3 June 1998

I'm happy to report an astoundingly wonderful concert at the Mermaid this past Saturday! We were joined by ex-BE vocalist Melissa Demian for a number of songs, including several real old ones, like "Henry Martin." As always, absolutely wonderful to have Melissa as the 6th wheel in the new band! Those of you in England should make an effort to see her play in Cambridge when you can. Also that night we were opened up for by the excellent Ray Ashley, doing a mostly-solo Stick set. Yes, that's right, "excellent." Ray, are you reading? You should just change your name to "Excellent Ray Ashley" and be done with it. "Excellent Ray Ashley and the Three Hour Detour" -- they'll go far. Uhh, anyway, BE also performed some exciting new material, including the long-awaited "Wir Fahren mit der SBB," a Swiss train song by Walter Wild, and "Nonesuch/An Dro," a coupling of an English country dance with a Breton tune we don't know the name of.

Jim Speer