Arlo Guthrie: Alice's Restaurant—50th Anniversary Concert

With his son Abe on keyboards as part of his able backup band, folk singer Arlo Guthrie hits the stage of the Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield, MA, for this May 2015 concert, performing a 14-song set that features as much talkin' as it does singin'. Which is OK, because Guthrie is a mighty fine raconteur who has honed his story repertoire over the years. The first third is fairly slow, kicking off with “The Motorcycle Song,” a solid rendition of “St. James Infirmary,” and the humorous kid's song “Me and My Goose” (spoiler alert: feathered pal ends up on dinner plate), coupled with some tongue-in-cheek whining about self-esteem-centered politically correct children's programming. The energy rises with the rockin' “Coming Into Los Angeles,” followed by the titular piece de resistance: the full-length musical monologue epic “Alice's Restaurant,” which chronicles young Arlo's run-in with the law after illegally dumping trash on Thanksgiving day when the dump in Stockbridge, MA, was closed (an incident later adapted into a 1969 film directed by Arthur Penn). Guthrie also shares poignant stories about his legendary father, Woody, and his late wife, Jackie, who died of cancer in 2012. Guthrie, who shifts between guitar and keyboards (with some harmonica thrown in) also performs the classic “This Land Is Your Land,” as well as two songs with lyrics penned by the elder Guthrie (“I Hear You Sing Again” and “My Peace”), and his own only Top 40 hit, “City of New Orleans” (which he thanks Johnny Cash for turning down). Presented in Dolby Digital 5.1, extras include a “Garbage Trail Walk” featurette spotlighting key sites in the “Alice's Restaurant” saga. Sure to appeal to Baby Boomers and others with an interest in tales from the late 1960s and early ‘70s, this is recommended. (R. Pitman)