Umlauf Sculpture Garden & Museum
Gray Only Mentioned 30 Acts, Why Not Patty Griffin?
RECEIVED Mon., Sept. 29, 2003
Editor,
Sept. 26's Christopher Gray article on the recent ACL Fest left me puzzled. There was no mention at all of Patty Griffin, and she performed the most powerful set of music I heard all weekend (with R.E.M. a close second). It was the only time during the three days that I saw the entire audience sit down and actually listen. No side conversations, no cell phone calls to others loudly giving play-by-play, just respectfully quiet, rapt attention to a performer who was simply a knockout. At the very least, Patty deserved a mention, if not a photo. I've never been so moved by an artist, and there were plenty of others around me with tears flowing down their faces. How could the Chronicle not mention such a local star? At least you put a lovely photo of Patty on your Web site – but no words. Perhaps you, too, were simply moved beyond them.
Sept. 26's Christopher Gray article on the recent ACL Fest left me puzzled. There was no mention at all of Patty Griffin, and she performed the most powerful set of music I heard all weekend (with R.E.M. a close second). It was the only time during the three days that I saw the entire audience sit down and actually listen. No side conversations, no cell phone calls to others loudly giving play-by-play, just respectfully quiet, rapt attention to a performer who was simply a knockout. At the very least, Patty deserved a mention, if not a photo. I've never been so moved by an artist, and there were plenty of others around me with tears flowing down their faces. How could the Chronicle not mention such a local star? At least you put a lovely photo of Patty on your Web site – but no words. Perhaps you, too, were simply moved beyond them.
Maria Benning
