vermont

Saturday morning we awoke and began our day in the parking lot of the Rockingham Motor Inn with Vance and Michael. The four of us then loaded up in Michael's Explorer (from here on out know as the Tejas Taxi) and drove into Bellows Falls. We stopped at "The Café" to use our vouchers. Vance and I pooled ours together and bought two long loaves of bread, salami, Brie, cheesecake and a bottle of Vermont Hard Cider. We had fun talking with the French lady behind the counter, and the locals who were enjoying the neat little bakery/coffee/wine shop. Though it was nothing exciting, it was a neat little sliver of the trip, because of the friendliness of these Bellows Falls folks.

We loaded our goodies into the Tejas Taxi, and drove back to Saxton's River for breakfast at "The Golden Egg". I had my same fare as the day beforea 'Vermont special' with two scrambled eggs, Vermont maple sausage, and hash browns with green peppers and onions all piled in a dish with wheat toast on the side. Rating - A+!! Andy had a breakfast burrito, very good indeed. Miserably full and content we headed back to "my covered bridge" for a photo session, then back to Room 31.

Due to the strong influence upon us from good friends Michael and Vance, we began drinking margaritas. I won't detail as to how many, what kind, where all they came from, etc. I will say we grazed on them all day long, and boy, were they tasty!

Before I detail the "Washboard Hank" show, I just want to reiterate what an amazing job Charlie Hunter did. He organized it all, including getting sponsorships, underwritings, and the ever-popular door prizes! I'm still not exactly sure how much fun he got to have, but his hard work made for an awesome weekend for the rest of us. He insured our weekend was an absolute delight, and well worth the many miles traveled to be there.

At 1:00 it was time for Washboard Hank's solo show. I had been quite excited about this since we first heard it would happen. We bought his CD when Fred and crew played Dallas in February, and the CD was fantastic. It's just that when they travel this far south, the solo shows don't usually happen. Anyway, we entered the Falls Cinema to the smell of freshly popped popcorn! We found our seats down front, and enjoyed watching Charlie handing out door prizes. Then he introduced the infamous Washboard Hank!

Hank came on stage with warm applause, and picked up his guitar. Then, he reached over and picked up his kitchen sink tuba, and put it on. Yep, made from a well traveled metal kitchen sink, black PVC pipe, electrical tape and duct tape and possibly a brass mouthpiece, Hank began to make music! He opened with a popular tune"The Flintstones" and played the entire song on his tuba, then sang it, then a mix of both. Amazing! He also played the "kazoozaphone"- a kazoo with what appeared to be the bell from a bicycle horn attached with black electrical tape. He played the banjo for accompaniment when using this unusual instrument. And of course, much to the delight of us all, he did a couple tunes with his infamous washboard gear. Can't describe it, you gotta see it to believe it.

He did quite a variety of tunes and stories for us, keeping us laughing, baffled, and amazed throughout the whole show. We were able to hear the stories behind some of his songs, including "Polyester Polly" and "Seeing Double C&W". He also shared a little intimate story of his early infatuation with "Queen Elizabeth" (you had to be there!). I know when I ramble of my musical outings, I frequently say "YOU GOTTA SEE IT FOR YOURSELF". Well, Hank's show is just that. I can only say my life is now complete having seen my "dream come true" and my Saturday concert marathon was off to a fantastic start.

We ventured outside when Hank finished for fresh air, and there we were lucky enough to visit a bit with Hank and his lovely girlfriend. Hank is really very nice, fan friendly, and you just feel like smiling when you talk with him. While standing there, a white mini van came roaring up, and out jumped two really cute gals, then two really cute guys..the guys being Roger and Kevin from Fred's band. Glancing down at the driver, we saw it was FRED!! Now, I'm a self admitted "stereo-typer", I guess. I expected Fred to be driving THE bus, or maybe an old truck or car, or even a souped up hot rod..but not a white mini-van!

It was also during this time we met more folks up/down for the weekend. One of these was the guy who does the Fred Eaglesmith website and his charming wife. (Please forgive me for forgetting your names...I could guess because I think I know, but am not positive!) He took our photos with Hank (probably dubbed."Crazy people coming from far away to spend time with the Fred band and more crazy people") and told us he is still doing more on his recently updated site. The site is GREAT now..but I think he won't be satisfied no matter how perfect the rest of us thinks it gets.

The popcorn smell overtook us as we entered the Cinema again for Willie P. Bennett's solo show. We broke down and bought some, along with a soda (caffeine break from the margarita rampage) and headed down to our comfy seats next to Brian and Fern. Charlie did yet another fine job with "raffling" and then introduced Willie.

Willie's show? Wow!

Andy had been most excited about this show, and having all the Willie CD's available presently, we knew we were in for a treat. It was much, much more than that. It's almost frightening how one man can captivate a small town movie theater full of people from all over North America and take complete control of them, but he did. There were moments of laughter, of course, and some of the songs were even humorous. But the songs I'll remember the most were the ones sounding as though they came from the core of his soul both with his music and lyrics. The songs wrapped around me like a blanket, holding me tight and not letting go until a couple of seconds after the applause was over. I am a crybaby. Twice during Willie's show I felt a tear or two escaping from my eyes, and a couple more times the "eye duct dam" held only slightly better. Perhaps most touching to me was the song "I'm Just A Step Away From Your Heart", and as my friend Fern said, "I never wanted this song to end." Near the end of it, Willie had the audience singing one part as he sang another. It was perhaps the most incredible thing my ears have ever heard. This show was more than I could have possibly ever imagined. Willie is warm, intelligent, witty, and so very genuine. His fingers work magic on the guitar and mandolin, and he plays the harmonica unlike anyone else I've seen. I am still very much in awe.

After Willie's show it was back to the Motor Inn to freshen ourselves and our margaritas, then back into town for the "Soiree" for the Eaglesmith digesters. Sponsors graciously donated beer (mmm...Steel Ale!), salsa and chips (Green Mountain Gringo Salsa-damn fine salsa, especially to be made outside Texas) and Tomato Basil Pretzels (from Vermont pretzel company) for us to have cocktail hour before dinner. It was at the lovely home and garden of a friend of Charlie's.

Polishing off the Steel Ale, we headed back down the street to the 3 Rivers Gallery to an art opening. There were paintings from local artists there, and one such artist had requested we stop in and view his works. Curious about his talent and never having been to an "opening" (hey, I grew up in the sticks!), we entered. I must say the artists, especially our friend, were very talented (of course, my three-year-old draws better stick people than me, but I know what I like!). Our friend's works were actually the ones I liked best.those belonging to Charlie Hunter!

We left the gallery and went to Oona's for an elaborate dinner. We sat with Michael and Vance, and dined on the "Fred Eaglesmith special". This was BEEF - Prime rib and au jus with caramelized Vidalia onions, mashed potatoes, julienned carrots and peppers, salad, and the finest of bread! Our fantastic waitressit was Darry, Charlie's sweetie! Hope we didn't give her too much trouble, but her friendly demeanor just enhanced the the whole Oona's experience.

Then, it was back across the street to the Cinema for the more "Country/Bluegrass show". We went back to our same, wonderful seats just as it was time for the Stockwell brothers to open the show. The first two tunes they did were AWESOME bluegrass numbers. The brother on my right (as I was facing the stage) was most impressive. Whether playing banjo or guitar, he was incredible. This kind of got me in the "bluegrass mood" and the rest of their tunes weren't so "grassy". They were good, but just not my cup of tea. So, I was ready for the second act when Fred and the boys hit the stage, and they hit the stage runnin'.

Forgoing the raffle Charlie had planned, without introduction, the boys cut loose with "I Like Trains" whilst unsuspecting audience members scuttled to their seats. The raffle prizes were thrown into the audience by Hank. We were all praying he wouldn't throw the jars of salsa! Other raffle prizes included Sovernet t-shirts, Green Mountain Tortilla chips, and CDs. One could feel the electricity in the air! Like Fern and others have said, there's been discussion about the "new band" vs. "the old band". I'm telling you, I'll take it all. The chemistry of those guys on stage, watching their glances between one another speaking without words was just amazing. They are having fun, and thus their audience is as well. "When The Bandages Come Off" is another song that really got to me a couple of times during the weekend. Perhaps one of the more fun tunes was "Bob's Dogs and Burgers". But the one that hit me hardest all weekend was "Bleary Eyed Boys". No holds barred, I cried. And as hard as I cried, I laughed just as hard when Fred broke into one of the few cover tunes I've never heard him do. "Honey" is the song (from early 70's) that was originally a sad song about 'Honey' dying. and it has a whole new spin on it when it's done in a bluegrass style!!! The finishing number was "Water In The Fuel", one of my top 10 Fred favorites. What an incredible show!!

We left the Cinema and headed to PK's down the street for open mic night. The place was too packed to get in, so we consulted with some of our Friday parking lot party buddies and decided to head back to the Rockingham Motor Inn for an acoustic jam session. Back into the Tejas Taxi we piled, and headed for the "show". They came all right. I counted 7 guitars at one point, and probably 35-40 people sitting around (including "my 8-pack of Canadians"). As the crowd died down, with one or two guitars left, we broke out into "Indiana Road" and before the first verse was complete, we had one of "Vermont's finest" pulling up next to us. He said that the music sounded great, but someone around the area somewhere was a little cranky, and it was time for us to call it a night. That's okay, at least we had the time we did. Some of the finest camaraderie I've ever seen/heard happened that night. Those memories are priceless.

We awoke to a bright Sunday morning, dressed and began packing up Room 31. We couldn't believe this was the final full day of our trip. We packed all our crap into the Sable and moved it out into the parking lot of the motel. We put our beer into the cooler of the Tejas Taxi, knowing what we didn't drink would find a good home with Michael. We loaded in to the Tejas Taxi with Michael and Vance, and drove to the Miss Bellows Falls diner for breakfast. It's an old railroad dining car, really a neat little place. Not long after we sat down, Willie, Hank and Hank's sweetie all came in. It was here were really "met" Willie for the first time, and he's very, very nice. Hank seemed glad to see us to, and really got me tickled while cutting up with his girlfriend.

After dining on a good breakfast, we drove to the Rockingham Meeting House. It sits atop a quiet hill, with an interesting, peaceful graveyard next to it. When we arrived, the church service at which Charlie's brother Will was speaking, had already begun. So we opted for staying outside for the hour. During that time we explored the graveyard with some tombstones dating from the 1700's. We also noticed Fred giving an interview and photos to a reporter in this graveyard, which he later indicated had kind of given him the creeps. We looked over the lovely plants a vendor had brought, and discussed which of the pretzels from Vermont Pretzel Company we might eat after the show. Mostly, it was a time of "fellowship" with others outdoors. We met even more people on this day, and had good visits with some we had already befriended.

Time for the show, we took our seats down front in the old, beautiful meeting house. Our seats were in the front pews, next to our pals Fern and Brian again. After more raffle drawings (one of which we won), Charlie introduced Erica Wheeler, who would be performing three songs. In all honesty, I figured she would be okay, and I could sit through her songs and then go on to Fred. I had been a little disappointed that Mary Gauthier wasn't performing (but happy that she'll soon be in Texas!) so I really had no expectations where Erica was concerned. I gotta tell ya, she won me over fast!

Erica made me feel like I was sitting and talking with my best friend. As she spoke, and then played and sang, it was almost as though we were visiting, and she was telling me interesting tidbits and insights she had. Her words, music, and voice were just wonderful. What a great surprise. I must confess, I must be chauvinistic when it comes to female singers. For some reason, there are few I really like. Erica is phenomenal! We'll be ordering her CDs very soon, and like I did with Mary the past year, I'll hope for a Texas tour someday or see her if/when we make the trek back next year. As much as I was excited about Fred and the boys' acoustic show, I wasn't ready for her to be finished!

It wasn't long before Fred and the boys came in and decided they would play in the center aisle instead of up front. What a hoot! The looks on the guy's faces with the recording equipment were hysterical. They began to scramble and adjust their equipment, as Fred and the boys broke into song. The music filled the meeting house, and it was nearly what one could consider a religious experience. It was awesome to hear Darcy on the upright bass again, as we had the first time we heard him with Fred a little over a year ago in OKC. Their music and harmonies were unlike anything I ever remember hearing, and I loved it. Of course, when they sang "FlowersIn The Dell", I felt the tears begin rolling down the face. Solo, Fred did "Pistols and Rifles", and I gave up any hope of "tear control". I just let them fall. They did "Sharecroppin'" which is another of my Fred favorites, then I was back to laughing with Fred imitating Willie. The nice touch of Fred and Darcy doing "When

The Bandages Come Off" was such a beautiful treat. Our final concert had been truly amazing.

It was back outdoors for more socializing, including hounding the band for photos with me. They were all very sweet and accommodating, and I think the majority of the band is convinced that Texas is a good place to come play. Now if we can just get 'em down here! We were some of the final few to leave this beautiful spot, saying good-byes to some and vowing to see some momentarily at the Street Hockey tournament. We once again loaded up in the Tejas Taxi, and our driver took us to the Walpole Inn.

Before I begin this part, let me reiterate...I am from Texas. We don't play "street hockey" out in my part of the woods, I don't have pavement until the Farm to Market Road, and there's too much traffic to play out there! So, as I describe to you my impressions of the game, my terminology is probably incorrect. We parked and walked up toward the area made for the game...is that a rink? Anyway, it was a rectangular playing area fenced off with hay bales, tables turned sideways, old doors, and even bags of something I think. I can honestly say, this sport is WAY too tough for me. I know there had to be some folks with some bruises, road rash, and sore muscles the next day. The team consisting of some of my "Canadian 8-pack" friends were knocked out of the tournament fairly early. I heard at least 25 reasons why, but I think it was 'cause they were having the most fun. They definitely smiled the most.

Willie P. Bennett was by far the best dressed. He wore a lovely bandana on his head, no shirt so as to show off those gorgeous tattoos, bright blue ski pants, and a jock strap (cup included...yes, I looked) over them with the words "MEN AT WORK" printed on it !!! Fred was a distant second fashion-wise with his lovely orange and yellow ensemble. It was during these early games I saw a neat few moments I want to share. Our Fern was sitting on a blanket watching the games when Fred came up and began chatting with her. Wanting to share a bit of a private conversation, Fern got up and the two of them moved off to the side, chatting together like school kids. It was precious. Part of Fred's charm is that he's not a prima donna when it comes to his fans, he respects them, and seems to cherish them. It just warmed my heart seeing the two share a few private moments, with nosy me watching. Maybe she gave him some last minute hockey advice!

After several rounds of the tournament, several spills, thrills and cheers, the finals were between Team Eaglesmith and the Walpole Inn folks. It was a good game, with the Walpole folks being victorious. Willie P. received the "Blown Out Shoe" award I believe it was called (Okay, guys, I tried to look back and see what it was called and had no luck finding it...please correct me!) for his outstanding efforts as the Team Eaglesmith goalie. The crowd began to clear, yet we weren't ready to leave.

I believe it was Sandy and Doug who suggested we go have a beer on the porch of the beautiful Walpole Inn. We joined them, along with Michael and Vance, and sat down for a final round. Charlie Hunter happened upon us, and brought Green Mountain Gringo Salsa and chips for us to munch on. Band members Darcy, Roger, Kevin, Fred, and their ladies all came by and visited with us for a bit. It was a wonderful end to the wonderful weekend. I hugged Doug, then nearly cried as I hugged Sandy goodbye. We said our final farewell and thank you to Charlie, and we loaded into our Tejas Taxi one last time. They dropped us off at our car, then we followed them to our next destination.

We had dinner in Bernardston (I think it was called) at a nice café called the "Four Leaf Clover", then headed to sleep at Chris's apartment in Greenfield. He graciously offered us a FREE place to spend the night, so we could get up early and head to the airport the next morning. W e said our good-byes to Michael and Vance. Again, for me those weren't easy. I got pretty attached to them over the weekend, and am sure gonna do what I can to persuade them to move back to Texas! We had our short night's sleep, went back to the airport, dropped off the Sable and boarded our first of three Southwest flights home. Our trip went smoothly, and we were home by about 2:00 p.m. on Monday.

Upon arrival at Andy's folks' house to pick up the kids, we were greeted with hugs and kisses. Not having been there five minutes yet, our oldest (nearly 8) asked if he could "stay with Pops and B just one more night Plllleeeaaaaasssee"!! Okay, so they didn't miss us too terribly. I was just glad they had a great time as I knew they would. It was nice sleeping in our own bed again, worn out from such a great time. We thank all of you and look forward to keeping in close touch with you. Hopefully, we'll see you next year!!!

Written by Dana Jones, June 2001

E-mail me about this review or click here to read author's bio

Visit Fred Eaglesmith's website

Click here for more reviews from Lone Star Mama