Jim in Chattanooga, TN
04-09-2007, 10:37 AM
Sorry for the delay, guys. It was a late night and I spent Sunday getting caught up on sleep and reminiscing about a great show!
Janis greeted me with a big, warm hug and pointed out where Charlene and Adrienne were seated. Janis looked great in a white blouse and jeans.
She sat in the round with Gretchen Peters, Tony Arata and Craig Carothers, all great songwriters in their own right. The place was packed and because of the intimacy of the venue, everyone had a great seat.
The theme for most of the songs was social dysfunction, something everyone can relate to and of course the anecdotes of dealing with the music industry and, in Janis' words, "how this business is more about failures than successes". When Gretchen mentioned before performing "On A Bus To St. Cloud" how that song was an utter failure at radio, Janis said, "welcome to my world!".
Gretchen brought Janis a birthday cookie and everyone in the place whistled (yes, whistled) Happy Birthday to Janis.
Janis mentioned about her "blinding successes" in the music business and hwo she's grateful for the hits she has had (aren't we all?)!
Her songs included "When I Lay Down", "This House" (from "Breaking Silence", which I had never heard her do in concert before), "My Autobiography" (a tongue-in-cheek view of her life), "The Last Train" (with its war-themed message), "Joy" (which was preceded by a somber story of iffy medical news), "At Seventeen" (which got the only standing ovation of the night among all the performers) and a great ditty about being married in Canada but having trouble sharing the life with the one you love here in the USA.
It was a great night! I thanked Tony Arata for writing the beautiful "The Dance" which was recorded by Garth Brooks and everyone can relate to on one level or another. He was very nice and appreciative.
I was thrilled to spend Janis' birthday with her and even more honored to be at the only public show Janis plans on making this year.
Once again, no disappointments, only accolades...as usual.
Jim in Chattanooga, TN
Janis greeted me with a big, warm hug and pointed out where Charlene and Adrienne were seated. Janis looked great in a white blouse and jeans.
She sat in the round with Gretchen Peters, Tony Arata and Craig Carothers, all great songwriters in their own right. The place was packed and because of the intimacy of the venue, everyone had a great seat.
The theme for most of the songs was social dysfunction, something everyone can relate to and of course the anecdotes of dealing with the music industry and, in Janis' words, "how this business is more about failures than successes". When Gretchen mentioned before performing "On A Bus To St. Cloud" how that song was an utter failure at radio, Janis said, "welcome to my world!".
Gretchen brought Janis a birthday cookie and everyone in the place whistled (yes, whistled) Happy Birthday to Janis.
Janis mentioned about her "blinding successes" in the music business and hwo she's grateful for the hits she has had (aren't we all?)!
Her songs included "When I Lay Down", "This House" (from "Breaking Silence", which I had never heard her do in concert before), "My Autobiography" (a tongue-in-cheek view of her life), "The Last Train" (with its war-themed message), "Joy" (which was preceded by a somber story of iffy medical news), "At Seventeen" (which got the only standing ovation of the night among all the performers) and a great ditty about being married in Canada but having trouble sharing the life with the one you love here in the USA.
It was a great night! I thanked Tony Arata for writing the beautiful "The Dance" which was recorded by Garth Brooks and everyone can relate to on one level or another. He was very nice and appreciative.
I was thrilled to spend Janis' birthday with her and even more honored to be at the only public show Janis plans on making this year.
Once again, no disappointments, only accolades...as usual.
Jim in Chattanooga, TN