American Folk: Greg Brown in Concert (Cedarburg, WI)

I first heard the charm of Greg Brown’s voice coming from the tape player in the kitchen at YMCA Camp Menogyn on West Bearskin Lake in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area of Minnesota. During the 80’s as a camper at this wilderness adventure camp, times spent in camp were marked by the togetherness and closeness. Greg Brown’s voice, guitar, and lyrics were the perfect soundtrack for this.

Since then, Greg Brown has come to be one of the largest multiple album artists in my collection. His blend of folk music with blues, soul, Gospel, and country brings out the emotions of a hidden Midwestern heart in us all up here. His ability to take music from so many sources to create his own beauty has inspired many singer-songwriters.

Last night, Brown treated with another excellent concert in Cedarburg, Wisconsin. As part of the Wisconsin Singer/Songwriter Series, Brown played before an over-capacity crowd of 300-plus. Joined by long-time collaborator and friend, Bo Ramsey, on electric guitars, it was an hour-and-a-half set of songs deep into the collection. The set list seemed to be largely made up on stage, with Brown leaning over to clue Ramsey in as the crowd vigorously applauded the deep ballads, breakdown blues, and countrified folk.

Brown opened with “Laughing River” from 1992’s Dream Café, complete with harmonica. After the song, Brown said, “Went to the Bob Dylan show last night, so I stayed with the harmonica.” The guitar picking on “China” later in the night also references the Freewheelin’ Dylan sound. Dylan clearly led the way for all current folk artists and singer/songwriters, but now Brown has picked up there and is also leading his own band of disciples.

“Hacklebarney Tune” is a wonderful tribute to Brown’s banjo-playing Grandpa, of whom Brown said last night, “One of the big problems with death in Grandpa’s mind was that you can’t jam anymore.” And I have to agree with Brown who said he believed there’d be guitars and banjos in the after-life. Jamming came on strong in tunes like “Down at the Mill,” “Blues Go Walking,” and “C.C. Rider.”

However, Brown always gives a great range of sounds in concert. “A Little You” is a concert treat that is one of a series of talking blues songs of Brown’s. The concert closed with 2 traditional songs, “Railroad Bill” and “I Shall Not Be Moved,” on which his daughter, Pieta, joined him for vocals. The threesome held back on these 2 songs to let the traditional flavor come through with all its sweetness.

The tall, lanky Bo Ramsey, wearing a cowboy hat pulled down over his sunglasses, adds electric guitar to Brown’s acoustic guitar and vocals. Whether electric guitar, slide guitar, or steel guitar, Ramsey adds flourishes, solos, and bass lines as needed. Watching Ramsey is watching sound. The guitar sings and wails, and Ramsey’s body does the same. He subtly brings out a richness in the songs, and while his licks are incredible, they remain understated, never upstaging, but rather always serving the entire song. Even while he is working hard to bring out all of the sound, his touch is gentle, as my wife, Susan, observed.

The second encore was the traditional tune, “C.C. Rider,” on which Ramsey played a great slide and Brown set a wonderful pick. They didn’t just take a traditional tune and leave their fingerprint on it; they left their handprints on it.

The last song in the main set was the traditional Gospel tune, “I Shall Not Be Moved.” Jonathan Edwards may have preached about “Sinners in the Hands of An Angry God,” but this was “Gospel in the Hands of a Sinner-Singer.” While Brown has acknowledged his own doubts and conflicted spiritual views, when Brown picks up a Gospel song, there’s authenticity in it. The Gospel seems to jump out all the more when put in the context of his other songs and stories about the difficulties and mistakes of life. The need for a Savior and forgiveness and faith and love. . .well, that’s what every song has been searching for all night. Now Brown brings us here, dare I say, to the Gospel in an evening crafted like a Sunday morning sermon. I’ve heard the Law; I’ve recognized my sin in the songs; and now I know that I need faith in Jesus, faith that by the grace of God shall not be moved.

Pieta Brown.
Opening for Greg Brown was Pieta Brown, his daughter, who has released 2 albums. Hers is a beautiful voice that at times has the same mumbling, speed-up/slow-down quality of her father’s style. The opening song, “Tears Won’t Do Any Good,” was very much in the sound of Slant 6 Mind. Yet, her set was also reminiscent of Alison Krauss. Overall, her sound comes through as windblown flatlands, Country music, farmhouse blues. Her voice and style will continue to grow, and I’m eager to hear where that takes her.

Bo Ramsey joined her for her set; he also produced both of her albums. It is interesting to see how much Ramsey can bring out from her still somewhat timid approach, developing the songs that much more. However, you could tell that the two don’t always play together; Pieta would often wait and watch Ramsey to see when the solo was over and when she should continue with next verse. Contrast that with Ramsey and Greg Brown who can communicate without eye contact, who seamlessly go between verse and solo without a pause or stepping on each other. That shows how much a partnership can take music to the next level.

Thank you to the Wisconsin Singer/Songwriter Series for continuing to bring in such great artists to Cedarburg.

Greg Brown’s Set List for March 14, 2004
1. Laughing River (Dream Café)
2. Down at the Mill (Slant 6 Mind)
3. Lately (The Poet Game)
4. Dream City (Covenant)
5. Why Do You Even Say That? (Over and Under)
6. Sleeper (Dream Café)
7. A Little You
8. China (Further In)
9. Hacklebarney Tune (Down in There)
10. A Little Place in the Country (Down in There)
11. Almost Out of Gas (Over and Under)
With Pieta Brown on vocals
12. Railroad Bill (traditional, Honey in the Lion’s Head)
13. I Shall Not Be Moved (traditional)
Encore 1
14. Blues Go Walking (Covenant)
Encore 2
15. C.C. Rider (traditional)


Pieta Brown’s Set List for March 14, 2004
1. Tears Won’t Do Any Good
2. Feel My Love
3. Nobody’s Rose
4. Precious Game
5. Show Me How
6. I Ain’t Got No Honey Baby, Now
7. All Those Pretty Songs
Please let me know if these song titles are incorrect.