Venue
Finally got to see John perform. What a talent! Have been singing "Christmas In The Trenches" in pub gigs for many years. Nice to hear the master do it. Already signed up for Springtime In The Mountains.
John McCutcheon played many instruments and sang many songs from the heart. His show was family oriented and was entertaining for the entire evening.
For 20 years I have followed John Mc Cutcheon and I enjoy his early folk music as well as his new material. Originally he was known for hammer dulcimer expertise but now is equally accomplished on piano, guitar (6 & 12 string), autoharp, and banjo. The audience is older (30--->65) and the same people show up every year. He relates very well to that audience. Humor is a little Southern Fried but I like it.
We so enjoyed his show - not only is he a wonderful musician and song-writer, but he has such a wonderful stage presence and his story-telling ability is beyond belief. We are baby-boomers who took their 16 year old grand-kids to his show - they loved him as much as we did! If he is in your area, and you love good music - GO!!!
We thorougly enjoyed the evening -- every bit of it.
John McCutcheon is a remarkable singer, musician, and storyteller who makes me laugh harder than anybody on TV yet always brings me to tears at least once during a performance. Repeatedly nominated for Grammy awards (he calls himself the Susan Lucci of folk music), McCutcheon gives you your money's worth. He has no setlist, singing and playing whatever he feels suits the audience, and he'll usually respond to requests. He has a real following (and helps first-timers), so many people sing along when invited to do so. Not only does McCutcheon play multiple musical instruments (banjo, autoharp, guitar, hammered dulcimer, and piano for the show I just saw, but I've heard him play the fiddle, too), but he also has an amazing gift for taking a little story from the back pages of the newspaper (e.g., Sara Tucholsky's softball game) and turning it into a tender tale of compassion or the strength of the human spirit. By the end of a John McCutcheon concert, you feel as if you've made a new friend--and who doesn't need one of those these days?
