wow.

Hey everyone, I volunteered to give the review for this past show. I personally came away just in awe of how great Suzy's voice sounded.

Suzy stood onstage with a different posture than in the past, and the projection of her voice was heads and shoulders above what I have heard from her in past shows. The timbre of her voices rings so much more clear now than her early recordings. If anyone would suggest Suzy is past her prime, has not heard her recently and should be shot for such a notion. I would say her best is still to come.

Now onto the shoe….

Our group met in beautiful Aledo, Illinois about noon. We met on the square and walked around briefly taking in the sights and the local candy shop. We went to find our lunch and walked down to the local Tastee Freeze.

As she was making her way to the sound check, we sat in the warm Illinois sun and delighted in the bubbling excitement of the concert to come.

We made our way to Davenport and after an hour of freshening up, we met in the hotel lobby and then made our way to Trattatoria Tiramisu. An Italian restaurant that Suzy had recommended to us a couple months ago in chat. We were served bread for dipping in oil and bruschetta free of charge as we were seated at our table. We all ordered and were served a wonderful meal that included the company of good friends. Peeps, could the day get any better?

Yes, it could, we still had the show !

We then met back at the hotel and walked a couple blocks down to the Adler theater. Upon arriving we were greeted by someone in a chicken suit. I am quite sure it was not Doug, but am not sure it was not our Mark (Handy) from chat….lol.

We sat in the second row and listened to the wonderful Quad City Symphony Orchestra. The first selection was the "Three Dance Episodes" from "Rodeo" by the great American composer Aaron Copland.

The second selection was the Harvest home suite by Ungar and Mason. This also included the wonderful and talented fiddle player Crystal Plohman, with our own (Suzy's guitaist)Pat Bergeson CGP on guitar. Crystal is currently Fiddling Program Director at Vanderbilt University's Blair School of Music in Nashville. What a treat, but it still does not compare to what was to come.

During the first half, I noticed that the two aisle seats in the front row were not being used. So I moved to the front for our goddess' set. I really should find out someday who to thank for this unexpected blessing. YOU missed OUT !

After a brief introduction, Suzy came out dressed in a coral dress with a floral print to a thunderous applause from an adoring crowd. After thanking us for the warm welcome, the drummer cracked the sticks together with a prompt from Suzy and the band AND orchestra broke into "Just like the Weather".

The song was full of overtones the orchestra gave which added depth to the band. The overall effect pulled the audience into a dream. We then realized we were in for a treat, this was going to be no ordinary evening.We were then treated to "Someday Soon" to which Suzy was given an approving applause as this song has become a crowd favorite no matter where she plays.Again she was fabulous!

After a brief fiddling with her capo, she launched into "Aces" only to find she was in the wrong key. Wil Barrow got her to notice and she turned to the microphone and said, "That has never happened before!" while rolling her eyes….

After the successful completion of "Aces", she put down her guitar and told us she was going to do a cut from "Swing", the cd she cut with Ray Benson of "Asleep at the Wheel." She turned to the waiting Conductor Paul Gambill, who is the conductor of the Nashville Symphony and good friend of Suzy, to start "My dream is you".

Up until this song, Suzy was just warming up. Suzy turns up the sizzle and the crowd goes silent while she is singing. Mesmerizing us and drawing us in further into her dream world.

Next, Wil plays an intro and Suzy starts a song which at first I did not recognize. Either the verse is an obscure one or she wrote one for "Someone to watch over me". She sang this with so much emotion that by the end of the song she had us all believing she really needed someone.

Suzy then picked up her guitar and checked the tuning while Wil came around from the piano with an accordion to sing harmony with bassist Denny Dadmun Bixby. Which was a treat for the ears. The harmonies are so much tighter with Denny. Suzy did tell everyone that he had been singing with her the last decade. The mutual admiration is very apparent and shows in the harmonies. This was the best "Nightrider's" I have heard to date.

Suzy then broke into the familiar intro on the guitar of "Letting Go". As we all get older this song gains a poignancy that younger people do not understand until they have to let go of youngun's leaving the nest. (My 2 cents)

The intro of the next song was played by the orchestra, and became more familiar as "HEY Cinderella". For a Symphony, They ROCK, and the players had a lot of fun with this number. Especially an older woman playing the cello, she just beamed while she played.

Suzy ended the set with another rocker, playing power chords on the Taylor acoustic for the intro of "Outbound Plane". Her vocals soaring over the instruments, a building crescendo created by our goddess of song. Again, I have not heard her sound this good. Perhaps the orchestra played a part, but she was better than any previous best on this night.

Having saved "Eat at Joe's for the encore and our Bass and Baritone contributions to "EAT AT JOE"S.  We have a moment to savor a concert of concerts. Janelle sang and I sat and waited for the hall to empty, so gimpy Sang could use his crutches without being a safety hazard. While waiting I had a roadie give Janelle a guitar pick. A keepsake reminder of a special night.

As we get to the lobby, Suzy has not shown for the lobby meet and greet as she was supposed to go across the street for a gathering of fans and donors of the symphony.

But there to our amazement was Suzy coming up the walkway to greet the few fans that had stayed behind.

We four each got a minute with her before she was whisked away to the other M&G across the street, where others in our group received their minute brush with greatness.

The next morning greeted all of us with breakfast at IHOP with fast friends, (We missed ya Handy, Suzy and Doug)

Bill, Mary, Dennis(Mary's beau), Kim from Maryland, Sang(Mark from KC) Janelle, Beth and myself, a mildly obsessed fan who truly appreciates his favorite artist's voice, warmth and down to Earth quality that was cultivated just a few miles from this evening's venue.

Peas y'awl…I'm out till next time.

David-Indy

Davenport has a wonderful symphony.  Their playing is flawless and the beauty they convey through their music is impossible to miss.  Those of us attending the well-named "Uptown Hoedown" at the Adler Theatre in Downtown Davenport were fortunate enough to experience both a Suzy show and a full symphony performance.  We also enjoyed the humor of guest conductor, Paul Gambill, who had traveled from Nashville to the Adler.  He made us all laugh as he taught us how to properly "woo-wee" as proper hoedown attendees should.

 For the first half of the show, the Symphony demonstrated their amazing talents with classical selections.  Then, after an intermission and a drawing during which one of the Symphony musicians won a brand new car, Suzy was introduced.  She appeared in a lovely casual dress and joined familiar favorites Will Barrow, Pat Bergeson, and Denny Bixby, along with new drummer Todd London, on stage.

 Approaching the microphone with her usual grace and loveliness, she began by teasing the audience about "whoopin' and hollerin'" during the Symphonic performance.  She laughed that she should greet us with, "How-DEEEE!"  She also joked that there would be nothing spontaneous about the show (all songs were listed in the program and had been well-rehearsed by the Symphony!)

 Suzy's warm and mellifluous voice was perfectly accompanied by the band and the flow of the symphony's playing as she began, "Just Like the Weather."  There was power in her voice as she sang, "You don't have to chase it when it blows…" The audience cheered and clapped at the conclusion, and you could tell Suzy was well received.  "Someday Soon" was her next selection.  The instrumental was phenomenal on this one!

 She wasted no time in beginning her next song, but just a measure or two into it, Will called out a sharp, "Suzy!" and she realized she was playing off key.  "I wish I could say that was the first time that's ever happened to me!" she laughed at herself.  "Pretend that never happened!" she instructed before officially beginning the most beautiful rendition of "Aces" I have ever heard.  The symphony's instrumental melody was ideal for this piece.  I have to believe even Cheryl Wheeler herself would have been impressed! 

 Suzy chatted with us a bit about how she had been looking forward to this performance. She complimented the symphony in Davenport, saying that she had played with several symphonies over the years, and this group was "unbelievable."  She told us that she had a lot of family in the audience and thanked them for their support.  As she began to mention Ray Benson and April Barrows, you couldn't help but smile in anticipation of the sultry, "My Dream is You." 

 We can't have a show without a proper introduction of the talented musicians in Suzy's band, so she told us a bit about each, joking that she was trying to make her drummer nervous by telling everyone it was his first performance with her!  Todd did a fine job, and perhaps we will be seeing him again!

The next selection was like a gift, as it was one I had never heard before.  Both Mark S. from KC and I wished we had experienced the pleasure of hearing Suzy perform "Someone to Watch Over Me" long ago, as it was absolutely mesmerizing. On this one, Suzy's voice truly blended with the orchestral accompaniment and something magical was borne of the union.  I hope to hear her do that song again in the future!  At the end of the song, Suzy expressed relief at how it had sounded, explaining that the little devil on her shoulder had told her she wouldn't hit those notes, but the angel had won this time!

Suzy strummed gently on her guitar, telling us that she was going to do a cowboy song. She joked that she hoped it wasn't a letdown, since she really wasn't hoedown material. She continued, "I have been called a chick with a guitar before, but if that rooster thing was supposed to be me…." The audience burst into laughter. "I did wear an orange dress, which was as close as I could come!" she teased.  She began the opening chords of "Night Rider's Lament" when suddenly everything stopped, and conductor Paul told her in a dignified tone meant to teasingly chastise her, "Orchestra introduction!" Suzy looked out at the crowd and said, "Pardon me all to Heaven!" and blamed that devil for being out again.

This version of "Night Rider's" was unlike any that you will ever hear.  The orchestra provided a strong and appropriate instrumental before Suzy began to sing.  It was a beautiful rendition that in itself made the trip to Davenport worthwhile. On the choruses, the symphonic background produced beautiful crescendos that supported Suzy's voice in a wondrous way. And yes, the yodeling was perfect!!

A bit of guitar tuning segued into "Letting Go," which was another song brought to a new level by the Davenport Symphony.  I am sure Doug was quite proud to hear this version of his lyrical genius.  Suzy invited the audience to join her at the party after the show and to check out her new album coming out in September. She then rocked the house with "Hey Cinderella." You couldn't help but bob around in your seat a bit during this one, as you really could feel the fun coming from the stage.

In keeping with the upbeat mood, "Outbound Plane" followed and received thunderous applause. At this point, Suzy thanked the audience and tried to leave the stage, but of course the standing ovation and cheers brought her back to the stage.  We were invited to sing along for the crowd favorite, "Eat at Joe's." It was a great encore, and a lovely ending to what we all wished could have been a much longer show. I'll be first in line to buy tickets next time Suzy gets to perform with a symphony – it was truly an experience to treasure!

Janelle

[Home ] [News ] [Tour ] [About Suzy] [Interact] [Photo Album] [SuzyBogguss.com]

www.bogguss.com: © 2007 S.F. Promotion Group.  All rights reserved.
.The information on this website is solely for the enjoyment of Suzy's fans;
unauthorized duplication and distribution is strictly prohibited
Please contact webmaster@bogguss.com with questions or comments about this site.
Bogguss.com/Bogguss.net Privacy Policy

Any/all of Suzy Bogguss´ music, sound recordings, musical works, pictures and audio visual works are protected by copyright laws.  Those laws prohibit all unauthorized reproduction and all unauthorized distribution of any items in all/but not limited to the categories listed above.  Anyone engaging in such activities could be liable for substantial financial damages.