Guthrie gives masterful performance

What a way to end a season.

All too often the word ‘icon’ is used so lightly, but Arlo Guthrie’s presence at the Arden Theatre on April 19 and 20 was truly legendary.

Many long-time boomer fans privately hoped he’d sing his landmark 1967 tune Alice’s Restaurant but Guthrie chose a different focus. Abandoning the whimsical ‘hippie’ image for a more contemplative approach, the anti-establishment composer used the concert to pay a special salute to his father’s songs in preparation for the Woody Guthrie Centennial Festival coming up in July.

Just as the tour title suggested, Arlo Guthrie’s Boys Night Out, was a family event with accompaniment from his son Abe (keyboard), grandson Krishna (guitar) and long-time friend Terry ‘a la Berry’ Hall (drums).

Blending family classics with offbeat anecdotes gave the concert a relaxed club vibe instead of a more formal theatre extravaganza.

Without being ham-fisted, Guthrie displayed a knack for crafting political commentary from spiritual reflections and country wisdom into animated, thought-provoking commentary.

A born storyteller, he had the audience’s attention within the first five minutes. Giving his take on creativity, the folksy philosopher mused, “Songwriting is more like fishing. It’s mostly sitting. Every once in a while a fish swims by and a pen catches it.”

Later in the program, he presented a tongue-in-cheek reflection on his brief 1994 stint on the TV show Birds of Paradise.

“It was the best vacation I ever had. Not because I was in Hawaii. But because I had a vacation from me. It was freakin’ awesome.”

Throughout the concert, the elder statesman of the folk movement displayed equal mastery on keyboard, harmonica and four guitars – six and twelve strings.

Many tunes he performed were Woody’s classics – songs such as This Land is Your Land, Deportees (Plane Wreck at Los Gatos) and the stunningly gentle My Peace.

In the ’60s, Guthrie was part of an important group of folk artists active in the anti-Vietnam protest movements. Although that war is long past and the folk/philosopher has mellowed out, he was not about to forgo social activism as witnessed in songs such as the emotional and heartfelt When a Soldier Makes it Home. Although written in the 1980s with a look at the stark reality of body bags instead of ticker tape parades, it is still relevant today.

Other varied gems included the poignant ballad In My Darkest Hour, a tune that came to him in a dream, Steve Goodman’s City of New Orleans, ragtime’s St. Louis Tickle, the nonsensical Motorcycle Song and the stormy In Times Like This.

This evening of pure entertainment gave boomers an opportunity to relieve their idealistic hippie days. For the younger generations, it was an armchair introduction into a period of American history.