March 15, 1985 PAGE 11

 

   

An interesting thing happened at
the Stringband concert on March 3rd
at the Vancouver East Cultural Centre.
| suppose it might be called the only

 

by JOEL HAGEN

 

real case of the domino theory ever,
because seated throughout the hall
was the entire chain of friends and
acquaintances through which the gos-
pel of Stringband had been spread. Val
had heard about the band from Mark,
Mark and Kirstin from me, myself
from Pete, Pete from Kim, and so on
and so on.

| pointed this out to Marie-Lynn
Hammond, one of Stringband’s sing-
er-songwriters, after the show. She
laughed and said ‘‘Great, all we have
to do is stick around for 14 more years,
and we’ll all be famous.”’

Unfortunately, although | can think
of no Canadian band more deserving
of national success, Marie-Lynn’s
predication is probably true. Without
radio airplay and media coverage (save
for small alternative newspapers like
The Other Press), Stringband will
probably have to work very hard to
rise above cult success. It’s a shame,
because their music is fantastic, and
the several hundred | faithful who
showed up at the Cultch to hear them
were treated to a professional and very
entertaining show, one of the best
concerts of the year so far.

The band got warmed up with one of
the many traditional fiddle tunes they
perform, showing off the talents of
violinist Calvin Cairns. Cairns was
energetic and wide eyed, thanks to
several cups of Italian espresso, and
his horsehair bow fairly flew over the
strings.

Cairns was accompanied by the rest
of Stringband’s everchanging lineup.
Dennis Nichol, who’s been with the
band off and on for quite some time,
played a nice trebly bass, and up front
were Stringband’s founders, Ham-
mond and the ‘‘silver haired’’ (just
kidding Bob!) Bob Bossin. Bob was
bedecked in a marvellous hot pink tie,
stamped in the middle with one of
those supermarket product codes. It
was a nice touch.

Stringband didn’t take long to get
rolling, and their 2-1/2 hour long set
included lots of old favourites, as well
as new material from the prolific pens
of Hammond and Bossin.

The effect Stringband has on people
is strange. | liken it to drinking a big
cup of hot chocolate. It fills you up and
makes you feel warm and happy all
over.

Lots of people(including yours truly)
sang along to tunes like Newfound-
landers, and the band encouraged
audience participation in both the
sardonic Brian Mulroney is Wonderful
and an inspiring sixties style spiritual:

Oh glory how happy | am

Oh glory how happy | am

| see the spirit moving in the land

Do you feel it, yes | do!

 

 

 

Considering how different the song-
writing styles of Hammond and Bossin
are, it’s amazing how compatible they
are in concert. Hammond’s tunes were
sensitive and personal, and she weav-
ed her life story into songs like Elsie,
about the ‘‘restless spirit’’ of. her
grandmother, and the very beautiful
All the Horses Running.

Bossin, on the other side of the
teeter-totter, enjoyed tickling the fu-

ny bone. His musical folk take, The
Secret of Life According to Satchel
Paige came off very well, as did the
second encore, a slightly x-rated tune
called Show Us the Length... (I’m sure
you can imagine).

The nice thing about the evening
was that it was for a good cause. The
concert was a benefit for Meares
Island, and along with all the ticket
receipts, over $600 was raised in the

&.

audience during intermission.

It made for a very satisfying show.
The Maple Leaf Dog was there, Joe
Mock got called up on stage to play a
song, and there was lots and lots and
lots of great music. Stringband is a
must see for rookies and old hands
alike, so check with the Folk Festival,
and take in their next show. |

guarantee your satisfaction, or I'll be
struck deaf, dumb and spamless!

Whois this man? Whatishe doing?
Why is he having so much fun?
Would youlike to know more about him?
Youcan, by turning to pages 18 and 24