Fall Season Opener: Kris Delmhorst and Mark Erelli
 by Kathy S-B  ·  23 September 2006

We had a phenomenal season opener! Everyone who attended this show had a fantastic time and left with smiles on their faces. We feel so fortunate to have a venue that can present such quality music week after week. Some coffeehouses would love to be able to present either Kris Delmhorst OR Mark Erelli…but to be able to have both appear on the same stage together is certainly a thrill and a half.

The evening opened with Mark Erelli—the man of a million instruments—who sang his heart out and shared his songs of protest, love, peace, and even more love to an enthralled me & thee audience. As one long-time volunteer said to me at intermission. “He’s one heck of a songsmith.” I can’t argue with that statement. Mark’s set list focused on his new CD, “Hope and Other Casualties,” but he also pulled a couple of old chestnuts from his repertoire. Watching and listening to Mark, one sees how he has matured as a musician these past few years. His ease with all of his instruments and his charming and natural stage patter make for an extremely entertaining experience.

Likewise, Kris Delmhorst played several songs from “Strange Conversations” and delighted the audience with her detailed descriptions of how she was influenced to write all these songs based on the poetry of Browning, Byron, Whitman, and others. Kris told the audience that she had been holed up in Vermont, writing music this past week. She sang a song that she wrote that very day. It’s so interesting to hear about the process of songwriting and to be among the first to hear her new work. After the show she told me that she has been on writing retreats in the past but this is the first time that she went on a songwriting AND recording retreat. “With recording equipment being so compact these days,” she explained, “It’s real easy to do!” I could see the excitement in her eyes as she spoke about this project Kris is about to embark upon a tour with legendary Richard Thompson. She has yet to meet him and can’t wait to tour with him.

We’ll most definitely invite both Kris and Mark back to the me & thee one day…. If you didn’t make it for this show, don’t miss it next time!

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