Live Music!! For Real!!

Last evening we attended the Tom Rush concert at the Waterville Opera house - a terrific venue so close to home. I have been a Tom Rush fan for over 50 years (YIKES!!) and had seen him in several venues in my home town of Ithaca, NY - the grand opening of the Unicorn Night Club, which was on the top floor of the (at that time) TG Miller's buiding - previously the Eagles Club where I went to Christmas parties several times in my early years. I think I saw Tom there also on the second anniversary of the Unicorn and several years later at the Strand Theater just down the block from the Unicorn. And then maybe a decade ago, he did a benefit concert at the Kent's Hill School - very intimate room and fun night. All of those appeareances were solo shows and I knew from following his social media accounts that he currently does many shows with Matt Nokoa, who I was not familiar with. What a talent Matt is! Last evening Tom graciously allowed Matt several opportunities to showcase his talents and I am just in awe. Tom was his reliably entertaining self - humorous, interspective and so talented on guitar. Because he has continued to perform and record his voice has remained recognizable and steady. He played several new songs of a recently released album and some standards. Physically, he has aged - Haven't we all? - but the talent is still there and shines through. I was, however, disappointed to see the somewhat scarce turnout for this folk icon form New England - I would have expected a better showing from Central Maine. The assembled crowd was, however, enthusiastically appreciative. Anothe note about live music: I suspect because the name acts that are still touring have priced themselves out of many peoples budgets we have seen the rise of the "tribute" bands. While some are quite good, I have decided that I am not going to spend any more money on them. I am not in any way diminishing their talent or their right to make money (as long as they are paying the appropriate royalties to the appropriate people!). I just want to see the original people perform their own music. If this means I have to pass because of budget, or crowd or travel, so be it. All of that said, it was a Journey tribute band - Departure out of Georgia - that brought back to being a Steve Perry fan. So there's that...