Friday 2/22 Sue and I went into St. Paul to see the Wailin' Jennys.
They were at The O' Shaughnessy on the campus of St. Catherine's.
Some of you may be familiar with them as they have previously have almost been a 'house'
band on The Prairie Home Companion.
Starting out as Ruth Moody, Nicky Mehti and Cara Luft, they began as what was to be a just a one-time get together
for their first album 40 Days. Hailing from Winnipeg, Manitoba they would play in coffeehouses up there. Cara left soon after to persue a solo career, and Annabelle Chvostek replaced her as a member for the wonderful album Firecracker. After that album was released Annabelle too left to persue a solo career to be replaced by Heather Masse. She is from the east coast of the US, known as a member of the Wayfaring Strangers and the Brooklyn based Heather and the Barbarians. The Jennys combine beautiful instrumentation with wonderful rich vocal harmonies. Ruth is soprano (and plays banjo, accordian, and guitar) Heather is the alto (and plays upright bass), and Nicky is the messo (playing guitar and a small drum set). Their evening consisted of 2 beautiful 45 minute sets, and included a 4th member, a guy whose name I can't remember on fiddle. They also did a couple of songs acapella.
Just a nice evening of contemporary folk music. I really like the way Heather has added to the band, with her real strong vocals.
Sue totally enjoyed the show, as did I. Afterwards they came out into the lobby and signed cd's and photos for everyone who wanted one.
If you get a chance to see them- do go. And I recommend their Firecracker CD from 2006.
They will appear on Prairie Home Companion on 3/1.
here's their remaining tour-
2-27-08 Tallahasee, FL Florida State University
Seven Days of Opening Nights, 216 Westcott Building- Tallahasee, FL Time: 8pm
2-29-08 St. Paul, MN Prairie Home Companion
Fitzgerald Theater, 10 East Exchange Street- St. Paul, MN Time: 8pm
3-1-08 St. Paul, MN Prairie Home Companion
Fitzgerald Theater, 10 East Exchange Street- St. Paul, MN Time: 8pm
3-4-08 Lebanon, IL Hertenhausen Center for the Performing Arts
400 Alton St.-Lebanon, IL Time: 7:30pm
3-6-08 North Newton, KS Bethel College - Memorial Hall
300 E. 27th St,- North Newton, KS Time: 7:30pm
3-8-08 Tulsa, OK Tulsa Performing Arts Center
110 East Second Street- Tulsa, OK Time: 7:30pm
4-3-08 Somerville, MA The Somerville Theater
55 Davis Square- Somerville, MA Time: 8pm
4-4-08 Northampton, MA Iron Horse Music Hall
20 Center Street- Northampton, MA Time: 7pm
4-5-08 Clinton, NY Kirkland Art Center
9 1/2 East Park Row- Clinton, NY
4-6-08 Schenectady, NY Eighth Step
432 State St.- Schenectady, NY
4-7-08 Alexandria, VA The Birchmere
3701 Mt. Vernon Ave- Alexandria, VA Time: 7:30pm
4-8-08 New York, NY Joe's Pub
425 Lafayette Street- New York, NY Time: 7:30pm
4-11-08 Lancaster, CA Lancaster Performing Arts Center
750 W Lancaster Blvd- Lancaster, CA Time: 8pm
4-12-08 San Luis Obispo, CA Christopher Cohan Center
Cal Poly State University , 1 Grand Avenue -San Luis Obispo, CA Time: 8pm
4-13-08 Saratoga, CA Carriage House Theater
15400 Montalvo Rd.- Saratoga, CA Time: 8pm
4-15-08 Seattle, WA The Triple Door
216 Union St- Seattle, WA Time: 7:30pm
4-16-08 Omak, WA Omak Performing Arts Center
16 S. Cedar- Omak, WA
4-17-08 Wenatchee, WA Wenatchee Performing Arts Center
123 North Wenatchee Ave- Wenatchee, WA Time: 7:30pm
4-18-08 Mt Vernon, WA Lincoln Theater
712 South First St.- Mt Vernon, WA Time: 8pm
4-20-08 Portland, OR Aladdin Theater
3017 SE Milwaukie- Portland, OR Time: 8pm
ed- got some signed cd's and this signed photo