Greg Brown

But Greg and Bo Ramsey together was really great!!!!

Greg never disappoints, played two full sets, intermission in between, took a few requests. His shows are always a surprise with what he is going to play or do always enjoyable! Please go if you are a true fan!

Greg Brown, was the funniest , and smartist musician that I really had the opportunity to listen to in a long time. He is the greatest . Bo Ramsey really filled the scene with his very precise vocals, and guitar work. What a team! Loved them.

The show started out with new songs that were amazing. "Bones" completely captivated the theatre and had the audience laughing within the first 10 minutes of the show. The opening artist Jason Wilbur also accompanied Greg on guitar which was a perfect compliment to Greg's unique style and sound. Jason's set before Greg was also great - a nice pairing! The show lost a little energy towards the end, but by then it mattered not...... the audience had been won over and was completely enamored with Greg. He truly is a master storyteller that every music lover should experience at least once!!

LOVE Greg Brown, and he was at his most growly and lovable at this performance. Played most of my favorites, and even smiled a couple of times. Wish he had Bo with him; Jason is a fine guitar player, but Bo plays like an extension of Greg.

greg and co was great, sound system needed attention, guitars too loud, voices muffled, feed back at times... I dislike the folding chairs up front, house was not sold out so not needed, folding chairs are taller than theater seats, so disrupted views of patrons directly behind them and crowded legs.Noise/voices from lobby loud at times.

Great evening, super venue... enjoyed Jason Wilber and Greg was just fantastic

My first time seeing Greg Brown.a folk nut friend of mine turned me on to Greg about six months ago and I have been listening to his creative writing skills and his amazing voice ever since. I did not realize that Bo Ramsey was the beginning act ...was equally taken by his presentation .Purchased both Greg's new CD as well as Bo's.

The music was evocative of the soul tugs that come from rambling around this country looking for home.

Though I have followed Greg Brown for 25 years, he never ceases to put on a new show every time. A great story teller and musician.

The German House Theater is a small old fashioned theater which was a wonderful setting in which to see Greg Brown play. The seating was general admission and we were able to sit in the 3rd row. When he tapped his foot on that old wooden stage it felt like the floor was shaking! Greg Brown is an amazing singer/songwriter and the show was great from start to finish! Jason Wilber who was the opening act was really entertaining and enjoyable.

Greg Brown is quite a character. I really enjoyed his voice, his songwriting, and his stories. Also enjoyed Jason, the warm-up singer (and Greg Brown's back-up guitar player). I wish I could have understood some of Greg's lyrics better.

My first Greg Brown concert. Have loved his voice and lyrics for years. He's just as honest and down home funny in person. Bo Ramsey (sp?) was great warm up with his own down home lyrics and gentle chords and provided excellent depth to Greg Brown's acoustic guitar. The Aladdin is a perfect venue for Greg - unpretentious, beer & pizza, intimate - as if we were all in Greg's back yard on a warm summer night.

Greg had us almost rolling in the isles, and at the same time, captures so much of the American life situations, it is almost chilling. Good job Greg! We catch the show everytime you come to town! Hope to see you again-Oregon loves you! Bo and you were on fire!

Greg Brown has truly earned the title of minor legend. The title of full legend applies to the likes of Dylan, Petty, Joel, Cash, Kline and dozens of others...many of whom are gone now. His poetry and song-writing ability are among the best of the century in my personal opinion. However, a tremendous amount of detail goes into the recording and production of music these days and a stage performance cannot compete with the "manufactured product" unless the artist travels with the full studio and a cadre of musicians in his van. Another factor contributing to my mild disappointment might be the fact that Greg is a true artist and as such he (and others like him) simply get bored with singing the same song in the same key and with the same precise flavor as the original recording that we got used to. So, we go to the performance and it sounds like the artist is being lazy. The songs are performed differently. Bob Dylan's recent appearance in Troutdale was similar only worse. I cannot imagine why a legend like Dylan would choose to go on tour and do an five acts or more per week for two or more months. This is not saying that the stage performance is less entertaining.....it's just different and not nearly as complex and as "full" with basically one man and his guitar up there compared to several percussion instruments and other musicians adding layers on different tracks and the whole thing being mixed and edited in a studio to a high degree of perfection....and Brown's recordings are, indeed, well done to say the least.. The Greg Brown recordings which I have bought are near audiophile quality so Greg and his producer put a tremendous amount into the final product. That is part of what makes his work so real and lifelike. Going to see his performance on October 8th was a let down compared to any session I've experienced in front of a two-channel audio system of high quality. He's one of my all-time favorites and I highly recommend a CD produced to honor Mr. Brown. The title is "Going Driftless". Twelve femal artists sing one song each (all written by GB) and this CD is a knockout!. It is recorded perfectly and the artists are all absolutely top level talents. Bottom line: Buy the CD's if you want an outstanding musical entertainment experience. Buy a ticket to be in the same room with a legend but go there with the understanding that the performance might be a surprise. Frankly, if I had only experienced Brown on October 8th I would not be rushing to Amazon.com to find more of his work.

Paul Thorn is an amazing entertainer, and he was really on for this show! You've got to hear him live - his records don't do him justice. Five star show. I just couldn't get into Greg Brown - he has a cool voice and plays a great guitar, but the songs left me cold. Three stars.

I could have sat there all night and listened to Greg Brown's gravely voice and wonderful lyrics. The outdoor concert at the Minnesota Zoo amphitheater was an incredible experience, and it was a reminder of the simpler things in life. I just love the way Brown changes his songs for live concerts -- altering the tune and, in come cases, the lyrics, ever so slightly to give the concert-goers a new take on the songs they love. Hearing his lyrics in person as compared to on his CDs also give you another perspective on their meaning. He is a genius.

One of the best Greg Brown concerts I've seen. Bo is always great too.

It was so fun to hang out with the trees, the pond, the birds and dragonflies with Greg Brown serenading us. I love his wit and heart.

Mesmerizing, thrilling, heartbreaking. Impeccable musicianship and a peerless performance by one of the great American songwriters. Bo Ramsey's perfectly restrained guitar is a great complement to Greg Brown's richly textured voice.

Greg Brown does not disappoint with hi growly bass, amazing lyrics, and fantastic sense of humor. Highlights were the 'Fat Boy Blues' and also his quip about gardening, that it's in your genes and if you have the gene you can't commit suicide cause you have to plant in the spring. He's a great performer and an incredible musician and I would pay to see him perform again and again as you always get something fresh and fun and new.

I've now seen Greg Brown 4 times. Always an outstanding evening. Bo Ramsey was a very nice surprise.

I was introduced to Greg Brown only a few months ago via an old cd; I was thrilled to have the chance to see him live - especially in an intimate setting like The Temple of Arts in Des Moines. The small venue was perfect for his music, and the sound was phenomenal. Mr. Brown's lyrics are wonderful, so to see him in settting where you could hear and enjoy the lyrics with the music was perfect. Bo Ramsey played with him, and the two obviously are well-practiced together - amazing to watch them interact seemlessly and effortlessly. I just wish Greg Brown played more midwest venues! If you get the chance to see him, DO.

Greg Brown performed in Des Moines on Saturday, June 5. Opening act was Bo Ramsey, who then accompanied Brown during the main set. From the first chords of the opening act to the encore, the show lasted a little over two hours. Both performers were in fine voice, and both played solid guitar. Brown did an excellent job of introducing several songs, and the fact that he was playing in his home state allowed him to personalize his intros even more than normal. Overall, it was an excellent show, with, perhaps, one minor critique. Both performers have somewhat similar voices - and neither is necessarily known for vocal range - so, it was nice when Brown brought up his youngest daughter to sing a song, which nicely broke up 2+ hours of a low bass/baritone vibe pulsing throughout the venue.

It was an intimate setting int he Temple for the Performing Arts, and what a difference that setting made. Seeing Greg Brown can sometimes be hit or miss, depending on where you see him, depending on how into it the audience is. This audience was hanging on every note he and his opener Bo Ramsey played. It was a group familiar with his body of work, cheering when they recognized the opening bars of a favorite, singing along with "Iowa Waltz". And that made the whole show electric. Greg's banter between songs was insightful, playful, and his youngest daughter singing a solo at the end was a neat thing to see. Only one obligatory encore (I am NOT a fan of requiring the audience to perform for encores). Very exciting that both Iowa Public Television and Iowa Public Radio were recording it!

Good concert overall. This was my first time at the Ark and my first time to see Greg Brown. The sound quality was excellent. I would have enjoyed it much more had I been able to see the performers. A huge pole was between me and Greg Brown and all I could see was his left shoulder throughout the evening. The Master of Ceremonies did not properly introduce the warm up act. Having never seen Mr. Brown in concert - I thought that Bo was Greg Brown until (an hour into the evening) when the Master of Ceremonies introduced Greg. Bo was not the best choice as a warm up. He is a good guitar player but made no attempt to relate to the audience. At the end of his 5 song set, he coughed, stood, up and left the stage without saying a word. The house lights came up and it became apparent that we had reached the intermission. I look forward to see Greg Brown the next time he is in the area. Next time I attend a concert at The Ark, I will spend the extra money to sit in the reserved seating area. Thank you for putting together an entertaining evening.

When someone's authentic character shines through his music and onstage behavior, an audience forgets the time. Not until afterward did we realize he had played and sung almost two hours to a very appreciative full house, interspersing interesting variations of already recorded Brown classics with real people talk which wasn't so much for entertainment as for sharing. We drove twelve hours round trip to hear Greg in person and hearing him live was definitely worth it. The standing ovation led to an encore showing how, after two hours, his range and versatility was increasing, not flagging. Dear to my heart is the new song the Fat Man/Woman/s Lament, and I certainly hope he remembers that Maine is full of blueberries when he plays Portland soon. Bo Ramsay adds a sound and fillip to the music which enhances what Greg is doing, even if his mannerisms remind one (and I say this with a smile) of the echolocation mechanism in bats. Greg's "yeah" now and then after audience appreciation was a reciprocation of rapport with him we listeners felt. His music even sounds better in person than studio-recorded.

Bo Ramsey opened the show. He is new to me. Very good. His guitar playing (amplified acoustic) was sublime. His singing more reminiscent of Leonard Cohen in many ways. Bo finished his set, and left the stage. Next, Greg came out, and Bo accompanied him on various electric guitars. Hearing the added bluesy flourish on familiar GB songs was a touch of subtle cool. Bo was there to add another facet to the GB gems. And Greg's between song dialogues.......he should publish a CD of these stories alone. Greg belongs in the live show arena. Studio albums always lack the added dimension of lead-in stories, observations, commentary, local color (tailored for that evening's crowd). And he digs Michigan! Thank you, Greg.

what a great show. Greg brown never dissappoints much less when hes with the great bo ramsey. As greg said"I'm happy to be anywhere at all with this gentleman". Refering to bo ramsey. They play so well together and the music just seemed to flow out of them. Yet another great greg show.

Dear Greg, We have loved you lo these many years. We've raved about you. We've seen you in concert around the nation. We've purchased your music. You're a household favorite. Our kids know the lyrics to your songs. Last night we planned another trip to see you in Portland with three neophytes, and we swore your music would delight. Dear Greg, we must tell you, your play list was terrible. Your personality all but absent. And when we could understand the lyrics, they were your usual witty, sardonic words. But, Greg, it's important for the audience to hear your words. Even we, who knew the songs, could barely recognize them. Our poor friends were mystified at our glowing reports about you and at your mumbled tunes. We're very sad. We'll recover, no doubt, and go on to enjoy your music. At home. Dear Greg, where were you last night at the Aladdin Theatre? Gibbys