2009
July 30, 2009. I had the extreme pleasure of seeing Shawn in concert once again this year.
I went with my sister, her boyfriend, my step sister and one of her friends. I also got to meet a EMH’r Barb Haider, very nice lady along with her daughter.
The Pioneer Place Theater up in St Cloud, MN is a small venue with steps that lead up into the front patio with a few tables and chairs, you walk in and a very narrow hall leads you to the ticket booth, on the right is a small seating area.
You hand the ticket taker your ticket and either go left to the balcony or to the right to the seating arrangments closer to the stage. We decided to go right and it had stadium theater seating which was nice. I myslef took a seat right next to the stage just to Shawn’s right by about 4 seats, good spot for digitally recording the concert, which was ok’d by Arlo Hennings, Shawn’s manager prior to the concert. I setup my recording equipment and we talked for a bit waiting for the grand entrance of Shawn.
First the owner of the place came out to say a few things about the upcoming shows and then introduced Shawn, the crowed roared and Shawn came out smiling and waiving his arm and hand at the crowd. He quickly sat down, plugged in, checked his dials and woke up his Mac, they like to sleep on the job I understand. LOL
He grabbed his Godin, pronounced “Go – Dan”, nylon stringed guitar, tuned it up and started the evening with “Us We Are” which was just phenomenal.
Here is the set list
1) Intro
2) Us We Are
3) Burning Fingers
4) Calico and Rainbows
5) Radio
6) The Devil’s Highway
7) L’ Ballade
8 ) Victoria Emmanuele
9) Hey Miss Lonely
10) Ascent
11) Everything She Gives Me
12) The Ballad of Casey Deiss
13) Song for Sagittarians
14) Slowly
15) Talking in the Garden
16) Mr. President
17) Moonshine
18) Starlight “Shawn wrote a tribute song to Isreal Kamakawiwo’ole”
19) Blunt and Frank
20) Man Hole Covered Wagon
21) SWWFHMATSITAYKILYBBIGTHTL aka “Woman”
22) Serendipity Peace – Encore song
After the show I proceeded to get into the line to see and talk with Shawn.
I handed him a photo of us that I had taken at the Guthrie Theater concert ealier this year, I signed that and handed it to Shawn, I figured why not give something to him as he is always giving to others. He took it from me and said thank you, then I handed him a photo of him I had printed out from the MN, Zoo concert held last year, he signed that and on the back wrote “Thank you Scott and stay in touch with Beth”. Beth is his first cousin who lives in Texas whom I have cooperated with concerning Shawn’s Genealogical background. I have his tree posted on Ancestry.com but it is private and would have to get Shawn’s permission to allow anyone else to view it.
I have uploaded all of the individual songs I recorded at the concert on his YouTube tribute site I created called SoundsOfTime.
http://www.youtube.com/user/soundsoftime
Go there and open up the Pioneer Place Theater playlist and enjoy the whole concert.
It was an honor to have been able to record his show and an extreme honor to have met with, shook hands with this wonderful musical human being.
Thank you Shawn for being such a masterful musician and beautiful person and thank you Arlo for allowing me to record the concert.
Archives
2008
July 19, Weesner (Zoo) Amphitheater, Minneapolis USA
1998
April 24, The Cactus Cafe, Austin USA
July 8, The Spitz, London UK
1997
March 27, The Roadhouse, Austin USA
April 13, Jazz Cafe, London UK
April 26, Le Bistro St-Georges, Drummondville Canada
May 2, Le Medley, Montréal Canada
May 4, La Boîte à Chansons du Vieux Palais, L’Assomption Canada
May 14, Cabaret Liquor Store, Ste-Foy Canada
June 17, Muddy River Smokehouse, Portsmouth USA
June 28, Kickapoo Music Fest, Edom USA
Oct. 16, Fitzgerald’s, Chicago USA
Oct. 23, John Waldron Arts Center, Bloomington USA
1996
March 23, Medley, Montreal Canada (25th anniversary concert)
Nov. 29, Canal Street Tavern, Dayton USA
Have you just experienced a Shawn Phillips concert?
Let us know your impressions.
Submit a full review including set list and other details, and we will consider adding it to the page.
I had the opportunity of attending 4 concerts during the Quebec 2008 tour: Club soda ,Dollar Cinema, Waterloo, and an outdoor concert in Boucherville.
My favorite venue was Dollar Cinema, a small theatre with confortable seats and no interference, noise from the waiter, etc…
It reminded me a lot when i saw Shawn at Place des arts in the 70s. A real concert hall were i think an artist of his caliber should be performing.
Every concert was unique in his own way. His songs selection was slightly different. What fascinates me is the knowledge he has from the stories or jokes he tells between every song. I can only walk out of a concert feeling more enlighted. Thank you Shawn.
Mr. Phillips is a true living legend, a music icon as well as an author, composer and performer. He is certainly one of the best example of an artist that stays true to his craft and to himself, the real deal.
PS: By the way, Shawn does not suffer anymore from C.R.S.(Can’t Remember Shit). At Boucherville outdoor concert, he was explaining that he needs to read the lyrics to sing the song “Lovely Lady” because he haven’t performed this song live for over 35 years. Shawn places the sheets on the easel, starts singing and suddenly the wind blew and his sheets were all scattered on the stage floor, and you know what, he continued with no hesitation. At the end of the song, he said “I din’t need them after all”
This is no less than a treat. Anything dealing with Shawn Phillips is AWESOME.
I just saw him in concert at the Minnesota Zoo amphitheater on July 19, 2008, that was a truly awe inspiring concert. I took some video of one song titled L’ Ballade and uploaded it to my youtube account, acousticphases
Come on over and see all the different videos there are of Shawn in concert. I also have a few of his songs on video that I sang, so come on over and enjoy.
I have to let you all know that I love his music.. Was at his concert at the Guthery on the 70’s and saw him at the zoo in Mpls. Hey, he saved my life… Have been going throught hard times and seeing him at the zoo gave me so very much hope… A real person… Hey, I even got a picture of me with him… Man, he is so awesome…
Love to all you,
[His fan for life]
Ya my hundred is in the mail… He is a master!!!! Loved the concert at the zoo … Was wondering if there would be a CD somewhere to come!!! Thanks for the info Scott! Lets all bless this man for his talent and his gift of music!
My wife and I saw Shawn in Chicago March ‘08…wow ! my older brother saw Shawn in the late ’70’s open for Joni Mitchell in Milwaukee and I’ve been borrowing the lp’s ever since. Almost thirty years of listening to everything Shawn and then to finally witness him live was simply fantastic ! We hung around after the show and met Shawn and got autographs. It was a nite I’ll always remember and treasure. We’ve contributed $100.00 to Living Colloboration and are looking forward to watching and listening soon. Just want to say Thank You Shawn, Thank You.
ooops ! it was joan baez…not Joni Mitchell…my apologies…just saw Shawn in Chicago the 16th….great show !!! seemed as if there were some technical difficulties with equipment but was impressed with his ability to still hit the high notes….Hey Miss Lonely and Song for Saggitarians was killer !!!! keep coming to Fitzgeralds and we’ll never miss !!!! Thanks Shawn…
Here is a trip back in time, back to december of 1990, wish I remembered the actual day this concert took place on but I do not know this. It was a concert to introduce his newest album titled “Beyond Here Be Dragons” My brother and I went to this concert at the Fine Line Music Cafe here in Minneapolis, MN and I was as anxiouse as a little school boy waiting to see this awesome singer/songwriter for the first time in my life, I started listening to Shawn’s music in 1970 when he came out with Collaboration, Contribution, Second Contribution. Love his style, his music, but it was such a fantastic treat to watch him up close and personnal at the fine Line that night, got to talk to him for a few minutes and get his autograph. What I found truly amazing was the crowd new his songs so well that when Shawn sang a song that had a pause in it, the crowd was silent, anticipating that next note, that was truly awesome.
The little stage was just a few inches higher than the rest of the floor, the back of the stage had this egg carton shaped grey foam on the wall for acoustics. The bar was on the left after you entered the place and there was even a balcony you could sit at to watch him from. Shawn had his mac sitting on a table like now with his electronic equipment and an electric piano.
This is the song list from that concert
Steel Eyes
Discoveries
Not Just A Pretty Face
Lost And Lonely
Ballad Of Casey Deiss
The Power Of A Woman
Most Of Us Don’t Understand At All
Moments
Hey Miss Lonely
Woman
I will never forget this concert and I thank you Shawn for your musical enlightenment then, now and into the future.
His final words that night were and I quote:
“God Bless you, I wish you health, love and clarity, youv’e been a most fantastic audience and you know I love you very much, thank you, God Bless you!”
What a beautiful person he is and always will be.
I just saw Shawn last night at the brand new Guthrie Theater here in Beautiful Downtown Minneapolis, MN.
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!
Simply amazing, a concert beyond belief, funny and very entertaining, as well as a blast from the past as he played songs from all of his albums from the 70’s as well as a couple of brand new songs.
He started the show with “Us We Are” and “Burning Fingers” and “Hey Miss Lonley” plus “Moonshine” at the end of the show from his Collaboration album. Later he performed “Victoria Emmanuele” from his Bright White album, he sang “Serendipity Peace” from his Rumplestiltskins Resolve album. He also played “Talking in the Garden” & “Mr. President” from his Furthuremore album,
Shawn managed to squeze in “L’ Ballade” and “Man Hole Covered Wagon” from his Contribution album. He performed his encore by singing “Blunt and Frank and “Man Hole Covered Wagon”
Shawn is truly an inspiration to us all. I will always hold Shawn deep in my heart for the love of his music but also becuase he puts his life on the line when he is back in South Africa saving the lives of his fellow South African’s when thier lives are put in peril due to fire or other life threatening situations.
I love and salute you Shawn.
Acoustic Phases
P.S. I got his autograph and a photo of myself and Shawn standing together. Thats what I love about Shawn as he is always very personable and friendly.