Last night we went to Ashland Coffee & Tea with our friend C. to hear Terri Allard. She’s a singer-songwriter from Charlottesville whom I’m familiar with since my sister lived in Charlottesville and really liked going to her shows. I have one of her CDs. We’d never see her live until last night.
The show was really great. I mean really great. So great that I don’t know why she’s not more well-known. Her voice is beautiful and raspy at the right parts. According to C. (who dabbles in guitar playing), Terri is a strong guitar player. The harmonica player was super and the upright bass player was good as well. It was obvious that the three of them have played together for a long time and that all three of them love playing together.
Ashland Coffee & Tea is a listening room so that means no cell phones or pagers or other crap going off and people shut up and listen to the music. A novel concept. The crowd was like an extended family getting together after many months apart. Everyone seemed to know each other or at least recognize each other from other Terri Allard shows. There was someone in the audience who knew Terri from the 3rd grade. It was all very cozy. And, it was such a pleasure not to have the yahoo effect going on–where some idiot keeps saying things like “Teeerrrrriiiii Yoooouuuu Rooock”. And the rest of us want to pick up a rock and bash his stupid head in.