Excerpt from Midwest
Folk
Issue 1, Summer 2003 article on Joel Mabus.
MF ...What are you working on these days, musically?
JM ...I'm starting to think about my next recording
project. I haven't come to any conclusion yet. I think it's going
to be more about singing than playing. I was in part of a concert
last January call the Mid Winter Singing Festival - one of the most
optimistic things I've done in a long time in terms of getting people
involved. It was in Lansing, Michigan, my old hometown. It was two
nights of singing. It was all about the audience participating.
All about singing along. These were songs that were intended for
everyone to sing. All the lyrics were printed in a booklet. The
lights were up and there were four of us who were hired to be song
leaders. And we did everything from old 60's songs to spirituals
to Elvis material to some originals - all singable songs for folks
to sing along. And it really charged my batteries - it was a wonderful
two nights. And the people were so enthused in a way that I've never
seen in my lifetime. I play a lot of shows - and people say "it
was wonderful", pat me on the back and have emotional moments
and stuff - but nothing like this. People were involved. Truly "in
concert" with people. Everyone made this thing happen.
|