Marianne played this date (actually a make-up from last fall) to a small but dedicated audience on a rainy night in the wonderful old Florida Theater. Talking to nearby seat holders revealed many of us had driven in from hundreds of miles away. Lots of gray pony tails and other evidence of the fact that Marianne means something special to those of us whose lives and circumstances were intertwined with hers over the years. As we waited, we laughed and carried on and scowled at the younger folks who came in. Marianne's band is small and dedicated, as well - true professionals who performed well. She was backed by a keyboardist (with a vintage Hammond B3, of course), a guitarist, a bass player, and a drummer.
Marianne started out a bit shaky but quickly found her voice - the voice that shows she's earned her place. She put whatever health problems she's wrestling with these days behind her, and was the consummate professional. As usual, she can sing nearly anything, (Dolly Parton's "Dover", plus a Merle Haggard encore whose name I didn't catch, as well as many of her standards). She came out to the edge of the stage a few times and touched hands with many concert-goers, and took an ensemble bow with the band at the end, clearly feeding off the audience approval. Her wit shone through as she fixed her lipstick, saying to the audience, "You'll be my mirror, and I'll be yours." Indeed, Marianne. You know why we came. When we see you still out there swinging it gives us hope.
