by Patti Byrd, Hatboro, Pa
Wow! So I jotted a thought or two down on the web for 88.5 and was hoodwinked into taping a moment by the infamous John Bartol at Philly Folk Fest. This actually turned into its own moment! I received email requests from XPN Staff friends to send more moments.

Now wait a minute!

I’ve been to the Memory Place. There are gazillions of really awesome moments out there! Well anyone with any association with any of the cool XPN folks know, there ain’t no shaking them off once they set there sights on something, so I started to thinking about some of my favorites. I have decided that I have no favs; I love each and every encounter equally well! And I was astonished to learn I could make my very own countdown list, all by myself, well almost!

I must preface my list by stating that aside from a few early exposures to main stream music of the time, most of my memories have occurred only in the last 2 years and none would be defined as historical, well, except by me! I also found in reading through the memories posted that I shared more than a few with other listeners! I found that exciting in that it was just another example of how XPN is a community as well as a station on the dial!

So my earliest recollection is seeing Sonny and Cher at Valley Forge Music Fair. This was back in 1973 and the opening act was Sha-Na-Na. It was my first exposure to a large-scale musical performance and men in Gold Lame jumpsuits or maybe it was “pleather”. I was very excited to be part of the audience and when Sonny asked if there were anyone in the audience from South Philly, I cheered along with the rest, only to be scolded my Mom or Grandmom, I am not sure which. We were from the Northeast.

There was a bit of a live music dry spell but in 1987, as a young mother, I attended my first stadium show. Yeah, I know, I slept through my youth. On August 12, 1987 I saw David Bowie at Mile High Stadium in Denver Colorado. An audio- visual smorgasbord I was in awe of the sound and the stage. We were almost out on I-70, but it didn’t matter, the larger than life performance made the stadium seem like an intimate gathering! I remember most that Bowie was only off stage for a costume change once and for what seemed to be less than a minute! I also remember the surprise Peter Frampton performance. And then there was that Spider…

Until I began to volunteer for WXPN in June 2005, my exposure to live music was nil, and not even enough on the radar to have me missing it. Busy with life and raising my son, it was not until he began to be interested in music that I really started listening again. My son, who runs from anything considered “popular” was introducing me to artists like the Beatles, Dylan, Miles Davis, the list is endless…and Shush!!, I already admitted I slept or rather hid through my youth!

And so it begins, here is part of my list, in no particular order and I am thankful not only that I have remembered these moments as I like to refer to as “Forest Gumping” my way through recent life, but also to have had the opportunities as a volunteer with WXPN to chance being where I was when I was:

While setting up the Meet and Greet table for Spottiswood and his Enemies after a Free at Noon performance, a hand was thrust across the table toward me, as I looked up, I heard in the deepest of brogues, “Hello, I’m Jonathon, and who might you be?” Thank goodness for my lanyard, which held my credentials and my name because I needed to refer to it in order to answer him. My Tom, who witnessed this, still reminds me of the moment. Yes, Mr. Spottiswood walked right off the cover of a Romance novel and into the lobby of World Café Live.

When I first saw Mutlu perform, I purchased a CD and asked Mutlu and Dante to autograph it. They looked puzzled and asked me where I would like them to sign. I was tickled by their reaction and reminded him it was his CD and he could sign wherever he pleased. I often run into Mutlu at local events, he is ever so gracious and friendly, but I do like to kid him about the autograph after I see him signing for his fans nowadays!!!

Being oblivious had me unintentionally putting a Townhall member to work breaking down after an event. “Excuse me, Hon, could you carry that box out for me?” Not surprisingly, he jumped to help before returning to sign just a few more autographs for admiring Fans.

It took much prodding to get my painfully shy friend to accept the extra ticket to the Guillemots I was giving her. I’ll never forget the entrance they made parading through the mezzanine and down the stairs through the floor area of the venue and up the steps to the stage. Pots and pans and cymbals, brass and wood, a cacophony that was unexpected and welcome and quite an entrance for this extraordinary band. Much to my surprise, my friend thrusts her luggage-sized purse at me and states, “I must get closer to that keyboard player!” And she was off, following much the same path that the Guillemots had just traveled, and there she stayed.
A wow moment was also having the opportunity to escort Arlo Guthrie and his granddaughter Olivia to the waiting Meet and Greet crowd, following his Free at Noon performance with the Guthrie Family. They were all so gracious and wonderful to us volunteers. Little Olivia even signed my credentials with an “OL” instead of her traditional “O”!

The Bodeans were in the studio with Matt Reilly for an interview and live performance. I was at the station to file for broadcasting, or so I thought. As I followed the production assistant downstairs, we chatted away. When we arrived in the studios, she handed me the camera and a pouch of sharpies, introduced me to the Bodeans manager and asked me to make sure they signed the WALL OF FAME in the studio after the session. If this is filing, I like it!

I was working the XPN Welcomes table for the Philly Local event in winter of 2006 with several other volunteers. Since it was in the upstairs venue, we could experience most of the music from the table. There were several hot new local acts that night. The Brakes, Codename, Birdie Busch, Caryn Lin and Hoots and Hellmouth were all in the house! The father of one of the Brakes approached me at the table and asked if there was a way he could have a poster from the event. I asked the Event Producer, who offered to print one up. So I asked for one also, it really was a stunning still life to boot! As the night progressed, I obtained almost all the performers autographs. After we closed the table, a few us the volunteers were still gathered in the café, when one of them points out Patrick Mansfield and John Byrne from Patrick’s Head. As I approached the table, their dinner was served, but I found myself on a mission and would not be stopped. This surprised me as I generally have much more manners than what I was about to do would indicate. Without touching Patrick’s sandwich, I lowered it away from his mouth; grabbed napkins to make sure his hands were clean and presented the poster to be signed. John, witnessing this was ready to go when it was his turn. It took me a week to translate John’s Gaelic message, which simply read, “With Much Love”. Every Patrick encounter since has been most enjoyable, but he still hides his food!

It was a long and hot day at the All About the Music Festival in 2005. And the Meet and Greet volunteers were on hurry up and wait mode all day. Transportation and other issues had many of the Artists scheduled for Meet and Greets changing times or being canceled or postponed throughout the day. This also means the Fans line up and then are dispatched over and over again. Despite it all, the XPN Member Community, being what it is took it in stride, enjoyed the camaraderie and free beverages and following the program, without too much grumbling! One of the hottest artists scheduled was Rodney Crowell. He finally did make it to the tent, after his performance. Since it was late, the volunteers ran to a local Rite Aid to try to buy lamps or lights or something to aid the signing. We turned the tables to point toward the path where some of the streetlight was filtered through the trees. Despite his long day of travel and delays, just performing with the utmost stamina, Rodney hurried to the Meet and Greet tent. He saw the line and had heard about how many times his fans re-queued for him. He moved the chairs we placed for him and crawled under the table to be on the same side as his fans. He said something like, “ They have been waiting on their feet, and I’ll meet them on my feet.” He took time with everyone. He posed for pictures. Signed beach balls and t-shirts and bodies! I did not know a whole lot about Mr. Crowell until that point, but I left with the utmost respect for the man and the musician. I also went home with a Goodnight Hug from him!

We have adopted Allison Barber. Tom and I were at the Celtic Fling last year when he went for another beer. He got lost, which is an easy thing to do at the Renaissance Fairegrounds. In his wandering he heard a voice singing A-Capella, he followed the voice and found Allison. So taken with her he signed up for her mailing list and stayed and chatted for a bit. Later that summer at Wildwood’s Irish Weekend, she hopped up on stage with Blackthorn and my Tom and Allison were reunited. We have been in touch ever since, celebrating her CD Release at Ulysses in NYC, she donating her performance for our Multiple Sclerosis fundraising, we traveling to Connolly’s in New York to see her perform with Jameson’s Revenge and Scythian. I even was her merch girl one night. It is very interesting to be able to see a young and talented singer/songwriter through the triumphs and tribulations of growing as an artist and wearing their passion in their heart and sharing that same passion through their song.

Sharing calamari with Josh Rouse’s girlfriend while he was performing at World Café Live.

Dave Falcone gifted me his CD at the XpoNential Music Festival this year. I was playing it one Saturday afternoon as I was cleaning house. The title track, “Behind Your Eyes”, stopped me in my tracks and moved me emotionally. What a moment to be able to email the artist to ask what his inspiration was and get an immediate reply. Dave is truly a local treasure.
One of my first favorite artists from my XPN early listening days, which were not so very long ago, was Marc Broussard. I only met him briefly back in 2005 when he performed at the TLA. My friend Shawn accompanied me to the show and while we were exiting, turned me around by the shoulders to place me face to face with Marc. I would have wandered right on by, oblivious had he not done that. Tom and I saw him at the TLA the following year and met Ari Hest. Then there was the Weekend of Marc. Chinatown bus to NYC, Subway, walk and Hoboken Bus to friends house. Friend drives us back to Manhattan to see Marc perform aboard the boat of the Rocks Off Concerts. We experienced an awesome show, sunset, fireworks and the Statue of Liberty. Next day I get up, Hoboken Bus to Port Authority, Greyhound to Atlantic City to meet Mom and see Marc again at the House of Blues. It’s a standing Room only show and I get there early, cause if there is 1 chair or stool in the place, I plan to get it for my Mom. She’s 70+ after all, and I am amazed she even wants to go to the show. Well I think it was because the bouncer carded her, but she gets all spunky on me. We did sit through the opening act, but during intermission she says, “Go get me a beer, and when your guy comes on I want to stand up there.” Yep, Ma wants to be in the mosh pit as my Tom calls it. So I scoot her around the crowd, and find a nice spot behind the sound engineer. We can even see Marc’s bare toes and shag rug. Mom dropped me to the train the next day to come home. But truly, seeing my Mom rocking to HOME, priceless!

Backstage duty during the NPR Christmas show in 2005 was quite emotional. I have not yet mentioned that I began my volunteering career with WXPN when I was laid off from work. By the time Christmas was rolling around, I was still out of work, out of severance, benefits and unemployment despite actively looking and interviewing. XPN kept me very busy, so much of my sanity was preserved, but I was getting nervous about making bills as of the New Year. This particular performance brought together Raul Midon, The Old Crow Medicine Show, Jonatha Brooke and the McGarrigle Sisters. I had a simple job this day. I just had to sit backstage and monitor the door. It was dark in the hall; Raul Midon and the McGarrigle Sisters occupied the dressing rooms. I sat in the shadows and listened to them practicing, warming up their voices, repeating phrases and verses from familiar Christmas tunes. One of the engineers happened by and mentioned that I would have had the best seat in the house if only I could see front of stage. I shook my head and said no, it was the best as long as I could hear. I was crying softly, I would have been crying even if my life weren’t so off kilter at the time. The music from their voices was just that beautiful.

Kathy O’Connell insisted I mention this. Despite being able to interact with artists of all sorts through my XPN duties, my heart belongs to Blackthorn. I believe that they put the music back in my heart and the tap in my toes and just all around began the healing of my sorely bruised soul. Over the past few years, Blackthorn and the friends I have made through them have become family, much like the XPN Community. This year, the band has championed my walking team, “Team Ratty Shoes” by joining forces in our fundraising and awareness campaign for the national Multiple Sclerosis Society. So to take you back in time, when I heard that Blackthorn was added to the XpoNential Festival and were chosen to close Marina Stage, my heart was doing flippity flops. Not only that but once again my worlds would collide. My XPN family and my Blackthorn family would be somewhat together for the day. My heart soared. I am a Key Coordinator for the Festival. I am also a huge Marc Broussard Fan. Marc was on River Stage immediately preceding Blackthorn. So I covered my post for Marc, but just before Blackthorn began, I got a radio call about a member in need at Main Gate. Yikes!!! So I ran to the Member Tent and Staff member Kathleen took it from there. Thank you again Kathleen!!…As I ran down the hill to Marina, praying I did not fall and roll into the water all the while, Helen was announcing them. I gathered up the gang closer to stage as the Bhoyz began to play. I then scooted around the stage to see Helen and thank her again and Kathy O wanted to make sure I knew she was in attendance as well! As I did I heard Mike Boyce finish the song and began to speak to the crowd. Kathy was shaking me and Helen and I crept around the corner of the stage. I still wish their performance were recorded, because I heard nothing but a hum after Mike said, Our fan and friend and XPN Volunteer…..all I know is Mike and Blackthorn gave me a huge shout out and well I missed it….but I love you too! The cherry on the top was getting Helen to dance with me, all the while she was saying, “I don’t dance. I don’t dance!” Now if Marc had ventured over to Marina stage and hopped up, that would have been a dream!

Ok so at Philly Folk Festival, John Bartol is there equipped to record these musical moments. He points the microphone and wants a moment. So I tell him, “Look, put me on stage with a mic and a crowd and I can talk. Point that thing at me with a box and my brain goes dead. “ So he stops and seeks out another victim. Shortly thereafter, I am trying to get pictures of the Dance stage. The Quebue Sisters are performing and I want to get pictures with them playing and the crowd dancing. But the light is bad and everything is shadowy. So as I scope a place, I excuse myself in front of a few young guys who were watching. I pop in take the picture then move to get out of their way, commenting about the Fiddling Sisters. Well, as I mentioned before, I do Gump my way through. The lads I was speaking to were the Lowlands. I chatted a second and then moved aside so they could see the show. Shortly thereafter, they were closer to the XPN tent. I approached them to see if they would allow me to take their picture with the XPN tent in the background and they were agreeable. On the short walk over I asked them if they shared their moment. John overheard and came over to encourage them. Chris Casper thought of one and was spokesperson. We were still in a circle and chatting. I shared my G Love story. John the sneak caught it on tape, but I have not heard it yet. (Thanks Goodness) I then continued to say that it was a special moment when I realized that Amos Lee would hug we when he sees me. So Chris says, Amos is over there, did he hug you yet? I had not seen Amos yet, but I turned to look and Amos may have heard his name, because he looked over at us, waved came over and I got my hug! Blueberry!

I was doing a Welcomes event at the TLA. Amos Lee was performing, Mutlu a surprise opener, and I am drawing a blank on the other group. We were there before doors to set up, when a nice man comes over and expresses how much he loves XPN and also thanks each of us individually for doing what we do. We are accustomed to this, which is a nice benefit of volunteering for an organization like XPN. But then the gentleman introduces himself as Tony, Amos Lee’s Dad. I was tickled. He went to explain just how much the exposure from XPN has helped Amos and how grateful, he was that Amos was involved with us. He was bursting with pride! Well around that time, I had begun to get the autographs of the artists I met, if I had the chance. I would have them sign my credentials for the evening. I was so touched, I asked Tony for his autograph. He signed on the bottom, “I’ll leave top billing for Amos, he said.” That show was in October. Amos finally signed the Top in the middle of his tour, just before Australia.
Gene Shay inviting me into the studio when he had Scythian in to promote the Celtic Fling in June 2007. What a wonderful experience, to see live radio. That sounds funny, but it was so cool. And I did not say a word! Honest! (Blueberry)
James Hunter and Buddy Guy at the Kimmel. James opened. We returned to the table at intermission. I was straightening up the literature, when my left hand is pulled. James Hunter is there. Right there and he has my hand. He thanks me and he hugs me and he begins to sign autographs for the line of fans that have just emerged from the theater. The only thing better about getting a hug is getting an unsolicited spur of the moment hug.

Well I am sure there are more and the memories will pop over the next few weeks as I read through all the submissions. Perhaps this is the beginning of my first Blog!