Harried Potter

I was much heartened to see the story in today's Reformer about the ventilation system at Brattleboro Union High School. I was one of those in the audience at the BUHS Players' production of "The Mousetrap" and was livid when the ventillation kicked on and was so noisy it drowned out the dialogue. I was sitting 12 rows back and had to cup my ears just to give myself a chance to catch a hint of what was being said.

Like Dart Everett and others who objected, I felt most dismayed for the actors and all those who had worked so hard on the play. As a taxpayer, I felt cheated. All that money spent on the new school, and they couldn't figure out a way to make it so that the auditorium could actually function as an auditorium. Officials assured us that fixing the problem is at the top of their to-do list. If it doesn't get fixed, let's make them work in the auditorium and the other rooms that have a similar problem and see how long they tolerate it.

I've had a cappella singing on the brain lately. People are already buzzing about the next collegiate a cappella evening (March 1 at the Latchis), and that's part of it. On a personal level, my college group, the Trinity Pipes, celebrated their 70th anniversary this past weekend with a gala banquet which included wonderful reunions with old friends, good food and drink, toasts, roasts and anecdotes ... and a lot of singing.

It was one of the best evenings I've had in a long time, and I've been on cloud nine since I got home. It was great to reconnect with old friends — about a dozen Rusty Pipes from my vintage returned — and we had a lot of catching up to do. Some of them I haven't seen since we all left college. That was half a life ago, and we all have families, careers, home improvement projects to catch up on.

Even better was the singing. We old folks listened politely (I think) to the current version of the Pipes sing eight songs (they were great) and then, slowly, but surely, we cranked our vocal chords into gear. Once we got started, there was little holding us back, and the whole thing was euphoric.

The pleasure came on many levels — friendship, the pure joy of singing, the connection to a larger family of singers, the chance to show all this off to my very tolerant wife — but I think the real crux of it is smaller, more personal. The stories, the friendships, the love we had for each other — those can all be rekindled through reunions, meetings, letters, family visits etc.

But there's something very special about being able to sing "Julianne," "Home Again," "Trinity Blues" and all the other old songs with these dear people one more time. You don't really know how much you miss the old songs and the old harmonies until you sing them again.

I've had all the most important days of my life since I left the Pipes — I got married, my children were born, I watched first my father then my mother die, I've made decisions that have wrecked and saved my life — but until all that, my days with the Pipes were among the best I'd had. And those days were best expressed through the songs we sung together — back then, and on Saturday night, one more time.

When your doctor and your music critic give you the same advice, you better listen.

So that's why I'll be at Bocelli's in Bellows Falls this coming Tuesday, Dec. 4, to hear Alejandro Escovedo.

I don't know a thing about his music, but he seems to stir passionate feelings among those who do. I've seldom heard such positive things said about a musician — they seem to come from deep in the heart of his fans. And he seems to evoke the same thought in people — why isn't ne more well known? Both my doctor and Reformer music writer Dave Madeloni have advised me to check him out.

Rolling Stone calls him "one of America's best singer-songwriters — a folk-blues classicist with a gritty voice and a fondness for dirty boogie and special balladry. His early days were spent in punk rock, but his sound now reflects the flavors of Austin, Texas, the heartland of America and countless other influences. On Tuesday, he will be appearing with a chamber string quartet with a violnist, a guitarist and two cellists. Sounds intriguing, eh?

Bocelli's is at 46 Canal St. in Bellows Falls. It's an intimate space, so call 802-460-1190 or visit www.flyingunderradar.com. The show is at 7:30 p.m.; doors open at 7 p.m.

I'm going to be there — doctor's orders

I heard a great CD by a local musician last night — Peter Miles' "Live Life Live," recorded live last February at Ravello Trattoria in Wilmington.

Many of you know Miles — he's part of the local scene — but I confess I've never seen him play. I'm going to make a point of seeing him because I think his album is a good one. Perhaps I'll be at the Marina in Brattleboro this Sunday, Dec. 2, where Miles will play two shows — one at 3 p.m. and one at 6 p.m. — to celebrate the release of "Live Life Live."

What I like about Miles' music is that it has a fundamental honesty and sincerity about it. There are no tricks, no gadgets, no false showiness, no studio effects. It's just Miles and his songs — and that's just fine with me. His guitar-playing is accomplished, his tenor voice is pleasant to listen to and quite versatile, his original songs are sincere and well-wrought, particuarly the lyrics. In all, it's a CD which has a lot to say and says it in a very that's very pleasing and has integrity.

The CD contains 10 originals and two covers. My own favorites are Track 6 "Learning to Respect the Movement of Love" and Track 9 "The Truth is Enough." No doubt, you'll have yours. The covers offer a look at Miles' talent filtered through other peoples' songs, and that's pretty revealing. He does a fine job with "Change the World," made famous by Eric Clapton, and the Beatles tune "Mother Nature's Son."

This is a CD which has earned my respect and a place in the rotation on my CD player.