[FM] Stacey Earle - 2/26/00 - Denton, Md

[Jeff Nuttle]

Stacey Earle, 2/26/00, Denton, Maryland

I produced two shows this weekend. One was Mickey Rooney and the other was 
Stacey Earle.  Since to the best of my knowledge Mickey has not released  a 
folk cd, i guess i should talk bout Stacey Earle.

"There he goes again, reviewing his own show"

I'm one of those lucky folks who are not only fans of acoustic music but 
presenters as well.  If you are a presenter too then you know just how much 
work it takes to keep it going.  A lot of hours and a lot of frustrations 
sometimes.  As a presenter I cherish those rare wonderful moments when 
everything comes together: the performer, the audience, the sound and even 
the phases of the moon!  Then you know that everything was worth it. It 
does not happen all the time, so for me it has that special element of 
"right" to it.  Such a moment occurred Saturday night at the Second Story 
Coffeehouse in Denton Maryland when Stacey Earle and her husband Mark 
Stewart took the stage.  And as no one else on the list was there I guess 
it is up to me to tell you about it. I have been looking forward to this 
show for almost a year, so it was just an incredible delight for me.  Hope 
you dont mind if I share it with you.

It was record setting attendance for us and her first time at our 
place.  And audience members came from as far as two hours away to see this 
show.  Many cds were sold and Stacey and Mark left with the hearts of new 
listeners.  But I understand that this is not that unusual.  Everybody 
seems to love Stacey and her music.  Her show at The Barns of Wolftrap two 
days earlier was nearly sold and fans at every major festival this summer 
saw her and husband Mark Stewart's talents on display.

Stacey's debut cd Simple Gearle is something of a phenomenon.  In two years 
she has sold between 20,000 and 30,000 copies,  mostly at her shows, in 
venues all over the US, Canada and Europe. This is an amazing statistic for 
an independent release.  I knew as soon as I heard it the first time that 
among the hundreds of songwriters out there she had something special.  And 
I can understand why she often gets booked just by the strength of this 
cd.  She seems to posses a natural songwriting skill for honesty, passion, 
insight, and an understated eloquence that few performers these days 
measure up to.  She is so totally unique and refreshing that it is hard to 
compare her to anyone, but I bet if you like the music of Iris Dement, 
Nancy Griffith (whose voice does resemble Stacey's), or Gillian Welch you 
will like Stacey.  Her view of the world is also more positive then 
Gillian's but not blindly so. Her optimism is tempered with a realistic 
view of the world that only experience can provide.  What strikes me about 
Simple Gearle is Stacey's steadfast refusal to be defeated in her attempts 
to be herself in person and through her songs.  She shares that quality 
with her brother Steve (whose songs i also love) but you will hear none of 
the bravado and swagger that tends to be part of brother Steve's 
persona.  Instead a quiet beauty, charm and resilience that make you want 
to live next door to her and have her as a friend.  Being a simple gearle 
(girl and Earle, get it?) her songs, like the production on the cd (vocals, 
guitar, mandolin, accordion and light percussion), are basic stripped down 
little truths about getting married -"Wedding Night", a romantic getway 
-"Weekend Runaway", coming home to an empty house after your kids have 
moved way -"Just Another Day", and the simple gearle way of life -"Simple 
Gearle":

"I don't need no diamond ring, I don't need much of anything
You're a good man, I'll wear your golden band
We've got a house with a porch and a swing
And I will be your Simple Gearle "

Moving on from a failed relationship in "Cried My Heart Out":

"I cried my heart out
As you tore my heart right out
You ain't the first
So you won't be the last
I'm gonna put it all behind me
And in my past"

Trying to make it in Nashville and refusing to be put into a mold for mass 
marketing in "Next Door Down":

"I tried the front door and then a side door
Up an alley way, went in through a back door
And they were all there, and where is there?
A room of people all going somewhere
They said we're all going somewhere someday
Said Gearle, you gotta find your own way
Said Gearle, where you gotta go
Is from your heart, said my soul

Well, you don't get down
You take a look around
You know you might just try the next door down
Go on down, go on down
Go on down, go on down, go on down"

And my personal favorite about continuing on in the face of adversity in 
"In My Way":

"And I know exactly where I'm heading
This is just a little stop I made on the way
Even though I feel like I'm in heaven
I'll let nothing stand in my way
In my way, in my way
In my way, in my way"

I also love the song that until recently was a mystery to me.  "Losers 
Weep" sung with her brother Steve.  It's about a secret from long ago.  And 
as Stacey says from stage "I could tell you what it's about, but then it 
would not be a secret"

" I'm goin' back where I came from
I'm goin' lookin' for someone
Someone I left behind
We were both babies at the time

My family moved away
Wanted you to go but you had to stay
And out the back window
I waved goodbye
Your mother held you as you cried

We play
Hide and seek, finders keepers
Only the loser is left to weep
Well I got a secret but can I keep it
I better cross my heart and hope to die"
(Hint: It's not about her and Steve)

As good as Simple Gearle is and as much as I love the recording, her live 
show is much better.  She is funny, sweet, playful, sad, optimistic, 
regretful, honest, wise and above all 100% genuine.  Both Stacey and Mark 
sing and  play acoustic guitar. She made all the songs fresh again by 
re-living the mood of the song as if it were the first time she had 
performed it.  After two years of almost constant touring that is saying 
something.  Mark Stewarts harmonies and especially his beautifully subtle 
lead accents on guitar added even more dimension to these slice-of-life 
songs.  The notes he played were all in the right places and totally 
appropriate for the song.  The temptation for most lead players I think is 
to jam as many notes into a solo as you can.  Mark  lays back and just 
plays the RIGHT ones.  Mark also opened the show and did some great songs 
of his own from his cd "Songs From A Corner Stage".  I particularly liked 
"Old Money".

Most of the songs Stacey did Saturday night were from Simple Gearle, but 
she also did some new ones that I love too. They will be on her new cd 
coming out on May 9th.  You can go to her website (www.staceyearle.com) and 
pre-order one. She tells me she thinks they will be available before that. 
One song stands out for me: "Makes Me Happy".  It's about how fulfilling 
this life of writing and performing songs is to her. The joy is evident on 
her face.   She certainly brought a smile to my face. Another new one is 
"Must Be Love" a kind of up-tempo country rocker, "Is It Enough" about her 
romance with husband Mark and a new version of her brother Steve's song 
"Promise Her Anything" .  Stacey originally sang it on Steve's cd and then 
on the road with him.  I have not heard the new one yet, but the songs I 
have heard from it sound every bit as interesting as the ones on Simple Gearle.

I don't work for Stacey and Mark, just want to share the experience with 
others.  She really does not need my help from me these days.  She is one 
of the busiest performers out there.  If you are a fan of great songwriters 
go see her. If you are a presenter, book her now while you still can.

Jeff Nuttle