When I heard Christine Lavin was coming to Portland, I was excited. I first heard of her a couple of decades ago, probably starting with the song, “Sensitive New Age Guy”, but I’d never had the pleasure of seeing her live. I knew she had a reputation for being funny but I didn’t know what to expect. With a down to earth and playful persona she came out and began to sing a little ditty she composed on the spot about appearing at One Longfellow Square, in Portland, Maine. Using a looping device, she made up the song (that rhymed) from her observations about the audience, and then inserted loops which she recorded right in front of us that consisted of some beat boxing, harmonies and a squeaky, high-pitched background vocal that called out the name, “Don White”. It was very funny and very specific to us as an audience.
She sang a song about a spelling bee, replete with difficult words, their meanings and spellings. She sang about New Yorkers rescuing a beached shark -- a song reveling in the pride of the good hearts of New Yorkers. She sang the read-aloud book she wrote called, “The Amoeba Hop”, calling the mother of a five year old from the audience to show us the pictures, and then awarded her with the book at the end of the song. She donned little antennae and sang about fireflies and their mating practices. She told us stories. One song she performed entitled, “Windchimes”, was inspired during a gig in Hawaii with the Four Bitchin’ Babes. It’s not fair, but all I can say about that one is, you had to be there.
She danced. She turned the lights down and worked sparkling batons like a cheerleader, inspiring shock and awe! She has a very pretty voice, a mean ability on the guitar, and the talent to take ordinary moments from everyday life and turn them into songs. She says about her compositions, “I don’t make it up, I just make it rhyme!” She sang a love song about people decaying in loveless marriages, and finding their first love again. In fact, much of Christine Lavin’s appeal is not only that she is witty and cute, but that she is also deep. She makes you want to bring her home and make her your new best friend.
Don White came out after Christine. He looked a little like Steve Martin if Steve Martin had steel-gray, long hair pulled back in a pony tail. He had a very cute way of delivering his lines. Don White is a standup comedian, but also a folk singer. He talked about the difficulty in raising teenagers, and also about the oddity of being alone in the house with Rascal, the dog, and his wife of thirty years, after the children moved out. He sang “Be Sixteen With Me”, beckoning his wife and the audience to go back in time and behave in a way that would embarrass the children.
He held up a book he wrote called Memoirs of a ‘C’ Student, which he said was one of the only ways he found to make less money than with his folk singing career. He read aloud quotes from important people on the dust jacket, such as:
“I knew this book was going to be a pack of lies the moment I saw the title. Because my brother was a D student.” Michael White.
“My father used the word, “neoplatonist” in this book. He has no idea what that word means.” Lauren White.
And: “This thing better make lots of money.” Mrs. White.
He spoke and sang a lot about the mysteries of men and women, referencing such timeless icons as BASEBALL and the WOMEN’S CRYING CHANNEL.
One song he did that brought me to tears was called, “I Know What Love Is”, about a child sitting on her daddy’s lap and feeling the love there. The song ends with the child growing into an old woman and sitting on the lap of God. It reminded me of the children’s picture book, “I love you forever”. WAAAAAAH. He has a truly sweet heart. On the way out the door after the concert, I met him as he passed out leaflets. I said, “You’re adorable”, and I meant it, because he is.
Don and Christine came together at the end to sing “Good thing he can’t read my mind”. Then they said, rather than leave the stage for their “last song”, (wink, wink), they covered their faces with their hands and asked everyone to cheer for the encore. Which we did. And then, while “amazed” by the request, they invited all the men up on the stage to sing “Sensitive New Age Guy” with them. Their show has a very universal appeal, touching on subjects that affect almost everyone. It was a warm and sweet night. Don and Christine came across like personal friends. I just wanted to squeeze both of them when it was over.
For music lovers visiting Portland, Maine, I highly recommend
One Longfellow Square ~ "Portland's Premier Arts Venue"
Check them out at onelongfellowsquare.com.
