Reggie Harris ~ 2018 May 26 ~ Javawocky Coffeehouse ~ Brockton, MA
Reggie Harris accompanying himself on acoustic guitar and percussion; opening set, Tom Irving, vocals and dulcimer; Andy and Judy Daigle, banjo and guitar (respectively), vocals.
Set List
Sheep Sheep/Little David {traditional} - Better Angels - Wade in the Water {traditional} - Love Guides the Wounded Heart - Roll On Woody - Hunt the Whale - Do What I Have To Do {Phil Ochs} ... intermission ... Rainbow Race {Pete Seeger} - Spoken In Love - Hickory Hill - Ain't Gonna Grieve My Lord No More {traditional} - Passive Restraint - The Times They Are A-Changin' {Bob Dylan} ... encore ... In the Shelter of Each Other
Videos
Do What I Have To Do
In the Shelter of Each Other
Review
Reggie Harris performed his annual concert at the Javawocky, without usual musical partner Kim Harris, currently overseas. But Reggie didn't miss a beat. His singing, guitar playing, and storytelling are so strong that the absence of his musical partner did not detract from the excellence of the show.
Reggie's choice of songs ran the gamut from deeply personal statements ("Hickory Hill"), to wonderful traditional songs from the folk and spirituals realms, to Kim and Reggie Harris favorites like "Passive Restraint," their lighthearted doo-wop about seat belts, and the encore song, "In the Shelter of Each Other," an uplifting singalong about creating and trusting community. His covers of a Phil Ochs ("Do What I Have To Do"), Pete Seeger ("Rainbow Race"), and Dylan ("The Times They Are A-Changin'," including a new verse written by Reggie) were genuinely true to the originals while benefitting from Reggie's subtle enhancements to melody and meter.
The best songs of the night, however, were a generous helping of tasty treats from Reggie's new album, Ready To Go, his first solo record. Highlights included "Hickory Hill," a ballad about the relationship he has formed with a descendant of the plantation owner in Virginia where his ancestors were in servitude, and the singalong sea shanty, "Hunt the Whale," a true story about the African Americans who served on the doomed whaleship Essex.
Not only is Reggie Harris a tremendously talented singer, gutarist, and songwriter, but he enjoys performing immensely, and spreads that joy to the audience. He never deviates, not for a moment, from his life's mission of bringing people together through song and storytelling. The audience leaves the show with a sense that they have not just been entertained, but they have learned something about how to work for peace and justice in the greater world.
This season the Javawocky has offered an open mike as the opener for their concerts. Tom Irving, whom I have seen perform at Javawocky before, played two songs, accompanying himself on the dulcimer. He was followed by the husband and wife duo, Andy and Judy Daigle, who played banjo and guitar and sang two songs, one a humorous number and the other a quiet ballad. Both openers were excellent and were a splendid intro to the evening.
Javawocky is in the basement of the Brockton Unitarian Universalist Church. Round tables with seats for five provided enough seating for the small but enthusiastic audience. There is plenty of parking in the church parking lot just across the street. The people are friendly and you can get a coffee and a dessert for a donation. My kind of place.
Click for 2018 Concert Page with links to all 2018 concerts ... Click for Main Concert Page with links to all years