This is my favorite photo from the whole series:

Wow thanks Kim !!

For more photos and the review:
Bruce Cockburn and Jenny Scheinman at Kate Wolf and www.CockburnProject.net.

Here are some more photos I took:

The Wailin’ Jennys join Bruce and Jenny for the last 2 songs of the set.

And now for some music:

(Lovers in a Dangerous Time – http://youtu.be/pGM9pS-rC0M )

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( Iris of the World – http://youtu.be/XayBOT0UeZ0 )

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The Wailin’ Jennys joined Bruce and Jenny for this one:

( Waiting For A Miracle – http://youtu.be/HFG_3ZpxJ-Q )

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Many thanks to Riley Q. for the video! And here is a photo from Riley of Bruce and Jenny // and the totem poles as you enter the festival.

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And a couple more photos compliments of Kim Sallaway, taken during the afternoon soundcheck.

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Kim Sallaway sent me even more great photos — you can find them HERE.

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Napa was having an outdoor market that encompassed about 4 blocks in downtown just outside our motel and a couple blocks away from the Uptown Theater. After checking into our room we strolled a bit to get the driving feeling off us and got a bite to eat.

I mostly look forward to standing in line before shows as it is a great way to meet people and see other Humans and connect with Bruce fans.
The Uptown Theater has reserved seating which makes that not necessary, but we strolled over to the venue early any way.
On the way there a familiar face was walking towards us … I stopped Gary Craig .. he was s bit surprised, “Do I know you?” .. “No, but I know you!” And we did a minute of “I love your drumming and had hoped to meet you one day”, and he was off to buy some wine.

The Uptown is a beautifully restored theater. The seats are comfortable and we had great seats, about 5 rows back and center. I personally prefer not to be down in front as looking up tweaks my neck. It holds about 800, but only sold about 450 seats, if that.

The stage set up was spread out as others had mentioned, but as I watched the show it seemed to me that each player expanded to fill all that space!

I won’t go into song by song, but some of the highlights for me were Tokyo. Why? Well believe it or not it was the first song I ever heard by Bruce. There’s a whole story around that that and I will link to it later. But I love it. Call It Democracy is also a favorite it did not disappoint.

There were times that Jenny Scheinman just blazed .. blew me away really, as I usually am so riveted by Bruce that I barely notice what else is going on, but she demanded attention. Arrows of Light was a perfect example of that. It was as if she was channeling that light and her and her instrument became one, it was so tight and so intense. Bruce was so into her playing, really smiling and enjoying letting her have the spotlight. Wish I had a recording of this show.

Gary Craig is a joy to watch .. it’s as if he is massaging his drums or what ever percussion instrument he is using. The first time I saw him with Bruce was during the Bruce, Julie and Gary trio touring in 2006, I saw him at the Mystic in Petaluma and at the Great American Music Hall in SF and he impressed me so much. He is just so good with Bruce.

The whole show was really heart felt and and the crowd was very supportive, which I was glad of, and I wasn’t the only one whooping it up
I do believe the balance was off, as there were times I couldn’t hear Bruce singing as clearly as I am used to, and Jenny (violin) seem too loud sometimes, but I was also hearing these older songs being played in a new way, and I am sure that lent a bit to that.

I wanted to hear Iris (which he did do in Arcata last year so I have heard it live), but that was missing from this show. I also wanted to hear Lois, but that also wasn’t played tonight. Comets of Kandahar was haunting. Last Night was a perfect opener, Mighty Trucks and Waiting for a Miracle were real surprises.
And I really liked Boundless, it’s the only song he played that I haven’t learned all the lyrics too!

One thing that I noticed is that all the ‘usual’ people I would see at shows, say at the Mystic in Petaluma, or up at Solfest, or down at GAMH were not here in Napa. There was not one person I recognized in the audience, and I really can say that has never happened before in all the shows I have been too. But of course I did meet a few new interesting fans.

The Uptown Theater security was in full force. My bag was checked several times. Mostly looking for alcohol being brought in.

We were toward the end of the line for the meet and greet, wish now we had been last. The security people were really hustling the people through the line, it was not really casual at all.

As I approached for my 15 seconds, Bruce surprised me by getting up from his seat and coming out to hug me!! What can I say, love that. It was a good heart hug too
I had a photo of the 2 of us from the Arcata show that he signed. I didn’t really get to talk to him, as security was pushing us along.
But the hug made up for all the words that could of been spoken.

When we got to Jenny and Gary, I was pulling out the ticket for Gary and Jenny to sign, and talking with Gary a bit, and Russel was talking with Jenny.
We are from the same general area in northern California (southern Humboldt County), and her and Russel were comparing who they both knew.
Then we were swept away, and I didn’t really get to say anything to Jenny.

And there were no pictures taken, this time

I am looking forward to seeing Bruce again and solo this time at the Kate Wolf Music Festival coming up June 26. Maybe we will get the chance to connect, I hope so.

Setlist

Uptown Theater, Napa CA
2 June 2011
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Last Night of the World
Mango
Lovers in a Dangerous Time
Tokyo (with Jenny on mandolin)
Mighty Trucks of Midnight
Ancestors (singing bowls)
Pacing the Cage
Boundless (using those huge chimes)
Strange Waters
Bone in My Ear (charango)
Parnassus and Fog
Call Me Back
Littlest Prisoner (Jenny’s song)
Call It Democracy
Each One Lost
Wondering Where the Lions Are
Arrows of Light (Jenny became a conduit of light on this song – it was amazing how she and her instrument were one..totally awesome
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Encore:

Comets of Kandahar
Waiting for a Miracle
Tie Me At the Crossroads
Gifts

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Background:
In July Bruce’s mother passed away.
I sent a card with my condolences and some thoughts, having just lost my Dad and both our mothers endured a 7 year bout with cancer.

He was still working on his latest cd recording. He also had a tour lined up to start in the beginning of October, when he developed pneumonia and a partially collapsed lung that canceled that part of the tour.

You can read about all this at Cockburnproject.net.

So any one who knows me realizes I have a deep love and respect for Bruce Cockburn.. this isn’t JUST a ‘favorite musician’ type of thing.
Over the 30 years I have listened and loved Bruce’s songs they have been the soundtrack to my life, whether it was falling in or out of love, in spiritual dispair or rapture, being mad as hell at the world and what was happening to the planet or other peoples, or just being, he was there for me.

Long before the internet was in my line of sight I was going to Bruce’s shows, as often as possible, taking ‘Bruce virgins’ with me and turning people onto him with cassettes mixed with a lot of his songs. I would often get backstage after the shows to meet and greet and thank him, usually with a gift in hand, never with enough time to actually talk, to get to know each other. He was and is always so gracious to his adoring fans. And that is how I have mostly felt when meeting him.

But this time after the Arcata Theater Lounge show, there was a reception, about 50 people were there, many waiting for their moment to express themselves to Bruce to thank him and have him sign something or take a picture. I kept to the outside of the circle, chatting with many fans, who I hope become friends.

This time Bruce made eye contact with me, he called me by name, we talked, we hugged and it felt like friendship for the first time. I am still a bit overwhelmed. Also giddy and glad and feeling full.
This time, it just felt different.

He said he had been looking for me ‘down there’ meaning in Petaluma at the Mystic (I had to give my tickets away-another story). This was a a bit unreal, Bruce had been lookin for me! We talked about him writing his memoirs, about ethically that brings up some issues for him, about Peggy’s Kitchen Wall, about his new website, just stuff. And he thanked me for ‘my support’ & my work with the Project, perhaps realizing just what a valuable resource that it is for him.

How I wish we could of just hung out for a few hours. How I wish it had been recorded so I could hear it all again.

The last time I had the opportunity to talk with Bruce was at the
Mateel 2004 show, before that was at the Mystic 2003 show. The last time we made eye contact was at the Sofest 2007 show. That’s a long time ago.

I guess I just feel honored to be remembered and happy really, I mean after all I love this man.

In 1999 I started volunteering information, setlist scans, tickets stubs, transcribing interviews or comments from shows to contribute to the CockburnProject. Several years ago I took over as the webmaster. Many times in the last several years Bruce has been aware that I was very involved with the Project, not always understanding what we were doing (trying to archive all his work and words).

On with the Show!

Arcata Theater Lounge
April 23, 2010
Solo show
Benefit for the Siskiyou Land Conservancy

Greg King put on this show as a benefit for the Siskiyou Land Conservancy. He also planned the reception which was really a brilliant idea.

We arrived in Arcata early and waited for a bit. It was a windy day, and I felt we would be better off standing in the theater entrance protected from the wind as out in the line later. It’s always so fun to meet people at Bruce shows. Sometimes it’s a one time thing sometimes you meet again and again.

We had reserved front tier seats and were eye level with Bruce. I really felt like he was looking right at us a lot of the time! Our neighbors to the right were Riley and Kathy… long time Bruce enthusiasts with Jan to my left. So many local folks at this show, I knew a lot of people there. I speak of the crowd as my experience with Bruce shows is that the more the crowd gives to him the more he gives back.. and it was truly wonderful.

Here’s a link to the setlist.

I’m not going to try to go through each song. Each one is special and brings forth in me feelings I can’t always explain. I loved hearing How I Spent My Fall Vacation. Bruce’s lyrics are like paintings, he describes what he sees and feels so well it looks like a painting in my mind.

The fact is I was ecstatic the whole night. Every song he performed, every note of the guitar, the twinkle in his eye and the growl at times are all embedded in my head. I wish I could play it back for you all!

Instead here are a few video clips other fans have put up on YouTube. They are fun to watch as I was there, and right next to the camera, (I just didn’t know it at the time).

Waiting For A Miracle:

direct link

If I Had A Rocket Launcher:

Wondering Where the Lions Are:

direct link

Here are a bunch of photos from the show by Bob Doran

( http://www.flickr.com/photos/humblog/sets/72157623923617862/ )

I have been to a lot of shows, this one will stand out in years to come, for the music and energy of Bruce, for the wonderful crowd and because for me a deeper connection was felt.

I’ll add more to this as content comes in.

Here’s another take on the show, Bruce Cockburn Rocks!

And the www.cockburnproject.net has 2 interviews on the front page from local journalists, Bob Doran of the North Coast Journal and Sarah O’Leary of Econews – Northcoast Environmental Center… check them out!

And good news from Greg King, the
Siskiyou Land Conservancy Benefit Concert a Raging Success. Maybe this means having Bruce back in Arcata soon will happen! Thanks again to Greg for bringing all this together.. it was a great night!