To: Shorty@danhicks.net From: Mike Dinnegan Date sent: Thurs, 16 Jan 2003 Subject: The Turning Point Report The Turning Point Piermont, New York Monday January 13, 2003 The Turning Point is an old two-story woodframe building with the main bar and restaurant upstairs and a Cafe (with a small bar) downstairs. The restaurant is closed on Mondays! Fortunately the Cafe is where the live music happens. I walked into the Cafe at about 6:10, and saw Dan and the band on the stand rehearsing something. What a wonderful rush. I didn't know the song -- it's one that he hasn't recorded, but there was something familiar about it. I would find out later that it was "That's Just the Smoke They're Blowin'". It's the song I was hoping for! I had only heard it once in my life, and that was here at the Turning Point in '98. On this night I got to hear it three times! Soon the rehearsal stopped and the sorta old guy in charge of the place (John) was standing in front of the stage saying things to the staff (setting the tables) like "OK, and you'll have everyone seated quickly and then Dan will take the stage at 7:30, that's 7:30 sharp..." and Dan, still standing on the stage in front of the full group said "You're RIGHT John, that's right, you're RIGHT" with a respectful sincerity that might have been real. The band left the stage and went through a door that led upstairs to the closed restaurant and their dressing room. I was the only one in the Cafe and I looked at the scene. It was still the same small place as in '98 when I saw Dan and the Acoustic Warriors. The postage-stamp sized stage is in the room's left corner against the back wall. There are three long tables, each ending at the front of the stage. So there are six seats at the front of the stage -- the two at the end of each table. I figured about 18 seats at each long table. The rest of the room had smaller round and square tables. The right side of the room has a small square bar with seats along three sides (12, I think). With its low ceiling, the Cafe has a real cozy feeling, and especially warm on this cold winter night, right alongside the Hudson River. I grabbed a seat up front while folks started coming in. The room eventually filled up -- I think there were about 80 people (even though there was a big sign to the right of the stage with the number 69 written in to identify when a fire hazard might develop). At about 7:15 David Bell came out to tune up Dan's Gretsch. At 7:30 sharp Dan came out and took the stage, followed by Paul Smith, Brian Godcheaux, and Dave. They started playing "Lady Be Good" with Brian picking the tune on his violin. After a few bars Dan explained that this was "A Study in Pickin'" and it was a free tune because the show had not started yet. He then wondered aloud about where the Lickettes were -- they knew the show started at 7:30 sharp. They soon appeared, and real good lookin' of course. It was Susan Rabin and Robin Seyler (as in <sigh>ler), resplendent in scintillating slut-wear (thanks Wendy). Here's the set from the early show: 1. Canned Music 2. Hell I'd Go (at first he said they'd do "Piermont on my Mind") 3. Cowboy's Dream #19 4. Evenin' Breeze 5. That's Just theSmoke They're Blowin' (Dan said this would be on a new album, due out in the Spring) 6. Bar Stool Boogie 7. I Scare Myself 8. Along Comes a Viper 9. Blues for Dixie (Dan credited the Hillbilly Jazz album for this tune) 10. I'll See You in My Dreams (strictly instrumental, and real sweet pickin's) 11. Reelin' Down (with Sue on ukele!) Thunderous applause as the band bowed and left the stage, one at a time, behind Dan. Our appreciation got louder, and Dan and the band came back out and retook the stage. Dan said he had to "check with his people" while backstage and they had told him it would be OK to play an extra song or two. For an encore they did: 12. The Buzzard Was Their Friend (Brian and Dave played the "Lester Leaps In" and some Benny Goodman riffs) 13. Exactly Like You (Dan sans guitar playing a single small bongo with a brush, then a great dance with the girls) The late show started a little after 9:30 and it was also fabulous: 1. Milk Shakin' Mama 2. Strike it While It's Hot 3. Chatanooga Shoe Shine Boy (with licks from Duke's "Things Ain't What They Used to Be") 4. Payday Blues (with Robin on 2nd fiddle) 5. By Hook or By Crook (super great -- fantastic playing) 6. That's Just the Smoke They're Blowin' 7. How Can I Miss You When You Won't Go Away 8. I Scare Myself 9. Blues for Dixie 10. I Feel Like Singin' (a wonderful scat-fest) 11. Peach Pickin' Time in Georgia (with Sue on uke again -- really nice) 12. Exactly Like You (even more entertaining than in the first set!) And for an encore: 13. Four or Five Times The audience loved it, and everyone was glowing at the end. It was a great night for music!