Jersey Arts Centre, St. Helier, Isle of Jersey, UK

June 27, 2008

It was over two years ago that Bohren last performed at the Arts Centre and a great deal has happened to him since then, in particular, his home in New Orleans was severely damaged by Hurricane Katrina.  It was wonderful to hear that like so many fellow residents he has overcome that tragedy with great courage and optimism, and it was a particular delight to see him perform with such tremendous energy and commitment.

This was a magical evening enjoyed by an enthusiastic audience who were spellbound from the very start.  This was the first gig of a short UK tour, which also included a festival held at The Hawth theatre in Crawley.  The two-hour acoustic concert was not only a show of tremendous music but Bohren showed that he is also a humorous storyteller.

There were titles from the likes of Leadbelly, Mississippi John Hurt, Robert Johnson, and Son House, all backed with superlative guitar playing.  There was some intricate picking on the classic tune “Maple Leaf Rag” performed on a gorgeous vintage jumbo Gibson guitar, and his slide guitar work, played on a borrowed vintage National steel guitar, was gutsy and commanding.  It was his atmospheric lap steel guitar playing that really captured the attention of the highly appreciative audience.  His version of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah, Hallelujah” was one of the very fine moments where his lap steel guitar really came into its own and I, for one, would have been quite happy if the whole set had been played on it!

There was much to enjoy about his concert in which his anecdotes and stories added much to the enjoyment but it was Bohren’s very compelling vocals that made the greatest impression.  It is his singing that sets him apart from many of his contemporaries and, since he was here last, it has become even more powerful and committed.

This was a very engaging and thoroughly enjoyable set where Bohren truly illustrated that he is not only a strident and distinctive blues performer but is equally at ease with other genres, all performed with tremendous commitment and energy.  Bohren is a unique performer and if he comes your way you should certainly check him out.

- Bob Tilling, Blues in Britain

Tucked away in southern Ohio, close to that mighty river, The Fur Peace Ranch sits back from well-traveled state highway 33.  It helps to know where you are going when you get this fur from everything.  Cell phones search desperately for a connection and end up roaming.  Your car is perpetually dusty from traversing the roads.  But you also hear frogs and crickets at night, the stars look close enough to touch, and the air is crisp and clear in the morning, when Debbie blows the conch shell to announce breakfast.  Ranches are generally associated with horses, cattle, and roundups, but the Fur Peace Ranch has other purposes.  Now in its tenth year, The Fur Peace is a music camp for folks wanting to concentrate on their guitar playing with professional musicians as their instructors.  

Spencer was one such teacher this last weekend.  He shepherded ten gentlemen in the fine art of playing guitar and singing.  I listened over the few days we were there as the men grew in confidence and the comaraderie developed.  Sessions were punctuated by communal meals of students and teachers, which included owner Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Cassady, and Warren Haynes Saturday night featured a concert by Warren, backed by the other teachers.  Sunday afternoon was the student performance, followed by an evening concert of Down the Dirt Road Blues by Spencer. But there was more . . . this particular weekend was dedicated to motorcycle rides through the beautiful hills of southern Ohio.  

I observed the dynamics of this insular group, and I realized that The Fur Peace Ranch is, yes, teaching music to people who want to know more about it.  But it is also creating community among people.  From this little retreat, the waves of community reach out to the nearby town of Pomeroy, from which some of the employees come as well as services like banking and groceries. The deeper community, though, is the one that develops among the students coming there.  Many return time after time, with friends, brothers, sons and daughters, or wives on the couples weekend.  We know several alumni who continue their relationships when they get home, supporting each other’s concert series and attending musical events together.  It occurs to me most of all, though, that I don’t know many places where men go for a retreat.  Women do it. Teachers do it.  Yoga students do it.  Why not men?  The Fur Peace Ranch is filling an important need.  The results are higher self-confidence, personal support, a network of new friends.  In other words, community.  And in doing so, it supports peace in a way that is fresh and honest.  Congratulations to them!