The time I spent in Newport, Rhode Island while on vacation was absolutely magical. Or lucky. Or the result of my tenacious nature. Maybe all of these things. Back in June I decided to take this year’s summer vacation in the Massachusetts area. I found my dates coincided with the Newport Folk Festival in Rhode Island. Despite the tickets having sold out when they first were put on sale in November 2018, I was determined I would somehow get into the festival (more on that in my next post). I booked a B&B for that weekend despite not having tickets (the absolutely lovely Marshall Slocum Inn).
Just a couple weeks before that music-filled weekend, I learned that there were a handful of after shows held in central Newport on the nights of the festival. Of course, tickets for these were sold out too. I found out that my favorite duo, The Milk Carton Kids were holding one of their Sad Songs Comedy Hour shows on Friday night, July 26, 2019. Having been to see them do a version of this show at Largo, I knew it would be lots of fun and have great music. Of course the Newport show was sold out. But I kept track of it and just a few days before the show (while already on my travels), I saw someone post online that a few tickets had been released for the after show. I immediately went to the website and was able secure my ticket. Hurrah!
The show took place at the First Congregational Church in Newport, Rhode Island. The venue was warm and humid, with no air conditioning or air flow in the space. It was a bit sticky for an indoor seated show, but the music made up for it. The darkness in the venue and location in a church lent a shade of reverence to the proceedings, though the quips lit the room, keeping anyone from being solemn for more than a few moments. If the artists have a purple tone and look a little damp in these photos, that is all thanks to the lighting and temperature of the venue. I’m noting all the guests and songs performed below in order to happily remember a night that was truly fun and entertaining, and just a smidgen of sadness.
- The first song of the night was “Hope of a Lifetime” from The Ash & Clay. Upon finishing the song, to much applause and cheering, Joey said in his typical understated style, “We played here earlier when it was empty. Not as fun.” The gentlemen took some time between songs to talk and they referenced the Newport Folk Festival earlier that day. Kenneth stated, “This has been going on for how many years? They haven’t figured out how to move the cars correctly?” The audience laughed and applauded heartily and knowingly. Joey responded to the crowd, “That was supposed to be a joke, not an action item.”
- “Years Gone By” from the same album. When the song finished Joey noted, “Not all the songs are sad” and then brought out singer Nicole Atkins.
- Nicole sang a new song she wrote about a workaholic called, “Captain.” Her voice was clear and loud — she could fill that church without amplification, if necessary.
- Another musical guest, Steve Gunn, came to the stage and performed a song called “Stonehurst Cowboy” written for his beloved father, with Steve noting that the last time his dad saw him play was in a church. The song is on Steve’s most recent album The Unseen In Between.
- Steve Gunn introduced the next one by saying, “Almost every folkie has a Trump song. This is my Trump song. I really hope some change happens in 2020.” I couldn’t figure out the title of this one and he didn’t name check it.
- After Steve left the stage, Joey came back on and remarked, “That wasn’t sad, that made me happy.” The Milk Carton Kids played the song “Younger Years” from the album they released last year, All the Things I Did and All the Things I Didn’t Do.
- Joey explained his theory of how to get backstage at the folk festival, which boiled down to: wear a suit, walk with confidence, have a smile on your face, and “when you get about seven and a half feet from the security guard, give the peace sign and walk through.” I won’t detail how Joey introduced “Sea of Roses” from All the Things I Did and All the Things I Didn’t Do, as I believe this is a pre-planned introduction that they will probably be using at most of their concerts and I don’t want to spoil anyone enjoying Joey’s delivery in the future.
- Comedian Dave Hill was welcomed to the stage and he did a music-themed bit picking on Guitar Center. Then tying in the location to his material, he brought Joey, Kenneth, and Benmont Tench to the stage to play a background vamp under his comedic story about Jesus at a party, with the loaves, fish, and wine and various fixings.
- Maybe you haven’t heard of the next guest before –Vera Sola calls singing her side-gig – but I’ve bet you have heard her voice before — as the voice you hear in the ads for Cymbalta. She performed a song, possibly titled “Lying.”
- I don’t know the title of the next one Vera played, but it included lyrics, “They stayed many hours, they stayed many nights …the butcher’s daughter … we’re both well acquainted with the ghosts.” Vera’s voice is absolutely enchanting. I’ve since listened to some of her music and I have been thoroughly impressed by both her lyric interpretation and the song arrangements. Kenneth has had a hand in a couple of her tracks, so be sure to check them out. She released an album earlier this year called Shades.
- Benmont Tench returned and read a piece of beat poetry he called “Rapture Me.”
- He then chose to play the baby grand to the side of the stage rather than the electric keyboard on stage, for his song called “Pledge” which contained some straight from the heart lyrics, “I can’t right every single wrong” and “Jesus ain’t the only one who weeps.”
- Anais Mitchell of the Bonny Light Horsemen was then invited to the stage and performed her song “Now You Know” from her album Xoa. She performed with backing from The Milk Carton Kids.
- The Milk Carton Kids closed out the show with three of their songs: “Snake Eyes” from The Ash & Clay, fan favorite “Michigan” from Prologue, and maybe the fastest performance I have seen yet of “I Still Want a Little More,” also from Prologue. I’ve used a short snippet from the “Michigan” lyrics for the post title. The familiarity of the show’s style and seeing Kenneth and Joey perform again sparked a comfortable feeling: you are in good hands, sit back and soak it in.