[psychojohn]

I guess I'll start with the whole concept of a living room concert. Wouldn't want to see AC/DC at such a venue, but it doesn't get any better for a solo acoustic performance. Pierce was set up in what would typically be a dinning room adjoining a living room and the audience (all 10 of us) were literally sitting in the living room on the living room furniture. I was last to arrive so I sat in "front", inches from Pierce. A sound system was also present which was a surprise given room size, but it simply lead to a recording quality performance sound rather than LOUDNESS.

This was my second exposure to Pierce Pettis. His voice quality is uniquely his own, but has a slightly gravelly quality we associate with many singer song writers such as Dylan (PP's was less nasal) or Tom Waits (PP's was less gravelly).

His guitars included a Larivee, and two Breedloves (one a tenor). His playing style was unique; wearing a plastic thumb pick and steel finger picks on the next two adjacent fingers on his right hand and when anchored to the sound board did so with his pinky finger and the one next to it. Much of his strumming, however, involved his hand floating above the strings and on the down stroke, he'd twist his wrist (toward his body) so his thumb would come down on bass strings at the same time his that his other pick covered fingers hit higher noted strings on the down stroke, up stroke or both.

Songs: Folky Americana oft with a religious flavor (without being overbearing or preachy). Incredible stories and imagery painted with words and notes. He gave the background behind most of his songs in a personable and entertaining way, and then performed with soul and passion.

So many of his lyrics evoked powerful images and thoughts, but there was one that stuck with me at the end of the night, as despite it (the imagery) being used by a variety of artist (N. Young immediately came to mind), it still rang powerful on so many levels than just love (as used by Neil). Think about it !

OH TO REACH FOR THE ROSES, WE MUST FEEL THE THORNS AS WELL. (Pierce Pettis, "Georgia Moon")

Thanks !

John