Susan McKeown

MIM:  Richly expressive tone and perceptive lyrics make Dublin native Susan McKeown one of the most striking and impressive composer-singers today.  McKeown walks the line between traditional Irish melodies and contemporary music.

McKeown’s songwriting abilities earned her a reputation for intelligent and inventive lyrics.  She drew from the poetry of Emily Dickinson and Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Irish legends, and various other literary and cultural sources to create a versatile and engaging style.

Tonight was a special occasion:  I didn’t usher but instead brought Aaron to a performance so we could enjoy as guests!  It was refreshing to sit-back and especially to be able to show Aaron what I do on a regular basis.

Susan began the concert very reminisent of Allison Krauss – her first few songs were lyrical and catchy and beautifully sung.  She only brought 2 accompanists and we were both impressed by the depth of sound from 2 instruments.  My favorite song was an Irish traditional song remastered and gorgeously sung.  Likewise, we also enjoyed her last few songs.  She sung a lovely Gaelic hymn and several folk songs that were very engaging.

However, the middle of the concert fell apart for us.  Ms McKeown has drawn inspiration from a fleet of depressed poets and authors and her songs swung to an unhappy, melodramatic side.  She does have a skill for song writing, but we both had a difficult time connecting to her music. 

Although I had hoped Aaron’s first experience would be phenomenal, I think he enjoyed the show.  I hope he was happy with the experience.

Ken Waldman: Alaska’s Fiddling Poet

MIM:  Celebrate Poetry Month at MIM with Alaska’s Fiddling Poet!  Ken Waldman draws on his twenty-three years in Alaska to produce poems, stories, and fiddle tunes that combine into a family-friendly performance uniquely his own.

I had really wanted to see Ken’s evening show – how fun to watch a fiddling poet in action!  How memorable of my youth with the Robison family!  But alas, the evening shows were booked long before…

SO, I added a matinee show instead.  Matinees are more casual, less crowded, and I like to see how the artists will interact with the school children.

In the aftermath, I have mixed feelings about the show.  On one hand, he played good ol’ fiddle tunes like ‘Old Joe Clark’.  He encouraged the kids to write and shared several of his poems.  But on the other hand, everything was lazy, relaxed, distracted.  His poems were mediocre, his music was lackluster, and I didn’t get the solid connection between the two that I wanted.  While he attempted to have the kids write a poem with him, the entire exercise was half-baked and disinteresting to the kids.  While he let the kids ask him questions, they were far more interested in polar bears and his friend’s mandolin.  I left without learning much about Alaska.  Or poetry.  Or singing.  And the part of me that wanted to see the show was vastly disappointed.

More than anything, I was left yearning for post-Thanksgiving meals with my brother, uncles, and random musicians as they would play and sing and entertain.  I missed the story-telling and fiddle-playing that Tom Robison is famous for – and I sincerely think Tom might be able to pull off this kind of show.  Ken Waldman is no Tom Robison.