The Mahaiwe PAC, Great Barrington, MA
July 25, 2013
By Eric Sutter
A special synergy surfaced between two 90's
singer-songwriters who collaborated on their own catalogs and favorite songs.
The feel-good folk/soul transformed the venue into an intimate living room of
sonic sweetness.
Mary Chapin Carpenter and Marc Cohn's Summer Tour 2013 show
started with The Beatles’ "Two Of Us." With heartfelt beauty
Carpenter performed, Cohn's "Walk Through The World" and the title
cut to her "Stones In The Road.” The sound quality was rich as guitarist
John Leventhal added mellifluous lines to Cohn's "Perfect Love."
Oddly, after he sang the touching ballad, Cohn quickly left the stage.
Carpenter's mellow "That Magic Time" tapped into the listener's
universal psyche.
Cohn returned carrying his blue suede shoes and announced a
bee had stung him during "Perfect Love." It made for some funny
ad-libs. He crooned a soulful "The Letter" from his new CD
"Listening Booth/1970,” with a soothing piano solo. The pair collaborated
on Cohn's "Silver Thunderbird," about a car, a man with a plan and a
pocket comb. By song's end, Carpenter battled a bee to death.
Carpenter's confessional ballad of isolation and connection,
"Transcendental Reunion,” personalized a flight to Great Britain with
strangers. She is a wonderful singer and newest female member of the Nashville
Songwriter's Hall of Fame. Cohn performed his Grammy-award winning ballad,
"Walking In Memphis" with a dedication to gospel singer Muriel Davis
Wilkins followed by "My Eye Is On The Sparrow." From bee sting pain
to gospel fervor joy, the show had it all!
They encored with Carpenter's take on Frank Sinatra's
"In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning." Cohn crooned "Moon
River" with the audience joining. It was an incredible night with both
artists delivering their best.
