Bill Lauf and Gordon Titcomb Play Milton Hall, 2008
Sunday, April 27th, 2008
Milton Hall, Milton, Connecticut. Bill and Gordon warming up before the show. Bill is a part time song writer and folk musician and a neighbor of ours here in Warren. Gordon is a professional studio musician who plays sessions and on tour with the big boys who’s been a friend of Bill’s for years. He’s also local (when he’s not touring).
Anne and I have been going to hear Bill at Milton Hall for twenty years (Anne for another ten) and this was the second time Gordon joined him. Read about Bill’s 2007 concert here.
Milton Hall holds about 75 people comfortably and this show had close to 100 packed in. The audience energy was fantastic and many of us were long time attendees. It was quite an evening and the guys played their hearts out, mostly their own music as well as some covers: Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Randy Newman, Paul McCartney and more.
Both Bill and Gordon are solid musicians with depth and breadth and humor and energy and many in the audience thought it was one of the best concerts ever. That’s saying something.
The photography was tougher for me this time: more people, tough lighting, two musicians, more microphones, and I got pinned in a corner up front once the music started. I decided to take fewer shots and enjoy the music more. I’m glad I did.
Bill Lauf, in his groove playing his own music. I consider Bill a good friend and I have to say, it’s wonderful to see someone you know perform well.
He told a story about this small four sting tenor guitar but I can’t remember it. I think the instrument came down to him from his father. It has a great, warm sound.
Gordon picking out Auld Lang Syne. You haven’t heard this song until you’ve heard it on a bluegrass banjo. Fantastic. He retuned the banjo multiple times on the fly. Incredible picking.
Gordon really knows how to make the pedal steel guitar sing.
No good concert can happen without good engineering and Chris Brown, a jazz musician (trumpet) and sound engineer filled the space with great sound, not too hot, perfectly balanced, and just enough so we heard all the string and fret sounds. Note the Mac Mini and small board he takes to gigs with him.
I’ve known Chris for twenty years as well, as an engineer for Paul Winter and David Darling and a fellow Mac user.
We’re hoping that he got enough tracks between both evenings Bill and Gordon played to make a live CD. Maybe they’ll use one of my images on the cover. Dream on…
I’m envious. Looks like a good time! Thanks for sharing.
What very fine portraits of Bill and Gordon you’ve taken, Richard. And your writing about the concert sure makes me wish I’d been there too. I’m glad you had a great time.
Thanks guys, it was a great time and if there’s a CD I’ll let you know here.
Beautiful photos. Milton hall looks cozy and I bet the music was great. If you see Chris Brown, tell him he hasn’t aged since 1979 which was probably the last time I’ve seen him. Wish the same was true of me, but - Oh Well.
Pam: you were there in spirit. I’ll pass your comments on to Chris.
A CD would be nice. I’m eager for your notice on that.
I’m analyzing your images here. I have a few jazz bands lined up to shoot and got some fresh ideas from the angles you incorporated.
I bet this hall sounds awesome with the wood construction I see behind the musicians.
Greg: Yeah, the hall is very warm and great for acoustic music like this but the sound work that Chris did was also important. Bill’s done un-amplified concerts there and it’s okay but this is much better. Plus, of course, it had to be miced to make the CD.
For another view of the hall, check the 2007 concert.
Hi Richard (and Ann): Nice to hear about you guys twice in a month, first from Susan who enjoyed her visit and next from Chris, whom forwarded the link. Glad to see you are busy and doing well. I assume the top photo is a grandchild - beautiful! Thanks for taking such a flattering photo of my Dick Clark-like, never aging brother. Every family needs one. regards,
Phoebe
Phoebe: Great to hear from you and thanks for checking in here. The top photo, which changes each time you come back, was probably Anne and Erin, the grandkid.
Yeah, your brother is sort of in some sort of cryogenic state. All of us are yacking about how long we’ve been going to these concerts and how old that makes Lauf and us, and Chris, who has been there all along seems the same. Hopefully it’s in the genes.
Have to chime in and applaud Richard’s photos! I’m privileged to have seen more shots from the show, and to know they will be included in the show CD.
New to this blogging process, but when I saw that long-time friends as well as my sister were leaving comments about my apparent longevity,
it was clear that I had to comment as well.
For the record, I feel as young as I look!
Thanks for providing this forum.
Chris: Hey, thanks for doing such a great job engineering the show, it was one of the best Lauf events I’ve been to and if you all produce a CD out of it we’ll be sure to advertise it here. Thanks for including my images on the CD, it’s an honor.
Richard,
If Chris’ youthful appearence is in the genes, he’s the only one of the four of us that got them! That’s the eldest child for you, getting all the good stuff.
Phoebe
Phoebe: I think you all got the genes, Susan looked great when we saw her recently and no doubt you do too. Chris may have hogged an extra few, one of the perks of being first I guess.