She’s my she-ro: Joan Baez
She has a powerful presence that fills the room. When she walked on stage at the Aladdin Theatre in Portland, I felt that presence.
No. Actually, the first thing I noticed was her aging appearance. She did a little comic tap dance on her entrance, perhaps to offset the senior hippie we were seeing on stage.
I saw Joan at Portland’s Arlene Schnitzer Auditorium about 7-10 years ago. Dar Williams opened for her. They sang a few songs together. I remember their rendition of “You’re Aging Well.” Then, Joan’s soaring soprano and Dar’s mezzo blended beautifully.
Last night, Joan’s voice was showing signs of age or perhaps a budding cold. While still powerful and strong, it lacked elasticity and her range was diminished. Perhaps because this was the 22nd of 23 performances on her tour explains the fatigue in her voice. It makes me wonder what her voice was like on the first date of the tour or even the 10th.
She came on stage at 8pm and played without an intermission - straight through until almost 10pm. A concert of some oldies and some new songs, the audience loved every minute. When the end came, we wouldn’t let her go. She returned for three encores. Aging, schmaging! This artist loves us right back and gave and gave.
I expected some talk of politics, but there were no speeches or post-election talk. Her music did the politicking with “Joe Hill”, a set of Dylan tunes, more recent (10 years) material.
Speaking of Dylan, her third encore and final song was fittingly, “Diamonds and Rust.” Two modifications: 40 years ago… instead of 10 years ago; and the final line; instead of “And if you’re offering me diamonds and rust I’ve already paid” became, “And if you’re offering me diamonds and rust I’ll take the grammy.”
And on that note, Joan bid us goodnight.
December 2nd, 2006 at 10:05 am
I’m sorry I missed her visit! I don’t track the visits of performers usually, but if I’d know Joan Baez was in town I am quite certain I’d have gone. Her first album was out the year I entered college (1963), and her voice was the soundtrack of my college life–her, the Weavers, and Peter, Paul, and Mary. Recently, I downloaded a mega-album “The Complete A&M Recordings,” 77 tracks. I have yet to listen to all of them, but it’s wonderful hearing that soaring voice once again.
December 2nd, 2006 at 12:54 pm
Have you ever heard Ronnie Gilbert (of the Weavers) team up with Holly Near? They bridge the generations and create contemporary folkie-political music.