Kitty Donohoe and David Mosher – Green Wood Coffee House Series – Friday, 10/24/08:

There are some really wonderful venues for experiencing live music in Michigan.  On Friday, October 24th, I returned to one I had not visited in just over 18 months when I went to one of the First United Methodist Church locations in Ann Arbor to hear Kitty Donohoe and David Mosher perform.  This concert series is called the Green Wood Coffee House Series and is held at the First United Methodist Church on Green Road on the northeast side of Ann Arbor.  The location works well -- far enough from downtown to allow ample space for parking and a gorgeous view of trees outside the sanctuary's windows on three sides, yet close enough to major streets and highways to make it convenient to visit even if you're not intimately familiar with the Ann Arbor area.  The atmosphere is also quite appealing, with the aforementioned tall windows on three sides of the sanctuary where performances take place, candles flickering on tables among the audience and in sconces
 around  the room, and the beauty of natural wood from floor to ceiling.  The last time I was there, a movement outside the nearest window to my seat caught my eye during a song, and I glanced out to see a tiny deer standing among the trees looking toward me.  I sat in the same seat on this night, but no deer came along this time around.  Still, it was a treat to be back in this lovely space for a great night of music.

The weather on this night was rainy, wet, a little windy, and on the cool side, but that didn't dampen or chill the spirits of the performers or those in attendance.  The inside of the church was warm and inviting.  Kitty and David played two full sets and a total of 18 songs.  I was lucky enough to hear all of the songs they had done at the Ten Pound Fiddle earlier in the month again in addition to several more.  Where Jenn and I sat on this night provided an interesting sound perspective, as one of the speakers was actually slightly behind us, so we were hearing some from the speaker and some from David's monitor only a few feet away.  The sound was clear, though, so this unique perspective didn't take away from our enjoyment at all.  No one sat in the couple of chairs remaining at our table, but folks were elsewhere in the room, and it was clearly an interested and enthusiastic crowd.

In terms of the songs performed, I truly enjoy everything Kitty does and could listen to her do whatever she chooses to put on a set list, but each show always has its highlights.  For this show, hearing There Are No Words in person again was definitely one of them, especially given it was Jenn's first time to hear it in person.  I've heard Kitty do this one live twice now, and both times I've gotten tears in my eyes.  We were also treated to our respective favorite songs from Kitty's This Road Tonight CD, Do What You Love being Jenn's and Jack Of All Trades being mine.  If I had to pick one song of Kitty's that hooked me when I first started listening to her music, Jack Of All Trades would be it.  The crowd sang along as usual on Ode To The Pasty and Pierre & Marie, Kitty dusted off her Martha Stewart Christmas holiday favorite, and Kitty also did a new song about Halloween slated for inclusion on a CD of seasonal songs being put together by The Yellow
 Room Gang.  When she introduced this song, Kitty told the crowd Halloween is the Celtic New Year's Eve.  I never knew this, and learning it gives me a greater appreciation for Halloween celebrations and traditions. 

David sometimes does one of his own songs when he and Kitty do a whole show performing together, but he didn't tonight, though he did lead a terrific rendition of the same fiddle tune he and Kitty often do together with him on fiddle and Kitty on guitar.  I think I heard her call this one Double Rivers, but I'm not certain on this.  I've heard this tune enough times that one of these days I should just ask one of them for the title so I'll know for sure. 

We had a great time at this show!  It was a fabulous night of music overall, and for me, it came at a time when I really needed a musical pick-me-up.  We hope to return to Green Wood for another concert in the spring, and we always look forward to the next time we'll be able to see Kitty and David perform together.

Thanks for reading, and a Happy Halloween/Celtic New Year to all!