pictures by Danl Blackwood, from concert at:
Ascension Lutheran Church, December 18, 1999
comments (below) by Dave Anderson for concert at:
Pleasant Valley United Methodist Church, December 20, 1999
click on pictures to see larger image
comments by Dave Anderson for concert at: First off, let me say that these guys are starting to get quite a following for their Christmas concerts. Last year, I literally arrived one minute before the concert started and easily got a front row pew (approx.30-40 in attendance). Monday night we arrived at the Pleasant Valley United Methodist Church in Wichita 15 minutes before the scheduled time and we had to sit at a back table (coffee house type setting) in the fellowship hall, and they had to add many more chairs after we got there. ' (My notes of the concert weren't as complete as I thought they were, so at times I'm giving my best guess what David & Brad played.) Without introduction, Michael, Brad & David walked onstage at 7:40, and Michael began ... 1) "What Child Is This"/"O Come O Come Emmanuel" - Michael Aukofer (accordion, marimba), David Dibbern (bass/the upright kind), Brad Layher (guitar) After the first medley, Michael informed us that they were recording that evening hoping to get one song that they could use as a live version for their CD. Up to this point, none of the songs from the concerts have panned out. Michael also apologized (tongue-in-cheek) about the delay saying that 200 people showed up more than what they expected. I was real happy for the guys. They seemed more serious than usual; they didn't have their normal banter. I also felt that we, the audience, held back during the concert because of the recording, we didn't want to mess it up for the guys. 2) "Good King Wenceslaus" - Michael, Brad & David (guitar trio) 3) "Be Thou My Vision" - M.A.(accordion), D.D.(hammer dulcimer), B.L.(guitar), a friend from Friends University played the bohdran, the guys (vocals, Irish accents and all!) 4) "We Three Kings"/"Angels We Have Heard On High" - B.L.(guitar), D.D.(bass), M.A.(Michael's unique grouping of assorted percussion instruments) ... This was a snazzy, jazzy tune! 5) "Holy Holy Holy" - M.A.(hammer dulcimer), B.L.(hammer dulcimer), D.D.(guitar) ... Uh, or maybe switch Brad & David's instruments, I can't remember. :o) 6) "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" - D.D.(bass), B.L.(guitar), M.A.(percussion set), and Jeanne Anne Schroeder, another friend from Friends sang. 7) Song from Michael's "Stations of the Cross" project - Jeanne Ann (vocal), M.A.(marimba), D.D.(bass), B.L.(guitar) 8) "Carol of the Bells" w/Christmas medley intro - M.A.(marimba), D.D.(mountain dulcimer, hammer dulcimer), B.L.(mandolin, marimba) (I'm sure that marimba is a pain to move from church to church, but the music that those guys make with it is absolutely wonderful.) 9) "Joy to the World" w/"Amazing Grace" bridge - B.L.(mountain dulcimer), D.D.(washboard, soup cans duct taped to stool), M.A.(harmonica, popcorn can, hand claps, legs slaps, etc.) ... Yee-Haw, good ol' Appalachian musik! 10) "Angels We Have Heard on High"- Michael invited up the church's pastor, and she played a short ditty on accordion with the guys. M.A.(percussion), D.D.(bass), B.L.(guitar) 11) "When Peace Like a River (It Is Well)" - M.A.(hammer dulcimer), B.L. & D.D.(hammer dulcimer & guitar) 12) Selections from Handel's Messiah incl. Hallelujah Chorus - B.L.(mandolin), D.D.(mandola), M.A.(mandocello) 13) "Jolly Old Saint Nicholas" - The "Boom Whacker Trio" complete with a "Boom Whacker Amen" 14) "The Little Drummer Boy"/"I Saw Three Ships" - M.A.(at least one conga, cymbals, popcorn can for right foot, tambourine for left foot, hammer dulcimer, and nearly all of it was being done simutaneously!), B.L. & D.D.(hammer dulcimer, guitar, and other percussion, sorry, I was too busy watching Michael to notice what they were playing! :o) Michael had announced before "Drummer Boy" that it was their last song. As the guys got off the stage to a very loud standing ovation, the pastor caught the guys and I assume was asking for one more song. I was glad she did, because they played my favorite from last year... 15) "Of the Father's Love Begotten" - Instrumental intro, Michael & Brad on marimba, David on bass... then they moved into a percussion backbeat with Michael on bohdran, David drumming his bass, and Brad drumming on his guitar as they sang the old early century tune. Very cool! I hope it's included on the CD! Well, I hope all of you have a very Merry Christmas. Later...
Michael Aukofer
Brad Layher
Dave Dibbern
Jeanne Anne Schroeder
Boom Whacker Trio
Boom Whacker Amen
Don't forget, click on pictures to see larger image
Photos Copyright © 2000 danlnet.com
Pleasant Valley United Methodist Church, December 20, 1999
as posted to the Ragamuffin Mailing List
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