We saw Roger McGuinn at the Barns of Wolf Trap last night. In a word, he was
spectacular.
He opened on the Rickenbacker, walking out from the wings playing My Back
Pages. Pardon the plug, but it sounded wonderful being played through a
JangleBox -- *very* full and chiming. Uncharacteristically, he truncated
the song after the first verse to take a seat next to his three signature
guitars: the Ric, and two Martins -- the D42-RM and HD-7RM.
Roger was funny, warm, and conversational throughout the evening, relating
stories associated with the songs and other anecdotes (but totally
unscripted... not like "Live From Mars"). He really seemed to be enjoying
himself. His voice, which I thought was a little tired last year, soared.
Unlike other rock stars, his range has grown, not diminished, over the
years.
Some highlights: a beautiful acoustic 12-string version of 5D, which he
began by playing the outro (one of my all-time favorite McGuinn solos); a
spirited and animated Jolly Roger; and the always amazing 8MH (full version,
with two extended solos).
I ran into Camilla before the show, and asked her to please express my
tremendous gratitude to Roger for his support of JangleBox. She told me to
stick around after the show, which, of course, we did. When the crowd
cleared out, we were taken to the "green room", where Roger came in to greet
us and chat for a while. He was in great post-concert spirits -- jokingly
calling my wife "Mrs. JangleBox", and graciously saying how much he liked
the box. Man, what an evening!
The set list, courtesy of Robin Smith at alt.music.byrds:
My Back Pages (R12)
Up To Me (M12)
Dreamland (M12)
Jolly Roger (M7)
12 Gates to the City (M12)
5 D (M12)
Mr. Spaceman (R12)
Draggin' (M7)
James Alley Blues (M7)
Finnegan's Wake (M7)
Chestnut Mare (M12)
Old Blue (M12)
Russian Hill (M12)
Ballad of Easy Rider/Wasn't Born to Follow (M12)
King of the Hill (M12)
Mr. Tambourine Man (R12)
8 Miles High (M12)
Turn, Turn, Turn (R12)
Wonderfully lengthy encore:
I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better (R12)
St. James Infirmary Blues (M7)
May the Road Rise to Meet You (M7)
Chimes of Freedom (R12)
So You Want To Be a Rock & Roll Star (R12)
Knockin' on Heaven's Door (M12)
--Steve
http://www.janglebox.com