Joe Stanton sauntered onto the Heritage Playhouse stage, looking as though he was about to strum a few tunes for family and friends in his own living room. The moment we heard the opening chords of Banks o' Loch Lomond, we knew we were listening to an expert contemporary folk musician in action. This was Joe's CD release concert for his third CD in eight years, Passenger Stanton. We were immediately introduced to Sharon's Back Door and the source of the CD's title. It is the universal ballad of the traveller "never really knowin' am I comin' or I'm goin'," waiting in the airport for the loudspeaker to call "Passenger Stanton, pick up any white telephone." Stanton was backed by his band (Simon Paradis on electric guitar, Gerry Millar on bass and Tom Neville on mandolin and violin) during much of both sets. Nicholas Simons came onstage for a few songs at the end of the first half to play cello. With first class sound mixing from Ken McBride and atmospheric lighting by Kerry Mills, Sunday evening was a treat for Stanton's fans, who heard all the songs from the new CD and a number of older favourites. We felt the Kansas rain in Gettin' to Know You, and many in the audience were tearful when they heard I'm Not Very Far, a pensive personal song dedicated to Joe's sister, who died of cancer. From lyric to lullaby, we tasted the prairie dust and saw Susan in her garden, the songs a curious mix of desire to hit the road and to know there is a home and family waiting. Stanton's comfortable sense of humour was apparent throughout the show and he carried the audience good-naturedly through numerous guitar tunings between songs.
Accomplished musicians all, the band deftly handled a range of genres, from the stomping blues of She Gone and Went and a jumping fiddle number featuring Tom Neville, to the sad sweeping strings on New Year's Eve. At the centre was Stanton, whose song writing and guitar playing just keep getting better.
