Hi everyone,
am another soul from the Brisbane concert. Heard Arlo commenting on National radio today about some disgruntled audience members, so thought I'd come take a look. Interesting how people can be in the same place at the same time and have such different reactions. I also was lucky enough to be down the front and had a wonderful time. Have been enjoying the show ever since. Can't remember the last time I had tears running down my cheeks and a pain in my side from laughing so much - oh, and the music was pretty good too..... By the way, I think he probably took that 25mins over Alice's Restaurant, in the explanation over why it wasn't going to be sung. Interesting to find out the man wasn't well - it explains the somewhat pasty look.
Janine

Did he say at the show or on the radio why he wasn't well? Other than "an old wound"?

Hi everyone,
I'm another Dave from Brisbane, and agree with Janine - it was a wonderful Saturday evening. It was my son's 18th birthday, a table of 14 - about half teenagers, the other half early 1950's vintage (like me). We all had a magic night of music and laughter, and I think Arlo has many new fans. And from where I sat the encores were in reponse to what looked a lot like very noisy standing ovations. It was a great privelage to finally see Arlo Guthrie in concert and to meet with him after the show.

Like many others I suppose, I came along wondering if he would perform Alice's Restaurant, but after a few songs you quickly realise that Alice is only a small part of who he is about. (And he knew just about how many bars it would take on the guitar there to avoid a massacree!).

To Arlo and the band, and the people who brought the show to Brisbane, thank you !

I just want to thank Arlo, Abe and Gordon for a wonderful night (and for signing my C.D). THe music was great, the storying telling was great and i smiled and laughed alot. Arlo you were so kind to sit and talk to some of us after the show, even though you weren't feeling well, hope your O.K. now. I sat next to you but i'm kinda shy (and was a bit overwhelmed i guess) so did't say much, but enjoyed listening to you answer questions about family and home.

My brother was standing behind Arlo and I, and was dressed in black. A lady came and asked if he was Arlo's minder and was it alright to ask Arlo for a photo! He got a real kick outa that!
My brother and i were born in Portland Oregon but have spent most of our lives in Brisbane (mom was a war bride, met dad when he was here with McArthur) so i'm hoping that one day, on one of my trips to my other home across the sea, i can get back east to see one of Arlo's concerts at the Church.

I've been a fan Of Arlo (and woody) since i was 15 (1969) but this was the first time i could get to a concert and felt so honoured to spend a little time with him, and what a warm, friendly young man Abe is!

Dave from Brisbane, I don't get it. You are complaining about long rambling reminisce, and more spoken than sung. That sounds to me like a revue of Alice's Restaurant. Correct me if I am wrong but the only part of Alice's that is sung is the chorus. And you said he sang the chorus. Apparently you have heard Alice's Restaurant before as have all of us Arlo fans.

Alice's is just one of the wonderfully entertaining stories Arlo has to tell and you can hear it over and over again if you buy the CD. But to hear some of his other stories you must buy a ticket and go to a concert. That is what continues to sell out Arlo's concerts. Many of us travel thousands of miles year after year to the Church to hear 3 days of Arlo's songs and stories. We could stay home if we only wanted to hear certain songs and I would suggest that is what you do if you only like one of his songs.

Terrie, to answer your question. Arlo didn't actually mention not being well at all. Read it here, guess that why 'on with the show' is such a maxim.
I'm pleased to see more Brisbane people coming in with favourable responses. It wasn't so good to hear on the radio about the negative input. Would like a repeat visit and Brisbane tends to often luck out with overseas acts,
Janine

Sids-kid, you are so right in how you explained that. We do tend to travel a bit, don't we?

On my way to The Church last month, gas prices were sky-high. I texted my husband from the road and told him that I'd just paid $2.50 a gallon on the NY State Thruway! He texted me back to say (and you have to realize I see Arlo maybe 8 or 9 times a year, when I can)... "Jeez, I hope he's worth it, maybe he'll tell a new story." Funny, my husband didn't say something about maybe he'll sing a new song! Even HE knows that it's the stories! And, yes, Arlo did tell us some stories we hadn't yet heard (at least I hadn't).

Terrie, $2.50 a gallon seems steep, but I'm glad for you that you live so close to the Guthrie Center. We'd be there much more often if it weren't for airfares and car rentals, and days off from work, etc., etc. Thank GOODNESS for Okemah; it's only a couple hundred miles away.

But all you wonderful Australians have helped me put it in perspective. I may be half a continent away but at least I'm not half a world away. I'm glad Arlo got there and you were able to go to his gigs. It's the experience of a lifetime, as many of you have expressed.

Yes, Shelley, I am glad to live so close to Massachusetts, but if things go the way I hope, I'll be in Albuquerque doing my doctorate next year. I'll be working on it for 8 years, so I'm trying to get up to The Church as much as I possibly can now while I'm still able.

Once I'm in Alb, Okemah won't be so far away

Yea ceashel,

It is hard being half a world away, thats why it was so great to see Arlo.
Also all my family on my Dad's side live over there. Arlo and Woodys' western migration and cowboy\country songs\stories mean alot to me cos my fore-folks were pioneers on the Oregon Trail and my great grandpa was a horse rancher in Montana (ive had horses all my life, a cowgirl at heart.). When Arlo sang This Land is Your Land at the show i got real home sick for my other home and family. Its my American Anthem(leaves Stars Spangled Banner for Dead). And of course their social consciousness is another reason i admire them. Yikes! I gotta go its nearly 10 am sat morning the 12th and Arlos gonna be on the radio here again. Cant wait! Bye.

Walk like a duck

The radio show was great. Can Arlo (or anyone else) tell me if OZ will be included in next years 40th anniversary. If not when will you be back again.

Dear Brisbane Dave,
I know a lot of people have responded to your posting and there's not much left to say, but I felt compelled to put my 'two cents' worth in anyway.
Your first complaint about Jodi Martin being a 'time filler' is not very kind or accurate. She was very good, in my opinion. Also, by law any overseas artist, such as Arlo, has to have an Australian citizen on the show.
I personally loved, what you call the 'long rambling reminiscences' about the origins of songs. I found them fascinating and I appreciated him sharing those priceless stories with us.
As for Arlo singing "Alice.." or as you put it;' honour(ing) us by singing it', the man is not a trained monkey. I understand the love of these old songs, and we in Australia get a kick out of hearing these artists playing their old stuff when they make the trip over. But best to do what I do Dave, if you want a nostalgia trip, and that is play those old records. What I want to hear is Arlo's new stuff - i.e the songs HE most wants to sing. There is an energy exchange between artist and audience, that is lessened if the artist is only singing songs he's been singing for decades. To quote Dylan's character in 'Hearts of Fire', 'I've sung this song so many times I wanna puke. But I'm gonna sing it anyway." I saw Tony Joe White a few years ago at the Byron bay Blues Festival and he started by saying something like 'I guess you folks want to hear the old stuff'. and He proceeded to play them. Sure, it was great, but I could tell he wasn't having such a great time, as he would have if he sang his current songs. These artists who do this are in danger of being a parody of themesleves. A self they no long are. People evolve.
And I've gone on too long. Dave, we experienced the same event differently. The applause was anything but 'lukewarm' and the encores were certainly 'asked for'. From where I was standing at the end, I heard nothing but appreciative applause and cheering.

See how much we loved your Brisbane show Arlo! We're still raving about it a week later! Blunder Down Under! What a great name for an OZ tour. Yes please come back in '06! Take care!

Blunder Down Under--Uh-oh!!! Better start saving pennies. Not cheap to go from Texas to Australia, but it's probably going to be a 'have-to!' So many great people have shown up on arlonet during this tour, I'm thinking we need to meet them!