Vienna, VA
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Vienna, VA |
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This city, founded 252 years ago, shows no hint of its early origins, being now another of the suburbs of Washington, DC, with the accompanying bumper-to-bumper traffice expected of a city on the move during Friday morning 's rush hours. Concrete, asphalt, and hotels greet the visitor to its narrow, overburdened streets. Located in a busy area of what was once the countryside of Vienna, Wolf Trap, even with the sounds of traffic on the other side of the trees, gives the feeling of a remoteness and serenity. The landscaped grounds were prepared, it seemed, just for my arrival, and the wet green of the sod looked very inviting for a nap in the grass. Wandering the facilities early on this Friday, I was alone and had freedom to look things over completely. My only company were squirrels and chipmunks playing in the grass. A restroom check revealed well-kept, clean facilities. Handicap facilities, expected in a government venue, were quite evident and abundant. Women have been considered in the facilities: three ladies' rooms and one gents in one typical area inside the admission gates. Wearing a face of success, Wolf Trap is an outdoor ampitheater situated in what could be best described as a bowl. At the bottom is the immense sound stage, complete with three stories of offices on one side, and curtains at center reaching that height. It has a covering over the theater and seats but is open on the sides and back, with great stretches of ornate cedar and its accompanying aroma evident throughout. Events are scheduled throughout the summer here, but winter weather forces closing during those months. Curving out and up the sides of the bowl are seats, ranging from unnumbered ones directly under the stage lip, and then from "A" to "QQ" with seat numbers ranging at the front up to 45 and at the back to 128, filling out the pie-shape. Overhead is a balcony with seats rising steeply. Sitting in seats in that area was a promise of "front-row" view seats. Finishing out the pie, the lawn outside the theater rises all around, and it is here that patrons can enjoy the music for a reduced rate, while sitting in the well-manicured grass. Totally, this arena can comfortably handle nearly 7000 patrons. In a brief meeting with Filene's Production Manager, Bill Banks, I learned that the beautiful theater was built by a private individual and then donated, along with the land, to the National Parks system. This park is the only one in the United States that offers the performing arts. Bill's job is to oversee his 14 full-time employees. "We only know one thing, " Bill stated, "and that is there will be a show at 8:00!" This theater offers a wide variety of entertainment types, ranging from an opera last summer that had 70 production members on Bill's payroll, to simpler ones with their own crews. This year, besides what we consider the premier act, John Prine, also scheduled are John Hiatt, Bob Dylan, Trisha Yearwood, Patty Loveless, Peter, Paul, and Mary, Johnny Mathis, Shawn Colvin, Alison Kraus, Sawyer Brown, Toby Keith, Huey Lewis, and Nanci Griffith, and Lyle Lovett. Mozart's Figaro opera will be in during August, and the National Symphony Orchestra is a regular Thursday night feature. Jazz Explosion, Blues Festival, and the Riverdance Festival, which covers 11 days, are further examples of the variety offered at this location.
SOUND CHECK Returning in the early afternoon to the Filene Theater at Wolf Trap, I
found Prine's Production Manager Eric Tarleton With an opening act from Iris Dement and a return appearance from Lost Dog Phil Parlapiano, a Baldwin piano was called into service, and a piano tuner with a laptop carefully brought it up to snuff. A whole crew of helpers was available, and the stage gradually became converted to the 'John Prine Look', with David's standing bass and electric basses, and Jason's collection of guitars all to the audience's right of John's center position, while the left stage was used for Phil's instruments. 3:30PM--Iris' sound-check with an empty house was nothing short of fantastic. With a voice that reminds you of the "high lonesome" sound of Bill Monroe and the blue lamenting of Emmy Lou, and with lyric sincerity rivaling Dolly at her best, my anticipation for this "opening" act for this evening is high. The hills of Virginia and Maryland were made for this kind of voice; her first trip to Wolf Trap will almost certainly not be her last. Of interest was hearing her do a non-concert number, "Billy Boy." You've never heard this nursery rhyme/kid song until you've heard Iris' treatment of it! 4:50PM--Sitting in my soon-to-be-purchased ticket seat, E-75, I glanced at my watch. Ten minutes until John and his boys would be showing up, in their street clothes, to do their sound check and get everyone set as to where lighting should be, which guitars would be used by John when, and briefly filling in the House Mix Control center with high and low vocal ranges. 4:55--Everything that could be done, was, and until the band made an appearance to determine the final settings, there was a brief break. 5:01--Jason, Phil, and David wandered out onto the stage...Phil already in his fedora! 5:02--"Start without John?" yelled Mitchell. "Sure!" said Dave, manning the House Mix. Phil proceeded into a piano number, not a Prine tune, that promised to rock. It sounded vaguely like the piano intro to "What'd I Say." 5:25--Still playing around, just jamming off and on, lots of "boogie-woogie-blues" with Jason and Phil just amusing themselves, and David hitting the bass for them... 5:29--John comes out, dressed in jeans and a long-sleeved shirt, drinking a pop...he strokes a couple chords...and it's that unmistakeable John sound! John pointing and questioning what the chalk circles are on the floor...Mitch exclaims, "Star! That's where you stand!" John laughed and went right into "Blow Up Your TV." Played it all the way through, while Dave the sound tech adjusted up and down, fading speakers in and out and changing the levels. Bass and treble changes were experimented with. 5:34--John, while trying to get them to adjust Phil's accordian, has to listen to Phil idling about on "Green Acres..."! 5:35--Went into "6 O'Clock News...need for sound adjustment was obvious, as John's voice was relegated to just one remote side speaker until it was corrected. 5:40--I went up to the gate...people already waiting in lawn chairs, other side of the fence...waiting...my car, in front of the ticket booth...looks OK...seeking Redbeard or bluz or Mari, so I donned the ALPO hat and wandered in front of them all...no bites 5:45--John repeated Wanda...then Picture Show all the way through...Jason informed he was "too loud," and they announced five minutes left in sound check...had to get it figured out... 5:47--John, getting impatient, starts strumming again, goes alone through the intro to "People Puttin' People Down!"...he doesn't do this one often this year...(note from later: he did not perform it, PM) 5:52--"Life is a blessing; it's a delicatessen!"--John launches into "You've Got Gold" 5:53--While John is playing, Mitchell brings up Phil's CD, to be used
while crowd files in and during the intermission between Iris and John...called
"Gypsy Heat," by the Brothers Figaro. Nice picture of Phil on the back... A successful evening was the result for both Iris, in her very first performance at this venue, and for John, who pointed out that this was the 11th year he has been invited back. The crowd, as usual ranging from 10-years old to 60, was entertained from Iris' opening at 8:00 PM until 11:01 PM, when a curfew in the residential neighborhood caused an abrupt end to the festivities. The crowd, the largest I have seen this year at a Prine event, was enthusiastic, friendly, and orderly. Early arrivals were sitting at the six gates by 4:45PM, a necessity in order to get the position desired on the sloping lawn that overlooks the stage inside the immense building. Deferring to their needs, the Filene opens up the lawn to those who have purchased tickets for outside by allowing them to set up a full half-hour before the inside seats can be filled by those ticket holders. John was at ease with this audience, very relaxed. He feels at home here, the working conditions are top-notch, and a shortened schedule was a relief for his often overworked vocal chords. The crowd was enthusiastic. From my seat 16 rows back I was able to see hundreds of patrons in front of me throughout the show. Sporadic standing ovations were given for nearly every song. The requests from the audience were greeted with, "We're just gettin' started!" from John, grinning. A "special" section, right in front of the band, found that for their extra $10 they got a whole lot of special attention from an unusually ambulatory John. Walking out to the edge, playing his guitar, getting eye contact, and wandering along the front was greeted with near hysteria by many of the ladies in this area. John seems to "work" his audience better each performance. Fans usually are repeat offenders, having seen the man time after time, with strong vows at the end of the show that they'll be sure and see the next one, also. Nobody ever complains that John gave a poor performance...ever. The "Unwed Fathers" was done in a duet with Iris Dement. This sensitive song , when done with her in harmony with John , is an absolute show-stopper. Iris' plaintive singing of the lyrics was especially appropriate in this venue, sitting on the edge of the very Applachian stage where the song begins. This show is only the second I have seen without the inclusion of "Illegal
Smile." It did not have "Paradise," the standard encore-closing number, and
featured "Hello In There" to great audience acclaim as the one and only encore
song. John presented a pleasant and well-accepted show; time restraints alone determined
when he had to quit, and the clock he keeps on the stage floor in front of him continued
ticking onward. The night ended, but the memories of this concert will continue. SET LIST 1. BLOW UP YOUR TV --encore-- 22. HELLO IN THERE
ON THE ROAD WITH WOG With a wonderful sense of history as I passed through the Virginia countryside enroute to John's latest concert, I let the familiar, strange names sink in as I drove the highways. Appamatox. Mannassas. Fairfax. Shenandoah. Bull Run. Prince William. Richmond. These were all on road signs, bringing to reality the sense of where I was. This was the nucleus of our nation, and this Friday the 13th the premier songwriter of our times was making an appearance. Under these circumstances, I felt quite "up" and had a great sense of anticipation for this particular concert. Tickets, purchased less than a week ago when I firmed up for sure a trip here, were waiting for me at "will-call". When I met Mitchell in the afternoon, he offered me a pass, as he has done at previous concerts...this time I didn't need it! I requested some aid for Chicago, which, being John's old home stomping grounds, will be sold out on both back-to-back performances. Explaining that I didn't need a seat, just standing would be fine, Mitchell has ordained that he will get me an "All Areas Pass" for those shows....this means I can wander anywhere and get more trivial info for all the chat page readers. I will do my best; those shows promise to be most memorable. Among the most memorable highlights of the day turned out to be meeting more of our JPCR buddies! Tapping me on the shoulder from behind, my first meet, Mari, a daytime chatter, looked me up, spotting the red ALPO cap across the packed auditorium. Folks, I gotta tell you know, "She's a cute little dish, I don't know if she smokes like a chimney, nor if she drinks like a fish." Mari halfway talked as though she'd be back after the show, but I wasn't able to see her again, so she missed out meeting John. Some guy after the show plopped down in the seat next to me, looked at me, and grinned.
I checked out his short, neatly trimmed red beard....and checked out the cap....ALCO. So
Alpo and Alco (Redbeard in our room) met...Mark is actually his name, along with his two
friends, Greg and Rick. They all work for an airline, so Mark flew in from Dayton and Greg
arrived from New Orleans to stay overnight with their Washington resident friend, Rick. We kept getting moved from area to area by security and ushers wishing to leave, and for a while it looked pretty touch-and-go as far as being allowed to stay and see John. We had no "passes" and some of the lower-echelon key-carriers decided to boot us out. Another gentleman came out, looked things over, went back inside (we were all standing out under the stars looking at each other and grinning). He came back shortly, and I heard him telling others..."John wants to see them all." Announcing he wanted to make sure the group was manageable, he walked slowly among us, and I now feel embarassed about trying to throw him a victim, Bluz, so the rest of us could get in. I suggested he check out Mike's breath.... We got in, and my enjoyment for the evening was in seeing the excitement and thrill each of these six guys got from not only meeting, but talking to John! I think as bluz and redbeard check in with the page, they will verify what a patient and polite person John is. He took the full time needed with each guest, in one of the nicer areas I have see provided for him to see his "friends." It was roomy and clean. I got lots of pictures for PMS to crop and post wherever she finds space... Speaking of PMS, John was telling a very nice lady there about my reviews and then he went on to tell her about PMS and the huge book she presented him. This lady had a few questions about the internet as she is new to it, but I am hopeful she, too, will join us. John knew her from before, and hugged her. I warned her of the dangerous nature of our group and it's addictive reaction on frequenters of John's page. Total strangers were all so friendly down in John's quarters. I met probably 15 people that were funny, fun, and really nice people. I reflected back to the type I met at Austin and mentally compared them to these, and it was a world of difference. These people were sober and clean and in good humor. `I informed these guys about the Indianapolis concert and the offer of free sleeping at my house...they, and any reading this, are invited! I think Redbeard will make it for sure, as it's not even a free flight away from him...just down HW 70...Bluz, I hope, will make it...and both guys are welcome to bring their friends with them as well....my floors can be filled with sleeping bags... All in all, it was a most satisfying day, and I became HOG instead of WOG..."H" as in "happy!" |
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