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ivan@stellysee.de
| From | Marty Rudnick <mrudnick@marturo.com> |
| Subject | Re: RARE performance: We Five in San Jose this Sunday! |
| Date | Tue, 18 Oct 2005 09:30:34 -0700 |
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Hi Michael,
In spite of a nasty cold, I managed to drag myself down to the Espresso
Garden Sunday night.
If you happen to be a folk music fan and live in the Bay Area, this
little joint is close to the last resort for the Sugar Shack
generation. This is a place where you'll find the likes of John Stewart
playing a few times a year. So I want to make a point to recognize an
establishment that helps keep this genre on life-support.
Surely breaking a few fire codes, they managed to cram tables and chairs
together to the capacity seating of 85. At the ripe old age of 51, I
may very well have been the youngest person in the audience.
The lineup for the evening was original member Jerry Burgan (guitar,
vocals), his wife Debbie Burgan (vocals) , Ray Scantlin (keyboards) ,
Terry Rangno (bass, vocals), Chris Burgan (Jerry & Debbie's son --
guitar, drums, vocals, and very talented), and a rare appearance by
original member Bob Jones (drums, guitar, vocals). So, only two
original members, but apparantly Debbie has been singing with the group
since 1967, and Ray and Terry have been playing with the group since
1971. I guess that's pretty good by today's standards.
There are two things that attract me to this group: the song "You Were
On My Mind" is one of my all-time faves, and the fact that they are a
great vocal/harmony group. Their first album was cluttered with cover
versions, but the great harmonies and inspired arrangements made them
seem entirely like their own songs.
I really don't know much else about them, but I get the impression they
don't perform on a regular basis. In spite of that, they performed well
and the vocals were quite good. Across two 1-hour sets, they played
most of their first album, and also played a sprinkling of folk-pop
medleys, mostly of 60's material.
Here's the set list:
Oh Lonesome Me
Early Morning Rain
I Can Never Go Home Again
Cast Your Fate To The Wind
You Were On My Mind
Dylan/Folk medley:
Mr. Tambourine Man
All I Really Want To Do
It Ain't Me Babe
Silver Threads & Golden Needles
Different Drum
Turn! Turn! Turn!
The Boxer
California Dreamin'
Mr. Tambourine Man
Catch The Wind
Here Comes The Sun
Train medley:
Rock Island Line
Wabash Cannonball
This Train
MTA
This Land Is Your Land
INTERMISSION
Love Walks In The Room (Chris Burgan original solo)
Crazy Love (Bob Jones solo of classic Van Morrison tune)
Can't Help Falling In Love
Beyond The Sea
Medley: Classical Gas/Eleanor Rigby
High Flyin' Bird
The Dutchman
Someday Soon
Beatles "Weather Report" medley:
I'll Follow The Sun
Rain
Good Day Sunshine
Penny Lane
Love Me Not Tomorrow
Let's Get Together
You Were On My Mind (reprise)
Encore
Amazing Grace
During their break and after the show, they were very kind about mixing
with the crowd, and a splendid time was had by all.
Marty
Michael Coxe wrote:
>Called on Espresso garden on Saturday when I read Marty's email but
>the show was already sold out. We consoled ourselves with the fact that Bev
>Bivens wouldn't be onstage (she made We Five as the later records [non-BB]
>attest). Still it would have been alot of fun - with what I'm sure was a house
>packed with their old-fogie fan base - hearing our favortites like "Tonight",
>"Somewhere Beyond The Sea", "Can't Help Falling In Love", "My Favorite
>Things" and yes, "Cast Your Fate to the Wind".
>
>Marty - did you go? Anyone else? Review?
>
> - michael
>
>
>
>On 10/14/05, Marty Rudnick <mrudnick@marturo.com> wrote:
>
>
>>I just found out about this..I will definitely be there.
>>
>>Marty
>>
>>40 years ago WE FIVE began performing in San Francisco in what would
>>become the year of "You Were On My Mind."
>>
>>
>
>[snip]
>
>
>
>>We have booked a performance at the Espresso Garden and Café in San
>>Jose.
>>
>>
>
>
>
>
>
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