Reggie Harris and Greg Greenway ~ 2019 March 23 ~ Harwich Cultural Center ~ Harwich, MA
Reggie Harris, vocals, guitar, percussion; Greg Greenway, vocals, guitar, keyboard.
Set List
Hallelujah Freedom - Do What Must Be Done - On the Pulse of Morning - Greg talks - Skin I'm In - Reggie talks - Hickory Hill - A Change Is Gonna Come {Sam Cooke} ... intermission ... Welcome Table - Need More Light - Reggie talks about meeting Greg - Searching For Common Ground - Greg talks about Slavery Museum - Mighty Long Walk - The audience talks ... encore ... This Little Light of Mine
Video
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This Little Light of Mine
Review
Reggie Harris and Greg Greenway performed about a dozen songs from the folk and gospel traditions, some original songs and some traditional numbers, and shared stories. Calling the show "Deeper Than the Skin," these two talented performers, long time friends and musical colleagues, have designed the show as a mechanism for them to delve into questions of race relations in America. Part concert, part storytelling, part audience participation, this show was entertaining, educational, and emotionally cathartic.
Each performer took turns mixing personal stories into the flow of the evening. Reggie is a black man who grew up in Philadelphia; Greg is a white man who grew up in Richmond, VA, the former capital city of the Confederacy. Each has led a life profoundly influenced by the larger questions of race in America. Reggie told of meeting Greg for the first time and getting to know him; Greg told of visiting a museum in Louisiana that showed what slavery was like. There were other stories like this in the course of the two hours.
On mostly white Cape Cod, the crowd was mostly white (a typical folk audience), but there were some black attendees. The most moving part of the show was when Reggie and Greg asked for thoughts from the audience. Many different audience members told their own personal stories of encountering racism in America; and finally a black woman raised her hand and expressed her gratitude that a forum like this existed, and told a little bit about herself. This was an extremely moving presentation, and I would like to attend this again in an audience with more minority attendees.
Reggie and Greg left us with a rousing a cappella version of "This Little Light of Mine," and an exhortation that we talk about the themes and experiences that were discussed at this thought-provoking presentation.
The show took place at the Harwich Cultural Center, the assembly hall located in the former Harwich Middle School. Popcorn and soft drinks were for sale in the lobby. The backdrop of the stage was very dark, which made the pictures somewhat dark, but the sound was good and the seating was comfortable. The show was sponsored by WOMR (Cape Cod's community radio station based in Provincetown) and I hope to get a chance to see another show there.
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