Concert at the Wolf Trap

Yesterday evening Jadine and I went to see our Katie interpret at the Guster/Ray LaMontagne concert at the Wolf Trap National Park for Performing Arts. I was excited to see Katie in all her glory, but even before i knew she was interpreting, I had been wanting to see Ray in concert.

Ray quite frankly, is amazing. Ray's influences are greats like Otis Redding, Ray Charles, Bob Dylan, Stills and Nash... When I heard him sing, it was one of the most sincere performances i have ever witnessed, it's like every fiber of his being is immersed in that moment and that song. Take the time to read about his life below because you just don't hear very many stories like his.

Okay so we weren't allowed to record but..... i did anyway. i couldn't help myself, i wanted to record ray. you won't see much because i was far away and you can hear me no, not singing, but shouting the lyrics. AHHHHH!! RAY!!! SO GOOD!! Here ya go: Ray at the Wolf Trap

I liked Guster too, and better yet, they gave Katie a shout out. Every time they were done with a song, she signed that everyone was clapping by waving her hands over her head. Throughout the concert, the guys in the band started doing it too, and by the end of the night, the audience joined in, with an occasional: "Catie!!!!!" My roomie sort of emerged with a fan club all her own.

So here is Ray's story:

Ray LaMontagne is a living example of the tranformative power fo music. AFter years of working at a shoe factory, LaMontagne had a revelation that completely shifted the course of his life.

One serendipitous morning, he woke up at 4 am to his alarm playing a song that woudl change his life: Stephen Still's "Treetop Flyer". LaMontange was deeply moved by the soulful lyrics and country-blues sound, since he hardly listened to music before, aside from the occasional radio hit. He skipped work that day and bought the Stills Alone album. He then quit his job, taking the bold first step in changing the direction of his life. He bought the well-worn records of music pioneers like Crosby, Stills and Nash, Bob Dylan, and Otis Redding and listened for hours, immersing himself in their seasoned voices and lyrics. LaMontange discovered that music was a form of emotional expression that had immense healing power. He knew he wanted to be a musician, so he taught himself to sing.

By 1999, he created a demo of 10 songs and was booked as the opening act for several fold performers. It wasn't long before he was noticed, and soon he was signed to a publishing deal with Chrysalis, where producer and player Ethan Johans helped create his debut album, Trouble.

With a voice comparable to Van Morrison and Otis Redding, LaMontagne sings with sincerity and soul.