On Friday we went to an enjoyable concert in Newark by "the dean of old time music," 86-year-old John Cohen, and two younger friends, Eli Smith and Wyndham Baird, who are keeping the tradition going. They played a lot of Woody Guthrie songs, like "The Farm Labour Train," sang about economic and personal strife (things didn't end well for either partner in "Frankie and Johnny"), and did a very old "history song" celebrating General James Wolfe, who fought and died at the Battle of the Plains of Abraham during the French and Indian War.
The trio seemed to be having a great time and were very relaxed, playing each other's guitars and banjoes and passing the mandolin back and forth. "Oh. I play harmonica on this one, don't I," said Eli, just as they were about the start a song.
For the last few songs they were joined by Pocopson residents Walt Koken and Clare Milliner on fiddle.
During intermission Wyndham spotted a piano in the corner, lifted the lid and just for fun played a beautiful version of the 1936 standard "These Foolish Things (Remind Me of You)." What a totally unexpected treat!
The next Brandywine Friends of Old Time Music concert will be by the South Carolina Broadcasters on April 26.
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