise" with his brother Chuck, production manager Maple Byrne, and new OH BOY recording artist RB Morris, John provided music, memories, and more.

  Songs heard in this city 25 years ago were mingled in with John's newer works, such as novelty numbers "Quit Hollerin' At Me," "Space Monkey," and "Big Old Goofy World." Those dusty but relevant numbers included his now-classics of "Sam Stone," "Grandpa Was A Carpenter," "Dear Abby," "Angel From Montgomery," "Souvenirs," Hello In There," and "Six O'Clock News."

  John has assembled an impressive array of talent to help him convey his thoughts and sounds to his fans. Jason Wilbur on guitar, Phil Parlapiano on keyboard, and David Jacques on bass help develop a rhythm section second to none. Their work on the instrumentals between verses is spectacular in many cases.

  A number was featured in the course of this show that is seldom done on John's current tour, "Far From Me." John preceeded the number with his tale of a lost girlfriend, a waitress with whom he helped count tips, but who saw better things for her future than poor John. It is a remarkable song, with a typical line being, "She still laughs with me, but she waits just a second too long...." It is typical of John's ability to convey a complicated relationship into just a word or two.

  While John is the star, and his band the vehicle to help him reach his fans, he operates a little differently than his peers. Wednesday night, finding the spotlight on him nearly all the time, John would physically walk over to the keyboard, slowly, or over to his guitar player, as they soloed their piece of the song. This got them that same spotlight and invariably earned them a round of applause. John is secure enough in his own abilities that he is not threatened by any "overshadowing" by his fellow musicians.

  John's relationship with his audience is of special note, also. While in the middle of a song, John sang, "Wished I had a woman/made my knees knock!" and instantly a feminine voice shot out, clear as a bell, "Right here, John!" John, doing "Big Old Goofy World," without his band present, never missed a lick, added a couple measures to allow him to laugh, then proceeded with the song. At the end of the number, he walked out to stage edge and faced, spotlight full upon him, toward the unseen voice from earlier. He played directly to her, and the applause was thunderous. Fans enjoy seeing one of their own treated with such respect.

  John's demeanor throughout the concert was a more relaxed, more confident style. This is his town, he had friends scattered throughout the audience, and he was determined to give them a show. His frequent trips away from the protection of his black boxes and closer to the audience were applauded. All John has to do to create a frenzy with his people is pace around the stage, hinting that he may come close to the screaming fans. His big smile, back and forth to reach all corners of his room, seems personally aimed at each and every fan.

  After "Hello In There," John came back and gave his cheering fans FIVE encore numbers. One of them, of course, was "Illegal Smile," another classic which has the audience singing the final stanza to John. There were no fans sitting after the band returned for the encore numbers. "Daddy's Little Pumpkin," a rollicking fun-song featuring lots of instrumental flourishes, ended with Phil beating the keyboard with his right foot, a fun bit appreciated by this screaming, cheering, flock of fans.

  Something special about a concert by John in Chicago? Absolutely.

GOING PLACES, MEETING PEOPLE, SEEING THINGS
--Jerry Briggs (WOG) June 18, 1997

  Leaving the motel early on Wednesday, I decided to tour a bit in the city of Chicago. Like many other people, I had been there--O'Hare, driven through--Interstates--and had gone to ball games at both stadiums.

When you go to Chicago it is usually for a specific reason, and often there is not the time to look it over, and that was always my case. I drove about and found this immense city actually a breeze and a pleasure to drive in, once off the interstates.

On the streets of Chicago, there was plenty of traffic, but I found other cars and cabs, especially, very tolerant of rubber-necking, hesitation at corners, and outright stupid driving. I talked with half a dozen cab drivers, one UPS lady, and many pedestrians. Not once did I find an unfriendly person. Everyone did their best to direct this geezer to wherever I was heading at the moment.

I saw banners on all the electric light poles, and they proclaimed, in one section, "Lincoln Park," and as I crossed streets such as Franklin (Late John G), Wells, State, Armitage, and found poles saying "Old Town," I realized that I had been putzing about in John's old areas, unknowingly.

The new tape from Phil Parlapiano was the backdrop for my driving about on this sunny morning. The lyrics from his interesting works often fit the mood of the city. I could easily spend a couple days just driving the area and visiting the shops, and people-watching. Going nowhere at all, but making darn good time, while music shakes the windshield, is my idea of a full day. I have simple tastes, I guess.

Seeking a Kinko's was less than easy. Everyone knew there was one about, and directed me this way or that, without luck. I finally chanced on one where there was no parking, so parked with the blinkers going. No problem; it was still there when I got out, but the time was later than I wished.

Planning on a meeting at 6:30 with Kathy and Tom, I was already late; it was 6:35. Heading into Navy Pier an up-to-date scrolling sign informed me I'd have to use alternate parking for my attendance tonight. I circled the block, watching for the signs...and missed the correct turnoff. I found myself back on the same street, same sign, but different message. Suspecting a few spots might have opened up, I went on in to the Pier, and was directed to the East Lot, about 2.5 shoe soles down from the bar where I was to meet my chat pals.

By the time I stuck my head in Perchy's (should be called The Parrot Head) I found only one redheaded lady with glasses, and her name, she said WAS Kathy, but she now went by Kate, and no, she wasn't expecting to meet a guy like me in there. Her escort agreed, and I headed for the theater.

I wandered down and found RB Morris about to start, and got to hear his presentation, again with two sidemen. RB is reluctant to look at the audience, preferring to look "at" them but actually a point somewhere over their collective heads. His individual contact with his audience is not there, but the general feeling in the applauding crowd seemed to be highly receptive to his efforts. RB's version of Johnny Horton's "North To Alaska" was extremely well done. RB has many clever and interesting stories to tell with his singing.

Talking with Mitchell, John's Tour Manager, after RB's show, I was interrupted by a lady who asked me, "Are you WOG?"

Shaking my head, backing away, "No!"

"Well, do you know where I could find him?"

I grinned and admitted who I was, and Kathy smiled and grabbed me in a bear hug. It was nice, so we did it again. I was starting to enjoy this attractive, perky redhead, so I grabbed her again. "Where's your husband? "

Tom was on up in the stands, and it was he who had actually spotted me. The three of us wandered around, talking, laughing, getting to know each other. I gave them the backstage passes I had obtained the evening before from the obliging Mitchell, and we were all set...except they had paid for a seat and had assigned places, and I had none. A "patio" was the destintion for Prineheads With Passes, while the others had seats. I decided to sit with Tom and Kathy since there was an empty seat, and it worked out to be unclaimed all night, so I got to sit with this fun couple all evening and we enjoyed John's show together.

The show was terrific, as all of John's are, but this one seemed to just click. It was right. They were in sync with the crowd, and the show rolled on like a steamroller, stopping only briefly between songs to accept the enthusiastic response from the fans.

After the show, we waited with others and finally were admitted into the reception area to see John. This evening the room was fully lit, and everyone stood around quietly waiting for John. Our usher and another man carried in a table for John to sit at; the previous night he just rested on the make-up ledge in front of the mirrors.

RB was there, with his bass man, and Jason also showed up. They had been missing the previous evening. Kathy met and had a nice chat with Phil, and gave him a picture of some hand-painted cartoon characters she has done in her home. "Taz," a favorite of Phil's, was in the one she gave him.

  Kathy's husband Tom, tired of waiting and not a real gotta-wanna-better-meet-'im kind of guy decided to go elsewhere after gaining entrance backstage! Kathy made up for it, cornering John and talking with him until I thought the others waiting were going to lynch her. (I was searching for the rope myself)!

  John was most gracious with all his guests, and seemed less tired than after some shows. Look for further information on this nice evening in another place: I am sure Kathy will provide plenty of insights and glimpses into this special evening with John Prine.

NAVY PIER SET LIST, JOHN PRINE, 
JUNE 17 AND JUNE 18, 1997