[Ichneumon]

My whole family went to see John Denver in Ft. Worth in 1980. His mom lived there and so he tried to schedule a concert for her birthday. He had been home having dinner with his mom and performed as his own opening act, just him and his guitar because his band would need to rest instead of playing the entire night. He played from his heart.

That's about the same time I saw him. He played for over two straight hours, longer than most musicians will give to a concert audience. He played with the band for the first third, then the band took a break and he played alone with his guitar for the next third, then his band came back on for the final third. He never took a break himself.

Around the same time I was lucky enough to attend one of the very few live shows that Joni Mitchell has ever done. She *hates* touring and prefers to do her work in the studio. But it was a fantastic concert, including a whole-audience singalong doing "Circle Game".

I also saw Harry Chapin in concert about six times before his premature death at 38, they were all great. And every time, he hung out in the lobby afterwards to talk with his fans until the last one went home.

I saw a couple of really great Queen concerts too.

Sigh -- and three of those four are gone now.

[myprecious]

I also saw Harry Chapin in concert about six times before his premature death at 38...

Saw him, too. It was in the Dallas Music Hall. What a loss.

But you top it all with Joni Mitchell. Wow.

Just please don't remind me of these politics of these people! I want to remember them fondly.