robbie and nora on the north shore-a
Up where I live in Wilmette there's a movie theater that's been there almost a hundred years. Five years ago my indefatigable friend Sam Samuelson took it over and remade it into a paragon of suburban splendor, a well-heeled powerhouse of hyperactive multi-artiness, a harmony-scented thespianation, a sissy sanctuary, a veritable shrine to that subdepartment of glamor we straight-facedly call Culture. It's hard to over-emphasize the note of gaiety that the Wilmette Theater brings to our torpid dirge of a downtown, with its bric-a-brac salons for matrons, its dingy little row of dentists and chiropractors and launderers, its eternally toiling faucet merchants and florists with their hand-drawn signage bravely trying to pass off dismal prospects of looming ruin as this month's crowd-wowing new sale. I cannot in good conscience ask you to visit Wilmette in order to shop at these places. But I cannot recommend highly enough that you come and check out our proud little theater. What's there this weekend? Me and Nora O'Connor!
I know a lot of you in Evanston and SixteenCandleville and other outlying areas of Chicago are busy working all week and can't make it into the city on a Monday night at 7:00 for a show. It is for you, the "poor" overworked suburbanites, the menschen yearning for the sweet sound of freedom embodied in a simple country song, that this Friday's show is being staged. Two voices, two stringed instruments, a couple microphones, and a big dark room with cushy chairs. They don't rock like at Old Orchard but they're quite comfortable. Get a Domino's pizza and a sitter for the kids, and come let us ease your mind away to former times and warmer climes.
Robbie and Nora, Friday February 25 at 7:30PM, Wilmette Theater, 1122 Central Avenue in beautiful Wilmette.
1 comment
Robbie,
Loved your Concert with Nora. First time I've heard you guys. Terrific. I'm an acoustic roots fan living in Glencoe. WE do need more of your music on the "Shore". YOu and NOra should record together!! Especially music like at the "Mette". By the way, I taught 30 years in the Wilmette Schools. Old Town used to have a school on NOyes in Evanston. I will be checking out the Hideaway on Wabansia. I'm an old jug band fan from R.I. and have been partial to the different incarnations of the Devil in a Woodpile, and love Eric Noden's work.
Any way, some questions. I wanted to buy one of your CD's last night but didn't know which one. Do you have one that is pretty much you and your guitar, like last night? I was amazed by your incredible playing, clarity, strength and speed and absolute mastery. I guess I'm asking if one of your CD's focuses simply on voice and guitar, or a kind of solo album without other instrumentation.
I bought your "Happy" album to check it out and a Tee to support the cause and am hoping you'll perform more on the Shore!
Thanks for last night and if you can answer my questions I'd sure appreciate it. And some advice from an ol'teacher; advice I'm sure you've already heard, you and Nora should record an acoustic album together. Terrific!
Thanks, JOe