Well, the heat is truly on at Riverbend, and this time I’m referring to the weather. If I wore a hat, it would be off to the crews, volunteers, and performers who work so hard for our pleasure — thanks, one and all!
My evening started out a bit off kilter. I was running late, I missed one of the acts I wanted to hear, and did I tell you how hot it was? Anyway, some English fellow once said that all was well that ends well, or something to that effect, and I have to agree with him. Once I found my rhythm, all was well — better than that, my evening went great. One of the people I have to thank for the great evening is singer Suzy Bogguss.
When I initially started mapping out what acts I definitely wanted to hear at this year’s festival, Suzy’s name was high on the list. For the life of me, I could only remember the name of one song that I recalled hearing her sing on country radio, way back in the last century. That song, “Southbound Plane,” penned by one of my favorites Nanci Griffith, (if you like a sound that is described by some as “an acquired taste,” check her out — she is a prodigious and talented writer) and Tom Russell, was Suzy’s opening tune. If you’ve heard it, you instantly recognize the rapid strokes of a ringing guitar. If you haven’t heard it, you may want to put it on your Ipod list. I will tell you this, before the first chords were struck, I heard the song playing in my head. It might just be Ms. Bogguss’ most well known song, or perhaps I caught that ESP thing that’s been going around.
It’s always kind of hard to determine which acts are going to draw what kind of crowds. I was pretty sure that Suzy Bogguss would draw a crowd, but I had no idea of the immense size of said crowd. I’ve heard a number of shows under the Walnut Street Bridge over the last few years, and I’ve seen some good-sized crowds — none this big. Truth is, I believe that Suzy was pretty surprised as well. One thing is for sure, she was pretty excited about the reception she received, and she let everybody know it. I always admire when I see performers let their fans know just how much they appreciate them — fans pay the rent, and sometimes then some.
No sooner had Suzy’s band kicked off the next song, many broke into applause of recognition. The haunting notes of Ian Tyson’s memorable lament “Someday Soon” filled the warm, evening air. If you’ve listened to country radio, pop, or rock radio sometime over the last quarter century or so, you’ve likely heard someone doing a version of this song; I’ve heard three versions with nary a bad one in the bunch. Again, if you want to sample Bogguss’ sound, this might be a good introduction. If you know Suzy, like I knew Suzy, you won’t need that introduction. Yeah, I know I kind of lifted that last line, but it’s 2 in the morning, I’m tired, and I couldn’t resist. Anyway, back to the show.
To my knowledge, Bogguss is not known as a songwriter. Still, her skill and intuitive feel for so many classic songs carved out her career. Her cover of Cheryl Wheeler’s song “Aces” is, well, aces as far as I’m concerned. I guess you could say that Suzy Bogguss took “Aces” and made it her own; she sings it like she owns it. I caught Cheryl Wheeler singing “Aces” on a stage in Nashville about a hundred years ago, and while I immediately sensed the power in her lyrics, it wasn’t until I heard Suzy’s version of the song that I truly fell for it.
As Suzy’s show went on, song after song kept coming back to me. After an artist has had a run, especially a run as aurally successful as Bogguss’, songs, even those tucked somewhere in the sub-conscious of memory, give us a rough map of our lives. Like old, sometimes fuzzy photos, we get these images of where we were at various times. Like old friends we’ve lost touch with, songs can move right back into a life. Songs that return to revisit us can give us the pleasure that only someone we know can usually offer. The songs that Suzy sings (yeah, I know, I’m prone to alliteration) are akin to old friends or lovers. If it’s been awhile since you’ve heard her sing one of those songs, treat yourself and find some of them. If you’ve never heard this woman’s gift of voice and interpretation, give yourself an even bigger treat, and listen to Suzy Bogguss for the first time. She will find a place in your life, even if it’s in a small part of your heart.
Jay Mouton
Wholerest58@comcast.net