DAR'S PLAYING THE UK!

[Johnny]

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Excellent news for anyone that can appreciate decent, well-written music - Dar Williams is touring the UK in mid-late April with her band.

For those of you who are not aware of Dar, please check out her website below:
www.darwilliams.com

To listen to one of Dar's thought-provoking, political songs from her latest album click on the link below:
aolsearch.aol.co.uk/redir?urn=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jtmp.org%2FSongs%2Fempire.mp3&rank=5&source=singingfish&searchType=AV&partner=singingfish&query=dar+williams


In my opinion - Dar is one of the most unique and intelligent singer-songwriters around today, and we can't wait to see her on tour.
Kitty & I will be going along to see her play live at the Star Club in Bedford on Friday April 28th.

Try and make the effort to see this unique lady - You won't be dissapointed.

(NB: Well, you might be dissapointed if you're Stuart!)

[Stuart]

Oops sorry must have dozzed off there sorry Johnny!

[Johnny]

admin said:

Oops sorry must have dozzed off there sorry Johnny!

How dear you ............................. or should I say - How "Dar" you take the mickey out of one of Johnny's music goddesses!

[Stuart]

Or even....... How Dare!

[Johnny]

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We're really getting excited now - We're off to see Dar tonight!
She's playing in Bedford, and my mum's doggy-sitting for the evening.
This is the first time Kitty & I have been to a concert in about two years, and what a lady to see - One of the finest singer-songwriters in the whole world!

Here's the lyrics to a controversial anti-war/anti-Bush song, that has made Dar unpopular in some American's eyes. But I believe she should express herself as she feels - especially when she does it so cleverly and artistically:

"Who's afraid of the sun?
Who would question the goodness of the mighty?
We who banish the threat,
When your little ones all go nighty nighty?
Well there's no time for doubt right now,
And less time to explain.
So get back on your horses,
Kiss my ring,
And join our next campaign,

And the Empire grows
with the news that we're winning,
With more fear to conquer,
more gold thread for spinning,
Till it's bright as the sun,
Shining on everyone.

Some would say that we've forced our words,
And we find that ingenuously churlish.
Words are just words.
Don't be so pessimistic, weak and girlish.
We like strong, happy people
Who don't think
there's something wrong with pride,
Work makes them free,
And we spread that freedom far and wide,

And the Empire grows the seeds of its glory,
For every five tanks,
Plant a sentimental story,

Till they worship the sun,
Even Christ loving ones.
And we'll kill the terrorizers
and a million of their races,

But when our people torture you,
that's a few random cases.
Don't question the sun.
It doesn't help anyone.

But the journalists cried out,
When it was too late to stop us.
Everyone had awakened
To the dream they could enter our colossus.
And now I'm right, yeah, you said I'm right,
There's nothing that can harm me,
Cause the sun never sets on my dungeons or my army,

And the Empire fell on its own shattered axis,
And the Emperor wanes as the silver moon waxes,
And the farmers will find old coins
In their strawberry fields,
While somebody somewhere twists his ring
And someone kneels.
Oh, where is the sun Shining for everyone?
Where is the sun Shining for everyone?"

[Johnny]

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REVIEW OF DAR GIG:
Kitty & I got to Bedford around 7pm. Straight away we got our priorities in order, and met up with some friends, to have a meal at the local Chinese Restaurant!

The venue that Dar played was a couple of hundred yards down the road, and was actual a very unlikely venue - a small rowing club, down near the riverside in the centre of town.
Anyway, I had a chat with one of the organisers at the club, and we soon discovered a real treat was in store for us - Dar's support act was unable to attend, so in place of that - Dar was going to do a second set!
So Kitty and I settled down, with a half pint of coke and the two straws we'd brought along with us (NOT that we're cheapskates I hasten to add!), and settled down to await our special lady.

Like I said, the club was small, so we were able to get very close to the front, and Dar was just some 10ft away from us.

She came on with her band, and straight away opened with a nice, loud, rocky number that sounded great, and instantly got everyone bursting into applause when it finished.
Throughout the evening, Dar performed twenty songs, and she seemed to genuinely love playing to the appreciative audience, 80% of whom (I was told by the organiser) were dedicated Dar fans, and had travelled good distances from outside Bedford - just to get this rare chance to see this lady play in such a relaxed and intimate venue.

I just sat there throuhout the gig gobsmacked.
There's nothing false about Dar at all. All her music was live. There wasn't any "special effects", or backing tapes - there was just her, and her band, performing live - as it should be!
Kitty & I have gained huge pleasure listening to Dar's music over the past two years - it just seemed so unreal to see her standing there just a few feet before us, belting out song after song.
It was like it was something from a "Jim'll Fix It" programme. It was almost like having her playing in your living room - and to have a double set was just awesome!
There was one song ("As Cool As I Am"), which just really rocked the house down, and featured an excellent guitar solo by Ben Butler - who, incidentally, was the featured guitarist on the Shrek 2 soundtrack.

All in all, a superb gig, and it was really nice to meet up with Dar afterwards to have our photo taken with her.
What a nice, intelligent, and talented lady she is.

[Stuart]

Sound like you had a good evening, nice one Kitty with the Michelle Branch shirt!

[Tuesday's Rose]

Wow didn't realise you actually met her!!! Wish I could have made it now!!!!! She may have been able to give me some guitar tips !!!

[Johnny]

We were very pleased to meet her at the end of the gig.
She was impressed that I was wearing an official Dar T-Shirt - I believe it was the only one being worn that night. She even gave me a kiss on the cheek!

She came across as a really genuine, and very nice lady. But then again, I expected that. I realise she's a very "people" type of person, and connects with others well, because there's no falseness to Dar, and she remains very much on their level.

I'd have love you to have met her Sarah. Probably you can in the future, if she comes back to the UK, cos Kitty & I will definately go and see her again, and you'd be very welcome to join us.