Maura Kennedy, James Hooker, John Stewart and Nanci Griffith
World Folk Music Association Tribute to John Stewart
at The Birchmere, in Alexandria, Virginia on January 12-13, 2001
(Photo courtesy of Paul Rybolt)

Review by Spencer Lewis and Tim Riley
Edited by Ron Beffa

(A portion of the review)

We're gettin' near the end of the night here, and we know we got to see Nanci Griffith soon. John is really quite fond of her as he said she is another purveyor of Americana songs. She is on stage with her own drummer Pat McInerny, bass player Ron De La Vega, keyboardist James Hooker, The Kennedy's and eventually with John. She told a story of a friend who heard John's version of "Armstrong" in the early 70's and joined the Peace Corps. She went into this song and you know she has got this one wrapped up tight. It's hers now, and she don't let go till she's finished. Then the sweetest version of "Lost Her and Him in the Sun", I'd say look out, this might be her first mainstream hit when it comes out in March. Then the beautiful "Sweet Dreams Will Come". John was a hair late on the 'dogs' chorus and when he did grab the lyric the audience got into that line.

Nanci told a funny story. When John and the Kennedys were helping her record her new CD (her new CD with John's three songs on it will be released in April.), they recorded it at Steve Earle's studio which is in a high rise building. To access the upper floors and the recording studio, you must use a "card key". You put the card next to a card reader and the door unlocks. Nanci discovered that if she kept the card in the back pocket of her jeans, she could just stick her butt by the card reader and the door would open. She of course didn't tell anyone that. Instead she would go by the door and do a little dance step she called "the Ricki Lake". Kind of a sashaying sway of the hips while you put your hands together and point them downward.

So Nanci proceeds to show everyone that she can get the door to open by doing this little dance step in front of it. (Not mentioning of course that she had the card key in her back pocket). Some people caught on right away and soon had the door opening while they danced in front of it. But, it seems that one person (John raises his hand at this point), never caught on to the trick and danced the "Ricki Lake" all week and never got the door open.

John admitted that he never had a clue how it worked. Nanci then said that she and Maura Kennedy weren't about to tell him because they thoroughly enjoyed watching John "shake his butt" all week long.

After this set John was given the Lifetime Achievement Award by the WFMA, followed by a standing ovation.

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