I am a city girl, having grown up in the New York suburbs. I spent my earliest years feeling the radiated power of that force field. It called to me, and when I was in my early teens, I started answering its call and exploring it. Yes, there was good, and there was evil. I know. Parents don't want their children exposed to all that too early, but so it was. In the grand scheme, cities represent democracy at work for me. They are mutually dependent situations, but in a good way, as we are all in this life together. Not that I don't love all else; the country, the mountains, the beaches; it all has fascination. Monday morning, I woke up in The Mansion on O in Washington DC, after a lovely evening of music and friends in an intimate space with Walt Wilkins and The Mystiqueros. Lunch was at an actual DC lunch counter. Old school. C.F. Folks, where it was New Orleans day, as every weekday has a culinary theme. They are only open midday. No breakfast, no dinner - just lunch, glorious lunch! Zagat rated, I might add. Cheap and hearty eats. That they can make a living with only one meal, and weekdays only, is a thing of wonder. I love inner cities. The culture, the wash of people, the co-existence. Cities are like living breathing organisms, humming along in balance when they are healthy. There are so many that are not however, but that is for another day.
We bring you a tale today about the boy meeting the lures of the big city from Sam Baker and Tim Lorsch, who we filmed on-stage at the Sheridan Opera House during their performance at the Telluride Americana Weekend last month. A joy to be in this former mining town, now seemingly festival headquarters, with rustic charm and the grandeur of being nestled in the mountains. It was a wonderful weekend of song! Not to mention that Sam Baker was cracking us up in between his musical interludes with funny stories and observations, self effacing flights of fancy, all delivered as a stream of consciousness. The songs, however, are a different story, as they look closely at life. Here are Sam and Tim with "Mennonite."
- Jessie Scott
