I had the most interesting discussion with a troll today, at the Salmon Arm Roots & Blues Festival.
But first, I must confess how thoroughly disappointed I was with the Saturday evening show. I had been eagerly looking forward to Joan Armatrading's show. A friend turned me on to her in the late seventies, but I haven't really given her recordings much of a chance for at least a couple of decades.
Prior to Ms. Armatrading's performance, Martha Wainwright brought the tempo down with a set almost entirely dedicated to the late Parisian vocalist Edit Piaf. It was interesting, and certainly painted an unmistakable musical picture, full of smoky cabarets and star-crossed love. But I knew it was just a setup for the headline act, with who's acoustic touch I looked forward to becoming reacquainted.
As it was, Ms. Armatrading kept was slow and electronic for much of her set, and more than a little unfamiliar to boot. Never mind, I could still snap a picture or two for the blog, a nice way to refresh my memory of her. But the performer ensured that security wouldn't permit fans to capture her image, so that was that. I couldn't find very much in her performance to cherish.
Now, this is Joan Armatrading, so it's impossible not to find something positive to report. And here it is; her delivery of
The Weakness In Me was so melancholy, so conflicted, so soaked with guilt and regret, it was excruciating. And beautiful. But overall her set was long, slow, and indulgent.
Now, back to the troll.
I spoke with Grandpa Troll (pictured) for a few minutes this afternoon at the Family Fun tent. I informed him I was from Kamloops when he asked, to which he replied with a croaky eastern-European accent, "Ahh! I having family there!"
"Really?" I asked. "Who?"
"Name is Kevin," replied Grandpa.
"Kevin who?"
"Krueger!"
With all appropriate apologies (Kevin), is still funny... no?
Have you met (or been) a troll lately? Tell me about it, just click on "Comments" (below)
