Cedarburg

[invsbl_wife]

What a wonderful evening we had last night!! Thank you Janis for sharing your gift with us. I'm still working on all of the emotions your time on stage brought forth - from tears to laughter to some deep thinking. You were marvelous! And I can't tell you what a thrill it was to meet you afterwards. It's a moment I've waited for for a couple of years. I meant to say so much more to you, but as so many others have been, I was totally star-struck and forgot everything! So just accept a general "thank you" for now.

Randy, Betty, Barb, Marcia, Rachel & Michelle - thank you all for the warm welcome you all gave us. It was so nice to meet you all. I wish we could have spent more time with you. Perhaps that will happen another time! Thank you also for letting us sit with you. It made the evening so much more special - you have no idea what that kind jesture meant.

I do have just a couple photos to share. I'll send them to Chet before long.

Thank you all again.

[marjan]

Thanks for the review invsbl_wife. Great to read you have had a great time with other Rudiesand of course Janis concert. Can't wait to see you at Chet's page, you know you won't be invisable after posting your pics don't you :D

[invsbl_man]

i've listened to janis since her first album. i connected with her music from the first time i heard society's child. her songs have been more or less anthems for parts of my life. the lines "one of these days i'm gonna stop my listening. gonna raise my head up high. one of these days i'm gonna raise up my glistening wings and fly" is one of those lines that i should have written. it felt like it came out of my head. i reconnected with janis's music over the years. when i found the message board here, i was thrilled to be able to thank janis directly for the gift she gives us all. a few years ago i had some serious health problems, and on my way back and forth to cardiac rehab, i listened to the song This Train Still Runs. and it was my theme for that time.
the concert last night was my first chance to see janis live and meet her. i finally understand what many of you have said in the past. seeing janis in concert is like visiting with a friend. some of the songs are familiar, listened to often. some are long lost friends you haven't heard for a long time, but you are thrilled to meet again. some songs are new and bring new ideas, new smiles, new tears. and it's all done unpretentiously. comfortably. i don't know how she does that. making an auditorium feel like a home. but she does. and you leave feeling you've met her. talked to her. and to top it all of she does wait around after the show to actually talk to you, shake your hand, listen to what you have to say. i guess you can tell, i was impressed.
thank you, janis, for coming to wisconsin and making yourself available to us. i know you were suffering from a cold and would probably rather been in bed resting, but i'm selfishly very glad you opted for the stage instead. i hope to see you again in the future. thank you again.

[Chet]

Thank you, Mr & Mrs invsbl_man - both your posts brought tears to my eyes.

Look forward to receiving the pictures and posting them. As Marjan said, you won't be invisible after that!

[Lin]

Invsbl_man - That is about the most touching review I have read. You said it beautifully. This is what we all experience at a Janis Ian concert. I know it is what I have felt but could not put into words. Thank you! And thank you Invsbl_wife!!

Lin

[Dee]

Thanks for the reviews, invsbl_wife and invsbl_man. Glad you both enjoyed yourselves.

[Bat]

It was fine to finally meet the Invisibles at long last, in the flesh! And, yes, they do exist, and no, they are not invisible at all...quite nice looking people, actually! I have a nice group photo, minus Janis, of most of us. (Unfortunately, Michelle and Rachel left, and I completely forgot to take a picture of them...thought they would be around a little longer...it was great to see them again! Haven't seen them since Janismania, so it's been a while.)

It never ceases to amaze me, that no matter how good Janis is, the next concert is always better than the last, and Cedarburg is no exception.
Despite her cold, and despite being on a double bill with Sophie B. Tucker, (a real screamer if I ever heard one!), Janis came out, all alone, no band, just a guitar and a lovely potted plant in bloom, and proceeded to open with 'Jesse'.
...that said, loud and clear, "I'm here, and Sophie, I'm gonna blow you away!"
And she did. Janis had the audience in the palm of her hand from the first note, her voice just got stronger as the night went on, and I have never heard her in full voice as well as I did that night.

Greg, her sound man, played the board like a piano, fighting the house sound system, and correcting for every little flaw it threw at him, he is quite a gem, knows exactly what to do, and does it before anyone even notices, balances Janis' voice with her guitar, never letting the words get lost, never failing to pick up the important musical hooks and nuances...yes, quite a fine gem whom Janis is very fortunate to have looking after her best interests in sound.

Thanks, Janis and crew, for a wonderful evening, a superb concert, the best of all!

[Marcia Drummergal]

Invisibles!! I LOVED reading what you had to say and you said it so awfully well!! Bat, I enjoyed your perspective. We had seats behind Greg and it was fascinating to watch him at the sound board. He never rested!

This was an AMAZING show. Janis was more inspired than ever! I really DON'T know how she does it! So the scenario was.....

Don't know how many of you are familiar with Sophie B. Hawkins, Janis' opener. I knew one of her songs from the radio but that was it. Let's just say, the woman is a BUNDLE of energy! She jumps around the stage and moves from stringed instrument to African drum (djembe I believe) to the piano and back...all the while, singing her songs. With her was a great drummer and a keyboard/synth player. I was somewhat perplexed to see such an opening act, knowing that Janis would come out solo after intermission. It would intimidate most but certainly not our Janis. I will only say another couple of things about Sophie. My favorite number was the drum solo she did on her drum, in synch with her drummer. Collectively, each Rudie said that they could not understand one WORD she sang. As Janis fans, lyrics are important. How can you get your message across if nobody understands it? I am not slamming Sophie. She had some fans there and they love her. Nuff about that subject!

Yes, Janis BLEW everyone in the CAPACITY audience away! We KNEW she felt better as she OPENED with "Jesse!" She wouldn't do Jesse the night before because of her cold. It was also a strong, gutsy thing to open with after the opener! Janis commanded the audience to listen to her and they hung on every word, every note! Unfortunately I do not have the setlist but it differed from Chicago with Jesse and at some point, with "When I Lay Down." She did not do the Crocodile Song or Boots Like Emmy Lou's. I don't "think" she did the Great Divide either. I think most of the rest was the same as Chicago, although it was 1 long set instead of 2 shorter ones.

After the show there were 2 lines and 2 tables, Janis on one side of the lobby and Sophie across from her. Some people went from line to line to meet both artists. You could tell Janis felt MUCH better as it showed during her meet and greet. The BEST (believe me) way to tell was when all was said and done, some of us were still hanging around. Janis came out from behind the table and gave each Rudie a hug and said it was to make up for not being able to hug us the night before! She DOES give the very BEST hugs!!

I was sorry that Michelle (Boston Guitar Gal) and Rachel had to cut out when they did. They hadn't eaten in hours and had to drive back to Racine. Invisibles, I enjoyed meeting you. I hope we get to spend more time together another time. Of course, Randy and Betty. Randy is a real trip! I would say that Betty keeps him grounded but I don't think that is quite possible! ;) Randy and Betty were lucky enough to go to Green Lake last night. We'd have gone if we'd had a cat sitter. Tonight they will be at the Cedar Rapids show. Randy said I should say "something nasty" to Redjack for him. So now I have! ;)

Back-tracking. After we checked into our hotel, I heard a voice behind me making a comment about the map I had just requested at the front desk. That voice was Greg. He was just getting Janis checked in. Sophie and her band also stayed at our hotel. I briefly got to meet her drummer who seemed quite surprised and pleased to be recognized. I said "you did a great job last night, Mister Drummer!"

We rode the elevator a few times with Janis....really, we weren't stalking you.....it truly was a coincidence! In fact, the morning we left, Bat didn't even realize Janis was on the elevator and when I pointed her out, Bat said, "Oh GOD!" It was funny. I should have said, "NO.....God-LIKE!" LOL

Janis, thanks for a wonderful couple of days. May you feel better each day.... Thanks for making more wonderful memories for us. You are a very special lady.

Marcia :)

[Bat]

Janis, thanks for a wonderful couple of days. May you feel better each day.... Thanks for making more wonderful memories for us. You are a very special lady.


That you are, Janis...not much of a morning person tho, are ya? "mmphh!"

[marjan]

THANKS for a great review Marcia and Bat. It was really if I was there with you all. And staying in the same hotel as Janis and being in the elevator with her .... :eek:

[GodSistah]

All excellent and exciting reviews! Thanks! :)

~Andrea~

[Randy & Betty in Pa]

Theres not much I can add to whats been said about Cedarburg...:o BUT... Green lake and Cedar Rapids were even better...Just a footnote... Three people we met at Green Lake showed up at Cedar Rapids... How's that for draw... Thank you Janis...

Best to all

R. from Pa

[ponytail]

I'm so sorry to have missed this experience! It sounds wonderful.

I only got to see Janis live once, many years ago at the Philadelphia Folk Festival. When she did Stars, it blew everyone away. It was not all that long after the album had come out.

But I've loved Janis's music since high school. Actually, her music helped me to get through high school. I still have my copies of the old Verve vinyl albums (so worn out some of the grooves have gone white). "Queen Merka and Me" was one of the first nods to gay people I ever heard in a song, and it meant a great deal to me.

I hope you come to PA sometime, Janis! I'll be first in line.

[Randy & Betty in Pa]

I hope you come to PA sometime, Janis! I'll be first in line.

Ponytail...

Janis will be in Pa. in October at the Swiftwater School in the Pocono's.Just off Route 80 above Stroudsburg.. We will be there plus she is all over New Jersey in the next few months... Check the TOUR SCHEDULE.... See you there:o

She has in the past few years performed in Easton, Pittsburgh, Sellersville, Reading and I have no doubt many other places....

R. from Pa...

Ps... Sorry your too late to be the first in line....

[gisli]

Thank you, Mr & Mrs invsbl_man - both your posts brought tears to my eyes.

Look forward to receiving the pictures and posting them. As Marjan said, you won't be invisible after that!

Ditto what Chet says, a lovely, lovely post from you and your wife, and all others, thank you.

[Bat]

THANKS for a great review Marcia and Bat. It was really if I was there with you all. And staying in the same hotel as Janis and being in the elevator with her ....

Oh, yeah, Marjan...I was so cool and suave! I had forgotten something in the room, went back for it. Marcia got on the elevator, and the door closed just as I got back to it, so I punched the button, and it opened...surprised the hell outta me...and I got in, thinking it was just Marcia, and Greg Sound.
Then Marcia said did you see who is in here with us? Of course not...I hadn't even turned around yet to face front in correct elevator protocol. As I did so, there I spied Janis lolling against the right wall, looking rather morningish, and I just coolly said, "OH, GOD!" ...because I had made them all wait while I re-opened the door, late. It was an unusual comment and total non-sequitor which, I'm sure, was puzzling to all and sundry. Good Ol' Bat.:confused:

[GodSistah]

LOL @ Bat! :D

You truly are cool, Bat! ;)

~Andrea~