Legendary folk singer Arlo Guthrie returns to Maine
http://www.kjonline.com/reallife/happening/legendary-folk-singer-arlo-guthrie-returns-to-maine_2010-11-10.html
November 11, 2010
Arlo Guthrie has been a folk music icon since he decided to follow in
his father's footsteps, using music to bring social injustice to
light. The younger Guthrie is a superb storyteller and uses humor, at
times, to make his point: the prime example being "Alice's Restaurant
Massacree." He's penned many other songs, as well, and has become a
celebrated performer of American music around the world. So when it
was discovered he was heading back out on the road with the "Journey
On" tour with a stop or two in Maine. It was time to try and
reconnect with him for one more chat. He was finally reached at his
office in Western Massachusetts.
GUTHRIE: What can I do for you this fine morning?
Q: Maybe you could talk a little bit about the tour that will bring
you to Maine?
GUTHRIE: Well, we just kicked it off about two weeks ago, so it's
fairly new -- we're still working the bugs out -- it'll run through
May of next year and I've put together the band I had for the tour we
called "The Lost World Tour," oh, about a year or two years ago.
There are some great musicians and singers, and I'm just thrill with
it. I'm having the time of my life out there.
Q: To help me prepare for this chat, your office sent up your last
three releases: "In Times Like These" from 2007, "32-Cents/Postage
Due" from 2008, and "Tales of '69" from 2009 -- talk about a
delightful mixed bag of material and performance styles from a
symphony orchestra to a decidedly bluegrass/country feel to the way
it all started back in the 60s: just acoustic guitar and upright bass.
GUTHRIE: Well, that's great. Yeah, I mean, if you're around long
enough you try different things just to have fun.
Q: That "Tales of '69" -- speaking of fun -- was a total time warp
trip, for sure. Was that an old concert that you discovered?
GUTHRIE: I didn't discover it, my kids discovered it. I was never
meant to be a record, obviously, but we sent the deteriorating tapes
to our friend outside of Boston who restores those things and copies
them into a digital format. He sent back a CD and my kids called me
down to the studio and said: "Pop, you've gotta listen to this!" So I
went down there and they're rolling on the floor, tears in their eyes
-- laughing -- and I said: "What the hell is that?!" And they said:
"It's you!" They really wanted to put it out and I was reluctant
because it doesn't really meet the standards that we've set over all
these years, you know, but still it was a lotta fun and so I agreed
to it, and there it is.
Q: And on the other end of the spectrum, there's "In Times Like
These" with its full symphony orchestra ... oh, my word.
GUTHRIE: Well, that exceeds the standards -- the quality of stuff --
that we have ever done. I think that's probably, technically, the
finest recording we've ever made and that's also a live event with no
studio magic -- that's just the way it was -- and, my God, I think
it's pretty stunning, if I do say so myself.
Q: What got me was the one song -- "If You Would Just Drop By" -- was
on both ... almost 40 years apart.
GUTHRIE: Oh, you know what? I never even noticed that, but yeah,
you're right. But, you know, man: I only heard the "Tales of '69"
once and that was enough for me. I mean, we didn't even know where or
when that take came from. I mentioned Long Island on it so I called
an old girlfriend from those days and asked her if she remembered
that, and she said: "Oh, yeah, that was the show you did on Long
Island with the Grateful Dead." I thought it was really fascinating
that she could pinpoint it.
Q: So, what is a show of yours like nowadays?
GUTHRIE: Ahh, well, what I love about it is that when I'm solo or
with a very small band, you're a little more limited. Some of the
songs that we have put on records called for a bigger production than
just one guy, so we recorded them that way. I mean, "Coming Into Los
Angeles" for example, is really a band song -- you gotta have a band
-- I can do it myself, and I have, but it's not quite the same. So
the nice thing with a full band is that you can do a little as you
want or you can utilize them all and so this show is pretty
high-powered for me.
Q: Do you go to Maine often?
GUTHRIE: Well, at least once a year, but it's not always the same
venues, you know? I try to get to different venues ... and I try to
get everywhere in the world at least once a year -- so it gives me a
year to get around. One of the tours we just finished up was one I
did with the whole family: with all of my kids and grandkids on stage
-- that was awesome! That was a lot of fun.
Q: Did you get it recorded?!
GUTHRIE: Yeah, we generally record all of the shows because at this
point in time, you never know when you'll hit a great night where
nothing goes wrong and it's really terrific. It's chancy so we just
record them all and the ones that you remember we listen to.
Q: What do you think your father would think of this?
GUTHRIE: What do you mean by "this"?
Q: I mean, what you have accomplished over the years with your career.
GUTHRIE: Oh, I don't know. I think the things that were important to
him were things that had to do with integrity, and standing up for
the little guy, and saying what's on your mind and not worrying about
whether its right or wrong all the time, or whether it's
one-upmanship over somebody else. I mean, I think those are the
things that were important to him and, in that regard, I think we're
doing okay.
Q: Is there anything you'd like me to pass on to the readers of this
"What's Happening" article?
GUTHRIE: I can't think of anything -- but it's gonna be full getting
back up there. We come back about once-a-year to that part of the
world and we don't stay long enough to over-stay the welcome, so it's
kinda fun. We'll get to catch up with some old friends and maybe make
some new ones.
--
Lucky Clark has spent over four decades writing about good music and
the people who make it...he can be reached at [email protected] if
you have any questions, comments or suggestions.
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