Alexander Rocks the House

Literally.

I'm here in Montpelier on another Vermont junket. I arrived a night early to avoid driving in an ice storm, and my last-minute change in itinerary led me to a different hotel - Betsy's Bed and Breakfast. While lacking in some of the privacy afforded by the Capitol Plaza, not to mention proximity to the office, the B&B experience offers a charm of its own. For example, all of the rooms are unique and warm, in contrast to the cookie-cutter rooms of the Capitol Plaza and the chain hotels. And of course there is the hearty breakfast, which this morning featured orange pancakes and a side of bacon, along with assorted muffins and fresh-squeezed orange juice. Breakfast also featured conversation with other guests, most of whom were partaking in a writing residency at Vermont College, just up the hill.

Today also brought an opportunity that is almost certainly "Uniquely Vermont" - a rock concert in the House Chambers of the State Capital building. The event was Farmer's Night, and on hand was Alexander's Goodtime Band. The band is fronted by guitarist Peter Alexander (no, not that Pete Alexander) and the rythyms are laid down by bassist Ben Butterworth, but the star attraction is former Phish drummer Jon Fishman. Liberal politics brought Alexander and Fishman together, as both were involved in directing the New England Coalition, a safe energy (aka anti-nuke) group based in Brattleboro, VT.

And it was the setting of (mostly) liberal politics that housed the event, with the ornate ceiling overhead, oversized chandelier hanging down and aging desks that the House members use to keep their notes straight. The scene was the somewhat surreal mixture of humanity that simply defines everyday life in Montpelier - elderly legislators in their business attire seated next to aging hippies seated next to Generation Y Phish-heads, and everybody with a smile on his or her face. The lighting was inappropriate, but the acoustics were surprisingly sound. Alas, there was no hint of the herb that is often associated with Phish, though I am certain that marijuana has found its way into the Vermont Statehouse on more than one occasion in the past.

Living up to the band's name, Alexander and crew played good time music, a toe-tapping blues/folk/pop combo that got many audience members into their dancing shoes. The trio played mostly originals that varied from the political ("There's a thin line between right and wrong/ Especially when one side is very strong"), to the romantic (an ode to the coast of Maine), to various songs exploring love, love lost, and sex. The handful of covers were well chosen, ranging from "Man of Constant Sorrow" (from O Brother, Where Art Thou), to a rocking blues version of Leadbelly's "Where Did You Sleep Last Night", to a stirring version of Hendrix's "Little Wing".

Alexander's Goodtime Band filled the room with music in true power-trio form. Alexander is an accomplished 12-string player, if falling a bit short of "virtuoso" status, and passionate vocalist in the style of Jimmy Buffet or Willie Nelson, Butterworth kept the groove on both four string and eight-string (if I saw this correctly) basses, and Fishman is a drummer of some renown. Alexander kept the mood loose with his between-song banter and salutations to the many people in the room who he has met through his political dealings. The highlight, and perfect summation of the mood, was when Fishman's daughter (who is maybe four years old) yelled "daddy!" and ran up to the drum set to "touch fingers" with her father while Alexander was telling a story between songs. Daughter later returned to stand in front of the drum kit and point at daddy during a solo. Priceless.

Farmer's Night is a regular gig at the state house in Montpelier, and it's free to the public. According to sources, "Every Winter, the Vermont Legislature hosts the Vermont Farmers Night Series in the House Chamber of the Vermont State House. Before the Interstate was constructed, many Legislators lived in Montpelier when the Legislature was in session. They organized Farmers Night to entertain themselves. The Series is free and features a variety of music, poetry, lectures, historic displays and even wildlife!" Most of the music appears to be of the jazz or brass band variety, rather than rock and roll, but it's an interesting part of Montpelier culture that I look forward to exploring again in the future.