This is my first post to these boards. I am thrilled to be involved with a community of Arlo Guthrie fans. I just wanted to share my story of how I came across Arlo Guthrie and express my excitement for the upcoming show at The Church (July 1st).

I went to college on the west coast, Gonzaga University, and while there I spent 4 years on the rowing team. During my first winter break, the team had to come back to school early and train. I was a freshman, and the dorms were closed for another week, so I moved into one of the senior's apartments for the interim. He was a real character, no TV, no phone, no internet, just a couple CDs (This is in 1999). Besides rowing, my friend was an avid beer drinker, so when we were not in practice, he was down the street at the bar. Being 18 years old, that left me a lot of free time in this desolate apartment. He came home one night, woke me up and told me that I had to listen to "Alice's Restaurant" (the re-done version)! I had no idea what he was talking about, but I figured I could waste 3 or 4 minutes on this song he wanted to hear. Boy, was I wrong! As we all know, it was much longer than 3 or 4 minutes and that time was certainly not wasted. The song was amazing! I have tried to play it for some of my friends, and about 45 seconds into it they start asking tons of questions and getting impatient. I did not say a word the first time I heard it, I just sat there smiling. After it was over, I listened to it again. I asked my friend who was it by, why had I never heard it before, etc. He and I listened to that song many more times that year. A few years later, in 2001, I was taking a Christian Morals in the Vietnam War class, and every day we would start the class with a war protest song (this is the first time I heard Country Joe!), one day the professor cued up Alice's Restaurant. It was some of the most fun I have had in classroom. The best part was the whole auditorium class was listening to it. Enjoying it.

I still knew little about Arlo Guthrie or the music he played. I begun playing guitar a few years back and a few times a year I get together with my brother and uncle and we jam. My uncle always likes "train songs", and one of the first songs he taught me was City of New Orleans. I had heard that song in the past, but never knew who sang it. Again, that is a beautiful song that I could (and do) listen to over and over. Highway in the Wind, Darkest Hour, Motorcycle song, etc etc. can be heard in my home any day of the week...all from listening to Alice's Restaurant a few years ago in a freezing apartment.

I recently moved to Boston from Seattle. My new wife and I took our dog, packed up our belongings in our car and headed east. You could imagine my excitement driving for 5 days and seeing the "Welcome to Massachussetts" sign on I-90. Conversley you may understand my disappointment when my suggestion to stop in Stockbridge to try to find Alice's Restaurant was rebuffed by my lovely wife (we had a meeting witha realtor, it was probably a good decision). Regardless, I vowed to take a day trip or spend a weekend looking for Alice's Restaurant. Just like everyone else, though, I have been busy since moving out here...working, getting acquainted. I was sitting in my office the other day trying to find some streaming folk music, so I Googled "Arlo Guthrie" and came across a few dead ends, then I found Arlo.net. I had never really considered that Arlo would still be performing... I was born almost 15 years after Alice's Restaurant was written.

Poking around Arlo.net I found the concert list and saw that Arlo would be at Alice's Restaurant in July! I instantly called my wife, told her (I didn't really ask) that I would be in Western Mass on the night of July 1. I invited her to come along, but she declined. I invited one other friend and decided at that point that if no one else was interested...Fine. I would go by myself. I bought tickets that day.

I am almost embaressed by how excited I am about this concert. I have seen many great bands, but this is the most thrilling for me. To see Arlo would be one thing, to see him at the Church...is unbelievable. I don't really know what to expect, and to be honest, I am not expecting much. I am unsure how I am going to react when I hear some of my favorite songs being played by the person who made them magical. I just plan on showing up and having a wonderful experience.

If you managed to read this much, you may be wondering, does this guy have a point!? To answer...no, not really...just thought I'd mention it.

Well ... I read it through and am here to say that you WON'T be sorry when you go to the concert at the Church. It's a beautiful building (and it gets MORE beautiful everytime I go). The concerts are really awesome, amazing and FUNNY!!! I was just there last Sunday night for an Arlo concert. IT WAS FANTASTIC!!!

Welcome to the site!! We have LOTS of fun here!!! Glad you found you way here!

Yup you've got it bad Dave...........you're Blunderite material for sure! Prepare to become ADDICTED!!!!
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Click on FAN BASE above, then on FORUMS on the side bar. HAVE FUN you'll meet lot's of funny, kind, weird people and they'll make you feel right at home!

Welcome to the site! Once you've heard Arlo you'll get addicted...

Dave, I couldn't help but grin while reading your post. I think many of us happened upon Arlo by accident (or divine intervention). My kids happened upon him solely because of me! And 2/3 of them actually like him (a lot!). The other 1/3 will be seeing him with me in Ocean City, NJ in August (in trade for my taking her to the beach for 2 days).

On another thread somewhere on this site, many of us have shared our "first time" with Arlo.... first time hearing of him, first time hearing him sing, first time seeing him. It's always fun to share stories.

I first heard the words "Alice's Restaurant" back in 1968 or 69. Heard the actual song in 1970. I was hooked when I flipped the album over and heard Chilling of the Evening... and am still hooked. Have spent many incredible evenings at The Church, many afternoons hanging out there trying to help out in some way and my 10 year old is the official car-parker for events.

What I'm ramblin' on about is that I'm looking forward to meeting you at The Church in July (I'll be at all 3 shows, volunteering in the kitchen), Michael will be parking cars (better follow his directions or you just might get a ticket) and hubby Lance will most likely be tending bar.

I'll be uploading some very poor quality video taken at The Church last weekend (it was in .avi format from a digital still camera) and converted to a smaller file format for upload. I'll post the link(s) when I'm finished working on them, hopefully tomorrow. The links will be in Setlists and Show Reports ---> May 22 HD Walk and Concert

I'm a new member of the forum but definitely not a new fan of all things Guthrie. I can't remember a time when I didn't know all the Woody Guthrie children's songs and I wore the grooves out on my parent's original album of "Alice's Restaurant". I think I had all the words memorized by the time I was five.

I bought my first concert tickets at 12 and was allowed to travel into NYC by myself (with a few friends, no adults) to the annual Thanksgiving Carnegie Hall show. I have attended every year but this last (I lost my job a week before and things were a little hairy.) I plan to make up for it by going to the concert in Battery Park next week.

When Arlo's kids started performing with him I was thrilled. Here was a group of my peers carrying on the traditions. I have closely followed Sarah Lee and Johnny's careers and made sure I got my hands on their first releases. I plan to do the same with Folk Uke and anything else that comes along.

With Abe's son following in the family footsteps it is clear that this music will live on and continue to be available to listeners of ALL ages.

V.

Talk about thrilled --- Arlo will be doing a show about 20 minutes from where I live Cordova, Tennessee (section of Memphis) on February 25, 2006. Hoping that Judy will be able to come visit and stay with us. Arlo, hope your travel arrangements could include a visit, too. If you travel by tour bus, why not park in my yard? Judy's Grandfather was my Grandfather's brother, thus her Dad and my Dad were cousins. So as the offspring of cousins, are we cousins, too? Well, I love having her as my relative, so we happily call her cousin anyway!!! Bonnie
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http://www.gpacweb.com/show_release.cfm?rsShowsKey=126
Great photograph of Arlo!

Hey, Cousin Bonnie! Welcome to the Boards! Who knows where I may show up? I don't know myself, half of the time......

I'm no geneology expert, but I think we're second cousins once removed, or something like that. And the rest of you may be interested to know, that Bonnie and I have been writing and talking for a couple years now, after she did a search for our family and found me.....on Arlonet!!! Also on my musician friend Dan Stevens' website. Music brings families together!