Yosemite, CA
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Yosemite, CA |
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Camp Mather, Yosemite, California A few words are in order for this production: not the John Prine show in particular, but the festival in itself. Established many years ago, many of the original founders were still in evidence about the grounds Saturday evening. Well-trained volunteers, polite to the N-th degree, were everywhere. Families seeking something to do with the whole family over the holiday had to look no farther than this camp. Clean, well-maintained, and doing business Saturday with an estimated crowd of 5000, Camp Mather is an amazing story in good planning and discipline. Done so skillfully it looks accidental, this event should be used in a manual as a how-to for setting up such things. Lasting from Thursday evening until Sunday night, the Camp offers something for everyone. Music is all day every day, including Sunday morning gospel music. Fiddle lessons for kids? Got it. Older than a kid, but still want to learn? Got it. Got your bored teenager with you? Not for long! How about a wilderness hike, top age limit 18...or poetry-writing workshops...dance lessons...over 13, under 19... Aerobics, not too strenuous, were available. Mountain dance lessons. Yoga poses for ankle-biters. Silly song sing-alongs for kids...sketch hikes...all materials provided! Scavenger hunt every day for pre-schoolers....games...how about a fireless campfire for 9-12 year-olds! Story telling at the "Story Swap"...you tell one, and then I'll tell one...Mardi Gras mask making... Get the idea you'll be on the go all the time? That's the appearance, except for the extra-special breakfasts presented each day. Different every morning, a typical one was Sunday morning's $4.75 adult Mather Spuds (onions, peppers, cheese!), Scrambled eggs, Danish, Orange Juice... Helpful and friendly was the by-word at this place. I have never attended such a
well-planned, well organized, and well executed event. A tip of the Alpo Hat to all those
involved in this impressive event! STRAWBERRY--THE VENUE--MAY 24, 1997 Steep cliffs, beautiful scenic roads, huge trees, and evidence of forest fires from past seasons give a clue to the yesterday, today, and tommorow nature of this geographical marvel. Camp Mather, Yosemite, California, was the scene to enjoy the holiday weekend. Approaching the site, there were persons stationed everywhere to direct traffice to the parking. No asphalt with bright white lines were there. Parking was "under that tree," "beside that boulder,' "by the stream," or "down that lane." "Laid back" is the best way to describe Strawberry. No, "friendly" is the word. That's wrong, too...it's "welcome." Like a reverse time-warp into the 60's, this venue offers something for everyone, all with a real-life sincerity that I have never experienced anywhere, anytime, not even in the actual 60's! There was evidence of "illegal smiles" in evidence on the soft cool breezes through the camp. Mellow was in attendance. Fellowship and Friendliness were hand-in-hand. This was an impressive production. Sitting at the end of a large meadow was the soundstage. Loaded with speakers and lights, it offered a fine showcase for all the performers. Numerous vendors sold their wares throughout the perimeter. Lighting on the paths to and from other areas was good. A radio tent sat on the otherside of the security fence and kept the red lights glowing the whole time. Sound for John Prine's concert was good, better than some indoor dates. A little less audible outside, however, were the crowd reactions to songs, lines and stories from John. They were individual, lost often in the night air, and not all traveled back to the stage. John enjoys the instant feedback from his crowds, and often his set list changes to reflect his feeling of what they want. I am guessing it was a little difficult for John to get a real reading this evening.
SET LIST 1.BLOW UP YOUR TV (ENCORES) 25. DADDY'S LITTLE PUMPKIN JOHN PRINE'S STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL: CAMP MATHER, CALIFORNIA Set far off any beaten path in the most rustic setting imagineable, the forest resounded with the sounds produced by John Prine. The now-famous line, "Build it and they will come," proved to be valid. Amidst giant sequoias and a view that must be seen to be understood, Strawberry welcomed Prine for his third visit. Attendees were left satisfied and their applause throughout the nearly-thirty song concert left no doubt as to their affection to this world-traveling troubador. John's ability to capture an audience and hold them just as long as he pleases was never more evident than in this evening's show. Braving unseasonably-cool weather, the patrons stayed, cheered, and the band played on. (Phil Parlapiano, the surprise guest musician, used gloves during his concertina solos in "Daddy's Little Pumpkin"!) Outdoor seating provided more than usual variance in the audience's resraints. Aisles, provided for them to move in and out of the lawn-chair covered field, were crammed with joyful dancers and with those just wishing a closer look at the phenomenon that many had never before seen. The crowd felt at home, and the music was both visible and audible to those in front of the stage. It was a concert in the "boonies" and far from anywhere else on the planet, but the electronic systems in place were done in 1990's-style. The normal occasional standing ovations John and his crew receive as they go through their paces at every other performances were there, but probably 500 fans never sat down during the whole show. Those standing cheered and screamed and applauded after every song. Those remaining seated, however, were able to see the show due to the unusually high elevation of the stage. Anyone wishing to see John Prine tonight, saw him. What can explain the rapport a performer such as Prine establishes with his customers?
They invariably remain convinced they have just seen the show of their life after hearing
John's numbers. It is a combination of showmanship, talent, but even more, that ability to
transmit to any crowd he sees that, "I'm just a whole lot like you!" This
charisma is his unspoken message, one that surpasses even his songs and poetry. John Prine
remains an unusual art form. MORE FROM YOSEMITE, CAMP MATHER, CALIFORNIA--MAY 24, 1997 While I always await eagerly any John Prine concert, this one will remain with me in a special place. With the advent of the computer many new things are being done today. The "chat room" concept is a natural evolution of our need, as humans, to communicate with others. The John Prine Chat Room has its own special niche, that of a certain breed sharing the same musical interests as the others. Sharing those interests is even better when the ability to communicate is cost-effective, as the 'net certainly is. Convenience enters into the picture, as does, in many cases, the ability to remain anonymous. That very feature is of little consequence to frequenters of the JPCR, thus there was no need to avoid other fans; the opposite was true. For the first time EVER, there were SIX of us at the same event!
Yeah! I met the menagerie, too! There was Bear, Squirrel, and Fly-girl. Joseph and Mark were there, as was Robert, too! Mark, as you may know, is Mungo James Lewis. He brought his 11-year old son, Joseph,
and they spent Friday in the tent looking out at the rain. MJL got to have his right
shoulder autographed by John! I wish I had a week to spend with MJL...his knowledge of
John trivia rivals the best of any we've seen on the 'net. Robert? Who is he? Eh? Folks....gotta put you wise...watch what you say! Robert is a LURKER! He came out of the closet at Strawberry when he heard them yelling for the not-yet-arrived WOG...and developed a hand-shaking acquaintance with each of us. Robert, through his nefarious ways, "knew" each of us already....also knows MA, PMS, KATHY 47, CRUSHER, SPACE MONKEY, MULES, LOST BEAR, and all the others! He asked about each of you.... Robert got instructions from all of us to make himself known in the future! I believe each of us could learn from his observations .... Robert...if you are lurking about here....drop in 7-8 your time to be sure to catch us, any Monday! Squirrel was absent, as was Flypaper, when I met the rest, after the concert. I met her husband, introduced to me as "Mr. Squirrel," and he went and retrieved them from their nut-gathering. Soon, I was greeted with what looked like two native Americans, or INJUNS, as we call 'em in not-so-politically-correct Indiana. Turns out they weren't, anyway. Faces painted during the festivities of the day had misled me. It was a pleasure meeting this whole sweet family! Squirrel is a quiet one...and Flyhigh is giggly, as all 13-year olds are required by law to be. Nice bunch. Finally, though, I met my betrothed, BEAR. Greeting her with a hug, we got along immediately and I faintly had visions of conjugal visits beneath a pine tree. These faded quickly when she derided me for my nearly no-show at Strawberry. I found her to be almost as much an extrovert as myself; as it was hard to get 50 words in edgewise. A great meeting. I now have met two stunning redheads from the hallowed halls of the JPCR... Pictures were taken by everyone, and soon PMS will be in a quandry to find enough space
on her pages to contain those taken. There were group pictures, individual pictures,
pictures with John, pictures with Phil, and maybe even a few au' natural, I don't remember
for sure. My thanks goes out to each of those I met for one fantastic evening in the beauty they call Yosemite. copyright Jerry Briggs (WOG) May 24, 1997 |
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