Jeff and I went to the kick-off performances last night of Moscow’s annual Rendezvous In The Park, where half the fun is crowd watching and catching up with old friends while listening to a pretty diverse collection of musicians — always heavy on the folk/blues/country (alas, no Third-Wave ska, 2-Tone, or Celtic punk!) and almost always pretty good. The bill included Moscow singer-songwriter J.T. Grauke, a UI student, local Idaho Rep actor, and staple at Bucer’s and other local venues.
Wow. This young man (I’m not sure he’s 21 yet) has been blessed with a goodly combination of insight, lyrical ability, and musicianship that blew me away. Nothing treacly here, no pained attempt at Brooding Sensitivity and Artistic Torment (oh, how the talented and attractive suffer!) — just introspective, gentle, and sometimes surprising lyrics accompanied by his guitar and harmonica.
I suspect you’ll be hearing good things about him. A song about missing his brothers and the disconnect young siblings often feel around older ones was especially touching. As was the ease with which his parents, Christ Church elder John Grauke and his wife, Donna, received my compliments. I’m pretty sure they’d have rather received kudos from virtually any other Rendezvous attendee plus her cousins, but they handled any conflict graciously. J.T.’s considerable musical gifts come straight from the Lord, but he surely learned the poise, grace, and maturity he demonstrated on stage from his parents.
And no, I won’t be at Saturday’s Josh Ritter concert. One teenybopper meltdown is enough for me, I think, and surely mine a couple of years ago was enough for Josh.