A Note From Helen . . . This week’s eTown broadcast, a special holiday show with Tori Amos and Loudon Wainwright III
By Helen ~ December 22, 2009
Hi all, here we are so close to Christmas you can almost taste the eggnog and smell the evergreen in the air. What would the holidays be without a special yuletide themed show here in eTown? So Nick and I and the whole eTown crew headed ‘on the road’ to New York City and the Grand Ballroom at the Manhattan Center to do just that. 
With virtuoso pianist and singer Tori Amos making her first ever eTown appearance, this show is guaranteed to get you in the spirit, featuring lovely, stripped down songs from Tori’s new seasonal CD, Midwinter Graces. Its just Tori and her piano, in a rare solo performance that is just stunning. And she shares her thoughts on taking back the original theme of the Christmas season, that of the power of peace, of the feminine influence and of the message of deep love for all. Also joining us is veteran singer/songwriter Loudon Wainwright III, back again in eTown (Loudon, as you may already know, was kind enough to join us short notice, as our original second guest, Jesse Winchester, suddenly became terribly ill with a respiratory virus and could not travel; we missed you, Jesse, and send good wishes for your swift and full recovery, so you can enjoy your holiday as well; come be with us in eTown soon!). Loudon is a good friend and stellar musician, writer, actor and show man, whose long career includes a vast number of albums and CDs filled with original songs, appearances in many major movies and regular stints on television as well. 
His latest musical work is called High, Wide and Handsome: The Charlie Poole Project and he brings a few tunes from that collection plus an original tongue-in-check Christmas song that only Loudon could’ve written! Nick and I happily join Loudon instrumentally and vocally on a tune or two. Plus there’s an inspiring E-Chievement Award interview in store for you, dear listeners/podcasters, highlighting a NYC man who is helping low income folks to better afford their utility bills and keep cozy, by making their homes energy efficient. (He is now also branching out to include commercial and public buildings as well and his long term goal is to ‘green’ the entire Big Apple!) So tune in to hear his story, plus a rousing, traditional holiday finale song (it’s one of Jesse’s actually!) featuring, as usual, all the performers to wrap up the show. That’s this week, be sure to join us for this one-of-a-kind holiday program, with great music, intriguing conversation and a big blast of the holiday spirit. Speaking of which, Happiest of Holidays to you all!
One Response to A Note From Helen . . . This week’s eTown broadcast, a special holiday show with Tori Amos and Loudon Wainwright III
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