Celebrating Woodstock and Arlo Guthrie
This week marks the 40th anniversary of Woodstock, the mammoth music and arts festival that was (and remains) a cultural touchstone for many in my generation, myself included. All of the media attention and observances of the anniversary have gotten me thinking about the people, places, and things that touched my life back then and that remain connected to the person I am today. Which brings me to Arlo Guthrie.
Arlo’s performance on Max Yasgur’s farm was one of the signature sets of that giddy, spirited and ludicrously muddy weekend 40 years ago. (Alas, I missed being there to join in the festivities because my friends and I turned back home toward the Jersey Shore while en route, chastened by radio news reports of the massive traffic jam on the New York Thruway.)
Along with Bob Dylan, Phil Ochs, and Eric Anderson, Arlo was my musical introduction to a thread that has woven through folk and folk-based music for centuries – the “protest” song, the song of social commentary, the “topical” song – music that links us to our shared humanity and the eternal quest for a better life. Arlo’s “Alice’s Restaurant” has been a staple of my annual Thanksgiving celebrations since my oldest brother turned me on to it when I was in high school. It’s an American classic and I’ve listened to it – on vinyl, cassette, CD, iTunes (and even on 8-track tape!) – every single Thanksgiving morning bar none for more than 40 years now. Like the best of Arlo’s father’s writing – Woody’s powerful tunes like “This Land Is Your Land,” “Deportee,” and “Pastures of Plenty” – it helped shape a strong idealism, a commitment to social action and community, a wry sense of humor and, dare I say it, a healthy touch of fatalism, all of which remain with me to this day.
I’m excited by the prospect of reconnecting with Arlo Guthrie and his family’s deep-seated musical tradition early in the coming Portland Ovations season. Arlo will be on the Merrill Auditorium stage with his children and grandchildren, celebrating four generations of Guthrie family music, on November 20, just six days before Thanksgiving, the fateful day on which “Alice’s Restaurant” is set. You can learn more about Arlo Guthrie’s politics, his relationship with his father, and the 40th anniversary of Woodstock by reading a recent New York Times Magazine interview with Arlo. You’ll also find video clips of Arlo performing Woody Guthrie classics with his children and grandchildren on the Portland Ovations web site.
Lastly, we’d love to hear your own memories and musings about the Guthries, Woodstock or the American “folk revival” of the 1960s. Please share your thoughts and respond using the comments function below.
RokinRobbie says:
Are there any other True Woodstock vets out there? Anya, never was able to connect. If your still interested in a yak, hit me on gmail. Loved Lynn’s piece about Woody, then we who were there are stone
Arlo fans. Keep Rokin…............
Panic Attacks says:
Really nice and impressive blog i found today.
anya says:
hello i am in eighth grade and doing a report on how woodstock changed americans lives may you please give me some of your info to give you a letter to ask you detailed questions. Thank, anya carrillo
RokinRobbie says:
How did this ever go from the memories of an infamous unique joyous occasion to a bunch of self-serving commercial gobbledygook? To quote Donovan, “filthy beatniks out to make it rich uh huh, Gotta be the season of the Witch”
RokinRobbie says:
Ok UGG BOOTS, what are you sellin? Do you want to hear more tales? Just ask and don’t keep it veiled in promotional gimmics. I mean for someone to try to get on this site to seek a sale kills any true woodstock spirit. Kind of why the fast food outlet at the top of the hill was set to fire Sun morn.
Lynn Goldfarb says:
From 1949-1951 I studied modern dancing in my hometown in New Jersey with Marjorie Mazia. It wasn’t until I was an adult that I learned that Miss Mazia was the wife of Woody Guthrie and the mother of Arlo. I then realized that Miss Mazia’s nice husband who played guitar at our recitals was none other than Woody Guthrie. A rather amazing surprise.
Bill Bartmann says:
Hey good stuff…keep up the good work! I read a lot of blogs on a daily basis and for the most part, people lack substance but, I just wanted to make a quick comment to say I’m glad I found your blog. Thanks,)
A definite great read…:)
-Bill-Bartmann
Bob LeVangie says:
We were a tribe of intrepid revolutionaries only one step in front of the law after leaving Boston on the “lamb” found ourselves in the Green Mountains of Vt hiding out. we heard of so many bands and wondered if it was a set up to catch draft people and decided to check it out anyway. After driving thru Ny thru the nite we approached a traffic jam and almost got out of there for safety, but someone handed me the driver of the van a bottle of Almaden wine, we decided to go in. It was a traffic jam party for the next few hours then we were herded into a circle of vans etc xross from the festival entry. A fire ring was formed and we pooled our food and feasted with friends there. In between f’cking Carol in the van we ventured out to the shows only to make it back often to the safety of the van we were used to trees and acid not throngs of freaks. After 2 days of this we left early for the safety and sanity of the Vermont forests. Nice experience my radio show of 14 years is still fun, Woodstock Nation Radio 2 pm WERU.org or 89.9 Blue Hill
RokinRobbie says:
I was 18 and had bought my ticket through the Village Voice. A caravan of our three vehicles left from M.D.I. where 14 folks lived in a Summer rented mansion. Got ther late Wednesday night. Thursday morning my road partner and I walked up the hayfield from where they were busily trying to get the stage finished, It never was. The grass was higher than our knees, only to be tromped and turned to mud the next day. Somehow we got into town to provision ourselves, witnessing the multitudes of youth swarming onto the scene. Celebrated that night at the Hog Farm stage with local bands playing. It was about 4 P.M. when I was laying out, trippin, in front of the stage while the band was settng up, watching two little naked kids tapping at the drumset with sticks when a dude walked in front of me, stooped down and snapped their picture. This became the cover of the Woodstock 2 album! The next morning we got to within a 100 yds of the stage and set up our flag pole. It became the waypoint for thousands to find where they had come from so became a major traffic point for thousands travelling through our clan. Trippin, again, I watched as the Frisbees floated all over waiting for the music to begin. Like magic I followed the travels of one and it came into my stoned lap. With joy, I stood up and launched the worst frisbee toss of my life.
I have more tales from that marvelous occasion which I will always consider one of the Highest (certainly) peaks of my life…..............