Unknown Maracas Part 2
PHOTOS:
Once I got in touch with Shelley here at kennedyflairs, it motivated me to dig a little deeper into my box of unsorted photographs. A few gems relevant to kd surfaced, and here they are, with some explanatory notes: 
kd at North Country Fair, Alberta - June 1984
If you carefully look at the lay-out of the stage, you might soon get the impression that this was a rather makeshift set-up. You’d be right -- the North Country Fair is a long running music festival (since 1978) near Joussard, Alberta, Canada. Joussard, on the shores of Lesser Slave Lake, is approximately 300 kilometers northwest of Edmonton, Alberta. This shot was taken in June, 1984 -- that’s Farley Scott, original Reclines bassist, and kd. Note the little kid playing a set of bongo drums - onstage! North Country Fair is known for its down-home like quality, so that kid was likely more than welcome to “sit in” !
North Country Fair is still running, having changed locale within the region a couple times: http://lslncca.ca/ncf/aboutncf.htm
)
Again, from North Country Fair, 1984. All I recall of this is joking with kd that she should take up the Chapman “Stick”
(which is a very demanding, esoteric instrument - http://www.stick.com )
This is from the Edmonton Folk Festival, August 1984. kd is talking to Peter Rowan, a well-known exponent of American roots and “newgrass” music. http://www.peter-rowan.com
Now, here’s a picture of yours truly, playing my bass at a workshop at the
Edmonton Folk Festival, August 1984. The workshop was called Rock and Roll Is In My Soul. (I think! Someone correct me if that’s the wrong one!) I believe that’s Gordie Matthews (Reclines) on guitar, but my memory is hazy, and it’s hard to see his face. Funny thing is, he’s playing an Ibanez guitar identical to the one that another soon-to-be famous Canadian star played -- a very young Colin James was in my band at the time, and would have been on this workshop -- maybe he lent his guitar to this guy? I can’t recall what songs kd did at this set, but she tore it up pretty fine, as I recall. I’m going to ask some of the other people for their memories of this week-end, and maybe I can update this story later. Also, apparently the EFMF keeps archives on slides, so perhaps I can take a peek someday.
That leads me to a really great kd lang anecdote from “back in the day”:
You have to realize that kd was creating quite a buzz around Alberta in late ‘83 and on into ‘84. She was then booked to play the August 1984 Edmonton Folk Festival: heck, this may well have been her first “massive” audience! Anyway, I was there playing with the American harmonica virtuoso, David Burgin, in a band called The Nightshades. We were there doing our blues stuff, but were also hired to back up the closing act of the night, Maria Muldaur & Dr. John. The two of them had been touring in support of Maria’s album “Sweet & Slow” -- this was a record of jazz standards, often on the slow and mellow side.
So, on the evening we were to close out the main stage, the previous two acts were Sylvia Tyson and then this young “upstart”, kd lang and her band, the Reclines. Sylvia put in a very fine set (she’s another woman who can really sing!) -- and then it was kd’s turn. To say the interest level was high would be an understatement -- this was an EVENT (frankly, the festival might have missed a trick in not putting her on in the closing slot).
Sure enough, kd took the stage and proceeded to “own” it. About two songs into kd’s set, I received notice that Maria Muldaur wanted to assemble our band backstage “Right now”. Arriving there, we were informed that, despite all our meticulous rehearsal in the weeks before, we would be doing NONE of the tunes from “Sweet and Slow”, (which was disappointing, as we had some great arrangements, and only this one chance to back her and Dr. John). In Maria’s words: “No, no, forget all that stuff -- it won’t work.”
Maria proceeded to rush us through a last-minute, impromptu rehearsal of all her older, up-tempo hits (“I’m a Woman”; “Don’t You Feel My Leg”; “Brickyard Blues”, etc) -- thank goodness she didn’t insist on “Midnight At the Oasis” which has a much more complex arrangement!. Anyway, we rambled onstage and managed to get through the set not too badly -- but to say it was anticlimactic after kd’s set would be yet another understatement. Maria was visibly nervous throughout the whole show, and in retrospect I think it was a mistake for her to try to “one up” on the same energy level kd had just set. We might have been better off playing the mellow material.
The point of this anecdote is that a 22 year old “unknown” managed to totally unnerve a veteran performer with a long track record. That’s how amazing kd was, even at the beginning of her career. I wish you could have been there, but this little anecdote and these pictures will have to do.
Finally, here’s a small mention from when kd was getting “the ears” of some big shots in the biz: November 1985 column from the Edmonton Sun, chronicling kd’s “blowing away” the moguls from Sire Records, among others. (and if you really want to read about Motley Crue, go right ahead.
Well that’s it for now, folks. I hope to unearth more stories from “back in the day” in the months to come, as I still see many of the people who were around the music scene in Edmonton circa 1983. Once I get permission (and hopefully, participation) I’ll try to post more tidbits here at kennedyflairs. Cheers, everyone!
Roger a.k.a. “Unknown Maracas”
