A treasured me & thee artifact: the guest book
 by Kathy S-B  ·  14 October 2006

Each week one of the volunteers hands over the official me & thee guest book to the performer of the week so that they can add a note along with their autograph to this treasured artifact. Granted, the book that I’m using for reference as I write this blog piece only goes back as far as 1992 and it’s nearly full…. and perhaps there was one before, but perhaps not. I thought it might be a fun idea for me to share some of the most interesting or unusual notes in this folk music museum worthy piece of history.

From February 1992—the first entry is from Patty Larkin.

To the me & thee—
Thank you for another wonderful night. You’ve been here for over 22 years now and have seen the acoustic music community through the disco scene (where is Leo Sayer?) and the punk craze (Joan Jett still rules.) [Note: at a later date at the m&t, Patty crossed out Joan Jett and drew an arrow to a note below that says: I changed my mind. Patti Smith still rules!”] and into the Golden Age of Acoustic. Thanks for being here through it all. Here’s to you! May you always be bringing music to Marblehead—on with the NEXT millennium. Love, Patty

The following fall, Vance Gilbert was browsing through the book and saw Patty’s entry and added his own on the opposite page:

Vance wrote (about Patty):

I know this woman. She got me started in this business. I opened for her once in 1979 at the Idler. Now look…fame, fortune, and folk for me! Thanks for staying open 4-ever. Vance Gilbert

Sometime in 1994, Greg Brown had this to say about the me & thee:

I love playing here because I get such a good feeling from the people. I appreciate it.
Greg Brown

Note: the “green room” for the performers is actually a used book “room.” You can get some great deals on some great slightly used books and many artists go home with a bagful.

Thanks me & thee and a great group of volunteers. Future performers, note: What are all those Ian Fleming and Stephen King books doing in this Unitarian Church? See you soon.
Dar Williams

And from 1995:

The last time we played here we bought Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner. It’s a really good book. You should read it.
The last time we were here we stole all the cookies. They were delicious. You should try them. Oh yeah. You can’t. We ate them.
Thanks for another wonderful time in Marblehead.
Happy 25th!
The Nields

There will be additional special me & thee messages from this fabulous guest book in future blogs! Keep checking back!

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