Lucinda’s fans

I think Lucinda is very nice to her fans. I’ve met her a few times and she always took time to talk to me, sign items or take photos. There aren’t a whole lot of stars that will do that nowadays.

In the late ’80s/early ’90s, when Mary Chapin Carpenter was riding high with “Passionate Kisses”, and few people outside the industry had even heard of Lucinda, I saw her at The Coyote Club, an ancient, broken down club in Wichita, KS — it was the coolest club in town, but it gave new meaning to the word dive. The stage was more duct tape than carpet, it was easier (and cleaner) to pee outside than in the ladies’ room, and Jimmy Hoffa could have been in there and no one would have known it — the only thing missing was the chicken wire. Since Wichita has less than two dozen literate citizens, there were only 11 of us there, including Art and Janet, the club’s owners. While we were embarrassed for Lucinda’s sake, it was great for us. Lucinda grabbed a chair just like everybody else, we passed out the liquor, and had what amounted to a 4 hour private concert. Lucinda was gracious, enchanting and mesmerizing. She talked to us about each song, joked about how glad she was that MCC was having such a huge hit with “Passionate Kisses” so she was getting decent royalties, and laughed hysterically when I told her my daughter sang “Passionate Fishes” with all the gusto a 3-year old could muster. She spoke modestly and with self-deprecating humor about herself in response to our merciless prodding. Lucinda sang, laughed, drank, and joked with us like we were the old friends we quickly fancied ourselves to be — the entire evening was a give and take between artist and audience. She probably doesn’t even remember that night, but those of us who were there will never forget it; we like to consider ourselves her first fans, the first to appreciate her enormous talent, and very, very lucky to spend such an intimate evening with this warm, gifted, and uniquely talented woman.

Is it much to demand
I want a full house and a rock and roll band….

yes, thank you aunt duff — that is truly a great story! and a great memory. 8)
I have the impression that, although there are more fans these days, Lucinda hasn’t changed too much. Your post reminds me of one from last year in the “who has met lucinda” thread that affirms this. It’s from drummerman1067 and worth repeating here:

Posted: Thu Sep 27, 2007 3:31 pm
I had a wonderful opportunity meeting Lucinda this summer in the Poconos. I planned on camping for the Mountain Laurel show, but it was pouring rain the day before. My girlfriend Darlene and I decided to get a room to beat the rain. We went to the bar for a cocktail before dinner and Lucinda was there with her band and her boyfriend Tom. They graciously befriended us. Before the night was over we had a chance to sing songs from the jukebox together( Doors, Fleetwood Mac, Springsteen) that Lucinda had chosen, chat about politics, and even do some dancing on the dance floor. As you can imagine it was quite a night. Lucinda put us on the guest list and gave us incredible seats. I was/am very grateful for this evening. She and her boys were all incredibly warm, real people. We talked about real things i.e. our familes, the state of the world etc. We also went out with Doug after the show. He is a great guy. Great pool player too! Hopefully I will get to hang with them again.

Nice to know that even 20 years later, with well-deserved recognition and success, she still keeps it real.

I just joined the Lu forum. I’ve been a fan for a long time and I don’t think West came out of my studio stereo for a month. Just before it was released a friend called and said that my old girlfriend was very sick and probably not going to live much longer. He was right. I’m an artist and did a new piece (screen print) to work through this tough time. It’s one of my favorites and I titled it “Blue”. “Are You Alright” really blew me away – it was perfect for the way I was feeling. The point of all this is that I decided to send one of these screen prints to Lu. I’ve never done anything like that. I contacted her manager in Nashville and he told me to send it to him and he would get it to her. I really wasn’t expecting anything but I never did hear from her or her manager except for an email saying he had received the package.

That was a great story about the Wichita show. I would have driven from KC in a heartbeat to have seen that.

Doc

www.docsnyderprints.com

I have waited around after shows on several occasions (six that I can recall) and four of those times Lu was kind enough to stop, chat, sign some items I had (I collect her gig posters), and even pose for a couple of pictures with me on one occasion (after the October 2006 Ventura, CA show).

The other two times she was already on her tour bus by the time I got there – once, here in Atlanta at the Botanical Gardens, she had family visiting on the bus with her (from Alabama, I think) that she acknowledged in the audience during the show, and the other (at the Kentucky Theater in Lexington), I think she just too tired after the show – yet and still a roadie (at Doug P.’s prompting, I think – Doug has been very nice the times I have seen him after shows as well) took a couple of gig posters I had onto the bus for me which she was kind enough to sign (and BTW, I don’t sell any of her signed items on eBay or anything – they are for my own collection & enjoyment).

In both the latter cases I was completely understanding of her wishes – I don’t blame her in the least if she isn’t feeling up to seeing folks after the show or, in the Atlanta case, in particular if she has family or friends visiting. The times I have seen her, she has been very accommodating and for that I was most grateful.

Tom

I have to admit I had never heard of Lucinda until she signed up to support Mellencamp on his summer tour and thought being a Mellenhead I should check out her music. Thank you John. Lucinda is a breath of fresh air. I can only hope that John plays Indiana some time this summer and Lucinda comes with him. 😀