Joe Newberry House Concert

I have had SUCH a lovely 24 hours. Joe Newberry, songwriter, banjo player, Prairie home companion regular, and truly fine all around man played a house concert in my living room. He and his wife Susan were driving from Missouri and made Memphis a stop on their way home. I love having house guests, especially ones I can talk music and art with (Susan is a textile artist).

Plus there are occasional people who just feel like kin the minute you meet them. I've been friends with Joe long distance for a while, through mutual banjo friends on facebook, but the minute they drove in, they just belonged.

Joe did an amazing concert. He sang his own songs (including one made from a poem his grandfather wrote, which resonated with me, living in my grandparents' house and being raised by a poetry loving father). He sang a capella ballads, which gave me goose bumps. He sang Red Rocking Chair with gorgeous banjo accompaniment, and I love that song.

He played banjo tunes and led the group in singing. And most of all, he radiated warmth and kindness to everyone throughout the evening. I had just been thinking about the craft involved in weaving a set together instead of just playing a bunch of songs, since I had performed on a small scale last Saturday. Joe has it down. He does enough introduction to really get the audience invested in a song (which especially helps if you play less familiar music), giving a bit of background or information as a hook, but he never talks long enough that you wonder when the song is gong to start already. (Which can be a common failing.) I feel quite comfortable in the role of dance caller talking to a room full of people, but doing a solo set is a whole different thing. Joe was perfect. The whole room was charmed.

Mr. Darcy was charmed too. We were both sad to see them go this morning, but I loved having a slow morning and breakfast out with them before they left. The thing I miss most about calling dances regularly is hanging out with the musicians, who seem to always be quality people. Joe was also kind enough to agree to jam with my local group here after the concert, in spite of being in the middle of a multi day drive. It was joyful to my house to have all of that music and laughter fill it, and I was so delighted to be able to have my friends meet and hear him.