This morning I'll be driving over the Cascade Mountains to Bend, where I'll stay the night with my cousin after we attend a Joan Baez concert at the Athletic Club there Sunday evening. As you can see in the chart below, it will be exactly 40 years since her performance at Woodstock. Highly unlikely, since she has a new album coming out next month to showcase, but what a trip it would be if she'd sing the set she did on that stage at Woodstock (set list available at the Wikia link below).
This will be the third time I've seen Joan Baez perform live. The first time was at the Civic Auditorium in Portland sometime around 1982. It was about 21 years later that Mike and I saw her perform for free in Albany, Oregon, at a small outdoor venue where the audience was separated from the stage by a narrow man-made canal. Behind the stage area was a large open area where her medium-large RV was parked. The awning had been extended from the door of the RV and her crew had set out a table and chairs. About 1/2 hour prior to the concert, Ms. Baez emerged from the RV looking luscious in loose pants and flowing top with vibrant splashes of orange/fuschia/green/navy blue. She was so mellow, so warm in her interactions with those traveling with her. They all sat at the table and talked, sipping iced tea. Her smile was an indication that it would be a special evening. And it was.
It is six years later now. Joan Baez is 68, ten years older than I because we share the same birthday separated by a decade. This might be the last time I will see her perform live and it chokes me up thinking it........
Here she is at age 28, singing her heart out at Woodstock, August 16, 1969.
I'll let you know if she mentions the auspicious anniversary during her concert in Bend, August 16, 2009.
The following information is from Wikia:
The female counterpart to Bob Dylan, folksinger and anti-war protester Joan Baez, was the last act on Friday evening. She started at about 1:00 am. Appropriately, she wished everybody a good morning. Her perfectly arranged set combined with her beautiful and skillful voice was a fine finish for a chaotic and exhaustive first day.
After her performance it started to rain heavily.
JOAN BAEZ AT WOODSTOCK - AUGUST 1969Performed on: Day 1Started at: 1:00 a.m., Saturday, 16th
Played for: 60 min. (approx.)
FESTIVAL DAY CHRONOLOGY
Prev. artist: Arlo Guthrie at 11:55 p.m.
Next artist: end of day 1
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