The UK LRC in words and pictures

[Mike UK]

OK, here it is. Lots of photos, so if you have a slow dial-up line, be patient!

The UK Living Room Concert, 16 April 2006 (http://www.aftertones.flyer.co.uk/UKLRC.html)

Hope you all enjoy it.

Mike

[david uk]

Thanks Mike for a great write up! and some wonderful pics- to be honest I have no recollection of you taking that pic of henry, marjan and myself!:p

The show was magical- Janis au narurel- no make up, comfortable clothes, no microphone (that was there just for the recording of the CD for Rowy and Anne.)

Sitting on the floor a few feet from Janis, hearing her gentle voice directly from her mouth was great. A few of us asked questions and Janis answered directly and with very interesting answers (especially about Jackie Skates);)

I had thought I would be in awe, but Janis made certain we would feel totally at ease. As I was sitting in one of the kicthens chatting to a few poeple such as Anna from Dublin, Marjan and Chet, we saw Janis walking down the drive towards us... she came in, hugged us all (yes those famous janis hugs!) and then set about putting the kettle on to make herself a cup of coffee before coming to sit down at the kicthen table for a chat.... flicking through the newspaper as she did so and commenting on the Queen and Camilla lol

That did it for me- I then felt toally relaxed for the whole time. I was one of the few people fortunate enough to be "trapped " in the room when the door was closed for the interview- which the interviewer hopes will appear in the national press. The interviewer had clearly done her homework- we sat there in silence as Janis talked for about 40 minutes about her life, career, and the rudies :D

After the show Janis stayed for lunch and credit has to go to Anne, Rowy and chef Pete CC for the food - yumm!

I was amazed when Janis asked about my personal life- she remembered what I'd been going through a year ago from now.... and once again expressed her admiration for Dee's cover versions "awwww aren't Dee's album covers neat!"

I won't go on about the show as Mike has done a more than aequate job of that. I will say though that I enjoyed immensely the "communal living" experience with the 15 or so Rudies who stayed at the farm for the full 4 and a half days- within a few minutes of meeting each otherwe all felt we knew each other from message board exhanges and kyalla chats over the last couple of years. We were in and out of each other's living rooms and kitchens... cooking and eating together as if we were on a holiday camp.

Janis's new soundman Greg commented on how relaxed Janis had appeared during her afternoon with us..... and that she had said this was because she was with so many people she knew.

The Brighton Show was fabulous last night- I think Chet has posted the setlist already- quick work as she only arrived ack in London a couple of hours ago. The audience was cheering, laughing and applauding right from her entrance on stage- what's more Janis and Philip had reserved 2nd and 3rd row seats for us....

I won't go on any longer, as others will no doubt want to have their say too!

I just wanted to say thank you so so much to Rowy and Anne for so much hard work and dedication enabling this dream to become reality for all of us.....

You are both stars!!!!

[Rickster]

Mike, What a wonderful and eloquently written summation of the LRC. You are truly talented. The wait was worth it! ;) It looks like a great time was had by all!

[Lin]

Your write-up is so wonderful, Mike. Thank you. And David, thank you for your addition also. It was all wonderful to read! Wish I could have been there. And what a surprise that Song was there!! How cool!

Lin

[Wes]

Are you sure you worked for IBM & not Fleet Street? Thats one quick & thorough report. Just one question. Who's the good looking bloke eating ?


Great to see you again & meet your wife

Regards Wes

[david uk]

Are you sure you worked for IBM & not Fleet Street? Thats one quick & thorough report. Just one question. Who's the good looking bloke eating ?

LOL Wes! your modesty is amazing;)

ps Wes now has a French name- Le Wes.... it's a long story!

[Randy & Betty in Pa]

What a fabulous review.... and the pictures are great as well... Mike thank you.... and to all that were there... such a wonderful time... What an uplifting post....

Best to all our friends in the UK for this special event....

R. from Pa.

[AceOn6]

Thanks so much for the beautiful write-ups. You made us feel as if we were there. Much appreciated!

[Chet]

The UK LRC is probably the only Janis Ian show to date with two intervals.

She'd come back from the official interval with a mug in hand, which she kept sipping from. After a while, she took off the guitar, put it against its stand, and excused herself, saying she had to go.

Oops ... too much information there (as she herself would say). But then, it's little moments like this that make her so real, and the living room concert so intimate.

[Marcia Drummergal]

A review as ONLY MikeUK could do! And you did it up proudly, my friend!

Thanks for making me feel like I was (almost) there! Very vivid memory you've got there!

Glad you all got to have the mini-UK version of Janis Mania. I hope to meet you all some day.

Also happy to see the pictures of my European friends from JM looking so well! And all who must some day come to the US! If it isn't already posted, I'd love to know the story behind Song's special trip. Perhaps it is on the board already.

Marcia :)

[MARILYN/GEMINI]

Ah....EXCELLENT MikeUK....great pictures.....thanks so much for the wonderful update !!! I love PAGE NINE......and the rest of the song selection:D

[Chet]

Slight correction to MikeUK's round-up of the UK LRC - I don't think anyone from the LRC went to the previous evening's festival, altho we talked about it, and eventually decided not to go, since she would be performing in Brighton the day after the LRC.

When we asked her, Janis said she performed for 90 minutes. Most of us thought, since it was a festival with other performers, she would get at most 45 minutes.

[Judy]

Great pictures and review! Thanks.
Judy

[Agnes]

Wow... Now I really can't wait till October! Such a wonderful meeting, terrific pictures and superb writing... Thanks Mike!

[Des]

This is an awesome report Mike, many thanks:)

[Jan de Vries]

Agree with you Agnes: I cannot wait until October!

But it is a short while till April 27th.... See you all there.


Jan from Holland

[Dar]

Thanks so much for going to all that trouble!! So great to see those pictures!
Wow! I had no idea that the LRC was actually a whole weekend celebration!
And so glad to hear that once again Rudies met and had a fabulous time!!

You are all looking terrific! Anna, I like your new haircut and Mike your wife is lovely!! Wes, I think you have a crumb on your chin in that picture. ;)

Dar

[Denise]

Oh my gosh...amazing just amazing!!!!!!!!
All of you who were there are extremely lucky lucky people and I envy each and every one of you .... but I'm also SOOO happy for all of you to have had the opportunity to be a part of such a special experience!
What an AWESOME review and love, love the pictures!!!!!

[DaveM]

Damn.....what can I say but.....good on ye, Mike!

[Cardiffgal]

For the great photos and review. I was struck with how truly happy Janis looked and how playful she appeared in your pictures.

[DaveM]

By the way.....I want a copy of that DVD and meanwhile, a long standing ovation to SongDragon

[Chet]

By the way.....I want a copy of that DVD and meanwhile, a long standing ovation to SongDragon
I like the way you asked (no, not asked - demanded is the word) for a copy, DaveM, no "please, may I have a copy?", not even "I would like a copy ... "

I think a donation to The Pearl Foundation is required.

[hoops]

dang that was good, i feel like i was there with you all...well, i guess i was in spirit huh?
pax
hoops

[Dee]

Well done, Mike. Thank you.

[Mike UK]

Thanks for all your kind comments. It was a pleasure!

And it's good to see several other write-ups and sets of photos - especially Anne's long, early morning set of posts! Bravo!

Mike

PS. If you want to know who's who in the pictures on my LRC web page The UK Living Room Concert, 16 April 2006 (http://www.aftertones.flyer.co.uk/UKLRC.html) , just hover the mouse over each photo and wait for the little caption to pop up ...

[SongDragon]

Great write up, Mike! I have to say, my hair is a mess! Then again, when isn't it? DaveM, I got many applauses for my secrecy, though I really didn't think it was going to be possible, I thought I was going to spill it at some time or another. Once I was on the plane, though, I didn't have much choice. So that took a lot of the hard part out of it.

~Song

[Marcia Drummergal]

Thanks for the captions, Mike. How do you DO that?

Song, don't worry about your hair. You looked so happy I'm sure no one noticed! What a great surprise (which you DID manage to keep!)

Marcia :)

[gisli]

So great, so great so great, thanks Mike, I´m feeling the spirit in your writing, so good.

(still holding a poker non expression face so no one will notice the envy that lingures inside my head)

[Mike UK]

Thanks for the captions, Mike. How do you DO that?

Marcia :)
You really wanna know, huh, drummer buddy?

Well, I hold the notes down with my left hand, on the wrong side of the neck, and I hit those doggone strings and the body for all they're worth with my right hand ...

No, wait a minute, that's Kath's answer to that same question ... oh yes ... it's a little thing called "Alternate Text" ... when you add an image to a web page, using a composing tool, you just select the "Alternate Text" function and enter the caption, and voilà!

Don't try this at home. Bats may emerge screeching from rafters ...

Mike

[Chet]

I got many applauses for my secrecy, though I really didn't think it was going to be possible, I thought I was going to spill it at some time or another.
Do you remember hiding in the ironing board cupboard when someone saw Janis taking a smoke almost right outside our kitchen window? ;)

[Charlie]

Just checked out the website and was glad to see no pictures of myself got through - looking too old these days. Both my wife and I could not believe we were watching Janis from a few feet away. Absolutely magical afternoon.

[David from London]

Mike

A great write-up for an afternoon I'll never forget. Thanks for all you've done.

David

[Kath of the Guitar]

Mike, you are amazing....that was wonderful, like Marcia said, as only YOU could do,brought back some great memories and made my heart feel fuzzy. A very proud feeling comes over me,to be a part of all of you... ((hugs)) to everyone...Song don't worry about the hair....you wear it like a girl in a hurry.;)

Mike,... like playing piano strings bro...;)
Kath:p

[moe75]

This better be my last post for the day, or John L will hammer me for spamming LOL

My global thanks to all the LRC UK rudies for posting their impressions, pictures etc to the board recently. It sounded much like the Indy Janismania (as Dar said recently). Lovely surprise from Jennifer to show up like that. Have enjoyed reading everyone's comments, and especially yours Mike! As usual, you went above and beyond the call of duty. Well done.

:)

[Chet]

Just checked out the website and was glad to see no pictures of myself got through - looking too old these days. Both my wife and I could not believe we were watching Janis from a few feet away. Absolutely magical afternoon.
Oh, but one got through.

http://www.chetscorner.com/gallery/albums/ManchesterAnne-1/IMGP0904.jpg

[Charlie]

Nice one Chet - you looked so nice at the LRC as well ;)

Having said the wife will be happy to see herself on this site though.

[Wandering Man]

What a fun evening! Thanks for the writeup...wish I could have been there to experience it.

[Dougster]

Thanks so much for your efforts and sharing! Wow what a great time. I am very jealous, yet grateful to live it through your eyes and experience. I loved reading and looking and imagining.
THANK YOU !
Dougster

[Chris Sawyer]

HI mike.
Thanks for wonderful write-up.I could see you scribbling away, from top of stairs!
Regards
Chris