From:
Date: Tue, 18 May 1999 02:49:34 +1000

Howdy, Y'awl-

I'm back in New Mexico, so I can talk like the natives again...

Anyway, we had a REALLY good time in the Springs, and saw a REALLY good concert, and met some REALLY nice people there.

First, the review:

I don't know when I've seen Phil more *on*. He was running on 3 hrs of sleep, but (with all respect to Steph) I didn't think he was acting tired, at least not till the very end. He was in a good humor, but not giddy. The only real problems he had were with the tuning on the Olson; seemed to struggle with it a lot. At one point, in the midst of a particularly rough tune-up, he said something like, "Wouldn't the live album be exciting?" He had trouble with the chords on "Reaching Out", prob. due to lack of practice, and with the words on the second verse of "O God Our Help".

Set List

1. diddling
2. Shouts of Joy
3. Legacy (my notes say here: "ON!!" . He flat-out screamed on it.)
4. River of Life
5. A Sign Came Through the Window (extended jam-man version)
6. Olivia
7. In Every Need (I was in tears; it really spoke to me that night)
8. Talking, reading from Daily Light
9. Rejoice
10. Shades of Green (from M2PB II), a Celtic piece if I remember correctly
11. Paka
12. County Claire (new; DADGAD tuning and faintly similar to County Down, only much harder!)
13. Covenant Love (he said it dated from 1975; new one on me)
14. Chalice (music by John Sferra, words mostly by Ironside and Lewis)
15. Reaching Out (dedicated to Compassion Int.; short talk to intro it)

Intermission (I thought he was getting ready to close!) This was where Dave Wolfe introduced himself to me (Hi Dave) and we got to meet Steph, and Dave's wife Michelle (I got that right, didn't I?).

16. I Will Sing (a song from 1972)
17. Salvation Army Band
18. (some tune from Acoustic Sketches in Em, that I couldn't remember the name for)
19. Tender Love. He did the trumpet parts with his mouth (hilarious), and that segued into:
20. Trumpet Scat-Phil plays Mouth Trumpet along with his guitar.
21. Pilgrim's Flight
22. Let Everything Else Go (a crowd fave)
23. Under the Grace, which segued into:
24. Noah's Song
25. Strong Tower
26. True Believers

He tried to end it here, but the standing O wouldn't quit, so he prayed for us all, then gave an invitation for salvation and led a sinner's prayer ("I'm not very good at this..."). Then he put the hat back on, picked up the guitar, and said "Well, back to work."

27. O God our Help in Ages Past. Struggled with the words on v.2, and said "Someday I need to learn this song."
28. Children, How I love You (my assumption of the title)
29. Tennessee Morning

Not bad, about 25+ *energetic* songs from a guy who'd had 3 hours of sleep and traveled all day. Overall, he came across as meek and self-deprecating, didn't even show visible annoyance when the young whippersnappers in the front row kept bowing to him when he'd do something especially impressive. It was one of the best overall appearances I've ever seen him do.

Sorry so long, but you expect that for a concert review, eh? Man, we had a good time. Well worth the combined 14 hours driving.

-Jim Griffin

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