Mary Fahl; party at minnehaha

[pegkerr]

I had a lot of pleasurable anticipation about last night all week, and it lived up to my expectations. I had the great good luck to see Mary Fahl (formerly of the group October Project) at the 400 Bar in the University area. It's a little place, smokey and with very little seating. I got there at 8:00, determined to snare a seat. Mary didn't get on until 10:15 p.m., which meant I had to suffer first through a warmup singer who wasn't very good, but really, it was worth the wait. She has an amazing voice, a distinctive contralto with a wide range. She'll hit a note, so pure that it makes the hairs stand up on the back of your neck and arms, and then she'll throw back her head and intensify the sound until it resonates in the hollows in your bones you didn't even know were there and rips your heart out. A deeply satifying set. I got her new CD, too, autographed. So glad I went.

Then I headed out for minnehaha B. and K.'s garden and music party. I was happy and revved up and in a perfect party mood. B. had strange food he had just brought back from his recent trip to Japan (garlic crisps! Squid jerky!) and there were other delicious delectables offered. I gorged on perfectly ripe cherries and lovely stinky blue cheese. Musicians sat in a circle in the livingroom, playing songs as another group congregated in the backyard, playing Twister at midnight. Many, many LiveJournal friends in attendance: laurel, pameladean, rvrjoe775, 90_percent_sure, elisem, kalikanzeros, kaustin, fredcritter, jbru, and doubtless many others I am missing (B. mentioned in his journal entry this morning that he counted 73 guests). I sat in the gazebo for a long time, talking with daedala, drewan and others about the madness that has erupted in the local fandom community over the (in my opinion, grossly stupid) conceal-carry law which was just passed by our insane state legislature.

The music was wonderful, the company was great, but alas I had to get up early this morning to get Delia to karate class, so I left before I really wanted to. A wonderful evening.

Cheers,
Peg

Comments

[daedala.livejournal.com]

We don't get to see you nearly enough. I'm glad you could make it, and thanks for the ride!

[peppersghost.livejournal.com]

Hello! I've been reading you for awhile but haven't commented yet. I'm just so impressed to find someone else who knows and enjoys Mary Fahl. I've been a huge October Project fan for years and was heartbroken when they broke up. (I have a wonderful memory of seeing the group play live in Pittsburgh.) For the longest time I've felt like the only person in the world who knew about OP - but I've slowly been hooking some LJ friends on them. Anyway, I've been hoping and wondering when Mary would re-surface. Her voice is too good not to be used and heard. I'm thrilled she has a new album out and plan to buy it as soon as I can get my butt to the music store. How was her material? Did she do any old October Project songs?

Wonder if she'll be coming to the Cincinnati area. Will have to keep my eyes on the listings...

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

She did only a couple October Project songs; otherwise it was all new material. She's doing her own songwriting, and I think the results are impressive. I got the new album last night; it'll be in the stores May 27. I think her website includes her tour information. Hope you get to see her! It was a lot of fun.

Thanks for commenting. Pleased to make your acquaintance.

Cheers,
Peg