Utah was in town for a performance at the Old Town School of Folk Music. As he says, due to his health condition, he gives himself one trip a month, and this was Chicago's turn.
Utah arrived early for the show because he had been contacted by some women who wanted to interview him about Mother Jones. These young women had come to hear of her though Utah's work with Ani Difranco. For an hour Utah sat and chatted with these women about Mother Jones, about her life and what she might be doing if she were alive today.
Then it was time for the concert. The Old Town School of Folk Music's theater seats about 400 people. It was a packed house, filled with both the young and old. It sold out three days after tickets went on sale. They had to turn people away at the door it was so full.
Utah opened, as always, with Railroading on the Great Divide. If you have heard him do this live, you know that he peppers the space between verses with tales and stories, so it is never the same song twice. He played and told tales in the first set for nearly an hour. The energy was wonderful, the audience was taken with his music, playing old and new songs. Many a laugh and a number of groans were heard at the punch line of a story. It was great, and it was not even the end. Utah broke for a brief intermission before launching into another set.
More laughs, more wonderful songs, more happy groans. Nearly another hour of fun and frolic through Utah's wonderful singing and story telling. The audience lept to their feet at the end, giving Utah a standing ovation. Brining Utah back for an encore. Over two hours of thought provoking music, fun romps through his tales and just genuinely good entertainment. Not a person went away untouched in emotion by Utah's performance.
One of the things Utah had been looking forward to was getting back together with some old friends. Fred Holstein was there, so was Ray Nordstrand, both instrumental in the old folk music scene in Chicago. They along with some other friends all piled out down the street after the performance to a restaurant and ate and caught up on the news and yacked away a long time. If you ever see Utah in person, ask him about the "holy water" we had that night.
I don't know what else to say, other then everyone had a great time!
  Chatting with folks at the old Town School of Folk Music |
  After the show Utah and some friends head for a restaurant |
  Ray Nordstrand, Utah, and Fred Holstein 
|
 Utah, and the Burlington Zepher train.  Utah had some fun at the Museum of Science and Industry. We always knew Utah was way out there... |
 Fred Holstein and Utah... You can figure out the rest... :) |
-Chris
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News from Ann Arbor- May 2001
Utah played at The Ark in Ann Arbor Michigan on May 19. Utah sold out the house of 400 people, a mixture of younger college students and older folk fans. Opening for Utah was Harry Tuft, a folk singer and friend of Utah's from Denver.
Utah wowed the assembly with his songs and stories. Many a hearty laugh was had and many a thought was given to the old days of Labor and Unions and Hobos and Trains and Tramping. Many of the folks also gave thought to the current state of things as well, and at the end, Utah received a standing ovation.
The printed words here are a pale reflection to seeing and hearing Utah in person. If you have a chance, go see him! Utah also had on sale, hot off the press, his newest CD: The Rose Tattoo "Live" - Trains, Tramps, & Traditions. See Utah's No Guff for more info on that and a second CD he now has available.
While Utah was in Ann Arbor, he was interviewed by some of the community radio stations in the area, where he talked on a number of subjects, including reminding folks that the airwaves belong to the people.
In some off time, Pam and I and Utah hit up some of the local book stores looking for interesting reading. It's alot of fun sifting through stacks of books in the used book stores looking for treasures and memorabilia.
More fun later!
-Chris
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