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Kingston Chapter News
Volume 19, Issue 4: March & April 1999
Newsletter segments:
Kingston chapter news, Patterson chapter news, Poughkeepsie chapter news, and other articles.by Cheryl A. Rice
With our chapter president, Denise Finley, basking in the Florida sun, the Kingston Open Stage carried on with music as usual on January 2. MC Vince Sauter opened with a tune he wrote while "part of Dutchess County's unemployment problem," "Run, Darlin', Run." Next came the sweet strings of Blair & Sheila (on guitar and mandolin respectively) with "The Streets of London" and the Anne Rodgers tune, "Lies." Stephen J. Rhodes colored the mood blue with "Monday Morning Blues," by Mississippi John Hurt, and an original composition, "This Old Mountain," accompanying himself on both guitar and harmonica.
The stage was then seized by renaissance renegade Bruce Ackerman, wielding another homemade guitar. He plucked out "St. Louis Blues," then reminisced about his past exploits in Florida before his second song, "Snowbird" (yes, Anne Murray's hit). Greg Neaga's farewell tour of the Hudson Valley's open stages started next. After three years, Greg was scheduled to return to his native Germany at the end of January. He asked Ackerman back up for a duet on the Gershwin classic, "Lady Be Good," starting it off himself because, "I want it to be right," then finishing off with an original retitled for the occasion, "Farewell to the Hudson Valley." Farewell, Greg Neaga, and be good!
Your Truly then took a turn, in her role as Poet Laureate of Kingston by Default, reading two of her own pieces. Patricia Bradaigh then performed a song recalling the experiences of her, and our, immigrant forebearers, as well as a song of her own sprinkled with Gaelic, in keeping with opening words about homelessness, both spiritual and physical. All this despite a self- admitted "chocolate hangover" (a lot of that was going around in late December we understand...).
After the break our feature performer, Mike Clarke, started up, along with wife/partner Emmy and Blair returning to pinch-hit for usual sideman Bill DeSiena, sidelined with a torn-up knee (a lot of that going around lately as well...). His completely original set opened with "House of Reprehensibles," a commentary on, you guessed it, politics as usual. "Snow Day" was written on one of those blessed events in the life of a school teacher. "Smile" described the effect that Mike and Co. had on the 30+ audience members that evening, with his clever lyrics and charming demeanor. "Hangin'" was a welcome distraction from the frigid reality outdoors, reminding us of the spring that truly lies just around the corner, and all that good fishin' (what was that dog's name?). "Fast Food" and "Skin & Bones" both were deft observations on food, figure and fanaticism. "Sleep Safely Love" was inspired by those heartfelt partings new lovers always suffer at the end of a date, and so it was with Clarke and missus. "Comes the Morning" and "By the Sea" continued to exhibit Clarke's graceful style and true poetry in song. Finally, after the last tune, the audience had heard "Everything," and still were left wanting more.
Sound wiz Joe Murray thanked the crowd for attending on what many considered "a threatening evening," weatherwise, and showed his appreciation with two classics, "Make Me An Angel," and John Denver's "This Old Guitar." Carol Pressner was next, after rumor had it, being "shamed into coming" by Mike and Emmy Clarke. Her first time playing for an audience in a number of years, her two historical selections, "Copper Canyons" and "Cotton Mill Girls" reflected an obvious longstanding interest in folk's activist roots. "The Last Thing On My Mind" was the first thing on John Martucci's, so he opened with it. His second song, "Indigestion," was an ode to a dear friend's culinary talents. Vince Sauter closed the evening, accompanied by Joe Murray, with the Michael Cross tune, "The Lord Will Provide."
The February 6th edition of the Kingston Open Stage saw the return of Denise FInley, not too tan but fit as the proverbial fiddle. Vince Sauter was again our "navigator" for the evening, and started things off with a tune he'd borrowed from Joe Murray's performance the month before, "Make Me An Angel." Next up was a newcomer to the Kingston stage (yeah, newcomers!) but obviously no novice to stages in general, Neil Kaiser. "I Cannot Take You Home" and "Have You Seen Faith" were both original compositions, obviously the work of a thoughtful, searching young man. Come back soon, Neil!
February's feature at the Patterson coffeehouse, Barbara Mahon, came to tease the Kingston crowd (40 or more that evening!) with two charming selections, the traditional favorite "The Water is Wide" (naturally sung along to) and Lori Wyatt's "Lullaby," which Mahon both sang and signed. As the song says, "You'll never know until you try!" Next came an invasion by the notorious Hamburger Brothers, featuring Elliot Zucker on guitar (with bull horn pick), Frank Tetler on fiddle and mandolin, and Peter Muste on mandolin and banjo. They started off with their "Baby Medley," a sing-alongable mix of "Baby Face" and "Yessir, That's My Baby." The audience was then lured out yonder to those wide open spaces with "Don't Fence Me In." Oh, baby!
Phil Miller, open stage veteran, returned after an extended absence to delight again with two originals. "Two-Song Star" perfectly captured the coffeehouse scene, and "I Keep Turning to You" was yet one more beautiful ballad. Good to add Phil's sparkle to our folk sky tonight! Bruce Ackerman plugged in for a change, following Miller with two strong instrumentals, "Help Me Make It Through the Night" and Merle Travis' "Walkin' the Strings."
That poet chick popped up next, with the usual orations on heartbreak, Albany and waiters, and actually attracted another poet to the stage after her, the wiley Michael J. Stark. With homegrown gourd maracas in hand (for show only), Starke slipped in three short pieces, "Relationships," "A Direction," and "Clone Me." Clone Stark! The venerable Bruce Morrison closed the evening's first half with "Morning Blues" and a song dedicated to Les Herring (in attendance that night but momentarily invisible to Morrison), "Cold Front."
After the break (good tea, good eats, thanks once again to the Kingston Unitarians for the space and the goodies), our featured performer, Linda Breithaupt pierced the cold with the a capella proclamation, "How Can I Keep from Singing?" Complete with snazzy Lucy tie, Breithaupt continued with a Patty Larkin tune, "Bad Thing to Let Go," then Bill Staines' "Quiet Faith of Man," in full command of both guitar and pure voice, despite swollen finders from excessive practice during the week. Breithaupt recalled how she became involved with the Folk Guild. She attended her first open stage in 1981 with a friend who at the time was a student of Bruce Morrison's ("at the age of six," according to Elliot Hamburger). The rest, as they say, is history. Breithaupt likes to expand the listener's definition of folk through her musical selections, and this evening's set was no exception. "Some People's Lives," by Janis Ian, was followed by the spiritual "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" (with more than a little help on harmony by longtime friend Linda Bresnahan). Next was a beautiful rendition of what Breithaupt believes is, "the only song recorded by a frog," "Rainbow Connection." Mom Breithaupt joined her on-stage for a spunky version of "Has Anybody Seen My Gal" (when is Mom's feature?). "Ukulele Lady" was not stolen from the Hamburger Brothers, but could as easily fit into their repertoire as it does in Breithaupt's (that guitar seemed to shrink before our eyes...). "Love is Real" and Joni Mitchell's "Circle Game" continued the set. Lyn Burnstine joined Breithaupt on-stage for (what else, when these two are involved) "Sweet Things." Breithaupt couldn't leave the stage without some sort of encore, and "Amazing Grace" filled the bill nicely (even Yours Truly knows the words to that one!).
Denise Finley then proceeded to sway the house with the smoky blues of Janis Ian's "Welcome to Acousticville," supported by Joe Murray on bass. Rumors of a "nasty tuning incident" flew, but all was well on stage. Enough time was remaining this month to allow for a second round through the evening's performers. Vince Sauter asserted he was playing "Just For You" (lucky us!), and Neil Kaiser returned with a Steve Earle tune, "Sometimes She Forgets." Barbara Mahon honky-tonked it on "Your Cheatin' Heart." The Hamburger Brothers stirred up tastebuds with their version of "Listen to the Mockingbird," stirring in spaghetti and meatballs, bananas and Jell-O (always room for the Hamburger Brothers, too, don't you think?). Phil Miller sank into "Condition Blue." Bruce Ackerman said goodnight with an acoustic rendition of "I'll See You in My Dreams." Another poem by You-Know-Who, and also Mike Stark, who chose to "Think Like a Monk" came next. Bruce Morrison concluded the evening with a duet with "Uncle" Frank Collin on the first song to be performed on broadcast television, "Amelia Earhart's Last Flight" (1939, folks...).
The Kingston Coffeehouses have been well attended this season, but like Jell-O, there's always room for more! See yah soon!
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