Matt has given a very thorough review here. I was pleased to see about 200
people at the
tabernacle - we filled the floor and some of the balcony. It was a fun time
among all. And
Matt - I think we need to get a Star Wars discussion thread going to continue
what we
started at Sam's house.

Thanks to Sam for being our host. I hope this becomes an annual event. Even
though we
did this in June, fortunately Sam has an enormous shade tree, which accomodated
all of us
and kept us cool.

And thanks to Chalice for singing my songs, and making them sound so great!

JF

--- In ldsmusicians@yahoogroups.com, "Matthew D Whitney" <matt_whitney@b...>
wrote:
> I will be adding myself to Yahoo next week because this e-mail thing isn't
working the
way I'd hoped. Also individual conversations with several members in the group
have
encouraged me. Finally, my work computer giving up the ghost had it's input as
well. (not
like you care- but ... anyway) If you get this - great. If you don't- it's
just my opinion and
doesn't really matter THAT much.
>
> It was a 3 hour and 40 minute drive from my house to Sam Payne's.
>
> After setting up and eating, we shared songs. There were about nine of us
there who
played. The notes below reflect both the song-writer's circle and the concert
in the St.
George Tabernacle.
>
> Neil Owen, whom I had never met, did some WAY cool blues stuff. LOVED it. I
believe
he is a remarkably great musician and I am proudly sporting one of his CDs.
Come see
him in Springville this Wednesday night at 1900. Just wow. Wonderfully fun-
but touching
all at once. His song augmented by a guy named Ryan Tilbe (sp?) on the Mandolin
was
especially cool.
>
> Jeff Fairbanks. His PhD must be in COOL, because he had the best rental car
on the
planet- but he wrote these two remarkably beautiful love songs. One was a duet
he sang
with Chalice (Lundquist) and the other was a solo for her. He also did a cover
of Sam's
"Ohio Son." He plays guitar AND piano very beautifully and writes great stuff.
Here is a
man who has gone to great lengths to help so many other lights shine; I hope we
get to
see more of his. Again, I found both songs to be very moving- and the duet was
both
spiritual and romantic all at once.
>
> Chalice Lundquist (sp?). Her name is really quite suitable as she is clearly
a vessel of
praise to God. She sings clear as a crystal and without reservation. Her
support is
constant and her pitch is perfect.
>
> Brother Lundquist (sp?) Sorry I forgot his first name. Here is a guy who
prefaces, "I'm
just now taking lessons... getting things on paper... and I am not a musician."
Then he
sits down to play. Imagine a large, imposing Arnold Frieberg CPT Moroni with a
perfect
tan sitting down to a little keyboard and playing so beautifully. People from
his work are
already trying to write lyrics to his stuff.
>
> Corey Reese. Yay- a keyboardist. Just wonderful. This guy has broken the
code on a
great many things. We could all learn from him. Too much to say about this
guy- it's all
good and you would all get bored.
>
> Julie Keyser (sp?) This lady's humor and poise is not only a hallmark of her
performance; but probably her main job as a mom (from which she draws her
material.)
She has some GREAT ideas for a very fun and probably poignant musical. Her
self-
effacing humility is not exactly in consonance with her remarkable lyrics and
sentiment. It
would be a kick to be one of her kids, I can tell.
>
> Mary Lunford (sp?) Here is an enigma to me. One who doesn't perform, yet has
broken
the code on solid LDS inspirational music and verse. During a short combat
writing clinic
with Sam, she penned two songs in 20 minutes- each of the passable and one with
the
melody already intact. This was a little scary for me to witness. She played
two songs for
us from a CD she has. The song about being daughters of God was very cool- and
had
outstanding harmonies. She has great musical sense- and seems to do something
different to turn songs that could be ordinary into something quite special.
Her testimony
shines through- that is probably what it is.
>
> Ryan Tilbe (sp?) NO IDEA if that is the lad's name. I actually believe this
guy was the
glue- and possibly the continuity behind most of the music I heard today.
Humble, quiet,
unassuming and D_ _ N TALENTED! Apart from Sam, I have to admit, he was the
most fun
for me to watch. Holy smokes this guy is good- at EVERYTHING.
>
> Steve Lemon- not sure I got that name right either. He supported Sam and
Lindsay in
their music. Also quiet. Also remarkable.
>
> Lindsay Housekeeper. - I am almost 100% sure I am wrong on her name as well.
But
anyway- This young lady has all the markings of an artist already signed with
Deseret
Book, except for one glaring difference... I LOVED her SONGS! Sorry to be so
blunt. The
one called "keep smiling" was absolutely beautiful and completely easy to relate
to as a
dad.
>
> Matt Whitney. That's me. I played a couple of songs. The most common
feedback I get
is, (paraphrased) "Holy Crap, that was loud." I think I manage to distract
almost everyone
from the songs I write by my boorish performance. I need to figure that out I
think.
>
> Sam Payne- As I related to him upon departure, the trip was worth it- and he
made it
so for me. He taught me something that flies in the face of everything I have
ever believed
about my own song-writing. I left realizing that, yes- I can write a song on
demand and
that it's OK. While I still balk at contrived "spirituality" I can see a place
for deciding to
write a song and doing it- with or without the muse hitting me over the head.
It is bound
to speed up and improve the process once the muse strikes as well. Sad to
report, I didn't
write a song on my way home. I listened to other people's music instead. His
performance
was great, but as a senior couple related to me afterwards, "It was way too
short- I could
have been there another hour and not minded at all." Sam's last song was worth
the trip
alone for me.
>
> The venue: You know- say what you want about the amphitheater- I sure would
like it
more if it were full. Attendance was spectacular. Acoustics were controllable.
It would
have worked in foul weather. There was good parking. Senior's and children
could walk in
and sit comfortably for long periods without killing themselves. And I think
the price was
the same.
>
> Marketing: I have no idea. It was suggested that broad attendance occurred
due to
paper and radio plugs. But Sam's survey at the beginning of the concert does not
support
this conclusion.
>
> Simplicity: This was a smaller and more targeted effort, in terms of both
musicians and
audience. So it is not appropriate to compare the two festivals. I know that I
was at once
skeptical about them doing one in St. George. I felt that it would somehow
dilute efforts
and attention from what I considered to be the main effort in American Fork.
Yet, in every
military operation, there is a main and supporting effort- and every unit has
it's place and
it's job. As we continue our feeble attempts to broadside the milk-toast
juggernaut of
Deseret Book; and at outflanking the LDS synthetic-pop cruiser, Excel
Entertainment, I
think every bit helps.
>
> In regards to music- more is always better.
>
> This was a great experience. I am glad I went. My less than hidden agenda is
to ensure
that Sam and crew find their way up North in August. Please carefully consider
this.
>
> I arrived to my holy drive-way 3 hrs, 40 minutes and 12 stop lights later.
>
> Fulfilled.
>
> Matt