[FM] Plowshares/Willis Alan Ramsey

[David Broida]

Dear F_M Folk,

Willis Alan Ramsey played Plowshares Coffee House, in Phoenixville, PA,
about 25 miles northwest of Philadelphia, Saturday nite, at the most perfect
of venues.

Located at Schyulkill Friends Meeting, an old, historic Quaker Meeting
House, the concert was held in a plain white room, with a couple of plain
white pillars, clear glass windows, candles lit on each windowsill, two
simple chandaliers, candles in the corners of the room, with
horseshoe-shaped seating, on a few sets of benches, with a simple pattern on
the cushions, the only deviance from the plain white.  No curtains, no
carpet.  In other words, acoustic heaven.   It could almost pass for a
Mennonite or Amish church, except for the color in the cushions.

There was no sound system, nor any need, for the walls, ceiling and
floorboards carried the performers' voices nicely to the four corners of the
place.  A small spotlite was the only concession to 21st (or 20th, too)
century technology.  The opening act, Steve Key, play his Lowdon clearly and
sharply, and his guitar and voice reached every listerner without effort.

The 50 patrons were treated to folk music, where the song is the substance.
The opposite:  Shelbey Lynne at the Grammy's, Destiny's Child at the
Grammy's, where skin instead of song was the essence of the show.  Here, at
Plowshares, it's the music that matters, not the method.  (I know - it's
television, and we'll take our 15 minutes or less at the Grammy's.  However,
LisaBeth Weber has suggested that we should get a reverse Grammy's show -
all the acts that won or were nominated who were not on the TV spectacle -
Cathy and Marcy, Johnny Cash, Taj Mahal, etc.- do a show with them!).

Willis Alan Ramsey came out after the break (great cakes and refreshments),
and he added a harmonica and a tapping, percussive foot to his guitar and
voice.  Best known for penning "Muskrat Love" (The Captain and Tennille's
hit), his songs are even, emotional, and interesting, even when singing
about watermelon.  Steve Key - he's got a lovely song about Shoeless Joe
Jackson, where the 50 voices in the audience quickly learned their refrain,
"Say it ain't so, Joe".

Hats off (except Steve Key, who wears one during his performances) to Lucy
Bonnington (texasexile@aol.com), presenter.  She's got Bill Parsons, Kate
Campbell, David Olney, Eliot Bronson, Eric Taylor, Cliff Eberhardt, Deirdre
Flint, Louise Taylor, Erik Balkey, and Les Sampou scheduled in the next few
months, plus Mark Erelli, who will return in September.  Mark will also be
opening for Kasey Chambers at The Point in Bryn Mawr, PA, this Thursday,
March 8 (610-527-0988 or atthepoint.com  ----------) .

Be well,

d.