Arlo Guthrie's ... 40th Anniversary

A fine time was had by all last night at Arlo Guthrie's Alice's Restaurant Massacree 40th Anniversary show the NJ Performing Arts Center in Newark, N.J.

As you may have gathered from glimpses of Arlo's performances, half the fun of his show are the chats and digressions leading up to and away from the songs.

Guthrie told us of a scraggly visitor who came to his home, when the 13-year-old Arlo saw him, he invited him in and found he was looking for his father, Woody. The scrawny stranger visited Woody in the hospital and soon was rewriting folk music history. Arlo then thought he'd go visit his dad too, and well, maybe end up like that visitor fellow Bob Dylan.

Arlo, who compared songwriting to fishing, said he admired Dylan's song writing. He went so far as to suggest that Dylan throw the little ones back ... maybe for Arlo to catch.

Of course, I can't do justice to such a story teller. You should have been there. Or maybe you can catch him on the City of New Orleans Tour next month. It'll be a hoot.

Set list (approx.)

Ridin' Down the Canyon
Mr.Tambourine Man
House of the Rising Sun
My Darkest Hour
(Helluva Farewell - Hawaian instrumental)
Coming Into Los Angeles
The Last Train - (written & sung by Gordon Titcomb)
Alice's Restaurant
ENC: City of New Orleans (Steve Goodman)
ENC: My Peace (by Woody Guthrie)

Surprise opening act: Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion
Opening act: The Mammals

Souvenir T-shirt

Copyright © 2005 by Anthony Buccino, all rights reserved.

Rising Son Records

The Mammals

Alice's High Seats

There are plenty of seats left to celebrate the next-to-last performance on the 40th Anniversary tour of Alice's Restaurant by Arlo Guthrie and friends.

Like I said before, the show is Friday evening at the NJ Performing Arts Center, in downtown Newark. There's convenient city parking (hardly free) across the street at Military Park parking garage.

And, anyway, what were you going to be doing this Friday night anyway?

Look for me. I'll be the guy humming along ... but never clapping.

This is posted as a public service message for all you folkies out there. Heck, I don't even get a free glass of wine at intermission out of the deal! But that's okay. I'm looking forward to a real good time singing them real old songs.

"Somebody tall must have put out the light 'cause it got real dark outside ..."
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NJPAC Info They'll hold the tickets at the door. Mention this blog and they'll all step away from you on the bench.

Copyright © 2005 by Anthony Buccino, all rights reserved.

The last show of the 40th Annniversary Alice's Restaurant tour is on Saturday in New York City.

Read Jay Lustig's story in the Tuesday's The Star-Ledger, while it's available free online.

Arlo Guthrie's Web Site

Arlo Guthrie - 40 Years of Alice's Restaurant

With Special Guests
Abe Guthrie, Gordon Titcomb, and The Mammals

Friday, November 25, 2005

It started on Thanksgiving Day, 1965, when Arlo Guthrie first began work on a song that would take more than a year to complete (and take more than 20 minutes to sing).

That song, Alice’s Restaurant, became an international hit that inspired an entire generation’s commitment to social activism, and was adapted into a major motion picture (starring Arlo).

Now, after retiring the song over a decade ago, this folk legend will perform it again—along with a variety of his other classic hits, like "The Motorcycle Song," "Coming into Los Angeles" and "Ring-Around-a-Rosy Rag."

For this 40th anniversary Alice’s Restaurant tour, Guthrie will be accompanied by his band, which includes special guests Abe Guthrie and Gordon Titcomb.

NJPAC Ticket Information