Ptorchwood Ptales & Ptimely Pthoughts

Saturday night was bitterly cold here in Chicago - a perfect night for music by Canadian artists.  Put on my Canadian Toe warmer boots (left my hockey stick at home) and headed over to the Old Town School.

Themed concerts are performed by instructors, ensemble classes and various other friends of the school.  Tickets were a whopping $13. The only problem is they always run way over schedule (they make the Oscars look like a well oiled machine). We left after 3 1/2 hours and they were about 75% through the roster.  Oh, and while they serve alcohol, there wasn't a Molson's to be found anywhere.

So here's a sampling of what we heard - at least what I can remember. 

The Band
Rush
Gordon Lightfoot - 10 Degrees and Getting Colder, If you Could Read My Mind
Men Without Hats - Safety Dance
Neil Young - A Man Needs a Maid, Lookout Joe
Buffy St. Marie - I'm Gonna Be a Country Girl Again, God is Alive Magic is Afoot (from a poem by Leonard Cohen)
Leonard Cohen - Hallelujah
Joni Mitchell -  A Case of you- I have to say something about this.  It was performed by Cat Edgerton, a piano and voice rendition that was one of the most beautiful things I've heard in a long time. The kind of beautiful that when she finished the audience actually sighed before the applause.

There was also an appearance by Ned Herman (I think I have that right) one of the legends of Chicago folk music who did a hilarious immitation of Joni Mitchell's quick singing and octive changes. Ed Holstein  another legend from the Chicago folk scene performed as well.

I wish I could have stayed longer, but  I was tired, my butt was numb, and having heard 31/2 hours of music for $13, I think I got my money's worth.