I see famous people everywhere. Not really the famous people, but people who look like famous people, and I think it’s amusing to point out a guy with a braid and a headband and say stuff to Banjo Man like, “Hey, Willie Nelson’s driving that taxi!”
My friend Pat started doing this years ago at auctions, so it’s her fault that I think this is so darn entertaining.
So Banjo Man didn’t pay much attention to me when we walked into the Saxon Pub last Thursday night and I said, “Hey, Arlo Guthrie’s in that corner booth eating a sandwich!”
Banjo Man: Where do you want to sit?
Me: Down in front. Really, doesn’t that guy with the white hair look like Arlo Guthrie?
Banjo Man: Yeah, sure. Watch where you’re going.
We had spent all afternoon listening to music at Opa’s and, after a hairy trip to East Austin the night before, we’d decided to stick closer to home and enjoy the evening at the Saxon Pub.
A duo named “Folk Uke” would be up first. Then Johnny Nicholas (originally from Westerly, RI) with Cindy Cashdollar (one of the world’s best slide/steel guitarists). If we were still awake at 10 PM we’d stay to hear Bobby Whitlock, a 70’s rocker. The SXSW lineup was called “Texas Legends”, so we figured we couldn’t go wrong.
We settled in to our seats in front of the stage and eventually Folk Uke–two young women, one with a ukelele and the other with a guitar–took center stage. The “Arlo” guy sat in a chair onstage to the right and picked up a guitar. The sound man stepped over some cables and shook his hand.
Me: He’s shaking hands with Arlo Guthrie.
Banjo Man: That’s not Arlo Guthrie, but I’ll give the guy credit: he really does look like him.
Cathy (the young woman with the ukelele): I’m sure some of you who’ve seen us before are wondering who else is playing with us tonight. [I held my breath. She introduced a young banjo player from Australia, a handsome bass guitar player not-from-Texas and then gestured towards the older guy with the wild white hair]. And my dad.
Me: Who the hell is her Dad?
Several people in the bar took pictures. I hadn’t brought my camera because I’m an idiot, so I used my cell phone camera and took this photo:
Folk Uke sang a hilarious song. And another, and another. Deadpan humor, sweet voices, outrageous lyrics, delicate harmonies. “Dad” took a few solos but never said a word. The banjo player looked nervous and blurted out, “I hope someone’s taking a picture of this!”
The bass player dropped his guitar during the second song. I’m not sure he ever played again.
I continued to study “Arlo”. He caught my gaze a few times and his eyes twinkled. He seemed to be having a really great time.
Me to Banjo Man: That really is Arlo Guthrie.
Banjo Man: Why would Arlo Guthrie be at the Saxon? Wouldn’t all these people in here know it was him?
Me: I saw him at the Newport Folk Festival the first time he sang “Alice’s Restaurant”.
Banjo Man: That was 45 years ago.
Me: I went to his show in New Orleans. An Evening with Arlo Guthrie. He sat on a stool on the stage and told stories and sang songs for a few hours and he looked just like him.
(Of course you know that the end of this story is that Arlo Guthrie was at the Saxon that night. According to the next morning’s newspaper, there was a Woody Guthrie tribute downtown that same evening, with Arlo scheduled to speak at midnight, introduced by his daughter Cathy. Hundreds of people showed up and hundreds more were turned away.)
Son #2, Will, met us at the Saxon around 11 PM. We dropped Banjo Man at the condo and then went up to the Magnolia Cafe for a late night meal. I told my Arlo story, to which my stunned son replied, “Are you kidding me, Mom? He does have a daughter and she sings.”
We googled when we got home. Folk Uke is comprised of Cathy Guthrie, daughter of Arlo, and Amy Nelson, daughter of Willie.
You can’t fool a child of the 60’s.
is there any more pie? 