Concert Reviews  

PHOENIXVILLE, PA - Garland Jeffreys has never gotten the credit he deserves. Not at home anyway.

One of America's true musical poet laureates, Garland Jeffreys, performed an intimate acoustic only show at one of the Philadelphia area's best kept secrets (so far), the Plowshare's Coffee House in Phoenixville on Saturday evening. Jeffreys played with long time fellow musician Alan Freedman recalling some of his best known material that has literally made Jeffreys an icon overseas yet commercially underappreciated in the U.S.

While Jeffrey's has recorded albums for Epic, A&M and Atlantic records, it has been across the Atlantic where he has enjoyed much deserved success. At a given period, Jeffreys had number one songs in Austria, Hungary, Germany, Italy and France, mostly spurred by the internationally flavored Matador from his album American Boy & Girl.

Jeffreys burst onto the American music scene with incredible critical success with his album Ghost Writer, full of multi-cultural, non-denominational, haunting rock & roll. The critics loved him and American radio & the public bought his records more slowly yet devotedly.

On Jeffrey's records like Ghost Writer, One Eyed Jack and Escape Artist, you'll find some of pop music's most revered players like the Brecker Brothers, percussionist Steven Gadd, members of Graham Parker's Rumor as well as Brinsley Schwartz, James Taylor and Phoebe Snow.

At Plowshares, Jeffreys played one of those shows you wish that you could have recorded. His voice sounds as strong as ever, his guitar playing magnificent and his sense for delivery is impeccable. Garland Jeffreys delivers full scale whether it's in a cozy club or with a full band playing with Bruce Springsteen, as he recently did!

And as likely as he is to speak to you about the Springsteen gigs, so too will he gladly pull out his family photos and talk with you about his wife and child.

Jeffrey's voice sounded superb at Plowshares as he delved back to Ghost Writer for I May Not Be Your Kind, the title track Ghost Writer, Rough & Ready and New York Skyline. All sounded fresh, tuneful and remarkably true to origin.

Long time friend and accomplished guitarist Alan Freedman provided near flawless accompaniment as the two meshed seamlessly for the ninety minute performance. Freedman coaxed a band's worth of sounds from his guitars and Jeffreys smiled at him approvingly on many occasions.

Jeffreys spoke modestly about his recent gigs with the Boss in Asbury Park in December. The two have remained friends over the years and Bruce thought Garland a perfect fit for his bill in Jersey. Again, critics raved as Jeffrey's version of New York Skyline took on even more impetus than ever since 9/11.

Garland Jeffreys is truly an American original artist that must be experienced live to be appreciated. Jeffreys is unique, he is true to his art form and he is a musical treasure.

The 'Ghost Writer' is still around and doing well and I for one am glad for that. In these days of pre-packaged, Michael Eisner-invented pop creations, Jeffreys stands as a freshly original, intelligent artist of incredible talent who I hope continues to create his art in his own inimitable way for a long, long time to come. - AL CHOMAN, Citizens' Voice Music Critic

David Broida, who runs Upper Merion Township's Concerts Under The Stars,
posted this review on folkmusic.grassyhill.org on 3/3/01 after leaving the concert.

Willis Alan Ramsey played Plowshares Coffee House, in Phoenixville, PA,
about 25 miles northwest of Philadelphia, Saturday night, at the most perfect
of venues.

Located at Schuylkill Friends Meeting, an old, historic Quaker Meeting House,
the concert was held in a plain white room, with a couple of plain white pillars,
clear glass windows, candles lit on each windowsill, two simple chandeliers,
candles in the corners of the room, with horseshoe-shaped seating, on a few sets
of benches, with a simple pattern on the cushions, the only deviance from the
plain white. No curtains, no carpet. In other words, acoustic heaven. 

There was no sound system, nor any need, for the walls, ceiling and floorboards
carried the performers' voices nicely to the four corners of the place. A small
spotlight was the only concession to 21st (or 20th, too) century technology.
The opening act, Steve Key, play his Lowdon clearly and sharply, and his guitar
and voice reached every listener without effort. The 50 patrons were treated to folk
music, where the song is the substance.
 
The opposite: Shelby Lynne at the Grammy's, Destiny's Child at the Grammy's,
where skin instead of song was the essence of the show. Here, at Plowshares, it's
the music that matters, not the method. (I know - it's television, and we'll take our
15 minutes or less at the Grammy's. However, LisaBeth Weber has suggested that
we should get a reverse Grammy's show - all the acts that won or were nominated
who were not on the TV spectacle - Cathy and Marcy, Johnny Cash, Taj Mahal, 
etc. - do a show with them!).

Willis Alan Ramsey came out after the break (great cakes and refreshments), and
he added a harmonica and a tapping, percussive foot to his guitar and voice. Best
known for penning "Muskrat Love" (The Captain and Tennille's hit), his songs are
even, emotional, and interesting, even when singing about watermelon. Steve
Key - he's got a lovely song about Shoeless Joe Jackson, where the 50 voices in
the audience quickly learned their refrain, "Say it ain't so, Joe."

Hats off (except Steve Key, who wears one during his performances) to Lucy
Bonnington (texasexile@aol.com), presenter. She's got Bill Parsons, Kate Campbell, David Olney, Eliot Bronson, Eric Taylor, Cliff Eberhardt, Deirdre Flint, Louise Taylor,
Erik Balkey, and Les Sampou scheduled in the next few months, plus Mark Erelli,
who will return in September. Mark will also be opening for Kasey Chambers at The
Point in Bryn Mawr, PA, this Thursday, March 8 (610-527-0988 or atthepoint.com).
 

"The Plowshares Coffeehouse is perhaps one of the best and most intimate places
in the country to see acoustic music. Because there is no sound system and no
stage, it's a direct line from the singer to the song to the  audience. If it were any
more intimate, you couldn't do things like this in public!" - Mark Erelli
www.markerelli.com

"I have played twice at the Plowshares Coffee House. Both times were totally rewarding. The vibe in the room is very deep. Timeless. Intimate. It brought home to me that it is not the size of a room or the sophistication of the technology available that makes a concert satisfying. It always comes down to how well a performer and an audience communicate. I look forward to returning to Plowshares." - David Olney

"...the most perfect of venues ...clear glass windows, candles lit on each 
windowsill, two simple chandeliers ...acoustic heaven." - David Broida 
 

"A long ride on a dark winter's night...the little country church offered its welcoming glow of hospitality to this lonely minstrel."  - Mike Agranoff
www.mikeagranoff.com

"A wonderful room, attentive and responsive listeners, a gracious host - what more might a troubadour want?  The Schuylkill Friends Meeting house, its wooden floors and walls cured by 200 years of use, resonates like my 28 year old Claxton guitar with a clear bottom, the full range of mids and ringing highs. The audiences (I've played both the house concert and the coffee house concert) come for the music, no question, and Lucy Bonnington is a true friend of acoustic music." - Kerry Grombacher

"Out of the way places are usually the most interesting.  Our night at the Plowshares Coffee House in Phoenixville, PA was inspiring.  The incredible vibe of the room lends itself to the kind of give and take between an audience and performer that makes the experience special for all.  The audience was open and responsive and Lucy Bonnington is so respectful of the performers.  We made some friends that night.  We feel very lucky to have performed at this beautiful acoustic room."  - Too Human
www.toohumanonline.com