Annabelle Chvostek & Myshkin (wrap-up)

By Greg Pool
Host, TreeHouseConcerts.org

Here's a wrap-up of the visit by Annabelle Chvostek and Myshkin to the Tree House (pictures and after-show interview/encore):

* Annabelle started the night, using a guitar, fiddle, and mandolin. Myshkin opened the second set with both a standard and tenor guitar.

* I think the best instruments in the house were their voices. So much control and playfulness.

* One CD Annabelle didn't have with her is Firecracker by the Wallin Jennys, her former band. Pick it up for both her songs "Devil's Painbrush Road" (which she played tonight, strumming her fiddle) and "Firecracker."

* Myshkin came to our attention in 2003 from a Folk Alliance sample featuring her old band, The Road Dog Divas. The song was "Coot," and it featured three strong voices in harmony with irreverent lyrics about a loopy guy, Alcatraz, and a cheerleader's convention.

* They both arrived at our house needing showers from camping in Big Sur. And yes, they attracted some attention singing around the campfire. There's an idea for a concert!

* Each met and decided to tour because of their booking agent, Jessica Byers, who books a lot of similar artists in the Portland, Oregon, area.

* Myshkin gave us her album, rosebud bullets, which features the song, "Annabelle" on track 10. No relation, but it was fun to hear her play it tonight.

* Annabelle gave us a copy of her album, Resilience, which also features a co-write with fellow Canadian, Bruce Cockburn.

* Folks are still talking about the eastern European song Annabelle sang ("Boom Boom"), about a naughty girl who likes to drink beer and .. well, you know.

* I stumped Myshkin on playing "Why Do All The Country Girls Leave?" but you should at least read the lyrics. The song is hysterical. I so wanted to point out the Carmel Valley hills the next morning and say, "see how the mist it clings to the hills the most beautiful place you’ve ever seen."

* I mention I loved the You Tube video that Annebelle did with Rose Polenzani, and Annabelle said she'd put in a good word for us with Rose.

* We talked later that night about a trip to Las Vegas (they got lucky on Wizard of Oz slots), and they didn't know about Garage Ma-Hall, a fantastic house concert venue off the strip. Annabelle vowed to play it!

* We had 34 seats filled tonight, which is remarkable for our first Friday night in Carmel Valley. I never thought folks would come so far out after dark, so thank you! Back to our Saturday afternoon schedule in July, in the backyard!