Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, Great Barrington, MA 8/29/08

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AndaleOrbea
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Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, Great Barrington, MA 8/29/08

Postby AndaleOrbea » Sun Aug 31, 2008 11:25 pm

Berkshire County’s Hurricane Angels
The Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center
Great Barrington, MA
Friday, August 29, 2008

This report is going to be a hard one to write – I already know that because it will be hard to capture the real meaning of the event. The date of the show was three years to the day of the eve of Hurricane Katrina’s landfall in New Orleans and celebrated the volunteers from the Berkshires that mobilized to help many families in New Orleans to rebuild their homes. One group pitched in to rebuild Stanley and Betty Stewart’s home, another was from Habitat for Humanity who built three homes and still another from Acorn went into ruined homes to remove debris and contaminated materials all the way down to the studs simply so that the local government wouldn’t condemn the homes and tear them down as a health hazard. I’m sure most of you know that many of these homeowners still pay mortgages and taxes on homes they can’t live in.

The evening started with a welcome and introduction from Mass. State Representative William “Smitty” Pignatelli who was instrumental in gathering area volunteers to help with Katrina relief for Stanley Stewart. He told us to close our eyes and imagine that evening as he told a story of what happened to Stanley and his family of eight (six daughters!) through the night Katrina struck and the events that followed. It seems that Stanley was afflicted with polio as a youngster and he and his family had to walk a great distance to the relief center. Stanley sent his family ahead because he walked slowly. Wow…

Then a video was shown of still photos of the devastation and interviews of volunteers that was set to Ellis singing Mark Erelli’s The Only Way. I’m pretty sure there are YouTube videos of this available, and you may look for them on the website http://www.hopeforstanley.org that was put together by Mr. Pignatelli and others to raise money and assistance to others affected by Katrina.

After the video, Stanley and Betty Stewart we’re called on stage and Stanley said a lot of really kind words of thanks to all the volunteers that helped him regain his home and the Stewart’s presented Mr. Pignatelli with a plaque as a thank you for all the Berkshire community did to help them.

Just before intermission, a local jazz singer, Vikki True, opened with a few wonderful tunes. Vikki was accompanied by a wonderful pianist Peter Schneider (who happens to be blind), trumpeter and bassist Richard Downs and the Sweet Sisters of Mercy backup singers. Ms. True’s set list included:

1. Basin Street Blues by Louis Armstrong
2. Bernadette by Leonard Cohen
3. Yes We Can by Allen Toussaint
4. Walk Right In by Gus Cannon’s Jug Stompers

After intermission, three ladies who relocated to the Berkshires from New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina gave dramatic readings. First, was an excerpt of a play commissioned by a New York City theater company about Jamuna (Yvette) Sirker’s post-Katrina experience with a focus on security entitled ‘Hell and High Water’, The second was a poem by Emily DeMoor entitled ‘Chantilly Lace’ and the last was an excerpt of a memoir from Ann Scelba written to all the volunteers who helped in the months that followed Hurricane Katrina. And finally, before Ellis took the stage, Emily and Ann remembered those who died, those who survived, those who volunteered and those who wait that very evening for the coming storm (Hurricane Gustov) by chiming a gong one time.

Ellis began his set as follows:

1. Hurricane Angel (Piano, accompanied by a slide show)
2. Let It Be
3. The Only Way
4. Road Trip (complete with making the Berkshire-ites do the hand gestures or threatened to be kicked out of the theater)
5. The House of the Rising Sun (Karen, is this cover in the Song Bible?) (accompanied by Richard Downs on trumpet with a solo)
6. New Orleans
7. God’s Promise (complete with Woody Tattoo story meeting Arlo and Nora)
8. The World Ain’t Slowin’ Down

Encore with Vikki True, Peter Schneider, Richard Downs, and the Sweet Sisters of Mercy

1. Louisiana 1927 (by Randy Newman) medley-ed with This Land is Your Land

Ellis tried to do every song of his that had anything said about New Orleans, so clearly Hurricane Angel, Road Trip and New Orleans (one of Elaine’s top four picks from last week’s EP Weekend in Vermont) were in the list. We kind of wondered how Ellis captured that song so well during the Vermont weekend – now we know that he was preparing for this show. Ellis started off The House of the Rising Sun by mentioning he learned it in Junior High School when he was learning to play the trumpet – he mentioned that what they didn’t tell them while they were learning the song was that it’s about a Wh*re house (thanks for letting me borrow your typing skills Bonnie!). Anyway, that got a bit of a loud chuckle from those in the Berkshires… Ellis did The Only Way (which was not played the previous weekend!) because only excerpts were used in the opening video presentation and he wanted to make sure that we got to hear all of the song – which was totally awesome!

Ellis mentioned that he’s usually a lot funnier but that he is not often moved at his own shows and that he was just trying not to tear up – and how can you not tear up when you hear the delicate beginning of New Orleans? At some point, whether it was over the Vermont weekend or at the Berkshire’s, Ellis said that he really should add a third verse to New Orleans. I hope he does. It’s such a beautiful song and a wonderful city to dedicate it to.

That’s all I can think of. We had a wonderful trip from Indiana, through OH, PA, NY, Vermont, NH, Maine, Mass, and back and can’t wait until the next EP road trip.

Dean (and Elaine)

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KarenZ
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Re: Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, Great Barrington, MA 8/29/08

Postby KarenZ » Mon Sep 01, 2008 7:15 am

Dean,

All I can say is "wow" and thank you for the wonderfully detailed report. Sounds like another special moment in time for the memory books.

And, yes, "House of the Rising Sun" is in the Song Bible. :)

KarenZ
"Some people are born to make great art and others are born to appreciate it. It is a kind of talent in itself, to be an audience, whether you are the spectator in the gallery or you are listening to the voice of the world's greatest soprano. Not everyone can be the artist. There have to be those who witness the art, who love and appreciate what they have been privileged to see." -- Ann Patchett in Bel Canto.

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Re: Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, Great Barrington, MA 8/29/08

Postby paddyinthepub » Mon Sep 01, 2008 7:59 am

Dean, thanks ever so much for that wonderful report.....sounds like a great show for a great cause! Loved hearing that Ellis played all the songs he could with reverence for New Orleans. Ooooh, another verse for my wife's favorite Ellis Paul song! Somebody pinch me! :D
"once we're inside, it's a carnival ride" ~ ellis paul
paddy

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Re: Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, Great Barrington, MA 8/29/08

Postby KarenZ » Mon Sep 01, 2008 8:05 am

I would have loved to have heard that encore! :shock:

KarenZ
"Some people are born to make great art and others are born to appreciate it. It is a kind of talent in itself, to be an audience, whether you are the spectator in the gallery or you are listening to the voice of the world's greatest soprano. Not everyone can be the artist. There have to be those who witness the art, who love and appreciate what they have been privileged to see." -- Ann Patchett in Bel Canto.

AndaleOrbea
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Re: Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, Great Barrington, MA 8/29/08

Postby AndaleOrbea » Mon Sep 01, 2008 10:47 am

Thanks Guys, it was a really beautiful event and a wonderful old theater venue.

Ellis and Vikki duetted on Louisiana 1927 and then transitioned into This Land is Your Land. As usual, everyone got up and started clapping to the music and by the end of This Land Is Your Land, we were all holding hands in the air and swaying to the song. It was very moving. Lots of really positive energy.

Back to reality now. :( Well after today, anyway... :D

Dean

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Re: Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, Great Barrington, MA 8/29/08

Postby paddyinthepub » Mon Sep 01, 2008 11:08 am

Believe it or not.....I was listening to this Randy Newman record when it was new....1974. :shock:

Louisiana 1927 by Randy Newman from his album Good Ol' Boys

What has happened down here is the wind have changed
Clouds roll in from the north and it started to rain
Rained real hard and rained for a real long time
Six feet of water in the streets of Evangeline

The river rose all day
The river rose all night
Some people got lost in the flood
Some people got away alright
The river have busted through cleard down to Plaquemines
Six feet of water in the streets of Evangelne

CHORUS
Louisiana, Louisiana
They're tyrin' to wash us away
They're tryin' to wash us away
Louisiana, Louisiana
They're tryin' to wash us away
They're tryin' to wash us away

President Coolidge came down in a railroad train
With a little fat man with a note-pad in his hand
The President say, "Little fat man isn't it a shame what the river has
done
To this poor crackers land."
"once we're inside, it's a carnival ride" ~ ellis paul
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Re: Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, Great Barrington, MA 8/29/08

Postby paddyinthepub » Mon Sep 01, 2008 11:20 am

Randy Newman performing Louisiana 1927 on YouTube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91Eb3FiebTs
"once we're inside, it's a carnival ride" ~ ellis paul
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Re: Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, Great Barrington, MA 8/29/08

Postby Patti » Mon Sep 01, 2008 12:15 pm

Wonderful review of the show, you know it is special when performers are touched by what they are doing!

And how is anyone supose to get any "work" done with all the great links to reviews, videos, interviews, etc.... :lol:
"Embrace what you have in common, celebrate what sets you apart" Ellis Paul

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Re: Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, Great Barrington, MA 8/29/08

Postby Mtn Gal » Mon Sep 01, 2008 9:13 pm

Thanks Dean for such a great account of the event. Sounds like a wonderful evening for such a worthy cause.
"Nobody can dim the light which shines from within." ~ Maya Angelou

beansprout
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Re: Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, Great Barrington, MA 8/29/08

Postby beansprout » Wed Sep 03, 2008 11:01 pm

Greetings ~

Here is the video slide show that EP played live at the Hurricane Angels Tribute on August 29 in The Berkshires. It was a very special event in so many ways (as Dean so clearly described :!: ) attended by over 300 people - many of whom are brand new EP fans!!

Hurricane Angel slideshow

PEACE
http://www.beansproutproductions.org
Last edited by beansprout on Sat Sep 06, 2008 7:42 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, Great Barrington, MA 8/29/08

Postby Richard + Jela » Thu Sep 04, 2008 4:32 am

Thanks Beansprout (great name) - watching it gave me goosebumps.

Dean, thanks also for your great report of the benefit concert - sounds like an evening to remember.

Jela

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Re: Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, Great Barrington, MA 8/29/08

Postby KarenZ » Thu Sep 04, 2008 9:04 am

Beansprout.....that was simply spine-tingling. Thank you.

KarenZ
beansprout wrote:Greetings ~

Here is the video slide show that EP played live at the Hurricane Angels Tribute on August 29 in The Berkshires. It was a very special event in so many ways (as Dean so clearly described :!: ) attended by over 300 people - many of whom are brand new EP fans!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gG6Gb5YggKI&fmt=18

PEACE
http://www.beansproutproductions.org
"Some people are born to make great art and others are born to appreciate it. It is a kind of talent in itself, to be an audience, whether you are the spectator in the gallery or you are listening to the voice of the world's greatest soprano. Not everyone can be the artist. There have to be those who witness the art, who love and appreciate what they have been privileged to see." -- Ann Patchett in Bel Canto.

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Re: Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, Great Barrington, MA 8/29/08

Postby beansprout » Sat Sep 06, 2008 7:58 pm

Hi All ~

Just thought I'd let you know the link to the Hurricane Angel video has been updated... with a couple minor changes...

Updated YouTube slideshow
Last edited by beansprout on Sat Sep 06, 2008 8:19 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, Great Barrington, MA 8/29/08

Postby KarenZ » Sat Sep 06, 2008 8:14 pm

Thanks beansprout. Just so you know, I edited the link so that it opens in another window. The "link" link has been taking fits. :)

KarenZ
"Some people are born to make great art and others are born to appreciate it. It is a kind of talent in itself, to be an audience, whether you are the spectator in the gallery or you are listening to the voice of the world's greatest soprano. Not everyone can be the artist. There have to be those who witness the art, who love and appreciate what they have been privileged to see." -- Ann Patchett in Bel Canto.

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Re: Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, Great Barrington, MA 8/29/08

Postby beansprout » Sat Sep 06, 2008 8:24 pm

Thanks, Karen... I'm hittin' all the cyberglitches lately. Good to know you're there to the rescue!


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