The stadium in Campiglia Cervo is scaled to match the interstate highway system that blazes through the center of town. We packed the stadium to the gills with what I am told was 65 people, including the vice mayor who introduced us, but not including the mayor himself who had more important things to do like look at himself in the mirror. Just so you know, this was a much bigger show than the show Metallica put on at the same stadium!
The show was actually very good. Intimate. Interesting. Tight. During the rest of our time in Rialmosso we ran into lots of people who either attended or heard through the grapevine about our performance. That was both really cool and very gratifying.
So what happened, exactly?
First we invented the idea. And we practiced. Then Matt arrived and things got remarkably much better. in the end, the performance included:
April Claggett, realtime art
Gary McGraw, violin, mandolin and vocal harmony
Matt Savage, piano
Sogol Shirazi, piano and dance
Rhine Singleton, guitar, dobro, vocals, songwriting
The road crew set the stage after arriving the day before to check electricity levels and make sure all of the seating was available. We have nothing but admiration for our intrepid road crew. They work so hard so we can do what we do.
The show consisted of three parts as shown on the billboard above.
Here is a stage floor view of the set list for those of you collecting bootlegs.
And a view of the nosebleed seating in the back before anyone was in the house. You can see the dancing props professionally built by our dedicated construction crew.
Publicity was run by our crack PR team who were able to put up a poster with the last of the tape.
Fortunately that poster was all it took to fill the space to the gills. When we started (only 5 minutes late), people were standing because the seating was gone. Even the reserved section for mastiffs and toddlers was full.
We sincerely appreciate the willingness of the locals in the area to support our art with enthusiasm and love!
The stage is set. The weather is perfect.
And we’re off. Sogol and Matt play Bach together.
Dancing to Vivaldi Concerto in G major for Two Mandolins, Strings and Continuo, RV 532 (re-re-arranged for violin, guitar and piano).
Realtime art during We Will Float Away.
Then the game.
Here is a (raw) video compilation of the show, barely edited. This is six minutes of an hour long show.
A complete properly-produced video will be available someday (or so we believe). We are told it is being edited by the BBC in cooperation with NPR.
Another view of the Finale from the audience.
We had so much fun inventing the game and performing it that we want to do it again.
