The Wanderers: Press

Last night’s concert at the Grange — the Wanderers and Tom Rawson — proved to be a sweet, sweet night of musical history, charming musicians, and a true hootenanny.  It was the first concert I’ve ever been to that the audience sang nearly as much as the performers, and it is because all of the musicians sincerely were there to make sure NOBODY ever forgets people like Woody Guthrie and the three thousand songs he wrote.

The Wanderers, the well-seasoned duo of Carl Allen and Bill Murlin, opened the show with the news that this year marks the fiftieth year of their musical collaboration. That is remarkable and a blessing as they sure did bring us a lot of fun and great music with lots of old Woody songs and more.  Carl plays guitar, harmonica, and Bill plays banjo and guitar.

Also, they brought along a friend, Jim Portillo, that played an intriguing electric bass ukelele with strings made of polyurethane, which gave it a resonance like rubber, very rich sound for such a small instrument.  Besides perfect licks, he had a great classic, statue-like stance of a bluegrass bassist, never wavering, and then later, it was revealed he was blind and had only been playing a few weeks.

Tom Rawson is an elementary teacher by day and peace activist always.  He has a great talent for inspiring people to come together, and on this night, it was to sing along with nearly every song he played.  With his disarming manner and generous heart, he fed us lyrics like he was cooking us supper.  The result was a houseful of people united in song.  I mean, since when do you go to a concert, and the focus is on the audience, not the ego of the performer?

Joined by Canadian, Ellen van der Hoeven, on penny whistle, guitar, mandolin and vocals, Lynn Graves on violin and vocals, and Bob Morgan on guitar and vocals, Tom released a slew of light-hearted and delightful songs into the atmosphere.  The one that stands out for me is the one about a guy NOT looking for love as much as a sturdy woman with a chainsaw to spend the winter with.  I think I saw an ad on the bulletin board at the post office about this very subject.

(In Burney's review of the 2009 Florence Winter Folk Festival were these lines about our performance.)

"Carl Allen of Seattle and Bill Murlin of Portland have been singing for a half century specializing in the songs of Woody Guthrie. With guitars and banjo and classic brother harmony Carl and Bill sang Woody’s songs including Way Over Yonder in A Minor Key and songs of other legends and heroes…"
"When you’re walking that Lonesome Valley, it’s good to know The Wanderers are crooning nearby, filling canteens with the vitality of cool, clear, classic folk music."

It's About Time is a warm, up-close CD with great texture of sound and lots of heart. The timbre of maturity in your voices lends depth and authenticity to the songs and how they've traveled with you in your lives.

"...This wonderful collection of songs is a treasure. The music is so comfortable and authentic it takes the listener on a journey of heart and history that endures and lingers long after the last track is finished. Bill and Carl have selected a beautiful set of songs here from our epoch. Their commitment as partners through the years shines like a warming sunshine. The voices of these weathered Wanderers are as comfortable as a conversation with and old friend on an autumn afternoon..."

"They make you feel like they've lived every moment of these songs. This record is a treasure but what do you expect from one so long in the making? Let's hope it's not their last."

Congratulations on the marvelously lyrical, and memorable CD you two have created. "It’s About Time" has many tunes I'd not heard before, but believe me, I've listened to the CD so often that I feel I know all the songs by now. They have a lasting quality with a great lilt to them.

"You guys sure do a great job with my song."

“They do great covers of David Rea's "I've Been to Texas," David Mallett's "I've Been Around," and they include the great verse Bill Staines wrote but doesn't perform in "Roseville Fair." These are but some of the 13 songs on the CD, each of which is as together and polished as two fine musicians who've sung together for nearly half a century can sound. They've created an album to be proud of, one that's worth repeated listening.”

"You two are so incredibly comfortable together musically, and that really shows. The whole album brings back so many memories, both from specific songs and also the general tone of the songs.
Beautifully done!!"

"I listened to the CD and I totally enjoyed it, especially "Roseville Fair" and "I've been to Texas". The mix of instruments, your individual voices and your sweet harmonies is just right. You can hear all the pieces as well as the whole blend."