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Good Grief - Dave Alvin and the Guilty Women live in Petaluma 10/2/09
The devastating news of Amy Farris' tragic death had hardly sunk in as they took the stage in Petaluma's historic Mystic Theater . The musicians were in obvious pain and many times had tears streaming down their faces. Yet as is often the case with tragic, unexplainable loss, they dug deep, tapped reserves of strength and put on a performance/wake/celebration that none of us will ever forget.
The majority of tunes were from the new Guilty Women CD - "Marie Marie", "Downey Girl", "Boss of the Blues" which Dave recorded earlier this year. The most touching tune was Christy McWilson's deeply heartfelt vocal on "Potter's Field". There was complete silence as she sang the mournful lyrics.
Despite the sad circumstances, there was more than a few laughs and ferocious burn- down- the- house electric leads from Nina Gerber and Cindy Cashdollar on lap steel and dobro. Laurie Lewis played fiddle and mandolin and Susie Thompson sat in on fiddle and accordion.
I never had the chance to see Amy Farris play live. Yet seeing her black draped Mic stand with flowers and candles at the base, I really felt her presence in the room this night.
God speed Amy. May you find peace wherever you are.
The majority of tunes were from the new Guilty Women CD - "Marie Marie", "Downey Girl", "Boss of the Blues" which Dave recorded earlier this year. The most touching tune was Christy McWilson's deeply heartfelt vocal on "Potter's Field". There was complete silence as she sang the mournful lyrics.
Despite the sad circumstances, there was more than a few laughs and ferocious burn- down- the- house electric leads from Nina Gerber and Cindy Cashdollar on lap steel and dobro. Laurie Lewis played fiddle and mandolin and Susie Thompson sat in on fiddle and accordion.
I never had the chance to see Amy Farris play live. Yet seeing her black draped Mic stand with flowers and candles at the base, I really felt her presence in the room this night.
God speed Amy. May you find peace wherever you are.
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Comment by Dirk on October 3, 2009 at 6:50am -
Thanks for the great review--nice to be able to find a blog less than 6 hours after getting home from the show! My wife and I jetted straight from Hardly Strictly to the Mystic, or should I say, into the Mystic. And, just as any Dave Alvin fan might expect, the boy was on fire, though a bit tearful at times. And a nice impromptu version Chris Gaffney's "Artesia" to boot.
Since last night, it's been a string of greats--Gillian Welch at the Fillmore; John Prine and Lyle Lovett at Hardly Strictly; and then Dave into the Mystic. Sorry, no time to take in Buddy Miller and Robert Plant opening for Boz at the Great American Music Hall!
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Comment by Mr Edyoulis on October 3, 2009 at 10:19pm - Robert sat in with Buddy Miller this morning at the new Towers of Gold stage for about three tunes. Emmylou came out earlier and they (Buddy and EH) sang "Wide River to Cross". Gawd what a great time today!
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Comment by Mike Mitchell on October 4, 2009 at 6:30am
- That Guilty Women show must have been amazing. I saw Dave Alvin when he was touring last year doing a Chris Gaffney tribute and his emotion and loss was incredible. I can only imagine the intensity of the performance following Amy's very unfortunate passing.
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Comment by Reno Sepulveda on October 4, 2009 at 8:41am -
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Created by No Depression Feb 17, 2009 at 9:06pm. Last updated by Kyla Fairchild Jan 18.
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