darrell, wayne, and merlefest 2006
I first met Darrell on a trip to Nashville in 1995. At that time I remember being very impressed with him. Then I began seeing his name as a writer. And by the time “Great Day To Be Alive” by Travis Tritt and “Long Time Gone” by the Dixie Chicks came along, I was getting it that he was writing all my favorite country hits. By 2002 he was ASCAP Songwriter of the Year, and not long after, Condon was tapped to manage him and run his record label, Full Light Records.
It was around this time I began to think of getting Darrell to play a show in Portland. With the help of Albert Garcia, we put together a sold-out solo show with a songwriting workshop on Easter Sunday 2004. I was subsequently given Darrell’s complete discography, and I remember thinking how much fun it would be to have a reason to learn his book. But by then I was well into launching my own new music business venture, Sound Ground, and simply couldn’t justify it. So, exactly two years passed before the phone call came that would provide the reason I needed. I was sent the soon-to-be-released studio project called “The Invisible Man” and after hearing it, felt more than ever that Darrell is a national treasure and any chance of playing music with him would be a good idea to pursue.
I flew to Nashville the first week of April for an audition. I passed the audition and had two weeks back in Portland before heading out on the first batch of gigs, which included an opening warm-up show on April 24th in Nashville at a club called 12th & Porter and four shows in North Carolina at MerleFest. For MerleFest, we played two shows as the Darrell Scott Band and two more shows backing up Darrell’s dad, Wayne Scott, for whom Darrell produced and released a CD called “This Weary Way” on his own Full Light Records.
I had never been to MerleFest but for me, it began with a six-hour car ride with Darrell. We left Nashville at 5:00 pm on Wednesday April 26, and arrived in Wilkesboro, NC, at around 1:00 am. We spent the better part of that time talking.
Next morning, because Darrell and I had switched rooms, I was awakened by a call from the front desk saying my packages had arrived. I remembered certain deadlines were in effect, so I hoped it would be the new product arriving from the manufacturers just in time. Without knowing this, Darrell had also just phoned to invite me for some of his own freshly brewed coffee. I arrived at his room with his new product and was given the first copy out of the first box. Wow!
Our first show was set for 6:45 pm with the Darrell Scott Band at the main stage. We all went over together at 5:00. The show went well, and our 10 minute rave-up on, “River Take Me” was a highlight. There was a seven camera film crew shooting us. After our set came the Jim Lauderdale Band, followed by, John Prine. . . I was jazzed to view all the shows from the wings of the stage, and only a few feet from the performers.
The next day I didn’t get to MerleFest until 3:30. We were set to meet at 4:00 at the Walker Center for the first of Wayne’s shows. After running everything down once more, we played the first show for Wayne. It went great and has been documented at mvyradio.com/audio/archives/0406/DarrellAndWayneScott.m3u. Then I was free to check out some other music on my own. That meant golf-carting to the main stage to see the Waybacks featuring Bob Weir. It was Bob’s first MerleFest too. Then it was back to the Walker Center to see a Canadian group Darrell suggested called the Duhks (pronounced “ducks”). They rocked mightily for sure. After that, I carted back to the main stage to see the Sam Bush Band. During his set, Emmylou Harris appeared for a guest vocal on one song, then vanished. With that, my second day at MerleFest was a wrap. For me, every act I had seen was very special.
Saturday was beautiful, and I had found the ease with which I could get around on my own was reason enough to head out early and enjoy myself. The first show for me Saturday was with the Darrell Scott Band at the Hillside Stage at noon so I had time to explore. We had a good crowd at noon, and I thought the set went real well. I remember being told after our first show that Darrell had spent enough time at the autograph tent to sell out of the first 200 copies of his new CD.
Then it was time to play the Cabin stage with Wayne Scott one more time. Our set was in-between the slots of Doc Watson and Nickel Creek, so I got to catch both of those acts too. It was while checking out Nickel Creek from different vantage points that I momentarily found myself in a confined space with Pete Seeger, awkwardly acknowledging one another. Anyway by then, the MerleFest grounds were swarming with upwards of 80,000 music fans, everyone very mellow.
Darrell and I headed back to Nashville on Sunday morning at about 6:30. Again, this afforded six hours of gab time, which we did. I suppose one of my favorite topics, which Darrell was kind enough to go into great depth about for me, was how bluegrass vocals are approached regarding ad libs, embellishments, melisma. I was astonished at his ability to be so graciously informative.
On arriving back in Nashville I was given a book called Tunesmith by Jimmy Webb. I’ve finished half, and I’m very impressed. So besides being the most soulful singer/songwriter I’ve heard in a long time, Darrell Scott is also a true gentleman, great cook, loving and attentive father, and great bandleader. Thanks for thinking of me, John Condon.
I look forward to bringing Laurie to MerleFest next year.
Gary Ogan
May 10, 2006
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