Text and photos by Sylvia Mallory
What a difference a month makes! The fourth concert of season 1—once again a sellout—was celebrated on a pleasant evening with a touch of the coming spring in the air. The snowstorm of just four weeks before was a distant (and happily fading) memory.
On stage was the fabulous California-based duo of Alice Howe & Freebo. Alice introduced the pair and shared that she’d grown up in Newton and had been partnering with Freebo for 8 years. Freebo warmly described his longstanding collaboration with Alice and mentioned some of the music icons with whom he’d recorded and toured—Bonnie Raitt, 10 years; plus Crosby, Stills, and Nash; Maria Muldaur; Ringo Starr; and many more.
Alice and Freebo quickly fired up the audience with their bluesy folk music, good-humored banter, and palpable chemistry. The show was impressively varied as they alternated between soulful and thought-provoking tunes (“Forever Is a Long, Long Time”; “When There’s No Place Like Home”; “Standing Ovation”) and humorous ditties (“She Loves My Dog More Than Me”). They mixed in a handful of brilliant covers as well, including Bob Dylan’s “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right,” Steven Van Zandt’s “I Am a Patriot,” and John Prine’s “Angel from Montgomery.” Through two amazing sets they held their listeners in thrall.
The duo also announced that their new live release is currently ranked #1 on Folk Radio. In addition to recording as a team, the two also continue to produce solo CDs.
One-on-one after the show, they conversed easily with folks. In particular, they expressed appreciation for the professionalism of the New Song team, citing the high quality of the bookings, the precision of the sound engineering, and the enthusiastic efforts of the volunteer team. They promised to return to Bedford for another concert soon—and to that we will all look forward!