10/8/09 Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival, Silk Hope, NC
Setlist
Biggie K is a Superstar, Spinning World, Me and Depression, I Wish You Love, Ring of Fire, Yonder, It's Love Time,* Why You Wanna Leave Me?,* Way Back When (Jeb back on Fender guitar), River of Gold, It's a New Day, The Ones You Love
*Jeb on Kent guitar
By Paul Roberge
The day broke beautifully here in central North Carolina, with deep skies of blue and
a breeze moving pleasantly through the open window in my study. It is such a blessing
when the cool, dry air comes to these parts, after the long hot summer. I did my best to stay
focused on the sociolinguistic problem sets that I had to mark this morning and to compose
and debug a test that I am to give in my South African literature class tomorrow. But
these chores were more difficult than they ordinarily would be. For a day to which
so many of us have looked forward with great anticipation had finally arrived.
My dear friend and anthropologist colleague Don Nonini (aka "Uncle Don") and I
arrived at the farm a little after 5:00 pm, to have a bite to eat, reconnect with the
fine people whom it is our privilege to know, and to experience the farm's quiet beauty before
it gets seriously crowded. After all the rain that we have had in what is otherwise
the driest time of the year, the festival grounds are lush and green. Blessedness.
The setlist was a melange of new material ("It's Love Time, "Why Do You Want
to Leave Me?"), familiar standards ("Way Back When"), and older nuggets ("Spinning
World," "I Wish You Love," "River of Gold," "It's a New Day," and especially "The Ones
You Love"). DtB shows are remarkably dynamic, and this evening's was true to form.
I would not have predicted "Biggie K" as an opener (which may be an
artefact of my not getting to as many shows as some Herd folks), but it was quite
effective in launching the set. Another milestone to which I look forward is when David
McCracken breaks out on organ, and this occurred during "Ring of Fire"
(I never tire of this song). Still another benchmark is when the instrumental segments
power up to full throttle--the Donna machine, like a turbine, magnificent and beautiful
to behold ("Me and Depression," "Yonder"). By the time the band brought out
"It's a New Day," we were indeed "up on a holy ride." I continue to watch Vic Stafford's
drumming with great interest and pleasure. He and Jay Sanders create a solid rhythm
foundation.
The interesting setlist, so well performed, along with the ambient physical surroundings and
gentle crowd (a little smaller than last April) made for another special Thursday evening opener
at Shakori Hills--one that I shall remember fondly. I hope that somehow, some way, Gene Martin could sense the love and good wishes that are flowing his way from Chatham Country, North Carolina. He will remain in our thoughts.
Well, that's the report from Shakori Hills for this evening. G'night.