Pete Seeger on Letterman tonight!

[Chicago Sandy]

Hey, everyone on the West Coast (or who can get a West Coast satellite feed)---Just got finished watching Pete Seeger sing his song, "Don't Say it Can't Be Done" on the David Letterman show. First time I ever saw anyone on a TV show other than "Hootenanny" teach viewers the chorus line by line and get an entire studio audience singing along and clapping. The guy is 89--older than my f-i-law--and in good voice, on pitch, energetic, and playing his banjo louder than the 12-string alongside him. Catchy tune too--syncopated, and about an octave range.

Good on ya, Pete!

[Compurocker]

Sorry I missed it! Pete is a real regular around here... He has a lot to do with the Sloop Clearwater which sails the Hudson and he frequents Woodstock on occasion. Wow 89! I have seen him since I was little and did not realize just how old he was! We have had Stone Soup together! :up:

[Taylorplayer]

Sorry I missed that -- would love to have seen it!

[hawk]

I`ve never been a big fan of that kind of die hard folk music, but i do like him. I think he looked and sounded better than he has in 30 years.

[marvin gardens]

Sorry I missed it! Pete is a real regular around here... He has a lot to do with the Sloop Clearwater which sails the Hudson and he frequents Woodstock on occasion. Wow 89! I have seen him since I was little and did not realize just how old he was! We have had Stone Soup together! :up:


Sorry I missed it, too. Wow Compurocker! Thank the good lord, and count your blessings for being in the presence of such talent as well as walking history. What that man has given to the world is imeasurable. Never take what you've experienced for granted. Thanks for sharing.

Jim

[FLDavid]

I TiVo Letterman every night to watch in the a.m. before I head in to work--imagine my surprise when I saw who the musical guest was (!)
I had to do a doubletake
He has not changed a bit--a "Senior Cooker" of the first order
Wail on, Pete

[beach bob]

I saw it too; the minor benefit of the bosses having me working peak shift this week: I am still up and watching the late nite talk shows :D

FWIW, that was three-fifths of the Mammals backing Pete: Next to Pete on the 12er was Pete's grandson, Tao Rodriguez-Seeger, plus the amazing and lovely Ruth Unger-Merenda on the fiddle, and Jacob Silver on the stand up bass. I believe that was the 12 string that Pete gave to Tao. The Mammals are on hiatus for now, but all the folks in that group are way talented. I am guessing they are backing Pete on his new release? ... good stuff.

Pete is an American institution... We thought Vassar would never pass on, but he did. So, support these guys where you can.

<edited to say> Watching Pete last night also effectively counteracted the effects of having watched A Mighty Wind this past weekend :ha:

[Chicago Sandy]

The Mammals? No kidding? I saw them three years ago at Hiawatha--but I was out in the middle of the lawn chairs and they looked sorta tiny on that bandshell stage. (Didn't get to do any workshop stages with them like I did some of the other acts like Garnet Rogers and Maura O'Connell). They were indeed awesome.

I ALMOST got to meet him at Folk Alliance 2007 when I was picked to be part of the Local 1000 birthday tribute concert for him (I was assigned "Pay Me My Money Down," enlisted a whole bunch of fellow union members, including Ken Whitely & John McCutcheon, to back me up and we had a blast)--but he got pneumonia that week and we had to do a webcam feed to his house instead. Did get to meet and sing with Peggy, though!

[beach bob]

No kidding !

Beth and Randy booked them to the Suwannee fests a few times, so I've met those Mammals as a result. Great, talented people. One Sunday night at Springfest there was an impromptu fiddle summit around a campfire with Ruthie, Tania from the Duhks, and the good Rev. Jeff Mosier of Blueground Undergrass. Right place, right time on that one ;)

The Woodstock area, w. the Mammals, Ollabelle, Levon Helm, and all their extended musical family seems like a fairly cool and happening little scene these days. I need to get up that way some day for one of Levon's 'rent parties' in the barn :)

[Compurocker]

No kidding !
The Woodstock area, w. the Mammals, Ollabelle, Levon Helm, and all their extended musical family seems like a fairly cool and happening little scene these days. I need to get up that way some day for one of Levon's 'rent parties' in the barn :)

Yeah, Levon is a local here and his Midnight Rambles are "Famous". Being the most Active member of THE BAND he is around town a lot. Every time I think of him or see him I can't help but thinking about Rick Danko and the tragedy that all was...December of 1999. He was only 56! Robbie Robertson gave the most touching speech at a Tribute at the Bearsville Theater which is right outside of Woodstock and is more or less considered a part of Woodstock. His funeral was earlier the same day but was private and all the surviving members of "The Band" were there as well as a lot of other "Famous" Musicians. The Town was on lockdown. Woodstock is a small Town so traffic was completely at a standstill at both ends of town. John Sebastian who also lives here played Amazing Grace on the Harmonica. Man that is just beautiful...

[PaulData]

Man, old Pete looks and sounds good...

Here's a link to the performance:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4yKFsanqSo

Enjoy!

[beach bob]

Thanks Paul!!