Playing With Fire - May 17 - 2008

[squaretooth]

Considering it's been over a week since the opening show, I am surprised that I didn't find a thread about this.

What is everyone's thoughts on this season's opening show?

Me? I was very disappointed. Yes, Garrett Mason being a no-show for the all to familiar "passport problem" excuse does get old after awhile. Had he been there, it would have made it much more enjoyable.

I do have to give credit to 112 North Duck and the Maple Street All Stars who played longer than normal sets to make up for Mason's absence, although I could have done with a lot less of 112 North Duck. That being said, I do give their guitar player kudos. He seems to be a diamond in the rough and laid out some pretty good licks. I'd like to see him in a better band, though.

The Maple Street All Stars delivered exactly as expected. A nice horn section and some decent tunes by Dawn Tyler Watson. Miss Watson has been to Omaha a few times. I remember her playing a few years back at Playing With Fire where she appeared with an amazing guitar player out of Germany. Just her and the guitar player. That was a special performance.

Most recently she was scheduled to have played at the 1200 Club in the Holland Center at the very well received winter Playing With Fire concert series featuring some very talented performances, not the least of which was the incomparable Ellen McIlwayne. I don't know if Dawn showed up or not so I can't comment on that.

Next month's show should be a bit better, assuming everyone shows up.

I will say that the Playing With Fire series is a truly unique experience here in town. A free concert with national and international acts (when they show up) as well as early performances from some of the local youth bands.

It's really a wonderful event that is family oriented, located on the Lewis and Clark landing next to Rick's Boatyard. I just wish they could do something about the intense heat that radiates from the concrete during the warmer months.

It's too bad there wasn't a more natural grassy environment where this could be held.

All things considered, I'm sold on the series and will continue to support it through donations and spreading the word. I hope to see you all there for the next show.

Stevie, if you're there next time, I have a nice video for you of our friend Curtis S.

- Dave -

[chuck]

I thought the show was great! Sure, there was a no show, but shit happens. I agree with you about the other bands doing a great job filling in the empty slot. However I disagree with you about 112 North Duck! This was the first time I heard them and thought they did an exellent job. Good guitar and great vocals. And I like the way they but their own touch on a lot of the cover song that they did.
I do know as far as the next show goes, if it was anywhere but the midwest, Indigenous would be opening for Omar and the Howlers.

[Greg]

I thought the Blues Ed band that played at 4:30 was the highlight of the day. That being said, we're spoiled. 5 years ago if we were to have this show in town for free we'd have been stoked. PWF is one of the greatest things to hit Omaha in decades. But I'm preaching to the choir.

The next show will be killer. I'm not an "up-front" kind of guy, but I will elbow myself to the front to see Mato and Kris Lager trade licks.

[chuck]

Greg- Good point about us being spoiled. How many festivals are free? And we have 5 or six a year!!!! But I'm looking forward to Omar and the Howlers. These guys have been doing it since 1976, and they keep getting better.Omar has 19 albums since 1980! "Boogie Man" has Chris Duarte,Papa Mali,Chris Layton, Tommy Shannon and more. Can you imagine Chris and Papa trading licks? His newest one "Jimmy Reed Highway" has Jimmie Vaughan,Kim Wilson,Delbert McClinton,Lou Ann Barton,James Cotton and Gary Clark Jr."WHOW" I don't want to take anything away from Mato and Kris Larger but like I said before,"if this were anywhere but the midwest, these guys would be opening for Omar.