I was invited to help kick off a new format for Landhaven, a bed and breakfast and folk concert venue in Huffs Church, PA, in the hills of my youth out of Lehigh. It was a Neighbor Live concert with two ostensibly local acts on a Sunday night for a smaller door charge. (Chris Smither was there on Friday) I share the evening with Suzanne and Dan, a folkie duet from that area.

 

I did the opening set, basically to S&D’s friends, which was fine with me. Lotsa new faces and ears to play to, so I stuck to my fairly standard folk material: Vegetable Song, July, Giants, Don’t Call Me Early, mando medley, Pay Bo Diddley with an encore of Branching Out. The patter was good and humorous and I felt relaxed on stage. I even brought out Lessons from Pete and almost nailed it. It’s getting there.

 

I checked out the PA sunset over the fields out the back during the duo’s set. They had a nice repertoire of folkie tunes with good energy, but still not quite refined yet. The audience enjoyed them, and it was great for them to play that stage in front of their friends. But I needed the sunset, chatting with my friend Jack Murray about family and the times we live in.

 

I sold a few CD’s, gained some new listeners, my percentage of the door was fine and I got to do an adult set in front of a listening audience.

 

I played the main concert series three years ago and did quite well. I scratch my head that I’m not invited back to do that series agin and have a minor pang about being back in the minors with this show. But, I’ve taken the attitude to play, regardless of the pay, in order to continue on in my journey.

 

Tomorrow morning, two RockRoots in central New Jersey at an ES. On a roll.