July 4, 2009

What a crazy day…. We were in Freeport, ME for the L.L. Bean Summer Concert Series Festival.  LOVED the cooler weather, but when the thunderstorms suddenly rolled in early afternoon, we started worrying that the show might have to be cancelled.  I had been SO excited about the opportunity to open for Miss Patty Loveless and was really bummed about the weather possibly interrupting that chance!!    However, I told Patty that she must have a little “Moses” in her, because close to showtime the storms just parted north and south of us and left us with perfect weather for the concert!!  

The biggest damper of the day was hearing the sad news about Steve McNair, our beloved former Tennessee Titans Quarterback, who was tragically shot to death in Nashville earlier in the day.   We all spent most of the afternoon being glued to the tv on the bus, going back and forth from ESPN coverage about McNair to The Weather Channel so we could find out if we were actually going to be playing a concert that night.

When they storms parted, I finally took the stage around 7:15pm with my friends Garry Murray and Matt McKenzie.  They so sweetly offered to help out during my set, playing mando and bass with me!  It was SO fun!  The crowd was amazing and attentive and it is always a joy to hear what Garry and Matt bring to the musical table….   My friends, Kat and Monica had brought me “Peace and Relaxation” gifts earlier during the day AND they had a cool poster which read “NY and NJ loves Marcia” which they held up during my set!!   THANKS GIRLS!!   You make me smile….

Also got to see friends and PL supporters, Bob and Barbara, Richard and Patti, and Nicole Spaller who runs the biggest PL fan based website out there.  If you are a true Patty fan, you need to check out her site…www.patty-loveless.net

Patty came out for her set around 8pm and did an amazing job as usual.  That woman is simply one of the most gifted voices God ever made…. And a wonderful person on top of that!!   I have thoroughly enjoyed working with her and her amazing band!   This was my last show with that group for awhile and I will miss them…..

Thanks again to all the folks behind the scenes at the L.L. Bean Summer Concert Series for taking such great care of us and making such a wonderful place for music to be enjoyed!!   Thanks to PL and the band for allowing me to be a part of such an amazing group of musicians and individuals…. And thanks to the fans, who are the heart and soul of the concert experience!!  Love you all……