Al & Dave in Carlton, Oregon, 17.07.2010
We are just back from another wonderful Al & Dave concert at Cana's Feast Winery out in the Oregon wine country. Last time Al played there it was a beastly hot day, about 100 degrees, while today was a much nice day with temperatures around 80 with a nice breeze. It's a beautiful rural setting just outside a small town center and overlooking a grand vista of rolling hills.
The set lists at these kinds of shows tend to be on the less adventurous side, but we got a couple of relatively uncommon selections tonight. Dave got to do a half hour opening set, which was a nice surprise. The sound was crisp and clear.
MIDNIGHT SEA
NEW MAN (excellent new song)
ELEPHANTS
THE LOYALIST
THUNDER BAY
LUCKY
THING OF BEAUTY
GRATEFUL
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HOUSE OF CLOCKS
FLYING SORCERY
PALACE OF VERSAILLES
LAST DAYS OF THE CENTURY - one I've only heard live a couple of times before
WARREN HARDING - Al missed a few lyrics here
ON THE BORDER
MERLIN'S TIME
CLIFTON IN THE RAIN
TIME PASSAGES
At this point there was a brief interruption. The stage was a temporary setup on the lawn on one side of the winery building, with a metal frame riser under a canopy. For some reason, the person who constructed the riser made it much higher than it needed to be, and Al's head was hidden behind the flap of the canopy to all but those sitting very close up front! Someone from the winery came along with a ladder and flipped the canopy flaps up over top and fastened them there somehow so that you could finally see Al's head! Al commented that he thought it was fine for him to be a "disembodied presence."
MIDAS SHADOW
RUNNING MAN
Al commented that he never plays this song, but that Dave loves it.
GINA IN THE KINGS ROAD
At this point a young man named Peter Johnson came to the stage to play violin on the next couple of songs. Al commented that Peter now had the chance to be Stephan Grapelli!
NIGHT TRAIN TO MUNCH
Al played the riff from Ted Nugent's "Cat Scratch Fever" and then he and Dave made some related silly remarks
YEAR OF THE CAT
encore:
LOVE MINUS ZERO/NO LIMIT - great version of this Bob Dylan classic.
Al told me some news after the show that you UK Al fans may find of interest. He will be in England for a tour next year, and it will be Al with Bert Jansch, Ralph McTell, and Roy Harper! It might not necessarily be all of them at every show, but Al seemed very excited about it. I wondered about John Renbourn, and Al said that maybe John would be there at some of the shows. Sure wish I could come over for this!
Mark
www.charismalabel.com