USA 2007

[Jim]

Umm, sorry but I thought this thread was about Fairport's current Yankeedoodle tour? (mutter, burble, burble.....)

Technically it was, embittered old Jim helping lazy but youthful Ollie navigate the wonders of bittorrent to discover the joys of fairport acoustic convention in the USA.

 now there's a man with his eye on the ball

[MPinelli]

Saw the lads at The Towne Crier last saturday. Excellent show as always.

Still, it's just not quite the same without Mr. Pegg. Anyone else here in the US feel the same way??

[Bob Barrows]

I wish I could comment but that would require my having seen them live before ...This Sat will be my first time.

[gower flower (Shirl)]

I wish I could comment but that would require my having seen them live before ...This Sat will be my first time.

Wow, Bob! Make sure you take extensive notes and tell us ALL about it

[Bob Barrows]

I wish I could comment but that would require my having seen them live before ...This Sat will be my first time.

Wow, Bob! Make sure you take extensive notes and tell us ALL about it

That is definitely on my agenda  

[Bob Barrows]

Just arrived home from my first FC gig - totally satisfied.
It was an historic performance: Chris was indisposed with a chest infection, so Simon and Rick performed as a duo. Overcoming some initial technical issues, they gave a tremendous performance. My wife, who was not very familiar at all with Fairport (despite my playing them to death the past few weeks), exclaimed: "He's such a good fiddler!", so she apparently enjoyed it as well. I'm going to bed now. Pictures and setlist can wait till morning.  

[davidmjs]

Just arrived home from my first FC gig - totally satisfied.
It was an historic performance: Chris was indisposed with a chest infection, so Simon and Rick performed as a duo. Overcoming some initial technical issues, they gave a tremendous performance. My wife, who was not very familiar at all with Fairport (despite my playing them to death the past few weeks), exclaimed: "He's such a good fiddler!", so she apparently enjoyed it as well. I'm going to bed now. Pictures and setlist can wait till morning.  

The incredible shrinking band!  Glad you enjoyed it though, and let's hope Chris isn't too poorly...  Look forward to the pictures (of the duo, not of Chris being poorly...that would be silly)  

[Bob Barrows]

When my wife and I arrived at the Narrows Center in Fall River, already feeling the effects of a very hot, muggy evening, we could not miss the sign on the door announcing that Simon and Ric would be performing as a duo due to a chest infection afflicting Chris Leslie. Full of concern for Chris, we trudged up the steps to the third floor of the converted textile mill, only to discover the true meaning of "hot and humid". A very light breeze coming through the open windows was only felt by those fortunate enough to be sitting or standing near those windows, and a single fan was of no help at all. Fortunately, we came prepared with plenty of liquid refreshment  

The FAD (Fairport Acoustic Duo) opened with Over the Next Hill, but technical problems (loud snapping sounds I suspect were coming from the monitors) forced them to stop midway through the song. While Rob B. and Simon attended to the equipment, Ric entertained us with some standup material until the problem was sorted, upon which, with no prior discussion it seemed, they launched into the song right from the point they had left off!
For the next two hours, despite the absence of Chris' vocals and mandolin fills, these two consummate professionals rose to and met the challenges of both the heat and the task of bringing us through 40 years of Fairport history. There were three songs with which I was unfamiliar: the one song they played from SoO, Your Heart and Mine, an instrumental, and Over the Lancashire Hills which I have since discovered was from a Simon Nicol solo album. I was a little surprised at the lack of SoO songs, but I suspect the absence of Chris Leslie may have contributed to that outcome.

Best wishes for a quick recovery to Chris. Here is the entire set list:

Over the Next Hill
Close to the Wind
Morris medley: Sheriff's Ride/Upton-on-Severn Stick Dance
Crazy Man Michael
Instrumental medleyL Sophisticated Lady/Here, There and Everywhere
Genesis Hall
Instrumental I did not recognize - I think it was Woodworm Swing
Travelling by Steam
Over the Lancashire Hills
Your Heart and Mine
Slipjigs and Reels
Wood and the Wire
Canny Capers
Hiring Fair
Meet on the Ledge

Pics to follow.

[Bob Barrows]

Pic #1

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[Bob Barrows]

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[Bob Barrows]

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[Bob Barrows]

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[Anne T]

Very glad to hear that you and your wife enjoyed the gig despite the humidity and Chris not being able to play. I remember thinking last year that Simon and Ric made a great duo when they did the Beatles song and then Summertime together.
Here's hoping Chris is better soon.

[WestWind]

I and members of my family attended the Friday 1 June show at Bodles Opera House in Chester NEW YORK, and also the Sunday 3 June show at Joe's Pub in New York City (last show of this year's USA Tour).

On Friday night, Chris had a severe sore throat and could not sing, but he was on stage playing his instruments.  The setlist was almost the same as in Bob's report from Fall River Mass. the next night, adapted to have more songs that Simon sings, plus a few more instrumentals.  There was some difference in order, and we had one more instrumental (I think it was the medley from LIEGE & LIEF); we also had "Widow of Westmoreland" as the closing number instead of "Meet On The Ledge".  Also, "Girl From The Hiring Fair" segued into "Summertime" in the manner that the FAC configuration has been doing it for several years.

When I heard from Bob's report that Chris could not appear at all Saturday night, I was concerned that his condition was getting worse, but I still planned to attend the Sunday show, as I've heard from past reports that Simon and Ric do quite nicely as a duo (consummate professionals that they are).

When I entered Joe's Pub Sunday evening, I was immediately brightened: I saw 3 chairs on the stage, with Chris's instruments set out.  So I wondered: would we be back to Friday night's format?  Well, I'm happy to report that, while Chris has significant recovery to go, he DID SING!  He sang "Keep On Turning The Wheel" and "The Vision" from SENSE OF OCCASION, and also "I'm Already There" and "John Gaudie" (the encore), plus the backup singing he usually does on other songs.  In particular, I was surprised at the inclusion of "I'm Already There", because I think of that as real anthemic vocal workout number that one would want to be in full normal condition to do.  But Chris just would not be denied!  

In sum, the chaps delivered a steaming show to close out the 2007 USA Tour.  The people were very happy and were even clamoring for a second encore.  However, there was not time for that with Joe's Pub's format, whereby they had to clear the house to get ready for the next show with another band.

In particular, it was a happy occasion for me, because my son and his girl friend were there.  He'd had to miss the Friday show because that was her high school graduation day; but now on Sunday, he got to bring her to her first Fairport Convention show.

[Ollie]

http://www.fairportconvention.com/general_news.php#news1

chris writes from america

[PLW (Peter)]

There's a song coming, isn't there? The one about the school of dolphins displaced by the giant aircraft carrier. . .

[fat Billy(Bill)]

thats a brilliant idea of the yanks, naming an aircraft carrier after an idiot.
It will turn up off some unfriendly country and all the "enemy" soldiers will be unable to fight cos they are laughing so much.

[David W]

thats a brilliant idea of the yanks, naming an aircraft carrier after an idiot.
It will turn up off some unfriendly country and all the "enemy" soldiers will be unable to fight cos they are laughing so much.

You can't really call RR an idiot Billy, be fair. He did leave a sizeable library to the nation, and some of the books hadn't been coloured in either!

Jackdaw

[Andy]

Interesting analysis of RR's white house diaries on the BBC t'other day. Basically, despite any appearance to the contrary, he appears to have had his marbles up to the end of his Presidency.

I'm no RR fan, and possibly willing to buy into a theory that the diaries must have been ghosted, but the BBC thought it unlikely....

If he was an idiot, he was an itiot savant, much as Muhammed Ali was/is. Low IQ, high cunning.

[davidmjs]

If he was an idiot, he was an itiot savant, much as Muhammed Ali was/is. Low IQ, high cunning.

Muhammed Ali - low IQ?  I think not...  Ronald Raygun on the other hand....