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On March 1, PBS put Blu-ray and DVD copies of Arlo Guthrie: Alice’s Restaurant 50th Anniversary Concert up for sale. Arlo is a folk legend who found his fame through this unique song that became an anti-war anthem. It’s still played every year on radio stations around the world on Thanksgiving Day. This concert is an excellent showcase of his exceptional musical and story-telling skills and proves that he’s still vital to the folk music scene.
The concert takes place in the gorgeous Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield, Massachusetts and Arlo’s band is made up of friends and family, including his son Abe. While it includes the famous Massacree in its entirety, he also plays a variety of songs that span his career, as well as a few of his father Wood Guthrie’s pieces.
While Arlo’s voice may have gotten a bit deeper, it remains pleasant to listen to and his stories are as extensive and entertaining as they’ve always been. Viewer learn more about his history with Woodstock and his life with his late wife, and also get a better picture of what it was like to grow up with a famous musician for a father.
Arlo chooses fan favorites, as well as unknown pieces, to play and everything is extraordinary. He goes from “The Motorcycle Song” to a song from his children’s book, “Me and My Goose,” to a final song where he created a tune for his father’s words, “My Peace,” with ease.
While the “Alice’s Restaurant Massacree” is a fun reason for the performance, his more heartfelt pieces are serious showstoppers. Arlo Guthrie is a true folk hero, like his father before him. May there be many more concerts to come.
See Arlo discuss performing “Alice’s Restaurant”: