We were supposed to be in upstate NY this weekend, to attend a wedding party for my father. But, by Thursday it was obvious the hurricane was going to screw that up - we'd be able to get there just fine, but coming back would be a problem. So, we cancelled that trip.
About the same time, the hurricane forced Gillian Welch to cancel a show she was scheduled to play on Saturday in the Wilmington NC area, and opened a new one, three hours inland, in Saxapahaw NC. The show was at the Haw River Ballroom, a newly-renovated former cotton mill, set up on a hillside overlooking the Haw river. Capacity 700: which makes it large enough to hold half the cute town of Saxapahaw. The show sold out, but not before we got our tix.
This was the seventh time I've seen them (five as "Gillian Welch", two as "David Rawlings Machine" - thus beating tying Robyn Hitchcock as my most-seen act), but it was the smallest venue, and the first time we've been able to get up to the front of the stage: close enough to hear their guitars without amplification. Very cool. Rawlings' ancient Epiphone guitar looks even more creaky up-close than it does on film.
They (Gillian and David) have a strict "no photographs" policy at their shows, so I was going to be discreet about getting a shot or two. But we forgot to pack a memory card for the camera. So, no pictures. That's probably for the best, though. Just before the lights went down, a woman shoved herself in front of me, with two SLR cameras around her neck and a giant camera bag. When the show started, she started taking pictures. And after the first song, David Rawlings, guitar in hand, walked over to her and told her knock it off. She didn't seem entirely convinced, but after some people around her in audience started yelling at her, too, she packed up and got out of there. So, yeah, having no memory card was probably a good thing for us.
Instead, here's a picture from Merlefest 06:
Nikon D100, 70-240mm
(repost)
A somewhat different set from what we saw them do a few weeks ago: no "Revelator", but "My Morphine". No "Caleb Myer", but "Orphan Girl". No "White Rabbit", but "Lover's Prayer". Great versions of "I'll Fly Away" and David's "To Be Young". A couple of covers: "Dusty Boxcar Walls", Neil Young's "Albuquerque". They played all of the new record except for one song, I think. Set list.
Good show! You really need to go see them, if you get the chance.
Why don’t they want their picture taken?
dunno.
They are a handsome pair. I’d want my pic snapped all the time if Iooked like them.
When my band had some photos professionally done it was like, “Ew. Good thing we’re good at our instruments.”
I mean, we’re kind of ugly but not iconically ugly like your Shane MacGowans or what-have-you. We fall into that uninteresting middle realm.